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Christmas with kids in Denton
In Denton, Christmas started with a few strings of lights on the trees of the historic courthouse lawn. Since 1988 that small idea has grown into the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival, a big night for the whole town.
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Denton Holiday Lighting Festival
When: Sat, Dec 5, 3 to 9 pm
Where: Quakertown Park, Denton
Cost: See host page for 2026 pricing
The story of Christmas in Denton
How Denton celebrates
Denton's signature tradition is the Holiday Lighting Festival, which began in 1988. A group of neighbors formed the Denton Holiday Festival Association, a nonprofit, to raise money to light the trees on the lawn of the Courthouse-on-the-Square. The festival has run every year since. Over time it added music and dance on stages, children's crafts, visits with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides and a toy drive for families in need. It happens on a Saturday in early December, and the night ends with the tree lighting and a visit from Santa Claus.
Christmas last year in Denton
The 2025 Holiday Lighting Festival took place on Saturday, December 6, from 3 to 9 p.m., with the tree lighting around 5:30 p.m. It returned to Quakertown Park and the Denton Civic Center, and the festival usually draws 17,000 to 20,000 people. Families found four stages, free photos with Santa and crafts with Mrs. Claus in Santa's Village, a snow tube hill and a trackless train. A Holly Jolly Trolley looped between the festival and the parking areas, and Wassail Fest happened downtown the night before.
Fun facts about Christmas in Denton
The tree at the 2023 festival was a Nellie R. Stevens Holly, between 24 and 30 feet tall. The Denton Community Band has traditionally played at the tree lighting. Wassail is a warm spiced cider, and downtown businesses compete to share their best recipes during Wassail Fest. In 2023 organizers moved the start time from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. so people had more time and the crowds spread out. Organizers say the festival has a Norman Rockwell-type holiday feel.
Traditions today
- Holiday Lighting Festival: Denton's big December night, held since 1988, with stages, food, crafts and the tree lighting near the downtown Square.
- Santa's Village: Families can get free photos with Santa and make crafts with Mrs. Claus at the festival.
- Wassail Fest: Downtown businesses compete by sharing samples of their spiced cider recipes, a custom the festival has included for years.
- Elves Shelves Toy Drive: A toy drive that helps Denton County families in need, linked to the festival for years.
- Community band at the tree lighting: The Denton Community Band has traditionally played as the lights come on.
- Snow tube hill and trackless train: Kid favorites at recent festivals, including a snow tube hill and a little trackless train.
A fact for kids
Denton's festival has a special tree that is a type of holly, and it can be as tall as a three-story building. When it lights up, Santa comes to say hello.
Questions about Christmas in Denton
When did the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival start?
The Denton Holiday Lighting Festival started in 1988 and has been held every year since. It began when the Denton Holiday Festival Association raised money to light the trees on the lawn of the Courthouse-on-the-Square. It has since grown to include music, food, crafts, rides and a visit from Santa.
Who organizes the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival?
The Denton Holiday Festival Association, a nonprofit, organizes the festival. In 2023 the group had 19 members and five planning committees, and the event depends on volunteers. Donations and sponsorships help pay for banners, stages, sound equipment and more, so the festival can stay mostly free for families.
Why was the festival started?
It was started to raise money to light the trees on the lawn of the historic Courthouse-on-the-Square. The founders formed the Denton Holiday Festival Association in 1988 for that goal. What began as a lighting project grew into a full evening of music, dance, food, crafts and a visit from Santa.
What kind of Christmas tree does Denton light?
At the 2023 festival the tree was a Nellie R. Stevens Holly, between 24 and 30 feet tall. The night ends with the tree lighting and a visit from Santa Claus. The Denton Community Band has traditionally played at the ceremony, so little ones can hear music while the lights come on.
When is the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival in 2026?
The 2026 festival is listed for Saturday, December 5, from 3 to 9 p.m. at Quakertown Park, 215 E McKinney Street. The tourism page says this year's activities include a toy drive for Cumberland Youth and Family Services. For full details and what is confirmed for kids, see our Denton Christmas events guide on this page.
Where is the festival held?
In 2025 the festival returned to Quakertown Park and the Denton Civic Center, and the 2026 listing also names Quakertown Park. Check the festival's page for this year's map and parking. The courthouse lawn is where the tree lighting tradition began in 1988.
How many people go to the festival?
The festival typically draws 17,000 to 20,000 people, according to coverage of the 2025 event. That is a big crowd, so many families plan to arrive early and use the Holly Jolly Trolley, a DCTA bus that loops between the festival and the transit and parking areas.
What happened at the 2025 Denton festival?
The 2025 festival ran Saturday, December 6, from 3 to 9 p.m., with the tree lighting around 5:30 p.m. Families enjoyed four stages of local performers, free photos with Santa, crafts with Mrs. Claus, a snow tube hill, a trackless train, vendors and hot chocolate. Admission was free, with optional VIP packages.
What is Wassail Fest in Denton?
Wassail Fest is a downtown Denton tradition where businesses compete to share samples of their spiced cider recipes. Wassail is a warm, spiced holiday drink. In 2025 it took place on Friday, December 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., the night before the main festival, and it has been part of the festival weekend for years.
What is the Holly Jolly Trolley?
The Holly Jolly Trolley is a DCTA bus that made a continuous loop between the 2025 festival and the transit and parking areas throughout the day and evening of the festival. It helps families avoid hunting for a close parking spot with small children. Check our Denton Christmas events guide on this page for this year's transportation details and parking information.
Is the Denton festival free?
Admission to the festival was free in 2025, and in 2023 most activities were free too, with optional paid extras. In 2025 VIP packages cost $40 and included parking, a T-shirt, an ornament and a fast pass wristband. Prices can change, so check the 2026 details in our Denton Christmas events guide on this page.
Can kids meet Santa at the festival?
Yes. At the 2025 festival, Santa's Village offered free photos with Santa and crafts with Mrs. Claus. Santa also visits at the end of the night when the tree lights up. Past festivals have included children's crafts and visits with Santa, so it has long been one of the evening's family favorites.
What is the Elves Shelves Toy Drive?
The Elves Shelves Toy Drive was a toy drive tied to the festival that benefited families in need in Denton County, according to 2018 coverage. A toy drive is still part of the festival story: the 2026 listing mentions a toy drive benefiting Cumberland Youth and Family Services.
Who plays music at the tree lighting?
The Denton Community Band has traditionally performed at the tree lighting, led in 2023 by Carol Lynn Mizell. The festival also features several stages with local schools, bands and dance groups, plus ballet and dance troupes on the Square, so music is a big part of the evening.
Does it snow at the Denton festival?
Real snow is not part of the plan, but kids still get a snowy moment. The 2025 festival had a snow tube hill, and the 2023 festival had a snow slide. Dress for a cool December evening, since the festival runs from afternoon into the night with the tree lighting around 5:30 p.m.
Why did the festival start time change?
In 2023 organizers moved the start time from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. to give attendees more time and spread out the crowds. The 2025 festival ran from 3 to 9 p.m., and the 2026 festival is listed for the same hours. Earlier arrival also helps families with little kids who go to bed early.
What is the trackless train at the festival?
A trackless train is a small ride that looks like a train but rolls on rubber wheels instead of rails. It was one of the kid attractions at both the 2023 and 2025 festivals, alongside a snow slide or snow tube hill, and horse-drawn carriage rides at earlier festivals.
How can I explain a tree lighting to a young child?
Tell your child that neighbors in Denton put lights on a big tree to welcome the holiday season. The whole town gathers at dusk, the band plays, and Santa visits when the lights come on. You can also say the festival was started to light the courthouse trees back in 1988.
What kind of feeling does the Denton festival have?
Organizers have described the festival as having a Norman Rockwell-type holiday feel, which fits a festival that began with neighbors lighting a few trees. With music, a historic courthouse square, hot chocolate, carriage rides and Santa, the festival leans into a cozy small-town mood even though thousands of people attend.
Where can I find Christmas events for kids in Denton this year?
The Holiday Lighting Festival on December 5, 2026 is the biggest event on the calendar. For library programs, Santa visits and other confirmed family events this season, see our Denton Christmas events guide on this page. It is updated with dates, times and prices from the hosts.
Sources
- Holiday Lighting Festival, Discover Denton
- Denton Holiday Lighting Festival bringing back Holly Jolly Trolley for return to Quakertown Park, Denton Record-Chronicle
- An annual tradition: Denton Holiday Lighting Festival is lighting the way, Denton Record-Chronicle
- Denton Holiday Lighting Festival celebrates 30 years, TWU Lasso