The 12 Days of Christmas
Dallas' Newest Holiday Tradition
This holiday season experience the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden's brand new, one-of-a-kind exhibition, The 12 Days of Christmas. On display throughout the garden November 16, 2014 - January 4, 2015.
presented by Amegy Bank 
Celebrate the holidays like never before with this centerpiece exhibit featuring an elaborate collection of 25-foot Victorian gazebos filled with the charming costumed characters and whimsical animals made famous by the beloved Christmas carol. Each gazebo will be encased in glass and extravagantly decorated on all sides to provide a dramatic, three-dimensional experience, and will feature mechanical parts and festive music that will assist in bringing the characters to an even more life-like state.
Enjoy the .75-mile walk through the garden exhibit, as you witness these handcrafted gazebos spread across our winter wonderland.
Please note that wheelchairs will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis; however trams will not be in service during nighttime showings.
During the day, visitors can enjoy the lavishly decorated DeGolyer Estate, filled top to bottom with a collection of Byers’ Choice Ltd. Christmas Caroler figurines. This abundant private collection has generously been donated for display at the Arboretum by John and Kim Semyan. Visitors can also stroll the gardens to view seasonal plantings and enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities.
During the evening, the garden will remain open for extended hours for The 12 Days at Night, where we will showcase the beautifully illuminated gazebos for magical nighttime viewing. During this time, visitors will be even further immersed in the Victorian-era holiday theme as they enjoy live carolers and holiday themed treats.
For inquiries regarding discounted tickets for groups 15 or larger, please contact groupsales@dallasarboretum.org or 214-515-6520.
The 12 Days of Christmas Daytime Activities
The 12 Days of Christmas daytime exhibit is included with general garden admission:
Adults | $15 non-members
Seniors | $12 non-members
Children ages 3-12 | $10
Children under 3 receive free admission
Parking | $10 at the gate | $5 online only
Member Parking | Free
Member Admission | Free
The 12 Days of Christmas Exhibit
November 16-January 4 | Throughout the garden
A Victorian collection of three-dimensional, life-size gazebos filled with the charming characters made famous by the beloved holiday carol.
Special Weekend Holiday Festivities
November 29-December 21 | Saturdays and Sundays | Noon-4 p.m.
Enjoy visits with Santa, reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
DeGolyer Estate Tours
November 26-January 4 | Daily | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Daytime tours of the DeGolyer Estate holiday decorations showcasing the Kim and John Semyan collection of Byers' Choice Ltd. Carolers.
The DeGolyer Estate will be closed to the public beginning Wednesday, November 19. It will reopen in all its holiday splendor (featuring The Byers’ Choice Ltd. Carolers collection) on Wednesday, November 26, and will be open to the public for self-guided tours. Note: DeGolyer will not be open for tours during The 12 Days at Night evenings.
Holiday Tea
November 28, 2014-January 4, 2015 | Daily | 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. | Restaurant DeGolyer
Enjoy an elegant, three-course holiday tea for a special Christmas memory for those 13 and older. Prices range between $47 and $57 and include parking and admission to the garden. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 214.515.6511. Reservations can also be made online.
Beer & Baubles Night
Thursday, December 4 | 6–10 p.m. | Entry Plaza and Hoffman Family Gift Store
Join us for a night of holiday beverages on the entry plaza and finish up your holiday shopping in our Gift Store, with special prices on Dallas Arboretum merchandise.
The 12 Days at Night
Sundays-Thursdays | November 16-January 4 | 6-10 p.m.
Special Weekend Nights | November 28 & 29 | December 26 & 27 | January 2-4 | 6-10 p.m.
The garden will come alive in the evening during these special illuminated showings. Guests will have the rare opportunity to stroll the garden at night as they view The 12 Days of Christmas exhibit and enjoy Victorian-inspired carolers and special holiday refreshments.
Admission
Adults | $20 non-members | $12 members
Seniors | $15 non-members | $10 members
Children ages 3-12 | $10 non-members | $9 members
Children under 3 receive free admission
Parking is included with nighttime admission
*Tickets are required for both members and non-members for The 12 Days at Night
Holiday Garden of Music (Members Only)
November 13 | 6-9 p.m.
Each year the Dallas Arboretum welcomes members to the exclusive members only event Garden of Music. In years past, the evening has featured musicians located throughout the garden as guests are invited to stroll the grounds, picnic, and enjoy the Arboretum at sunset. This year, Garden of Music will have an added benefit as we welcome members to choose from three complimentary evenings to view The 12 Days of Christmas. Members may visit the Arboretum in the evening, listen to the sounds of the season and enjoy The 12 Days of Christmas before it opens to the public on November 16.
Special Pricing/Promotions
Military and First Responder Mondays
November 17& 24, December 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
Active and retired military members and First Responders with identification receive free admission during the day and night. Prepurchased tickets for The 12 Days at Night are required for non-military guests. Offer available on site at the ticket booth.
Wednesday BOGO
November 19-December 31
Buy One, Get One Free ticket. Tickets are valid for daytime only. Offer available on site at the ticket booth.
Senior Thursdays
November 20-December 18
$11 day or evening admission with 20% Hoffman Family Gift Store discount. Daytime tickets cannot be used again at night. Discounted Senior Thursday tickets may be purchased for The 12 Days at Night by calling customer service at 214.515.6615.
Pearl Harbor Day
Sunday, December 7
Active and retired military members receive free admission during the day and evening. Prepurchased tickets for The 12 Days at Night are required for non-military guests.Offer available on site at the ticket booth.
12 Days of Christmas Sponsors
November 9, 2014-January 4, 2015
The 12 Days of Christmas Presenting Sponsor is Amegy Bank of Texas, and its Supporting Sponsor is the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District.
Day 1: Partridge in a Pear Tree
Sponsored by Jeanne R. Johnson
The Pear Tree will have gold branches sprinkled with rhinestones, green mirrored leaves, and gold, rhinestone encrusted pears. The partridge will sit "center stage," intricately painted and adorned with rhinestones. The tree will revolve with the partridge in it.
Day 2: Two Turtle Doves
Sponsored by a Friend of the Dallas Arboretum
The Two Turtle Doves will cuddle on an arrow that pierces a heart-shaped cage suspended from the roof of the gazebo. The feather-tailed turtle doves will be intricately painted and covered with rhinestones. The outer cage of crystal beading will be decorated with fleur de lis banding on top and bottom.
Day 3: Three French Hens
Sponsored by Faye C. Briggs
Day three will reflect the native countryside of the Three French Hens. White and gold oval French mirrors will bolster Victorian perches for the hens, and this base will turn. The hens, black-and-white with red accents, will sit in gold straw nests.
Day 4: Four Calling Birds
Sponsored by a Friend of the Dallas Arboretum
The Four Calling Birds will sit on filigreed, jeweled, Victorian hanging bird perches within an inner oval cage made of iridescent bead strands. The calling birds will be multi-colored, with feather plumes and long tails.
Day 5: Five Golden Rings
In honor of Great Grandparents Dolph and Evelyn Bosley and their 5 Gold Rings
The Five Golden Rings will feature a Victorian circus with a ceiling draped in red and white fabric to mimic a circus tent. The center circus ring will have a pedestal with oval mirrors on which a white bear wearing a vest and collar will balance a spinning gold ring on his nose. The bear will be surrounded by four seals wearing ruffled collars that are seated and balancing spinning bedazzled gold rings on their noses.
Day 6: Six Geese A-Laying
Sponsored by Marilyn R. Corrigan
The Six Geese A-Laying will be found in a snow-covered forest. Snow-flocked trees of varying sizes will sit on a mirrored floor that turns. Snow and rhinestone "rocks" will be piled high around the edges of the gazebo. Two geese will be sitting on nests, two will be standing in their nests to reveal golden eggs, and two will be nested in the trees. The geese will have feathered and rhinestones heads and necks, and feathered bodies.
Day 7: Seven Swans A-Swimming
Sponsored by Tom and Phyllis McCasland
The seven swans will float in a snowy, ice crystal palace. The gazebo will feature a pond with a tiered fountain and frozen water and icicles in the center of a mirror, or "frozen" pond. The swans, six white and one black, feathers with small crowns on their heads, will be around the fountain.
Day 8: Eight Maids-A-Milking
Sponsored by Kathy and Gene Bishop
This gazebo will feature a truly spectacular English barn divided into four wedge-shaped stalls. There will be four intricately painted cows and four beautifully costumed maids sitting on stools while milking. Four other maids will carry pails.
Day 9: Nine Ladies Dancing
In Honor of Chloe Simone Shea. Given by Holly & Tom Mayer, Maile and Charles Shea
Nine Ladies Dancing will feature a Victorian ballroom. The ladies will be costumed in beautiful Victorian beaded gowns and will have elegant period hair styles. All of them move around the gazebo, and four make complete turns.
Day 10: Ten Lords A-Leaping
Sponsored by Carl and Margot Johnson
This gazebo will feature ten ice-skating lords. The mirrored floor will be a frozen pond. The lords will be dressed in Victorian outerwear and ice skates, and all will be skating.
Day 11: Eleven Pipers Piping
Sponsored by a Friend of the Dallas Arboretum
The pipers will be dressed as Scottish bagpipe players in red and green tartan plaid. Each piper will play bagpipes. The ceiling will be draped in green and red tartan to match the pipers’ kilts, and a circle of horns adorned with roping and tassels will suspend from the ceiling over the pipe major. The pipers will also move in this gazebo.
Day 12: Twelve Drummers Drumming
Sponsored by Myron K. Martin
This gazebo will be a spectacular close to the exhibit. The drummers will be dressed in white pants with red and gold piping, red jackets and red hats with gold trim. They will move in concentric circles, with one set moving clockwise and another set moving counterclockwise.
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