There are so many incredible pockets of places to discover in each state. Every single one has a handful of small towns that serve as travel hidden gems, whether they are a nice day out for locals or a great day trip for travelers. But few small towns can claim prestigious accolades, and one small Texas town is the proud owner of a cheerful new crown.
Grapevine, Texas, was dubbed the “Christmas Capital of Texas,” and was selected by Newsweek readers as the top place to celebrate Christmas. This town does not technically classify as a small town with over 50,000 locals, but considering everything is bigger in Texas, it’s for sure on the smaller side. What really makes it a “small town” is its old-world Southern charm that explodes with warmth during the holiday season.
What to do for the holidays in Grapevine
The holiday season lasts longer than a month in this Texan jewel. It is a “wall-to-wall” Christmas extravaganza that would give the Grinch’s small heart a run for its money. In fact, the city boasts that it hosts over 1,400 festive events over a 40-day season that is like stepping into a Hallmark movie on steroids. Some highlights include:
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Merry and Bright Drone Show: Look to the skies and you will see Santa with certainty thanks to this dazzling display that puts fireworks to shame.
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Carol of Lights: Grapevine’s historic Main Street completely transforms and glows with music and lights bright enough that Rudolph could take an evening off. Historic Main Street is also lined with boutiques gleaming with old-world Christmas charm.
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Peace Plaza Ice Rink: This quaint ice rink looks like it was directly lifted from a classic holiday film, with the backdrop of a Rockefeller-sized Christmas tree twinkling behind it.
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Grapevine Vintage Railroad: The train travels throughout the highly decorated city and turns into the North Pole Express every winter. Trains this year are already booked up, so be sure if you’re planning to travel for 2026 that you book early.
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Grapevine Christmas Market: What is a holiday without shopping? The classic Christmas market is full of unique finds your loved ones will love, as well as fun activities for kids and adults alike.
Related: 4 underrated small towns to visit during winter
What else is Grapevine known for?
Christmas may be king, but that isn’t all that’s going on in this charming Texan location. Though the name is a bit of a giveaway, the historic city is also known as a chic wine destination. There are several wineries you can visit while walking the Urban Wine Trail.
There are also touristy attractions nearby that you can’t pass up. There is a large SEA LIFE Aquarium kids won’t be able to look away from, as well as a LEGOLAND Discovery Center (which does transform for the holidays too). Other staples are, of course, tons of shopping, movie theaters, mini golf and escape rooms galore.
Outdoorsy folks can hang out at Lake Grapevine and enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, biking and more lakeside fun. Downtown and the surrounding area has a bunch of art on display, and you can take yourself on a self-guided tour of the city’s incredible public art.
Related: 4 top destinations for spending Christmas solo
How to make the most of your holiday visit to Grapevine, Texas
If you are going to head to Grapevine, there are a few things you can do to prepare:
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Visit during the week if you want to avoid the crowds. Weekends are massively packed.
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Book early. It isn’t one of those “on a whim” experiences if you want to see and experience certain holiday attractions. Aside from the North Pole Express, ICE! at the Gaylord Texan, Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge, Carol of Lights, and Christmas wine trails all sell out early and fast. That also means making reservations in advance for eating.
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Prepare for unpredictable winter weather. Texas can swing from warm to freezing in the same day, so be sure to pack a variety of clothes to be able to handle the wild weather.
Of course, being committed to having a good time and really embracing the holiday chaos is essential. It is the Capital of Christmas after all.
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This story was originally published by TravelHost on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the Attractions section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.