I found the best stuff for this weekend

Good morning, neighbor ☀️ December weekends are here and Dallas is packed with holiday magic. This week I've got everything from free city hall festivities to ice skating rinks across town, plus the concerts and shows that'll keep your nights buzzing.

Here's what we're covering today:

Deck the Plaza – Friday, Dec 6, 4:30–7:30 PM at Dallas City Hall Plaza (1500 Marilla St) | Free | Details

Holiday at the Arboretum – Daytime – Sat–Sun, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM | Details

Night Glow & Christmas Village – Fri–Sun, 5:00–10:00 PM | Details

Visits with Santa – Friday, Dec 6, 6:00–9:00 PM | Details

Breakfast with Santa – Saturday, Dec 7, 9:00–11:00 AM | Details

City Rink at Main Street Garden – Sat 10 AM–10 PM, Sun 10 AM–8 PM (1902 Main St)
Galleria Dallas – Sat 12–9 PM, Sun 12–6 PM (13350 Dallas Parkway)
Christmas at the Anatole – Daily 11 AM–6 PM (2201 N Stemmons Fwy)
Coca-Cola Classic at Dallas Midtown – Daily 5:30–8:30 PM (13101 Preston Rd)

🚂 THE TRAINS AT NORTHPARK – Fri–Sat 10 AM–8 PM, Sun 12–6 PM at NorthPark Center, Level 1 | Details

If you’re taking the whole crew out, here are a few spots where the little ones eat free (or super cheap) this weekend 👇

Blue Mesa Grill (Addison / Plano / Fort Worth) – Sat 10 AM–3 PM, Sun 9:30 AM–3:30 PM | Kids 5 & under eat FREE during brunch with adult purchase | Info

Luby's (Multiple DFW locations) – Saturday all day, dine-in | Kids 10 & under eat FREE with adult meal (1 per adult, participating locations) | Info

Steak 'n Shake (Multiple DFW locations) – Saturday & Sunday | Kids eat FREE with adult combo purchase (confirm locally) | Info

Denny's (Multiple DFW locations) – Daily 4–10 PM | One FREE kids meal with each adult entrée, dine-in (participation may vary) | Info

Café Brazil (Dallas-area locations) – Sunday–Thursday 5–10 PM | Kids 12 & under eat FREE with adult entrée purchase | Info

DARUDE – Storm 25 World Tour – Friday, Dec 6, 10 PM at Stereo Live Dallas (2711 Storey Ln) | Tickets

it's murph – Friday, Dec 6, 9 PM at SILO Dallas (1340 S Ervay St) | 18+ | Info

Kerri Chandler – Friday, Dec 6, 9 PM at It'll Do Club (4322 Elm St) | 21+ | Tickets

Keller Williams – Friday, Dec 6, 7 PM at Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ (1950 Market Center Blvd) | Info

Home Alone in Concert – Dallas Symphony Orchestra – Fri-Sun (Fri & Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM) at Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center | Tickets

Vienna Light Orchestra – Christmas Tour 2025 – Saturday, Dec 7, 7 PM | Info

Couch: BIG TALK Tour (with Night Talks) – Saturday, Dec 7, 8 PM at Trees, Deep Ellum (2709 Elm St) | Doors 7 PM | Tickets

Brandy & Monica – The Boy Is Mine Tour – Saturday, Dec 7, 8 PM at Dickies Arena, Fort Worth (1911 Montgomery St) | Doors 7 PM | Tickets

Avatar – In the Airwaves USA 2025 (with Alien Weaponry & SpiritWorld) – Sunday, Dec 8, 6:30 PM at House of Blues Dallas | Tickets

Danny Brown – Stardust Tour (with Femtanyl & Underscores) – Sunday, Dec 8, 8 PM at Granada Theater (3524 Greenville Ave) | Doors 7 PM | Tickets

Our readers love discovering what’s local — where to eat, shop, and spend their weekends.
If you run a spot that makes this city better, we’d love to feature you.
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✨ Hotel Crescent Court – 20% Off + $30 Credit | Texas & Oklahoma residents: 20% off best available rate, waived destination fee, and $30 food & beverage credit. Luxury for less. | Book

🍜 Deep Ellum Resident Discounts | Live in Deep Ellum? Get 10% off at spots like Hawkers Asian Street Food, Peach Cobbler Factory, and more. Neighborhood perks for locals. | See All Deals

🏛️ Texas becomes first state to invest public funds in crypto.
State officials approved a plan to allocate roughly $1.5B from public funds into a diversified cryptocurrency portfolio, positioning Texas as the first state to treat crypto as a treasury-level investment. Source

💼 Fifth Third Bank plans major Texas push, including Dallas.
Fifth Third Bancorp outlined plans to add 150 new Texas branches by 2029, with Dallas, Houston, and Austin targeted for top-five market share as the bank expands its retail footprint. Source

WEATHER & TRAVEL

🚗 Collin County drivers warned about growing congestion hot spots.
A new TxDOT congestion report flags a busy stretch of U.S. 75 in Plano among the top 30 most congested road segments in Texas, with local officials urging commuters to budget extra time and watch for future construction notices. Source

SPORTS

🏈 Cowboys fall 44–30 to Lions on Thursday night.
Dallas dropped to 6–6–1 after a road loss in Detroit; RB Jahmyr Gibbs scored three TDs for the Lions while CeeDee Lamb exited with a concussion and K Brandon Aubrey hit five field goals, including three from 55+ yards, an NFL record. Source

🏟️ New “Xbox Bowl” coming to Frisco this month.
The inaugural Xbox Bowl is set for Dec. 18 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, matching Missouri State against Arkansas State in a new college football bowl game that replaces the Bahamas Bowl. Source

COMMUNITY & RECREATION

🎄 Old Town Holiday Stroll lights up Lewisville this weekend.
Historic Old Town Lewisville hosts a two-day Holiday Stroll Dec. 5–6 with a tree lighting, live music, kid activities, vendors, and photos with Santa—most activities free or low-cost for families. Source

🎶 Free “JOY!” holiday concerts from North Texas Symphony Orchestra.
NTSO is presenting free “JOY!” performances Dec. 5–6 at NorthPark Center and The Shops at RedBird, featuring classic carols and holiday pops—no ticket required, just show up and grab a spot. Source

FOOD & POP CULTURE

👩‍🍳 North Texas bakers land on Gordon Ramsay’s new dessert show.
Two local pastry chefs from the Dallas–Fort Worth area are competing on Ramsay’s new series “Next Level Baker,” which premiered this week and streams on Fox/Hulu—giving Dallas desserts some national spotlight. Source

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