Unwrap family fun for the holidays in Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas

The holiday season is in full swing in the Christmas Capital of Texas. From now through the New Year, the Christmas calendar in Grapevine is overflowing with an assortment of fun, family-friendly activities – 1,400 in 40 days, to be precise. Old favorites and new traditions are ready for memory-making, so check out the list below and this full calendar to start making the season bright. 

Snowland splashes into town at Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine slides into the holiday season on Nov. 25 with its annual Snowland celebration. Through Jan. 6, the indoor water park and hotel resort transforms into a winter wonderland featuring season-inspired scavenger hunts, games, arts and crafts, and visits from Santa Claus. Snowland’s opening follows a $40 million renovation of the Grapevine resort and the opening of three new restaurants – Fatburger, Buffalo’s Express, and Hot Dog on a Stick. Access to Snowland is included with all Great Wolf Lodge overnight stays.

Support small businesses and have fun with arts and crafts

On Nov. 30, two Grapevine events combine holiday shopping with seasonal fun. At the Grapevine Convention Center, the Grapevine Craft Show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus while parents shop for hand-crafted gifts and holiday treats from over 95 vendors. 

Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 also serve as the kickoff for the Grapevine Christmas Market. Starting Dec. 7, the market opens every day through Christmas Eve Eve (Dec. 23). Repeating at the Town Square Gazebo, the market features local artisans and vendors selling handmade items and unique gifts, such as coffees, soaps, jewelry, salsa, art pieces, baked goods, and more. The market is open rain or shine from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Drone shows and a Christmas parade light up the night

Families looking for Christmas lights and a festive atmosphere can look to the skies on Dec. 2 and 9 for the Merry & Bright Christmas Drone show. Festivities begin at 7:00 pm, and City staff have designed this year’s event to be visible from any spot on Main Street. For the 4th annual show, the event doubles in size with 400 drones, creating an assortment of holiday images over the skies of the Historic District. 

For land-based displays, the 45th Annual Grapevine Parade of Lights will motor and march down Historic Main Street. The largest lighted Christmas parade in North Texas starts at 7 p.m. and features over 100 lighted floats and marching bands honoring a theme of Toys, Trains and Candy Canes for 2024. View the parade route and parking information here.

Indoor ice sculptures at Gaylord Texan deliver a winter chill

December in Grapevine may shift between sandal season and sweater weather, but in the Gaylord Texan, it’s always icy. The resort's signature holiday attraction, ICE!, takes over 2 million pounds of ice and transforms them into classic scenes from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” After meandering through ICE, Snow Flow Mountain, a ticketed tube slide traveling down ice lanes, provides another chilly option for family fun. Both attractions are open now.

Holiday films flickering at the Palace Theater

When it’s time to relax, the big screen at the Palace Theater offers a Christmas escape with family-friendly movies rolling through the season. Showings of “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Elf,” “Home Alone,” “A Christmas Story,” “A Christmas Carol,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,” and “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” are scheduled along with animated favorites “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “The Polar Express.” For PG-13 viewing, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is also featured.” A full movie schedule is available at Grapevine Ticketline. 

To learn more about life in Grapevine year-round, please contact Grapevine Economic Development. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and sign up for our newsletter!

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