With cooler weather arriving, more families in Texas are getting into the Christmas spirit. Dallas Arboretum's "Holiday at the Arboretum" has opened and runs through January 5.
The event, sponsored by Reliant Energy, has featured the "12 Days of Christmas" the past ten years, with gazebos representing each of the 12 days mentioned in the song. Carolers sang as people visited booths in the gardens.
"The big Christmas tree's a big hit with the little ones," one woman said.
"I think I'd be remiss if I said I didn't like the beer and wine choices," her husband said.
That couple was visiting with their kids and grandkids.
"They do such a good job with the lights," the husband said. "We come out earlier in the season than later. It's a good start to Christmas, kind of puts you in the mood."
Businesses are set up around the gardens, and some say the holiday setup helps them reach people who would be interested in their work.
"A lot of the people are already like-minded people who like botanicals and nature's beauty," says Marta Kihn, owner of the boutique, Dearest.
Kihn paints botanical scenes with watercolors. She says Holiday at the Arboretum can introduce her work to more people and also get kids more interested in art.
"It's really lovely. Everybody seems to be having a great time," she says. "They have the carolers. It's really wonderful."
Next to Dearest, Mireya Davis runs the menswear shop, D is for Dapper. She says the arboretum has opened up options for more local shops.
"We've had a great experience with exposure and meeting new people from all over the world," she says.
Holiday at the Arboretum runs through January 5. Details are available here.
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