32nd Annual Holiday Lighting Festival

Capture the true spirit of a small-town holiday celebration

The Denton Holiday Festival Association, Inc. (DHFA), established in 1988, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. Their primary mission is to host the annual holiday lighting festival. Originally organized to raise funds to put lights in the trees on the Courthouse-on-the-Square lawn, the DHFA continues the tradition of the Holiday Lighting Festival.

WHEN

December 2nd, 2023
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

WHERE

Downtown Denton Square
110 W. Oak St., Denton, TX 76201
Get Directions

DETAILS

Winter Wonderland at Williams Square

Waltz into a Winter Wonderland behind the Wells Fargo building off the square where a line of food trucks await. Watch your step, the forecast predicts snow in this area atop our twelve-foot-tall snow slide! Visit the Winter Wonderland to relax, take a ride down the slide, ride the trackless train, see your favorite holiday character, listen to some fun music, grab a bite to eat and maybe even find a Christmas present, too!

Toy Drive

Once again, the festival will be hosting a toy drive. Toys gathered will be distributed to families needing assistance during the Christmas season in Denton County through Elves Shelves. Toys may be donated to the Elves Shelves truck parked on the square. If carrying a toy with you seems cumbersome, that’s ok! You can donate a toy to a child in need here.

Find the full event schedule here

WHAT'S FREE & WHAT REQUIRES A WRISTBAND

A big goal of the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival is to provide free entertainment and holiday fun for adults and children of all ages. The following destinations are free to the public:

Downtown wassail tasting
Who-Ville arts and crafts booth
Winter Wonderland bounce houses
All the joyful performances spread throughout the downtown square

So what’s the wristband for? In order for the Holiday Lighting festival to pursue its purpose and put on a fantastic show every year, several of the rides require a $10 or $35 wristband per person (lap children are free). You may pre-order wristbands in advance through Eventbrite, but we will also sell wristbands on-site at each location that requires them. This wristband provides unlimited access to the following rides:

All Access Wristband:

Winter Wonderland Trackless Train
Downtown Square Horse Carriage Ride
Winter Wonderland Snow Slide
On-site photograph with Santa

VIP Access Wristband:

Everything in the All Access Wristband
Denton Holiday Lighting Festival official t-shirt
Commemorative ornament of the year
Priority line access and provides unlimited rides