Create lifetime Christmas memories in Grapevine

Create lifetime Christmas memories in Grapevine, the self-billed Christmas Capital of Texas.

The city promotes 1,400 events in 40-plus days with millions of magical lights, enormous decorations and Christmas events and activities that draw more than one million seasonal guests. Make sure to plan some time to enjoy the more than one million lights throughout Historic Downtown Grapevine.

Ride the rails aboard Grapevine’s North Pole Express. Board the beautifully decorated Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s Victorian rail coaches and begin your journey to the North Pole. Elves will welcome the guests and sing traditional Christmas songs. As the train arrives at Reindeer Ridge, a special guest arrives for a magical moment. Mrs. Claus boards the train and presents each child a “We Believe” silver Santa bell. After the train arrives at the North Pole, guests walk along the snowy Christmas Tree trail as they enter Santa’s workshop, where elves and Santa’s helpers are busily fulfilling Santa’s toy requests. Finally, Santa arrives and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and shares his Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk served in Santa’s special memory mug. Tickets are $25 for ages 13 months and older and are on sale now. The dates are Nov. 27, 28 and 29 and Dec. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23.

Build Some holiday fun at Legoland Discovery Center at Grapevine Mills mall and dive into action at Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium. Meet Lego Santa at the center’s Holiday Bricktacular Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20. Guests can write their own letter to Santa and post it in a mailbox there.

Plus, dive into action with the Octonauts, the team of undersea adventure heroes from the hit animated TV show. Undertake a special mission and train to be a member of the Octonauts crew and meet Captain Barnacles and Kwazii. The Octonauts adventure occur daily Dec. 5–20. Also, find out if you’ve been naughty or nice when Scuba Diving Santa returns! Dives take place at 11 a.m. on Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20.

Sample holiday cheer aboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s Christmas Wine Trains. Each train features a Grapevine urban winery. Hors d’ouevres will be served. Additional wine will be available for purchase. Tickets are $45 per person. Riders must be 21 and over. Boarding begins at 6:30 p.m. All train excursions depart at 7 p.m. and return at approximately 9:30 p.m.

On Dec. 3, board the all-new Historic Fort Worth Stockyards Christmas Wine Train. This new excursion features the western flair of the Fort Worth Stockyards combined with the holiday backdrop of Grapevine’s Christmas Wine Train. On Dec. 10 and 17, excursions depart from the Grapevine Cotton Belt Depot.

Hear the Sounds of the Season at the Palace Theatre in Historic Downtown Grapevine.

▪ The Texas Tenors, back for the fifth year in a row, will perform classic Christmas music to opera to country favorites, all with a Texas twist. See for yourself why The Texas Tenors are one of the most popular groups in the history of America’s Got Talent. Tickets $30. Shows are Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. For more information, call 817-410-3100.

▪ Main Street LIVE’s high-energy “Christmas Spectacular” show sets the perfect tone for the Christmas season with favorite Christmas songs. Matinees start at 3 p.m. and evening shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25. Group discounts are available. Shows are Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 12, and 19.

▪ Put on your blue suede shoes for An Elvis Hometown Christmas Special with Kraig Parker and The Royal Tribute Band. This annual holiday tradition features some of Elvis’ most beloved songs. Tickets start at $25. The show is at 4 p.m. Dec. 6.

▪ Ricki Derek is bringing his one-of-a-kind show, A Merry Little Christmas, to the Palace Theatre stage for the second time. This fun-filled holiday musical combines the vibe of the Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra Christmas television specials with the energy and excitement of a 21st-century live show. Ricki and the Ho, Ho, Ho Orchestra will showcase their talents at 8 p.m. Dec. 18. Tickets start at $25.

▪ See classic Christmas movies this season at the Palace Theater. Tickets are $6. Movies include “A Christmas Carol,” 7 p.m. Nov. 30.; “White Christmas,” 7 p.m. Dec. 1, 9, 20 and 22; “It’s A Wonderful Life,” 7 p.m. Dec. 2, 8, 11, 17, 21 and 23; “A Christmas Story,” 7 p.m. Dec. 7, 10 and 13 at 7 p.m., 2 p.m. Dec. 21 and double feature “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” 2 p.m. Dec. 22 and 23.

▪ Hear the special sounds of the Texas Harmony Chorus performing “Three Weeks Before Christmas.” This all-female a cappella chorus in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is comprised of educators, homemakers, business owners and professional women sharing the joy of singing with friends. The chorus is under the direction of master director and internationally-known coach, Darlene Rogers. Tickets are $18 for adults and $13 for for children 13 and under and seniors. The show is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4.

Experience a Texas heritage Christmas at Nash Farm’s Victorian Christmas. Guests will learn about the root of many of the city’s current holiday traditions, as well as make a Victorian ornament to hang at home. Docents guide guests through the farmhouse and the farm. Tours will begin at the pole barn, where visitors can enjoy hot cider and cookies, to the front door of the farmhouse, through the parlor, bedroom, dining room and kitchen, then outside by the burning yule log and back to the pole barn. The free event is 3-6 p.m. Dec. 5.

Whether you’re a fan of parades on land or water, Grapevine is the place to be this holiday season to watch parades.

At 7 p.m. on Dec. 3, see more than 100 lighted floats and marching bands in the Parade of Lights. This free annual tradition welcomes thousands of visitors each year so come early to claim your spot along Main Street.

Then, see the beautiful Twinkle Light Boat Parade with watercrafts decorated in all of the finest sparkling lights to celebrate the season, beginning at Twin Coves Marina and picking up entries at each marina including Scott’s Landing and Silver Lake. The parade is visible from the shores of Lake Grapevine and the Glass Cactus Nightclub at Gaylord Texan Resort. The event is 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6.

Sing Along with traditional songs at the Carol of Lights. Mayor William D. Tate will flip the switch and transform Historic Downtown Grapevine into the Christmas Capital of Texas at the Carol of Lights. The city becomes illuminated with more than one million lights along Main Street in Historic Downtown Grapevine and guests will enjoy musical performances and fireworks and hot chocolate will be available. The free event begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 23.

Bright lights and exciting music showcase the magic of Christmas at the newly enhanced Magic of Christmas Light Show. Beginning Nov. 24 through Jan. 3, this nightly light show runs from 6–11 p.m. and features an all-new enhanced singing tree, beautiful lights and fun for the whole family. Bleacher seats are provided for extended viewing along Main Street and Dallas Road.

Check Out the Fun at Christmas on Main. Step back in time this season at Christmas on Main and the beautiful backdrop of the Victorian-style buildings dressed up with ribbons, bows and wreaths and set aglow with twinkling lights. Climb aboard a tractor-drawn wagon ride behind the Town Square Gazebo at 325 S. Main St. The ride will take you through the seasonally decorated historic neighborhoods on the east side of Main Street. Tractor-drawn wagon rides are $1 per person on Nov. 27, 28 and 29 and Dec. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20. Fridays, 2-5 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-5 p.m. and Sundays, 2-5 p.m.

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Create lifetime Christmas memories in Grapevine."