Three Things to Know in Arlington: Dec. 1-7, 2025

The City's contractor, Republic Services, will begin additional bulk/brush/yard waste routes to assist with the leaf collection starting today and ending the first week in January.

Residents can place up to twelve (12) 30-gallon bags of leaves at the curb each week for the bulk/brush/yard waste crews to manually collect. Bagged leaves that are picked up at the curb are not recyclable and go straight to the landfill. Residents and landscape contractors may also take unbagged leaves to the Arlington Landfill for recycling at no cost.

The 21st annual Holiday Lights Parade in Downtown Arlington is set for Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, with activities starting at 2 p.m. and ending around 9 p.m.

The festive and family-friendly holiday tradition is organized by volunteers and includes free activities and entertainment at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library and Levitt Pavilion. Enjoy games, crafts, shopping, live performances and more before the parade brightens up the streets of Downtown starting at 6 p.m. 

Following the parade, the traditional Tree Lighting ceremony begins at 7 p.m. in Founders Plaza near City Hall. Don't forget your camera for pictures with Santa!

Visitors can step into the world of spiders and scorpions as “The Art and Science of Arachnids,” billed as the nation’s largest touring arachnid exhibit, is open for a limited time at River Legacy Nature Center. The traveling show, which runs through February 2026, invites guests to explore the often-misunderstood creatures through interactive displays, oversized sculptures, live animals and artwork linking arachnids to medicine, music and folklore.

The exhibit offers hands-on activities, including opportunities to weave a web and learn about the science of spider silk, assemble arachnid models in the Spider Lab, view an art gallery inspired by arachnid forms, practice the traditional Tarantella dance and examine macro photography. Tickets are sold at the Nature Center’s front desk.