All Tracks Lead to Grapevine

🎄 Christmas Capital of Texas 2024 dates! ❄️

(Early) Seasons Greetings from Grapevine!

🎅 The Christmas Capital of Texas features more than 1,400 events over 40 days and we are busy preparing! Here is a list with some important dates for you.

ICE! – Experience two million pounds of carved ice set into a famous Christmas scene at Gaylord Texan Resort, November 10 – Sunday, December 31. Tickets on sale July 25.

Tickets go on sale for other certain events on September 25.

Tom T. Turkey Pardoning – Mayor Tate pardons Nash Farm’s Tom T. Turkey from the Thanksgiving dinner table as Grapevine says goodbye to Fall and welcomes the Christmas Capital of Texas. Monday, November 25 at 10 a.m. (Also, Santa’s North Pole Express Media Day in the morning if you’d like to cover it.)

36^th Annual Carol of Lights presented by Texas Health – Official kickoff event for the Christmas Capital of Texas. (Main Street closes to traffic, becomes a festival) Monday, November 25, 4:00 – 8:30 p.m.

  

Snowland – Great Wolf Lodge turns into a Winter Wonderland with daily snow showers, dance parties, activities and more. November 24 – January 8.

Santa’s Wonderland – The popular annual tradition at Bass Pro Shops includes games, crafts and free photos with Santa and runs November – December.

 

Santa’s North Pole Express – Friday, November 29 – Monday, December 30. (Closed December 24, 25 & 26) (Tickets on sale Sept. 25 – These sell out quickly, so keep in mind for publishing dates)

Christmas Wine Trains – Wednesday, December 11 and Thursday, December 12. Trains depart at 7:25 p.m. Tickets are $52 – $395. (21+) (Tickets on sale Sept. 25)

 

Peace Plaza Ice Rink – Friday, November 23 – early January. Multiple time slots available to choose from each day. Tickets are $20 per person for a one-hour session, including skates. (Tickets on sale Sept. 25)

Christmas Lights and Photo Opps on Historic Main Street – Enjoy festively decorated shops, cafes and winery tasting rooms on Historic Main Street and photo opportunities along the way including in Liberty Park Plaza, the Cotton Belt Depot District and more.

Grapevine’s Live Christmas Tree– Take in the beauty of a fully decorated 50’ live Christmas tree from the Pacific Northwest at Grapevine Main Station’s Peace Plaza.

Grapevine’s Christmas Village – Explore the Cotton Belt Depot District with seasonal attractions, activities and photo ops. Friday, November 29 – Monday, December 30. (Closed December 24, 25 & 26)

 

Hometown Christmas– Stroll through the charm and spirit of a classic American town preparing for Christmas in this interactive Christmas exhibition inside the Grapevine Tower Gallery. Tickets $2. Monday, November 18 – Sunday, January 5. (Closed December 24, 25 & 26.)

Grapevine Christmas Market – Shop a variety of different artisan vendors at the Town Square Gazebo. November 30, December 1, December 7 – 23. Mondays – Saturdays 1 – 9 p.m. Sundays 1 – 7 p.m.

45^th Annual Parade of Lights – Thursday, December 5 (On Historic Main Street) 7 p.m.

4^th Annual Merry & Bright Drone Shows – Monday, December 2 & Monday, December 9 at 7 p.m. Locations to be announced.

Crime at Christmastime Murder Mystery Dinner – Friday, December 6 at Messina Hof Winery Tasting Room. $75 per person.

Vetro Glassblowing Studios – Create Ornament Events ($65) and Snowmen Ornament Create Events ($75) will begin Friday, November 1 and continue through Monday, December 30. Tickets go live on Wednesday, August 21.

Texas Star Dinner Theater – “Dismay in a Manger” shows will open Friday, November 22 and runs through New Year’s Eve (Tuesday, December 31). Shows are Thursday through Sunday at 5 p.m. There is an additional show on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:30 p.m. Tickets on sale now.

 

Historic Palace Theatre Movies: (Tickets on sale Sept. 25)

• 27 different Christmas Movies – includes classics like “Elf,” “Home Alone,” “White Christmas,” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” – $10
• 23 different Cartoons and Crafts events– Watch classic Christmas cartoons like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” while making a fun Christmas craft.

$8 kids (includes craft, popcorn and drink) $4 adults (includes water)

 

Historic Palace Theatre Live Shows: (Tickets on sale July 25)

 

• Magician Zak Mirz – Friday, November 8. Tickets are between $20 – $30
• Big Band Holiday Swing Thing presented by Tribute Masters – Saturday, November 9, two shows. Tickets are $44
• North Central Ballet presents: “Nutcracker – Short and Sweet” – Saturday, November 23 & Sunday Nov 24. $15 tickets for the ballet with an optional $12 tea party add on.
• Elvis Christmas Special with Kraig Parker – Sunday, December 1. Tickets from $15 – $42.
• Dean Martin & Friends Christmas Tribute presented by Tribute Masters – Friday, December 6, two shows. Tickets are $44.
• A Merry Little Christmas with Ricki Derek – Saturday, December 7. Tickets are $32.
• Rocky Gribble presents A Grapevine Opry Christmas – Sunday, December 8. Tickets are $30
• The Texas Tenors – Deep in the Heart of Christmas – Monday, December 9 – Wednesday December 11, with four shows in total. Tickets are $48.
• Carpenters Legacy: A Christmas Portrait – Friday, December 13, with two shows. Tickets are $38.
• A Bublé Christmas Tribute presented by Tribute Masters –  Saturday, December 14 & Sunday December 15, three shows total. Tickets are $44.
• Endless Summer – The Beach Boys Experience Holiday Edition – Friday, December 20, with two shows. Tickets are $44.
• William Lee Martin’s The Nuttier Cracker Comedy Show – Saturday, December 21, two shows. Tickets are $35 – $45.

Elf Adventure – Friday, November 29 – Monday, December 30 (Closed December 24, 25 & 26) at the Settlement to City Museums. $10 for the passport and $4 for each individual activity. (Tickets on sale Sept. 25)

Farmstead Christmas Celebration – Guests can make ornaments, enjoy music and refreshments with the farmhands. Saturday, December 7 at Nash Farm from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. $5 per person. (Tickets on sale Sept. 25)

First Fridays on the Farm – Prairie Christmas at Nash Farm. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday, December 6. $5 per person. (Tickets on sale Sept. 25)

Holly Jolly Pop-Up Bar at Third Rail – Enjoy Christmas cocktails, festive décor and live entertainment from late November – December. Inside Harvest Hall at Grapevine Main Station.

Winter Wonderland Bubbles – Hotel Vin’s infamous Bubbles on the WineYard lawn feature fur blankets, heaters and decadent treats. Open late November through Valentine’s Day.

Holiday Hideaway Pop-Up Bar – Chicken N Pickle’s seasonal bar features festive cocktails, lodge vibes, summit views and a cozy atmosphere. New this year- there are two festively decorated igloos on the patio. Reservations open in November.

*All dates, times, prices are subject to change. This is not an exhaustive list.

Contact Elizabeth Schrack for any questions, pictures or for more information on any specific event.
Information as of 7/23/2024.

 

This exciting Summer program promises to be an unforgettable Prehistoric Adventure for visitors of all ages now through the end of July.

Travel millions of years back in time at the Dino-Dig, an interactive dig site at the Grapevine Tower Gallery (636 S. Main St.) where budding paleontologists can unearth hidden dinosaur bones. Visitors can take a photo with the mighty T-Rex, while informative panels throughout the gallery will educate visitors on the fascinating world of dinosaurs.

The Grapevine Tower Gallery exhibit delves deep into the prehistoric past, showcasing the Western Interior Seaway that once covered North Texas during the Cretaceous Period. For $1, visitors will learn about the science of paleontology, discover the different dinosaur species that roamed the area and explore the geologic timescale. Each Saturday in June, the exhibit will feature Dino Talks with Grapevine Fossil Hunter Murray Cohen. Cohen attracted worldwide media attention last year after discovering a new type of dinosaur jawbone at Lake Grapevine. He will share his knowledge and experience as he speaks on fossil hunting, making casts of dinosaur tracks, as well as jacketing, mapping and collection techniques.

Guests can also see where the incredible dinosaur discoveries were made from 12 stories up by visiting Grapevine Observation Tower (815 S. Main St.) for $3 per ticket. Both the Grapevine Tower Gallery and the Grapevine Observation Gallery are open 7 days a week.

 

All Aboard the Dino Train!

Step back in time to the Age of the Dinosaurs on Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s Dinos on the Tracks. The excursions will include fun activities for all ages and a special narration about different dinosaurs from the Perot Museum’s paleontologist Dr. Ron Tykoski. There will also be fossils and educational presentations in the Cotton Belt Depot on select dates. The excursions run Fridays June 14^th through July 19^th at 10:50 a.m. Tickets cost $10 – $12, they can be secured in advance at GVRR.com.

 

Catch a Dinosaur Movie at the Palace Theatre

Enjoy classic dinosaur movies on Thursday mornings at the Historic Palace Theatre. “Dinosaur Thursdays” feature kid-friendly dinosaur adventures at 10 a.m. for $5 per person.

• July 25^th: The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island (1997) G, 74 minutes

Fun at the Library

The Grapevine Public Library joins the prehistoric party with a trio of programs for children:

• Dinosaurs! – Interact with real dinosaur bones and learn about T-Rex, Triceratops and more!
• Carnivores vs. Herbivores – Uncover how these dinosaurs hunted and defended themselves through interactive games.
• Texas in the Cretaceous – Discover the incredible dinosaurs that roamed our state and learn how to become a fossil hunter yourself.

Specials Offers Along Historic Main Street

“Tracks on Main” along Historic Main Street has more than 25 merchants getting in on the fun as well. Guests can enjoy special dinosaur treats and sweets like Dino Pops at Dr. Sue’s Chocolates and The Tar Pit at Beth Marie’s Ice Cream. Check out special dinosaur toys at shops like Little Orange Fish or create keepsakes like a glass-blown dinosaur egg at Vetro Glassblowing Studio. Certain shops are also offering discounts on items during this program. The dinosaur tracks on the sidewalks will lead the way.

Mark your calendars and get ready to embark on a unique adventure this Summer in Grapevine! For more information about the program visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com/dinosaurs