On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me 鈥� the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden鈥檚 12 Days of Christmas exhibit. The Arboretum will once again be aglow with holiday cheer and festive lights, filling the gardens with seasonal magic for 2024. This year, the 66-acre garden alongside White Rock Lake is also marking a milestone anniversary: 10 years of the 12 Days of Christmas exhibit.
The holiday season at the Arboretum officially begins the evening of Nov. 13 and runs through Jan. 5, offering a variety of attractions and activities.
One highlight is the iconic exhibit that started the Christmas tradition at the Arboretum.
The classic Christmas song 鈥淭he 12 Days of Christmas鈥� comes to life with a dozen meticulously crafted gazebos, each designed to represent a different part of the carol. The gazebos also double as oversize music boxes with sophisticated animated mannequins and animals that move along with the tunes.
The gazebo dedicated to the 鈥渟even swans a-swimming鈥� is a winter wonderland, with shimmering crystals hanging from its sides. At the center, seven elegant swans surround a fountain, adding to the magical atmosphere.
Down the walkway from the swans gazebo stands one of the larger displays, featuring the 鈥渘ine ladies dancing.鈥� Inside, lifelike figures in colorful Victorian gowns are captured mid-dance, celebrating around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
One of the most striking gazebos is the 鈥�12 drummers drumming鈥� display. Its characters, decked in nutcracker-inspired uniforms, rhythmically pound drums in a circular formation.
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m every day. Admission is $14. Arboretum members pay $12.
The calendar is a partnership between 四虎影院 and The Dallas Morning News.
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