Did you know that the Texas State Senate officially named this Dallas-Fort Worth suburb “The Christmas Capital of Texas”? Grapevine wears its title like a badge of honor and shows up to celebrate the season with plenty of festivities every year. 

We visited Grapveine at Christmastime in 2020, and we fell in love with its Hallmark movie charm! Here’s everything you can do in Grapevine: The Christmas Capital of Texas.

 

Downtown Grapevine

Downtown Grapevine is a fun place to visit any time of the year because there are so many unique local shops and wineries. But at Christmastime, it is utterly magnificent! 


The citizens of Grapevine take their “Christmas Capital of Texas” title seriously. Practically every business on Main Street decorates their storefront inside and out to compete in an annual decorating contest. The city adds dozens of cool Christmas photo props throughout the local parks and public buildings and commissions performers like chalk artists and bubble wand artists to  add their own festive flair. 

This year featured larger than life-sized animated singing snowmen and Christmas trees, a Whoville set up in the town square gazebo, and pictures with Santa inside the clock tower. The historic Palace movie theatre plays exclusively Christmas classics all season, and at night time the whole street transforms as thousands of twinkling lights illuminate the sky. 

Whether you want to get started on your Christmas shopping, sip local wine, catch a movie or capture some memories with your camera, Downtown Grapevine is a blast!

 

The North Pole Express

While you’re meandering down Main Street, you might notice a flurry of activity at the old train station. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad becomes The North Pole Express during the month of December, where kids can hop aboard and see Santa and his elves perform!

All guests will receive a silver “We Believe” Christmas bell and a cookie. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Grapevine, Texas website. 

 

The Gaylord Texan

Just about 10 minutes away from Grapevine Main Street is another hot spot on the Christmas Capital of Texas Tour. The Gaylord Texan Resort staff decorates its enormous atrium with lights, trees, nutcrackers, and even the occasional giant gingerbread house every year. 

Even if you aren’t staying as a guest at the resort, you can still stop by and enjoy the festive atmosphere. We like to order hot chocolate inside the replica of The Alamo and sit on the balcony to watch the fountain play. 

This year the Gaylord offered a social-distanced outdoor light display called I Love Christmas Movies, but normally guests can visit the most elaborate collection of ice sculptures in the world: Gaylord ICE! Each year the Gaylord company chooses a different Christmas theme, and talented ice carvers create a series of rooms full of colorful ice depicting scenes from a famous Christmas tale. 

We visited a couple years ago when the Gaylord ICE! theme was Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. You can read all about it (and find out where to get a 50% off coupon) here.

 

Visiting the Christmas Capital of Texas

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Christmas in the Dallas area, make sure you add Grapevine to your bucket list. It’s the most magical place in the metroplex!