Christmas Shopping in Dallas, Texas

Centrally located to most of Texas, the NorthPark Shopping Center located  on US 75 North Central Expressway, has become one of America’s premier shopping centers.

There is the usual Dillards, Folies (now Macy’s), Brookstone, Sharper Image,  and other medium priced consumer stores, Nordstroms  in the upper middle range,  as well as those like Neiman Marcus which are “high end.”  The good news is that Dallas is one of America’s  great “put it on sell cities.”  Real sales, marked first at 25% discount, then in about a month 50%, then 75%.... this includes even Neiman Marcus with  their “Last Call” sell.

This is one of my favorite malls for children at Christmas time.  There are scheduled events for the children throughout the day.  The Galleria has the ice skating rink with the monster tree in the center which makes it an excellent place to take the children, and is only thirty minutes away from North Park, off of Loop 635 exit 22.  A night at the Westin Galleria that joins the mall is always an enjoyable Christmas shopping experience and is centrally  located to the NorthPark Center.

Christmas Events at NorthPark:

Salvation Army Angel Tree Program

November 10 - December 10, 2006
Celebrate the holiday season by bringing happiness to needy children and senior citizens in our community with the NorthPark Center Salvation Army Angel Tree, located on Level One near Macy's.  Select an angel, purchase an appropriate gift, and the Salvation Army will deliver your gift in time for Christmas.  Volunteers are available to assist you from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Chase Presents "The Trains at NorthPark"(TM)

November 18, 2006 - January 1, 2007
The Trains at NorthPark (TM) is a captivating exhibit built exclusively for NorthPark Center.  Presented by Chase, 100% of the ticket proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, a home-away-from-home for families of hospitalized children.  The exhibit is built around the personal train collection of Dallas resident Ban Bywaters and includes more than 40 Lionel-type-O-Gauge trains.  Bywater's vintage trains now chug along 2,500 feet of track at NorthPark Center past American landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore, the Mississippi River, Dallas' Reunion Tower, a 20-foot high

Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the White House and

much more. 

Santa Claus is Coming to NorthPark

November 24, 2006
The day after Thanksgiving at 9 a.m. Friday, November 24, there will be a free Radio Disney family event, including giveaways and featuring live performances by the RD Superstars.  The festivities continue with the arrival of Dallas' favorite Santa Claus, a parade through NorthPark Center featuring the Salvation Army Band, and the Salvation Army Angel Tree opening ceremony emceed by NBC5 News anchor Mike Synder.

Heralded as "one of the country's premier Santas" by CBS News, NorthPark Center's Santa Claus is a Dallas favorite.  Carl Anderson, Ph.D., has been portraying the jolly old elf for 24 years, the last 18 at NorthPark Center.  Anderson, who has an uncanny resemblance to Saint Nick, is an adjunct professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas in Austin and a counseling psychologist working with families.  He has been featured in "The Wall Street Journal," "People Magazine" and "USA Today".  "The Dallas Morning News" gives him four stars, "Park Cities People" People's Choice Awards have named him "Dallas' Best Santa".  We agree that he is the best Santa Claus ever.  

Storytime with Santa

November 24 - December 23, 2006

Twice daily, Monday through Saturday and once daily on Sunday, free of charge, children of all ages can gather to hear Santa's 20-minute tales about life at the North Pole with the elves and reindeer.  Storytime is in NorthCourt, located on Level One betwen Nordstrom and Macy's, beginning at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and at 12 p.m. on Sundays.  No Storytime is held on Christmas Eve.

Storytime with Santa

November 24 - December 23, 2006

Twice daily, Monday through Saturday and once daily on Sunday, free of charge, children of all ages can gather to hear Santa's 20-minute tales about life at the North Pole with the elves and reindeer.  Storytime is in NorthCourt, located on Level One betwen Nordstrom and Macy's, beginning at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and at 12 p.m. on Sundays.  No Storytime is held on Christmas Eve.

Pecan Reindeer and Candy Santa

November 24 - December 24, 2006
Don't miss the delightful pecan-covered reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh, a NorthPark Center tradition for 40 years, located near Neiman Marcus and Tiffany & Co.

NorthPark Center's 2006 "Sounds of the Season"

November 28 - December 24, 2006
Don't miss Sounds of the Season, inspiring performances by more than 100 of the area's best choral, orchestral and dance groups daily throughout NorthPark Center. 

Sounds of the Season features the area's best Suzuki violin students, a cappella and honor choirs, dance groups and string ensembles.  Some of the most popular choirs and orchestras returning to perform this year include Metropolitan Winds, The Women's Chorus of Dallas, the Children's Chorus of Greater Dallas, Garland All-City Boys Choir and Garland All-City Girls Choir, the Children's Choir of Texas from Fort Worth, and many others. 

This year a broad selection of groups are performing at NorthPark Center for the first time:  Lone Star Youth Orchestra of the Las Colinas Symphony; The Latin Music Ensemble and LunaSol Ballet Folklorico from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts; and Sidney Lanier Elementary Vanguard for the Expressive Arts from Dallas Independent School District. 

Ballet students from Dallas Ballet Company perform excerpts from "The Nutcracker" ballet on Saturday, December 9th at 2 p.m. and at 3 p.m. in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

Other outstanding dance groups include Dallas Power House of Dance students with their high-energy performances, the award-winning Berkner High School Ramblers and Lake Highlands High School Wranglers country and western dancers, Bryan Adams High School's Ballet Folklorico and local sensation "The Jumpin' Jammers" which is joining us with their first appearance at NorthPark Center.

Highland Park High School's "Park Verson"

November 30, 2006
Highland Park High School's talented a cappella show choir "Park Version" under the direction of Stan McGill perform twice at NorthPark Center on Thursday, November 30th.  Their first performance will take place at 6:00 p.m. in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's and a second performance will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Dillard's Court.

LunaSol Ballet Folklorico from Booker T. Washington High School

December 1, 2006

The LunaSol Ballet Folklorico from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts under the direction of Fernando Hernandez and Lily Cabatu Weiss will perform at 12:00 noon at NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

The Latin Music Ensemble from Booker T. Washington High School

December 1, 2006

The talented Latin Music Ensemble from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts under the direction of Otis Gray will perform at NorthPark Center for the first time on Friday, December 1st, 6:00 -8:00 pm, in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

Children's Chorus of Greater Dallas

December 2, 2006

Two groups from the Children's Chorus of Greater Dallas under the direction of Cynthia Nott will perform at NorthPark Center at 10:00 am in Dillard's Court.

Kitty Carter's Dance Factory

December 2, 2006

Students from Kitty Carter's Dance Factory will perform at 1:00 noon in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

Metropolitan Winds

December 2, 2006

Metropolitan Winds, a talented, all-volunteer, woodwind and percussion orchestra under the direction of Randol Bass and Frank Felice, will perform at 2:00 pm in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

Suzuki Institute of Dallas

December 3, 2006

Students and adults from the Suzuki Institute of Dallas under the direction of Nicolette Sullivan will perform at 4:00 pm in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

Sidney Lanier Elementary Vanguard for the Expressive Arts

December 6, 2006

Students from Sidney Lanier Elementary Vanguard for the Expressive Arts will perform excerpts from "the Nutcracker" ballet at 12:00 noon in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's and then the Honor Choir will perform in Dillard's Court at 1:00 pm.

Plano West High School Choirs

December 8, 2006

Three groups from Plano West High School under the direction of Kathy Hackett will perform at NorthPark Center at 4:00 pm on Friday, December 8th in NorthCourt.  The three groups of talented students include "Syncopation," "Madrigals" and "Rhapsody."

Garland All-City Boys and All-City Girls Choirs

December 9, 2006

The award-winning Garland All-City Boys Choir will perform at 10:00 am followed by the Garland All-City Girls Choir.  Both groups will perform in Dillard's Court.

Suzuki Dallas

December 9, 2006

Suzuki Dallas, violin students of Louise Rossi, will perform at 1:00 pm in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

"The Nutcracker"

December 9, 2006

Students from Dallas Ballet Company under the direction of Judy and Brent Klopfenstein perform excerpts from "The Nutcracker" ballet at 2:00 and 3:00 pm in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

The Jumpin' Jammers

December 9, 2006

Local sensation "The Jumpin Jammers" will perform a demonstration showcasing their unique jumping style.  Now in their 18th year, the Jammers are a National Competition and American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart Demonstration Team from the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.  The nearly 60 jumpers in the group range in age from 7 to 17 years of age and are coached by John Wellman.  Approximately 15 jumpers will perform at NorthPark Center on Saturday, December 9th at 4:00 pm in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

Greenhill School's "Night at NorthPark"

December 9, 2006

Several choral and instrumental groups of students and faculty from the Greenhill School will perform beginning at 5:00 pm on Saturday, December 9th in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

The Women's Chorus of Dallas

December 10, 2006

The ladies of The Women's Chorus of Dallas will perform their annual concert at NorthPark Center on Sunday, December 10th at 3:00 pm in Dillard's Court.

Berkner High School "Ramblers"

December 12, 2006

The award-winning country & western dance teams from Berkner High School will perform in NorthCourt at 12:00 pm.

Treats of Christmas

December 16, 2006
Treats of Christmas offers hand-made, one-of-a-kind cakes, pies, cookies and other confectionery delights made by local chefs.  The Texas Chefs Association donates these delicious treats, and all proceeds benefit the North Texas Food Bank - Operation Front Line, an educational program promoting nutrition, budgeting and cooking, offered to clients of Dallas area non-profit agencies.

Lone Star Youth Orchestra

December 16, 2006

Lone Star Youth Orchestra, a non-profit affiliate of the Las Colinas Symphony, will perform at 2:00 pm in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's featuring music students from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. 

Dallas Power House of Dance

December 16, 2006

Students from Dallas Power House of Dance show off their high-energy dance routines at 4:00 pm in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

Temple Emanu-El Concert

December 19, 2006
Temple Emanu-El's choirs will perform their annual concert at NorthPark on Tuesday, December 19th at 6pm in the Dillard's Court. 

 “In the early 1960s, developer Raymond D. Nasher leased a 97-acre cotton field on the edge of Dallas to build what was at that time the largest climate-controlled retail establishment in the world. He assembled a team of accomplished architects and designers who laid out the shopping center on an axis like a town and designed it from the ground up to properly display large works of art. When it opened in 1965 with its clean lines, attention to detail and elegant finishes, NorthPark Center's international design and tenant mix forever changed the retail landscape in North Texas and the Southwest….the expansion of NorthPark Center includes a 200,000 square foot Nordstrom, new AMC-15 Theatres, 110 new stores in 260,000 square feet of new two-story space, two new parking garages and a new central 1.4 acre landscaped garden, CentralPark. When the expansion is completed, NorthPark Center is expected to be one of the top five shopping centers in the United States.”. http://www.northparkcenter.com/history.html

The year 2006  has been an exciting year for Dallas’ favorite mall.  NorthPark Center now has  fourteen new retailers have opened their first location in Texas, including Adidas Originals, Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein Underwear, Dallas Mavericks Ultimate Fan Shop, Fila, Intermix, Lanciani Travel Jewelry, Michael Kors, Miss Sixty/Energie, MNG by Mango, Na Hoku and Original Penguin.  Joining these select group of retailers are NorthPark’s new dining options that have their first location in Texas; Doc Green’s Gourmet Salads and The Original Soup Man/The Crêpemaker.

Among the many stores located under their roof:  http://www.northparkcenter.com/storedirectory_alpha.php