Join America’s Sweethearts and Legendary Cowboys Players for a Spectacular Holiday Extravaganza
Sometimes, it’s still hard to believe that Frisco is home to The Dallas Cowboys. One of the, if not the, most infamous, storied, and beloved football teams in modern history is headquartered right here in our backyard. And, you know, football is fun and all, and we love being able to brag about the Cowboys being in Frisco…but often, it’s those equally infamous sideline sweethearts that hold the spotlight and as much adoration as America’s favorite team. “Often imitated, never equaled,” the world-famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) are icons in and of themselves.
Frisco has long had many Christmas season traditions that bring families and visitors of Frisco together, and in 2016, the year the Dallas Cowboys Headquarters opened in Frisco, The Dallas Cowboys organization brought with it what would become a premier Christmas experience, drawing huge crowds throughout November and December each year. And, you guessed it, America’s Sweethearts, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, dazzle the crowd for much of the 20-minute-long show at Tostitos Championship Plaza at The Star called the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza powered by Reliant.
A DCC Christmas Brought to Life
Long before The Star was even imagined, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Director Kelli Finglass had a long-time dream of creating a destination-based Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders show. Ms. Finglass recalls, “It wasn’t until we built The Star…we had our own plaza, and that’s when we decided to create a Christmas show that spanned an entire football field and featured every gameday entertainment element of a Dallas Cowboys home game that was free to the public.”
When Ms. Finglass and her team first began planning the Extravaganza, she says the list of who and what to include grew quickly. Of what they most wanted to include in the holiday show when they first began planning, she says, “Definitely, our entire squad of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders originally with red holiday costumes, but that quickly grew to a cast of 66 people featuring every entertainment element at a Dallas Cowboys home game and the focal point being a 67-foot LED programmed Christmas tree that is programmed in sync with the musical score.”
In creating the show’s elements and what would ultimately be included in the Christmas Extravaganza, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Choreographer Judy Trammell says they wanted to include multiple elements. “We knew we wanted to include game day elements into the Christmas show. Not only the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders but also involve our game day entertainment, so we, of course, had to have Rowdy, Rhythm and Blue, Drummers, and The Rookie Squad a part of the show. And, of course, because it’s Christmas, Santa and his Elves!” Ms. Trammell explains.
Anyone who knows the Dallas Cowboys and The DCC knows that, most often, anything and everything done under the umbrella of their organizations is top-notch, incredibly entertaining, and very well executed. The Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza is no different. While the show is only 20 minutes long, it’s jam-packed with performances, music, lights, surprises, and other exciting aspects.
Throughout the show, Ms. Finglass, Ms. Trammel, and their production teams did a phenomenal job of achieving a balance of classic DCC performances, holiday elements, and “Dallas Cowboys”-levels of extravagant aspects of the show. Ms. Finglass adds, “Holiday music is a great foundation, but the most exciting element to that was collaborating with Grammy Award-winning John Shanks of Bon Jovi. Along with him, our Creative Director, Steve Dahlem, and I wrote a score that blends electric guitars with holiday classics and the result is the most electrifying show of the holiday season.”
Kicking Off the Holiday Season
The Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza powered by Reliant is an exhilarating performance that transforms The Star into a true Christmas experience, complete with a mix of game-day excitement and Christmas cheer. The show begins with none other than an exciting performance by the world-famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, followed by the lighting of The Star’s majestic 67-foot LED Christmas tree. This is a special part of the show, as Dallas Cowboys football legends light the tree during each show.
Legendary Cowboys players and their families participate in the festivities throughout the holiday season. This year’s Cowboys stars include Tony Dorsett and family (November 30), Tyrone Crawford & Family with Eddie Burns, CEO, Monument Realty (December 7), Morris Claiborne and family (December 13), Gene and Jerry Jones (December 20), and Dat Nguyen and family (December 21), to name a few.
“Christmas at The Star is always a fun way to kick off the holiday season and bring our community together to celebrate at The Star in Frisco,” said Dallas Cowboys Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones. “We are excited to welcome families and friends to The Star to take part in one of our most treasured traditions, especially during the most wonderful time of the year.”
Fifth-year veteran Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Armani loves that the show brings so many people together. She shares, “I absolutely love Christmas and the holidays because it’s a time to be with family and loved ones, so it’s so special that we get to share that with our fans. Whether you’re a Cowboys fan, a DCC fan, or both, the show is a truly incredible experience for the whole family!”
While this year will be Armani’s fifth go-around performing in the Christmas Extravaganza, the 2024 show run is the first for the DCC Rookies (cheerleaders who made the team last summer). Rookie DCC Charly says, “I’m most looking forward to just being able to be a part of the show since Christmas has been my favorite holiday since I was little. I’ve seen the show in the past, and just to be a part of it is special. I can’t wait to experience the holiday cheer with our fans.”
The full show is comprised of a showcase of an incredible lineup of 65+ performers, including members from the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue, Cowboys Rookie Squad, Rowdy, and there’s even a special appearance by Santa Claus. As the various spectacles of the show wow guests, visitors, and fans, one in particular is Armani’s favorite part of the show. She shares, “My favorite part of the show is when the lights go down, and then we all come running out of the tree in our Electric Cowgirl costumes, and the audience is in awe because we’re basically putting on a light show! The costumes themselves are so much fun because they light up, but it’s the audience’s reaction that is my favorite!”
Ms. Finglass agrees with Armani, though she admits choosing just one favorite part of the show is difficult. “It’s hard to choose just one. But one moment is Electric Cowgirl when the cheerleaders burst out of the Christmas tree in their white bright LED costumes, poms, and boots. It’s been a long process of research and development, and to see the result is just electric! Also, I can’t not mention the appearance of Santa Claus; there’s nothing more magical than seeing children’s faces when they see Santa Clause in person at our show,” Ms. Finglass explains.
Though the DCC are obviously the stars of the show, Ms. Trammell admits that she has another favorite element of the Christmas Extravaganza. “Everyone would think the dancing, but for me, it’s when Santa comes out. Seeing the faces of the children is truly magical,” she admits.
But the Fun Doesn’t Stop There…
Additional fan-favorite moments during the show include the tree’s stunning light display synchronized with original Christmas music, an exciting hip-hop performance by the Rhythm and Blue, and fireworks that light up the night sky at The Star.
While the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform at each and every Dallas Cowboys’ home football game, the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza gives them the opportunity to further entertain and interact with the fan base. The fact that they get to have extra performances during Christmastime and the holiday season makes it extra special.
Armani says of these extra performance opportunities, “It means so much to us that we get to share the joy of Christmas with everyone. Sometimes, this is the only time people will ever be able to see us perform, so we always want to make sure we’re putting on the best show we can for them! This may be the moment a little girl sees us and says, ‘I want to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader when I grow up.’ So, having that in the back of my mind while dancing makes it special. One Christmas show can bring a family together and be a special memory that they talk about forever!”
Of future shows, Ms. Finglass admits she continually looks forward to making improvements, though the show is spectacular. “I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t make minor improvements in every project I do. But the show is very well done, we enhanced our elves’ costumes this year to feature massive supernova crystals with our partner, Rebel. We’ve even dressed some of our cameramen as elves, and we added drummers to the show. So, I wouldn’t change the basic composition of the show, but I’m always making improvements.”
While Frisco holds so much pride in being home to The Dallas Cowboys and The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Ms. Finglass admits that being able to provide an incredible show and experience for residents, guests, and visitors alike gives The Dallas Cowboys organization a sense of pride as a whole. “I think the show is a great sense of pride for our organization because literally every department is now involved, from every game-day entertainer (DCC, Rhythm and Blue, Drumline, Rookie Squad, Elves, Rowdy and Santa). But, also, it’s an organizational-wide project involving operations, accounting, security, The Cowboys Club, Omni, Formation, and The Ford Center,” she says.
Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza takes place every Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. through December 21 outdoors on Tostitos Championship Plaza. Admission and parking for the event are free (hint: plan to arrive early in order to be able to secure a great place in the designated area to see the show!).
In addition to the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza, visitors can visit Santa in his Cowboys-themed set in the heart of The Star District (across from Ascension Coffee). Fans are encouraged to schedule a visit, though walk-ins are welcome, with limited availability. Accompanying the Cowboys’ kickoff to the holidays, The Star is offering Christmas Tours of The Star presented by SeatGeek before and after Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza shows through Saturday, December 21. The Dallas Cowboys invite visitors to experience the magic of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters during Christmastime. Tickets include a viewing of the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza) 45-minute Christmas-themed Guided Tour of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters, a takeaway Santa hat, and a limited-edition Dallas Cowboys ornament.
Hosting the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza at The Star in Frisco makes the event truly special. The Star, which serves as the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters and training facility, is not just a sports venue; it’s very much a cultural and community hub in Frisco. By staging the event in this iconic location, the Cowboys have been able to bring fans closer to the heart of their operations, creating a truly unique and immersive experience.
Frisco’s status as a growing, vibrant city only adds to the event's individuality. Our moniker, Sports City USA, continually proves itself true. Given its family-friendly community and reputation for hosting premier events, Frisco has become a premier destination no matter the time of year. The Star, too, embodies this spirit, blending cutting-edge design with a festive atmosphere that enhances the Christmas Extravaganza tenfold.
From the thrilling performances of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders to the stunning synchronized Christmas tree lighting, the event merges world-class entertainment with the pride and tradition of the Cowboys franchise. Fans can walk the same grounds as their favorite players, making it an unforgettable experience.
In addition to the incredible, now-storied Christmas Extravaganza show, The Star District provides a festive setting for dining, shopping, and exploring Cowboys-themed attractions, allowing visitors to extend their holiday outings beyond the show. This unique convergence of football culture and holiday cheer ensures that the Extravaganza is more than just a show—it's a celebration of community, tradition, and the spirit of the season.
For more information on the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza visit thestardistrict.com.
