Holidays at the Heard   

December 13 & 14

6:30-9 P.M.  

A Fun, Festive and Family-Friendly Fundraising Event Benefiting Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Holidays at the Heard brings the beauty of the holiday season into nature. Bundle up and experience the most unique holiday event in North Texas! Guests will see lights and holiday décor along a half mile Heard nature trail. In keeping with the Heard’s role as a nature preserve, this light display is designed to enhance, rather than overpower, the sanctuary’s natural beauty. Also, you'll get to travel back in time to experience 10 life-size dinosaurs along a nature trail. Children and the young at heart will enjoy the opportunity to take a photo with Father Christmas and Mother Nature in a festive setting. 

Purchase Tickets

The discounted online ticket price will be available through November 11. Tickets will be available at the door while supplies last. *To receive your Heard Museum Member discount at the door, please be prepared to show the valid membership card (or relevant receipt) that you purchased from Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary.

On the Amphitheater Stage

Enjoy our live nightly stage performances under the stars!

December 13

Cafe Society with Anthony and Marina

With roots in jazz, Marina & Anthony bring fresh interpretations to current favorites along with the classics. Cafe Society is not just about music, it’s about how music fits into a place. They describe themselves as the catalyst that combines the crowd, the venue, and the vibe. Indulge in a high spirited time with Cafe Society.

December 14

La Pompe

Named afer the driving rhythm characteristic of French gypsy jazz, we are La Pompe! Led by multi-lingual vocals, this swingin' bunch of cats bring the best of French wartime classics, American jazz standards and gypsy instrumentals. 

*Tip- bring along a blanket to warm your seat. You may also wish to bring water resistant seating depending on the weather.*

More Activities

• Take a photo of yourself with Father Christmas and Mother Nature.
• Warm up with hot beverage or a snack available for purchase.
• Enjoy a stroll along our festively lit nature trail!
• Explore the North Pole Children's Village.
• Visit our vendors for fun activities and more. 
• Experience life-size dinosaurs along the lighted trail. (Please note the dinosaurs are not animated during this event.)

Sponsored by

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a night of the event is cancelled?

We will do our best to offer an alternative date should the weather not be safe for hosting an event. Alternatively, you can opt to exchange your event ticket for general admission.

When can I purchase tickets in person?

Tickets will be available for purchase at the door on the nights of the event while supplies last. However, we do recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance to guarantee availability. 

I would like to order my tickets by phone. Can I do that?

At this time, we are unable to process ticket orders made by phone. Please refer to our online ticketing link to purchase your tickets. 

May I purchase tickets online?

Yes, you are encouraged to purchase your ticket online prior to the event once ticketing is open. In fact, tickets purchased online are offered at a discounted rate. Tickets will not be available online during the event.

Do I need to buy a ticket for my child?

All children must have a ticket for our planning purposes. Please note that children ages 2 and under are admitted free of charge and will receive a complimentary pass. All children ages 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. 

You say my ticket sale is final. What does that mean?

Events at Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary are fundraisers for this organization, and tickets are usually limited in quantity. As a result, we cannot provide cash refund for tickets purchased. There are no refunds or cancellations allowed. We cannot refund your money due to loss, theft, illness or schedule conflicts. Once the payment has been processed, we cannot change your tickets to another event and the sale is complete and final.

If you are unable to attend a Heard event, you may donate your tickets to the Heard for a tax credit. Tickets must be returned no later than 24 hours before the scheduled event by calling us at (972) 562-5566 or by emailing info@heardmuseum.org. You must receive a confirmation email. There are no refunds for unused tickets.

Can you hold tickets for me?

Tickets cannot be held without payment. The only way to reserve a ticket is to purchase it, and that sale is final.

Can I add more tickets to my order later?

You may purchase additional tickets after your initial order while quantities last; however, we strongly suggest that you know the total number of people in your party before ordering tickets. All sales are final. 

Where and when do I pick up my tickets?

If you purchase your tickets online, you will receive an email confirmation of your order. Please bring that documentation with you to facilitate check in at the event.  If you do not receive this email, please check your spam and junk boxes in your e-mail account as this is (almost) always what has happened to them. You will not receive anything by mail. If you purchase tickets at the admissions desk before the event, you will also receive a confirmation email at the email address you provided at the time of purchase (please print clearly to ensure delivery).

Will you sell my tickets if I don't arrive at the event on time?

Once you purchase tickets, those tickets are yours. They will still be waiting for you, regardless of when you show up, and guarantee admission to the event as time allows (we recommend arriving at least an hour before the end of the event).

I am a Heard Museum Member. Do I need tickets to get into this event?

Yes, all guests require special event tickets. Heard Museum Membership includes free general admission year round. Because this is a special fundraising event (and not general admission) tickets are required for all attendees. Members are offered a discount on the at-the-door price. For more information about your Heard Museum Membership benefits, please visit our membership info page or our membership FAQ page. 

I am a member of PMNS or FWMNS. Do I receive a discount on my tickets or receive free admission? 

No. Please note that our reciprocal general admission agreement extends only to general admission and does not include special events, festivals, or education programs. For full information about your membership benefits, please contact the organization that issued your membership. 

I didn't receive an email with my tickets. What should I do?

For some reason, some of the email servers seem to block the reservation emails sometimes. (As a side note: adding the info@heardmuseum.org address to your contact list may help.) As a result, it might be in one of your junk folders or still in the server’s filter. If you still do not receive your email confirmation of your reservation, we will be able to look up the name on the ticket reservation.

Attendance Tips & Guidelines

• The dinosaurs of the Dinosaurs Live! exhibit will not be animated during the event. This is a great time to introduce younger children that may be sensitive to their movements or sounds.
• Please use the ticket for the night you specified. In the event that you must switch, we will nonetheless honor your ticket on a different night of the event.
• Please note that the museum will be closed to the public in preparation for this event from 3-6:30 p.m. on December 13 and 14.
• Again, to avoid waiting in long lines and higher prices at the door, we strongly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance online. 
• In support of The Heard’s Mission of Bringing People & Nature Together, our lighting display is designed to enhance the natural beauty of our sanctuary, not overpower it. 
• Guests may bring in their own picnic dinner and non-alcoholic beverages. 
• Please note that this is a come and go event. 
• In our experience, it takes approximately 30 minutes to casually walk along the trail. 
• While our indoor exhibits are wheelchair and stroller accessible, the Heard nature trails are not currently wheelchair nor walker accessible.
• The trails are not paved and are only accessible to running strollers with large wheels (not umbrella strollers). 
• Please allow for plenty of time to deal with increased traffic to and from the Heard and parking/shuttle delays.
• No pets, except service animals, are allowed on the Heard’s property. 
• Smoking is not allowed anywhere at the Heard.
• All guests ages 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
• More tips and guidelines for visiting the Heard can be found here.

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Heard is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit and was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard. Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation.

For more information on Heard Attendance Tips and Visitor Guidelines, click here.