Northeast Tarrant communities are holiday ready

All across Tarrant County, communities are celebrating the beginning of the holiday season with traditional tree lighting ceremonies, parades and celebrations.

Southlake got an early start with its Home for the Holidays Tree Lighting event the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

The holiday extravaganza at Southlake Town Square, was filled with a variety of events, including snow hill tubing, snowman building, carriage rides, oranament and cookie decorating, live music, the arrival of Santa Claus and the lighting of the tree that evening.

In Grapevine, the city was awash in twinkling lights Nov. 23 as hundreds of holiday revelers gathered to help celebrate the city’s annual Carol of Lights festival.

Mayor William D. Tate flipped a huge red switch to turn on more than a million lights at the gazebo on Main Street in Downtown Historic Grapevine. In addition to lighting a live 30-foot Christmas tree, the merriment and fanfare also accompanied an entertaining presentation that blended traditional favorites and contemporary sights and sounds.

Fireworks illuminated the sky above the brightly lit city. Family-friendly activities including making Christmas ornaments, participating in a candy cane craft and cupcake and cookie decorating.

Here are the other holiday events planned in neighboring communities:

Dec. 3

Westlake

Community Tree Lighting, Westlake Academy Campus, 2600 J.T. Ottinger Road

6-8 p.m.

Photos with Santa, cookie decorating, hot beverages and music.

Dec. 4

Colleyville

Tree Lighting Celebration, City Hall in the Village at Colleyville, 100 Main St.

5-8 p.m.

Lighting of the community decorated trees begins at 5:30 p.m. Reindeer games, holiday treats and photos with Santa.

Keller

Holly Days, Keller Town Center, 1100 Bear Creek Parkway

6-9 p.m.

Very Merry Light Parade, live dance and band performances, snow hill, concessions, Santa and tree lighting at 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 5

Haslet

Christmas in the Park, Gammill Park, 101 Gammill St.

4-8 p.m.

Puppet show, toboggan slide, concessions, Santa and tree lighting.

Roanoke

Roanoke’s Old-Fashioned Christmas, downtown, 211 N. Oak St.

5-9 p.m.

Musical performances, strolling carolers, concessions, parade, Santa and tree lighting at 6:15 p.m.

Trophy Club

Trophy Club Christmas Celebration, Clock Tower

6:30-9 p.m.

School choirs, pictures with Santa Claus and free funnel cakes, cookies, hot dogs and hot apple cider.

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 10:51 AM with the headline "Northeast Tarrant communities are holiday ready."