Dallas' tallest indoor Christmas tree adds 215,000 LED lights for spectacular new sparkle

Holiday news

Galleria Dallas promises it'll be merrier and brighter than ever before for the 2023 holiday season, thanks to some modern updates to its iconic Christmas tree.

According to a release, the 95-foot tree in the middle of the ice rink is getting a makeover that will include new branches, LED lighting, and the ability to play animated light shows. An Italian company called Twinkly is overseeing the tree's redesign, which "by the numbers" will include:

"This will be the tallest tree Twinkly, an Italian company best known for residential holiday lighting, has ever illuminated," says the release. (No pressure, Twinkly signore e signori, but this is touted as America's largest indoor Christmas tree!)

Installation will begin November 5 and finish for a grand unveiling on the evening of November 9, they say - plenty of time to play with the lights and get them in working order for Santa's big arrival on November 17.

"Galleria Dallas is proud to offer the area’s most technologically advanced Santa experience, where families board a magical train, seeing the sights as they move from Dallas to the North Pole, and Santa knows what kids want under the tree on Christmas morning," says the release. "This year, there will be designated times for Santa Paws, Santa Cares, and Spanish-speaking Santa. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made online beginning October 1."

Along with Santa, the Galleria's popular Snowday immersive experience will arrive on November 17. For the first time this year, it'll actually snow.

"Guests will feel the flakes in the secret town where Santa’s elves live, and guests will explore nearly 10,000 square feet of Hollywood-grade sets and styling creating some of the elves’ favorite places, along with state-of-the-art, touch-free photo technology, which has been installed in even more vignettes this year," they say.

Among the new Instagrammy sections will be a gingerbread room and a space shuttle.

As usual, holiday festivities will really rev up on Black Friday (November 24) with the Grand Tree Lighting Celebration on the ice rink, featuring Olympic figure skaters and a fireworks finale starring Missile Toes, the famed ice-skating Santa. (The celebration will repeat at 12 pm November 25.)

Hanukkah will be celebrated on its first night, December 7, with a Menorah lighting led by Rabbi Andrew Paley from Temple Shalom, along with a performance by Kol Shalom, Temple Shalom’s youth choir. Delicious Sufganiyots will be served.

Throughout the holiday season, events both festive and charitable will take place daily, from the Salvation Army Angel Tree to Storytime with Mrs. Claus. To keep up, visit a complete schedule of holiday events at GalleriaDallas.com/holiday, available October 1.