When it comes to getting in the holiday spirit, some places' Christmas light bulbs just burn brighter than others. And nowhere is brighter or merrier than Grapevine, Texas! It wasn’t officially designated the Christmas Capital of Texas for no reason!

‍

Grapevine takes Christmas spectacularly serious, from a drone show to over 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures, and what's a holiday celebration without an actual parade featuring the big man himself? Much closer than the North Pole, this charming North Texas town transforms into a storybook winter wonderland each year and is nestled right in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. 

‍

From the moment you arrive on Historic Main Street, you'll be transported into a real-life Instagram filter, complete with millions of twinkling lights, animated characters, and Santa, of course!

The holiday season typically runs from late November through New Year's, so there's plenty of time to soak up all the festive cheer. Here Are Some of the Must-Dos to Get in the Holiday Spirit a la Grapevine:

• One of Grapevine's most merriest traditions is Santa's North Pole Express. This 45-minute journey aboard the festively decorated Grapevine Vintage Railroad has been called pure magic.
• ICE! at the Gaylord Texan Resort boasts oodles of hand-carved ice sculptures, and this year's theme celebrates the 60th anniversary of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," so cue the nostalgia for your childhood ghosts of Christmas past.
• Not into sculptures? Then you can go touch snow at Snow Flow Mountain for some tubing or Peace Plaza to lace up your ice skates. Either way, there's lots of hot chocolate available to warm up post ice adventure.
• The Drone Show is the 3 Fs (festive, fun, and free!), hundreds of drones light up the sky above, and the show is visible from anywhere along Main Street.
• Want to knock out some shopping while getting downright festive? The Grapevine Christmas Market is open daily (except December 24-25!) at the Town Square Gazebo. This is your chance to shop local, with artisans selling handmade items from coffees and soaps to jewelry, art, salsa, and baked goods.
• Even Grapevine's wine tours get the holiday treatment: The Urban Wine Trail offers a self-guided walking tour of wine-tasting rooms along Main Street. Make sure to swing by Third Rail inside Harvest Hall, where the Holly Jolly Bar transforms into an over-the-top, tinsel-covered holiday wonderland with live music.

Grapevine pro tips from some very helpful elves

• Buy those tickets early! Many experiences sell out quickly, especially Santa's North Pole Express and ICE!
• Parking is free throughout Historic Main Street, but it ain't always easy, so arrive early
• Especially if you had to park far away, take advantage of the free Grapevine Visitors Shuttle (not to be confused with Santa's sleigh) to get from merriment point A to merriment point B
• The Visitor Center (636 S. Main Street) is an excellent starting point, so many helpful elves!

‍

Love discovering Texas Crafted gems?

Follow us at @txcrafted for more handpicked local finds, hidden hotspots, and Lone Star favorites—straight to your feed.