Families hoping to ride Grapevine's Santa's North Pole Express this Christmas should circle Thursday, October 1 on the calendar.
The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau announced the on-sale date Wednesday, July 16. Elizabeth Schrack, the CVB's director of communications, authored the release, which marks the unofficial start of planning season for Grapevine's annual Christmas Capital of Texas celebration.
Texas state senators designated Grapevine the Christmas Capital of Texas in 2009, and the city was voted Newsweek Reader's Choice Best Christmas Town in the U.S. most recently in 2026.
The North Pole Express is a 45-minute excursion aboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad filled with twinkling lights, festive singalongs, and visits with elves and Santa Claus. Adults looking for something different can book a Christmas Wine Train, a two-hour ride featuring Texas wine tasting and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus in decorated vintage coaches.
Grapevine's 2026 season officially opens Monday, November 23, with the 38th Annual Carol of Lights on Historic Main Street. Over 40 days, the city packs in more than 1,400 events, according to the CVB. Highlights include the 47th Annual Parade of Lights on Thursday, December 3, featuring 100 lighted floats and marching bands down Historic Main Street; a Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Show with 400 drones above the downtown district; and the Peace Plaza Ice Rink at Grapevine Main Station, where skaters glide beneath a live 60-foot Christmas tree.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Central at ChristmasCapitalofTexas.com, and the CVB advises booking early, as past seasons have sold out.
Movie tickets for the Historic Palace Theatre's classic Christmas films also go on sale Thursday, October 1 at 10 a.m. Central.
Separately, a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing shows Gaylord Texan Resort at 1501 Gaylord Trail plans to spend more than $1 million renovating roughly 18,000 square feet for a temporary ice display this holiday season. The filing indicates a Harry Potter theme, though Gaylord Hotels has not officially confirmed it.
An announcement is expected Thursday, July 23, according to Schrack, who spoke to the Fort Worth Report in June. Construction is scheduled to begin in November. Past ice! themes at the resort have included "Elf" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
Upcoming dates
- Thursday, July 23 — Gaylord Texan ice! theme official announcement
- Thursday, October 1, 10 a.m. Central — North Pole Express tickets and other Christmas Capital of Texas event tickets on sale at ChristmasCapitalofTexas.com
- Monday, November 23 — 38th Annual Carol of Lights, Historic Main Street (season opens)
- Thursday, December 3 — 47th Annual Parade of Lights, Historic Main Street
