Grapevine mayor pardons Tom T. Turkey on Thanksgiving eve
Turk the turkey will live out the rest of his days on an area farm, thanks to a pre-Thanksgiving pardon by Mayor William D. Tate.
The mayor honored Grapevine’s Thanksgiving traditions on Nov. 24 and pardoned Tom T. Turkey, aka Turk.
Long may we hear his gobble.
Grapevine City Councilwoman Sharron Spencer following Turk the turkey’s pardon
He talked of the changing of the seasons, noting the live 30-foot city Christmas tree he flipped the switch to light two days earlier during the kickoff of the city’s Christmas Capital of Texas campaign, as well as the cooler temperatures and the leaves started to turn.
“I proclaim this turkey to be free from the Thanksgiving Day pot,” Tate said.
City Councilwoman Sharron Spencer was thrilled to watch another annual pardon, saying, “Long may we hear his gobble.”
Jim Lauderdale, manager of Nash Farm — a 5.2 acre city educational experience that gives guests a glimpse of what life was like on the farm more than a century ago — said the plump turkey only weighed about 30 pounds, but “his feathers make him seem bigger.”
After the pardon, the guests, which included lots of children, rode the rails to kick off this season’s North Pole Express.
On special days through Dec. 23, visitors can board the beautifully decorated Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s Victorian rail coaches and begin a 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, located in the Cotton Belt Depot, guests walk along the snowy Christmas tree trail as they enter Santa’s workshop, where a cast of elves and Santa’s helpers are busily fulfilling Santa’s toy requests.
Finally, Santa arrives and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and then shares his Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk served in Santa’s special memory mug.
Tickets for the season are sold out.
Marty Sabota, 817-390-7367
This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Grapevine mayor pardons Tom T. Turkey on Thanksgiving eve."