Amegy Bank of Texas Helps Dallas Arboretum
Bringto Dallas its Newest Holiday Tradition
The 12 Days of Christmas
Tickets on sale on August 15 for an unveiling November 16
DALLAS, Texas, Holiday 2014 – The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden announces today the creation of a $1.6 million exhibition entitled The 12 Days of Christmas. Unique in the world, the exhibit will open on the botanical garden grounds on November 16 and run through January 4, 2015. Dramatically designed 15-foot-tall gazebos have been made for each day of the popular carol and include either life-size Victorian-costumed mannequins or whimsical animals, with music accompanying each gazebo. The Arboretum selected the same team that creates many of the elaborate sets and intricate costumes for The Dallas Opera productions to design and build this holiday exhibition.
"Every dress, hat and costume has lavish attention to detail that is amazing. This extraordinary creation is over the top," said Brian Shivers, Dallas Arboretum board chairman. "Some exhibits have mechanical animation that brings the story to life, such as watching nine ladies swirling and dancing in one gazebo or finding 10 Lords-a-Leaping through the air in another. Each gazebo is encased in glass to both protect it from the elements and to lend an almost 'music box' quality to the exhibition."
"It is just magical and will be a delight to share with friends and families. We look forward to the joy this gorgeous holiday installation will bring to our garden guests," stated Dallas Arboretum President Mary Brinegar.
Building upon the audience appeal of the Chihuly installation, which the Arboretum showcased three years ago, and the infrastructure of outdoor lighting that was created in the garden for it, the Arboretum has conceived and commissioned this gift to the city with support from Amegy Bank of Texas and some of the garden's major donors. Two years in the making, the idea originated with a board member's wife who knew the garden wanted a holiday exhibit for families that could be beautiful and dramatic by day and sparkling when lit at night.
Kirk Wiginton, President & CEO, Amegy Bank of Texas, Dallas Region, said, "Amegy Bank of Texas is honored to present The 12 Days of Christmas, Dallas' newest tradition at the Dallas Arboretum. Not only will it benefit our community both culturally and economically, but it will become a new holiday exhibit that will attract even more visitors to this beautiful garden."
Tickets go on sale August 15. There will be a significant discount available until September 1 for those wanting to take advantage of the early bird pricing. Reservation dates may be selected at any time after purchase but will be subject to availability. Individual evening tickets include parking, and more information can be found at http://www.dallasarboretum.org/. For inquiries regarding discounted tickets for groups 15 or larger, contact groupsales@dallasarboretum.org or 214-515-6520.
Shivers said, "Like the Chihuly exhibit, The 12 Days of Christmas exhibit will attract visitors during the day and evening to see the handiwork and creativity that people have come to expect of the Dallas Arboretum. We want to thank Tom and Phyllis McCasland for having the vision of this exhibit. We also want to give proper thanks to Tommy Bourgeois, The Dallas Opera production designer, for helping us create the intricately designed costumes and décor—almost all locally sourced in Texas—and Greg Blackburn and his team at Dallas Stage Scenery who built the structures."
In addition to the exhibit, guests are invited during the day to visit the DeGolyer Estate. This year, the house will be decorated top to bottom with a collection of Byers' Choice Ltd. Christmas Caroler figurines that were collected throughout the United States and beyond. They are treasured for their simple beauty and on display as they carry out the Victorian theme present in the garden. This significant private collection was generously donated for display at the Arboretum by Kim and John Semyan.
The 12 Days of Christmas:
Decorated gazebos on display daily, from November 16-January 4. Entrance is regular pricing.
Daytime general admission is regular pricing and free for Arboretum members.
Adults: $15 non-members
Seniors: $12 non-members
Children ages 3-12: $10 non-members
Children under 3 are free.
Parking: $10 at the gate.
The 12 Days at Night:
Sundays-Thursdays, 6-10 p.m.
(Nov. 16-20, Nov. 23-26, Nov. 30-Dec. 4, Dec. 7-11, Dec. 14-18, Dec. 21-23, Dec. 28-30)
Special Weekend Nights: Nov. 28 & 29, Dec. 26 & 27 and Jan. 2-4
Garden is open for special lightednighttime showings. Festive holiday music provided by carolers.
Prices:
Adults: $20 non-members; $12 members
Seniors: $15 non-members; $10 members
Children ages 3-12: $10 non-members; $9 members
Children under 3 are free.
Parking is included with admission.
Special Pricing/Promotions:
Military and First Responder Mondays
November 17 & 24, December 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
Active and retired military members and First Responders with identification receive free admission during the day and night. Offer available on site at the ticket booth.
Wednesday BOGO
November 19-December 31
Buy One, Get One Free ticket. Tickets are valid for daytime only. Offer available on site at the ticket booth.
Senior Thursdays
November 20-December 18
$11 day or evening admission with 20% Hoffman Family Gift Store discount. Daytime tickets cannot be used again at night. Offer available on site at the ticket booth.
Pearl Harbor Day
Sunday, December 7
Active and retired military members receive free admission during the day and evening. Offer available on site at the ticket booth.
Special Holiday Festivities:
November 29-December 21
Saturdays and Sundays Noon-4 p.m.
Enjoy visits with Santa, reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
November 29-January 4
Daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Daytime tours of the DeGolyer House holiday decorations showcasing the Kim and John Semyan collection of Byers’ Choice Ltd.Carolers.
Holiday Tea:
November 28-December 31, 2014
Daily 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. at the Restaurant DeGolyer
Enjoy an elegant, three-course holiday tea for a special Christmas memory for those 12 and older. Prices range between $47 and $57 and include parkingand admission to the garden. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 214.515.6511 or purchased online at http://www.dallasarboretum.org/.
12 Days of Christmas Sponsors:
November 16, 2014-January 4, 2015
The 12 Days of Christmas Presenting Sponsor is Amegy Bank of Texas, and its Supporting Sponsor is the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District.
Day 1: Partridge in a Pear Tree
Sponsored by Jeanne R. Johnson
The Pear Tree will have gold branches sprinkled with rhinestones, green mirrored leaves, and gold, rhinestone encrusted pears. The partridge will sit “center stage,” intricately painted and adorned with rhinestones. The tree will revolve with the partridge in it.
Day 2: Two Turtle Doves
Sponsored by a Friend of the Dallas Arboretum
The Two Turtle Doves will cuddle on an arrow that pierces a heart-shaped cage suspended from the roof of the gazebo. The feather-tailed turtle doves will be intricately painted and covered with rhinestones. The outer cage of crystal beading will be decorated with fleur de lis banding on top and bottom.
Day 3: Three French Hens
Sponsored by Faye C. Briggs
Day three will reflect the native countryside of the Three French Hens. White and gold oval French mirrors will bolster Victorian perches for the hens, and this base will turn. The hens, black-and-white with red accents, will sit in gold straw nests.
Day 4: Four Calling Birds
Grandmama Hunt’s Present to all Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren
The Four Calling Birds will sit on filigreed, jeweled, Victorian hanging bird perches within an inner oval cage made of iridescent bead strands. The calling birds will be multi-colored, with feather plumes and long tails.
Day 5: Five Golden Rings
Honoring Dolph and Evelyn Bosley’s Five Gold Great Grandbabies
The Five Golden Rings will feature a Victorian circus with a ceiling swagged in red and white fabric to mimic a circus tent. The center circus ring will have a pedestal with oval mirrors on which a white bear wearing a vest and collar will balance a spinning gold ring on his nose. The bear will be surrounded by four seals wearing ruffled collars that are seated and balancing spinning bedazzled gold rings on their noses.
Day 6: Six Geese A-Laying
Sponsored by Marilyn R. Corrigan
The Six Geese A-Laying will be found in a snow-covered forest. Snow-flocked trees of varying sizes will sit on a mirrored floor that turns. Snow and rhinestone “rocks” will be piled high around the edges of the gazebo. Two geese will be sitting on nests, two will be standing in their nests to reveal golden eggs, and two will be nested in the trees. The geese will have feathered and rhinestones heads and necks, and feathered bodies.
Day 7: Seven Swans A-Swimming
Sponsored by Tom and Phyllis McCasland
The sevens swans will float in a snowy, ice crystal palace. The gazebo will feature a pond with a tiered fountain and frozen water and icicles in the center of a mirror, or “frozen” pond. The swans, six white and one black, feathers with small crowns on their heads, will be around the fountain.
Day 8: Eight Maids-A-Milking
Sponsored by Kathy and Gene Bishop
This gazebo will feature a truly spectacular English barn divided into four wedge-shaped stalls. There will be four intricately painted cows and four beautifully costumed maids sitting on stools while milking. Four other maids will carry pails.
Day 9: Nine Ladies Dancing
In Honor of Chloe Simone Shea. Given by Holly & Tom Mayer, Maile and Charles Shea
Nine Ladies Dancing will feature a Victorian ballroom. The ladies will be costumed in beautiful Victorian beaded gowns and will have elegant period hair styles. All of them move around the gazebo, and four make complete turns.
Day 10: Ten Lords A-Leaping
Sponsored by Carl and Margot Johnson
This gazebo will feature ten ice-skating lords. The mirrored floor will be a frozen pond. The lords will be dressed in Victorian outerwear and ice skates, and all will be skating.
Day 11: Eleven Pipers Piping
Sponsored by a Friend of the Arboretum
The pipers will be dressed as Scottish bagpipe players in red and green tartan plaid. Each piper will play bagpipes. The ceiling will be draped in green and red tartan to match the piper’s kilts, and a circle of horns adorned with roping and tassels will suspend from the ceiling over the pipe major. The pipers will also move in this gazebo.
Day 12: Twelve Drummers Drumming
Sponsored by Myron K. Martin
This gazebo will be a spectacular close to the exhibit. The drummers will be dressed in white pants with red and gold piping, red jackets and red hats with gold trim. They will move in concentric circles, with one set moving clockwise and another set moving counterclockwise.
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About the Dallas Arboretum:
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. The Dallas Arboretum is also the home of the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum. The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.