Experience Holiday Magic In Texas' Festive Christmas Capital With Wine, Music, And Celebration

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that also goes for Christmas celebrations. In Grapevine — the official Christmas capital of Texas — the authentic spirit of the season is alive and well. Located in the Dallas Metroplex (just minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport), Grapevine is the sort of place that makes you feel like you're a million miles away from the big city. With over 1,400 events to celebrate the holiday season over 40-plus days, the festive events run through January 7, 2025, transforming the city into a destination that celebrates "the most wonderful time of the year" in the most wonderful of ways, with an emphasis on "wonderful." You'll find everything from parades, a Winter Wonderland, and a spectacular ice extravaganza to a wine train, live shows, music, movies, and more.

With all of these yuletide activities, you may wonder where's a good place to start. Look no further than the 45th Annual Parade of Lights, which happens on December 5 at 7 p.m. along historic Main Street. This parade features schools, local businesses, and charity organizations competing for the lightest, brightest, most festive holiday float. 

Reserve your spot on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, which takes families on the North Pole Express. This is a fabulous place to enjoy a Christmas sing-a-long with holiday characters — including a visit from the man in red himself — and plenty of merriment in vintage 1920s train cars. For adults only, the Christmas Wine Trains offer a popular ride serving hors d'oeuvres and the best wines in Texas.

It takes something special to stand out in this mass of festive magic, but the Great Wolf Lodge manages to do so. This ultimate family destination makes the holidays truly special with visits from Santa Claus, Frosty Fest dance parties, lodge-wide scavenger hunt, and craft projects. All of the holiday activities are complimentary with your stay, so you can make special memories with your Wolf pack in a Kid Kamp Suite featuring Great Wolf's exclusive log-cabin-themed sleeping area without worrying about extra spending. 

However, the main reason families come to Great Wolf Lodge is the humongous indoor water park (one of the best water parks in the country) with thrilling slides, a four-story water fort treehouse, a lazy river, wave pool, kiddie area, and more splash-tastic fun. For the holidays, they even sprinkle show showers in the waterpark. Visit the arcade for tons of games, the Great Wolf Candy Company for treats, and Wood's End Creamery for ice cream. A ropes course, interactive laser tag, and virtual games add to the excitement. They even have a Build-A-Bear Workshop. Who doesn't love Build-A-Bear?

Visitors and locals alike look forward to the annual Lone Star Christmas and ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord Texan Resort, a spectacular show that features 2 million pounds of ice carved into beautiful sculptures, slides, and other holiday decorations. This year's theme is "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and you can even touch his red nose! The temperature in the exhibit is a mere 9 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the ice from melting, so all guests are given a warm, blue parka to wear (but remember to bring your own hats and gloves). The exhibit ends in a vast shopping area full of Christmas decor with an enchanting merry-go-round and plenty of holiday beverages and treats.  

Nash Farm — Grapevine's own piece of history — turns into a "Prairie Christmas," where families can experience what the holidays were like in the Texas prairie in the late 19th century. At First Fridays on the Farm, you can help the team decorate the 1869 Victorian farmhouse and make a holiday ornament and other crafts to take home. Visit the turkeys, sheep, and chickens, and shop in the farm store for fresh eggs and old-fashioned candy. 

More holiday cheer is on offer with ice-skating at Peace Plaza, as well as live shows at the Palace Arts Center, including an "Elvis Christmas Special," "A Grapevine Opry Christmas," The Texas Tenors, and more. Christmas movies, cartoons, and crafts will delight the kids, who will almost certainly be enchanted by the abundance of festive cheer around every corner. Christmas in Texas is going to be big, right? It doesn't get any bigger than Grapevine, the official Christmas capital of the Lone Star State and one of the best Christmas towns in the United States.