Grapevine plans 1,400 holiday events with 600-drone show

Grapevine's 2026 holiday season will feature more than 1,400 events over 40 days, anchored by a drone show 50 percent larger than the 2025 edition.

The Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau released its annual planning guide Friday, Oct. 16, outlining the full calendar for the city the state Senate designated the Christmas Capital of Texas in 2009.

The season opens Monday, Nov. 23, with two signature events on Historic Main Street. Mayor William D. Tate will pardon Nash Farm's Tom T. Turkey at 701 S. Main Street at 10 a.m. The 38th Annual Carol of Lights follows from 4 to 8 p.m. with bounce houses, a three-lane snow hill and Santa's Race Track.

The biggest new draw is the 6th Annual Merry & Bright Drone Show on Monday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. The 2026 fleet jumps to 600 drones, up from about 400 in 2025, according to The Grapevine Edit on Instagram. Instead of separate performances, the show will tell one continuous holiday story as images unfold across the sky. Drones launch from the Northwest Highway side of Historic Main Street.

The 47th Annual Parade of Lights rolls down Historic Main Street on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. with more than 100 lighted floats and marching bands. The 2026 theme is "Christmas Miracle on Main Street," according to the CVB guide.

Gaylord Texan Resort opens its ice! exhibit featuring Harry Potter sculptures carved from more than two million pounds of ice. That attraction runs Nov. 13 through Jan. 3, 2027. Great Wolf Lodge's Snowland returns Nov. 23 through Jan. 5, 2027.

The Peace Plaza Ice Rink, billed as the largest outdoor rink in North Texas, opens Nov. 21 at 815 S. Main Street. Sessions cost $20 for one hour, including skate rental.

New for 2026 is Christmas at Dig World, where visitors can operate real heavy machinery surrounded by holiday decorations. It runs Dec. 18 through Dec. 24, with day passes starting at $30.

Santa's North Pole Express on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad runs Nov. 27 through Dec. 30. The Christmas Wine Trains are at capacity for the 2026 season, the guide noted.

The Historic Palace Theatre at 300 S. Main Street has a full slate of live shows and classic holiday films. Movie tickets are $10. Live performances range from a Dean Martin tribute ($50) on Nov. 14 to the Texas Tenors' "Deep in the Heart of Christmas" ($48) Dec. 15 through Dec. 17.

Grapevine earned Newsweek's Best Christmas Town designation for a second time. The city also won the honor in 2024, according to a December 2025 announcement from the CVB. Mayor Tate said in that announcement, "The whole community comes together to create the most magical Christmas season …"

Drivers should note that Historic Main Street will close to traffic on several stretches: Nov. 22 through Nov. 30, Dec. 3 through Dec. 7, Dec. 11 through Dec. 14, and Dec. 18 through Dec. 28. Free parking and shuttle service are available at the Grapevine Convention Center at 1201 Municipal Way. TEXRail riders can reach Grapevine Main Station for $4 round trip.

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