Those Last Festive Days

Now that the gifts are wrapped, mailed, and cards are in the mail you can breathe through these Dallas/Fort Worth, TX adventures:

Through Dec. 24th let the kids visit with Santa from 6-8 p.m. in the Deerfield neighborhood of Plano at 4540 Old Pond Drive. For information, go to thedeerfieldchristmas.com.

There is a gingerbread wonderland at the Adam's Mark Hotel at 400 Olive Street in Dallas through Dec. 30th with free admission. A festive village lies at the bottom of a snowy slop created by Art Surman and his culinary team on display at the hotel. More than 100 pounds of gingerbread were used in the display that has been part of the holidays for the past six years. For more information, call 214-922-8000.

Visitors may bring donations of toys and non-perishable food for Toys for Toys and the North Texas Food Bank Sundays through Thursdays from 6-10 pm., and Fridays and Saturdays 6-11 pm. through New Year's Eve also at 4540 Old Pond Drive.

Check out the best Christmas light displays in Dallas starting with Fair Park and presented by The Dallas Park and Recreation Department. Featuring 11 lighted trees which range from 15 to 35 feet tall lined along the Esplanade at Fair Park through Jan. 1st. For details, call 214-670-8400.

Kessler Neighbors United, the neighborhood association of Kessler Park lit five live oak trees in the median at 1415 W. Colorado Boulevard.

The song "The 12 Days of Christmas" comes to life with a group effort light theme that is a longstanding tradition for neighbors on a northeast Dallas cul-de-sac on Timber Hollow Circle in the Oak Highlands Estates subdivision.

Over in Farmers Branch through Dec. 31st the Christmas Tour of Lights features holiday displays and thousands of lights from 6:30 pm. until 9:30 p.m. at Farmers Branch Historical Park, 2540 Farmers Branch Lane for free (972-919-2631).