If holiday events are right up your alley this season, the kids will love you forever if you take them for a ride on the North Pole Express Experience, a holiday decorated ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad's famous train. Or take in the Gaylord Texan ICE Exhibit, a winter sculpture not to be forgotten. Combined with Grapevine's Parade of Lights and Christmas on Main Street, this North Texas city begs for a visit to discover the spirit of a true Texas Christmas...
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UPDATED NOV. 27, 2010
 By Logan Hawkes
It's the perfect holiday getaway if the exceptionally warm fall season has your family wondering if Christmas is really going to happen this year or not! Historic Grapevine has plenty to offer in December, and you can bet there's something for everyone in the family, from fantasy steam train rides to ice sculptures to holiday parades and lighting events, and performances at the renowned Grapevine Opry.
To please the kids, climb aboard the North Pole Express, nearly a month long celebration actually designed for the entire family. Kids will love climbing abroad the old train brightly decorated for the holidays. Parents will enjoy special exhibits and shopping opportunities in the railroad gift shops. Santa will, of course, be there and available for photo ops.
The North Pole Express steams down the tracks during the last week in November and the first three weekends of December. The Grapevine Depot area will be decorated with thousands of lights, animated characters, and Christmas cheer. You will enjoy a thirty minute live sing-a-long stage show. Once on board there will more singing, story time and a visit from Santa.
Activities include free live entertainment, activities for kids, amusements, and shopping at the Christmas Store. Snacks, beverages, displays and decorations, and the chance to have a portrait taken with Santa are also available.
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad has become one of the community's greatest attractions, ferrying weekenders almost year round on a trip through history as it normally makes its way to the famous and nearby Fort Worth Stockyards. Some of the views of the Fort Worth skyline as the train makes its way across huge trestles over the Trinity River are some of the best and least-known vistas of "Cow Town" available.
 In addition to the North Pole Express Experience, Grapevine is quickly becoming the North Pole of the South thanks in part to the Gaylord Texan’s ICE! Exhibit. Gaylord’s hand-carved exhibit features larger-than-life holiday sculptures carved out of two million pounds of ice, a spectacle to behold! As early as October work begins on the sculpture, and the end result has been described as "heaven-inspired," and "magnificent."
Other holiday events include:
Christmas on Main Street brings family fun
The annual event, held on Main in Historic Downtown Grapevine, TX, features Santa, jolly Christmas characters, complimentary carriage rides and decorations adorning the mile-long stretch of Main St. The special guests include: Ellie the Elf, Frosty the Snowman, Santa and Santa's Reindeer!
The hours are as follows:
Fridays - 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturdays - 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Sundays - 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Carol of Lights
Come and enjoy the holiday festivities in Historic Downtown Grapevine at the Main Street Gazebo (325 S. Main St.) with the Carol of Lights. The public is invited to this free event in which guests sing along with local choirs as the “switch is thrown,” lighting thousands of lights in historic downtown Grapevine.
Parade of Lights
December 2, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Historic Downtown Grapevine
North Texas' largest lighted Christmas parade, The Parade of Lights, will dazzle thousands of merrymakers with a captivating display of over 100 colorfully lighted floats, which pass through Historic Downtown Grapevine to the tunes of festive holiday music provided by numerous marching bands. The parade will take place on December 2 and will begin at Main St. and Vine St. and heads north on Main St. to Wall St.
Hop aboard the North Pole Express in Grapevine
Thousands of children will ride to Santa Claus, as the Grapevine Vintage Railroad becomes the North Pole Express. Children receive a surprise gift and a chance to visit with Santa Claus. Following the train ride, guests enter into what could easily be mistaken for Santa's workshop at the North Pole.
The North Pole Express Experience schedule is as follows:
HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON
For additional information about the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, please call 817-410-3123. For more information about historic downtown Grapevine, its attractions and special events, please call the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-457-6338 or 817-410-3185 or check out our web site at www.grapevinetexasusa.com.
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