Dallas families and visitors will gather at the Galleria Dallas beginning Nov. 13 to celebrate the city’s most iconic holiday centerpiece: a 95‑foot indoor Christmas tree, billed as the tallest indoor tree in the United States. The towering evergreen, a long‑standing fixture of the shopping center, will be illuminated with more than 215,000 programmable LED lights that create animated scenes of dancing reindeer, Santa Claus, floating candy canes and holiday gifts.
Official Tree Photo Sessions
For the first time, the Galleria is offering an Official Galleria Dallas Tree Photo. Guests can book a professional session in front of the tree at Center Court for $10, which includes up to three poses and up to six guests. Digital copies are provided after the shoot, and printed photos are available for an additional $5 each. Sessions run through Jan. 3, and the center encourages visitors to combine the photo experience with tickets to Santaland and SNOWDAY for a full day of holiday activities.
Construction and Design
Nearly 50 crew members, described as Santa’s best elves, spend five days assembling the tree. After a five‑ton steel frame is erected, more than 850 hand‑sewn branches—each the size of a small Christmas tree—are installed, a process that required over 14,000 shop hours. The lighting system, supplied by Italian firm Twinkly (the same company that lights the Vatican’s Christmas tree), features a 100‑pound, 10‑foot LED star—the first of its kind in the United States.
Daily Illumination Celebrations
Each day during the holiday season, the tree’s lights dance in time to specially orchestrated music during the Illumination Celebration, held at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. starting on Black Friday. The celebration is mirrored on two additional 36‑foot trees on Level 1 near Grand Lux Café and Alo. Free public lightings are scheduled for Black Friday (Nov. 27), Saturday, Nov. 28, and Saturday, Dec. 5, featuring Olympic‑level skaters, student performances, and a back‑flipping Santa who launches fireworks from his skates.
Holiday Atmosphere Throughout the Mall
The Galleria’s holiday décor extends beyond the main tree. Level 3 showcases 44 palm trees wrapped with 50,000 lights, while ten smaller trees throughout the mall add another 40,000 lights. Outside, 30 trees along the Dallas North Tollway are adorned with 100,000 red LED lights, creating a welcoming festive corridor for motorists.
Community Impact
Beyond its visual splendor, the tree has become a backdrop for personal milestones. More couples propose while skating around the tree than at New York’s Rockefeller Center, and the venue hosts countless family photos and holiday memories each year. The Galleria welcomes over 12 million visitors annually, and the holiday display adds a significant cultural and economic boost to the Dallas community.
Visitor Information
The tree will be fully assembled by Thursday, Nov. 5, and will remain on display until Monday, Jan. 4. A time‑lapse video of a previous tree’s construction is available on the Galleria’s website. For a complete schedule of holiday events, including ice‑skating shows, live music, and additional attractions, visit galleriadallas.com/holiday.
Original reporting: Focus Daily News — read the source article.
