on the nice list

Dallas-Fort Worth sparkles and shines as 2nd most festive U.S. metro for 2023

The Sundance Square Christmas tree lights will switch on December 6, 2023.

Photo courtesy of Sundance Square

Fort Worth homes, businesses, and special events that go all out to deck their halls for the holidays have not gone unnoticed. Dallas-Fort Worth has been named the No. 2 most festive metro in the United States in a new 2023 report.

For the second year in a row, a study by home services provider Thumbtack put DFW at the very top of the nice list. The report compiled data from millions of Christmas-related home projects across all 50 states between October 2022 to November 2023 to reveal their list of the most festive cities in the nation.

And while Thumbtack specifically focuses on home holiday projects, locals in Fort Worth certainly can glean inspiration from the area's many festive displays, including Fort Worth Botanic Garden's Lightscape, The Light Park in Arlington, and the Fort Worth Community Christmas Tree in Sundance Square Plaza, which will light up starting December 6.

Texas cities dominated the top 10, with Austin (No. 1) and Houston (No. 3) rounding out the top three most festive American cities. Also on the rise is San Antonio (No. 5), which ranked No. 10 in the 2022 report.

The average cost to hire a holiday lighting specialist, Thumbtack says, is between $168-$300, with other requests like wrapping outdoor trees tacking on an additional cost. If Dallas residents are looking to outsource their exterior home decorating to a specialist, they should probably avoid the last week of November, which is peak time, Thumbtack says. Americans most frequently hang their holiday lights and Christmas decorations during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to the report.

"Whether you’re looking to make your home a brightly lit winter wonderland or simply looking to add a few festive touches to your home’s exterior — sprucing up your home’s exterior with lights is an exciting part of getting into the holiday spirit," said Thumbtack design expert Morgan Olsen in the report. "Hiring a holiday lighting specialist can help you avoid stress (and unwanted injuries) so you can focus on enjoying the season."

Thumbtack's top 10 most festive metros in the U.S. for 2023 are:

No. 1 – Austin, Texas
No. 2 – Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
No. 3 – Houston, Texas
No. 4 – Seattle, Washington
No. 5 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 6 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 7 – Phoenix, Arizona
No. 8 – Tampa, Florida
No. 9 – Denver, Colorado
No. 10 – Orlando, Florida

christmas rankings reports holidays fort worth

Weather News

Warming centers open across Dallas-Fort Worth for winter storm

Emmanuel Labor

Shelter at First McKinney Baptist Church

Snow does not come along every day in Dallas-Fort Worth — which means that, when it dies, many get left out in the cold. With the possible arrival of a winter storm, DFW-area cities are stepping up to offer shelter options, from Dallas to Plano to Fort Worth and beyond.

Here's a list of warming centers now open across Dallas and Fort Worth:

Fort Worth and Tarrant County

Arlington Corps Community Center at 712 W. Abram St. has a capacity of 50-70 people and is open when temperatures are below 40 degrees for four consecutive hours overnight. Check in is 7 pm-7 am.

Arlington Life Shelter at 325 West Division St. is accepting people from 2-5 pm until capacity is reached, whereupon people will be directed to The Salvation Army of North Texas at 712 W. Abram St., with intake from 7-10 pm. It will be open as the City of Arlington's Homeless Emergency Cold Weather Shelter through January 10. 817-548-9885.

All Arlington Library locations are open for warming during regular operating hours.

Cleburne Fire Department at 114 W. Wardville will provide temporary shelter in the police lobby, but no overnight shelter.

Grand Prairie is providing a 24/7 warming center in the Public Safety Building at 1525 Arkansas Ln. It's available until weather improves, but sleeping bags and cots aren't allowed. Water is provided.

J.E and L.E. Mabee Social Service Center at 1855 E. Lancaster Ave. is open when temperatures hit 40 degrees with wet conditions; 35 degrees in dry conditions; or when there's a wind chill below 32.

Presbyterian Night Shelter at 2400 Cypress St. provides overnight shelter from 3 pm-7 am. Sign ups for sleeping spots start at 2 pm.

True Worth Place at 1513 E. Presidio St. is open daily from 7 am to 3 pm, offering restrooms and laundry.

Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County at 1321 E. Lancaster Ave. is opening up 50 beds in its main campus and 60 beds in its building across the street at at 1350 E. Lancaster Ave.

Dallas

Fair Park Grand Place at 3701 Grand Ave. will be Dallas' primary TIWS, staying open overnight. The shelter holds more than 900, plus meals and restroom facilities will be available. Intake hours are from 8 am-10 pm.

Other Dallas-area options include:

Austin Street Center at 2929 Hickory St. will operate the site as the City’s external partner in executing Temporary Inclement Weather Shelter (TIWS) activities, providing enhanced services during TIWS. Intake hours are 8 am-10 pm.

Carr P. Collins Social Service Center at 5302 Harry Hines Blvd. is open during freezing temperatures with check-in starting at 4 pm.

Dallas Public Libraries and recreation centers are open during regular hours as warming and charging stations.

Christ Church Irving at 1750 E Airport Fwy. will stay open as long as the temperature is 32 degrees or less and has a capacity of 85. It offers a place to sleep, shower, do laundry, and hot meals.

City of Denton has several facilities open during regular hours for restrooms, hand washing, and water fountains.

Denton Civic Center at 321 E. McKinney St. is open during regular hours from 8 am - 7 pm.

Denton Community Shelter,at 909 N. Loop 288 open 8 am-8 pm and as an overnight shelter, based on availability from 4 pm-8 am.

First McKinney Baptist Church, at 1615 W. Louisiana St., is serving as the McKinney Emergency Overnight Warming Station open daily from 7 pm-8 am. Hotline for availability 214-945-4637.

Garland Overnight Warming Station starting intake at 5:30 pm in Garland Salvation Army gym at 435 S. Fifth St.

Irving public libraries and recreation centers will be open during regular hours as a warming station.

Lewisville Public Library, at 1197 W. Main St. is open from 9 am-8 pm Monday through Thursday and 9 am-5 pm Friday and Saturday.

Oak Lawn United Methodist at 3014 Oak Lawn Ave. is open as a warming shelter at 4 pm and has a sign up sheet available.

Plano Overnight Warming Station at 3528 14th St. is open with bus pickup starting at 6:30-9:30 pm at DART Parker Road Station. No one will be allowed to check-in after 10 pm unless accompanied by Plano Police Department or Plano Fire-Rescue.

Richardson Police Department Administration Building at 200 N. Greenville Ave. will open at 5 pm. It has charging stations and will stay open overnight.

Richardson Fire Department Stations 3 and 6 will open at 5 pm and charging stations are available. Station 3 is located at 500 W. Lookout Dr.; Station 6 is located at 3591 Park Vista Rd.

Salvation Army - Denton at 1508 E. McKinney St. open during regular hours as a warming station from 9 am-6 pm and as an overnight shelter, based on availability from 5pm-7 am.

Salvation Army - Garland at 451 W Ave. D has check-in starting at 5 pm.

Salvation Army - Lewisville at 880 Fox Ave. has check-in from 6 pm-7 am.

weather