It will be a memorable winter wonderland this Christmas in historic Grapevine, Texas. Grapevine is the essence of holiday décor as the city becomes blanketed with millions of lights, enormous decorations, animated characters and a whole lot more! With all of this plus great shopping for everyone on your list, Grapevine truly is the "Christmas Capital of Texas."

The festivities begin Nov. 14 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center with "ICE!" The display is part of the Gaylord Texan’s Lone Star Christmas celebration. "ICE!" is an extraordinary and magical display of elaborate, life-sized ice sculptures, ice slides and ice monuments with dramatic lighting effect – all created from nearly 2 million pounds of ice! Don’t miss out on the cool "ICE!" exhibit.

Christmas on Main will feature Santa, jolly Christmas characters, carriage rides and decorations adorning the mile-long stretch of Grapevine's Historic Main Street. The event includes visits by Santa Claus, strolling entertainers dressed in costume and complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides, which generate long lines of intrigued participants. Special guests include Ellie the Elf, Frosty the Snowman, Santa on stilts and a talking Christmas Tree. Reindeer Games, which include amusing games like "Santa says" and "musical, colorful squares," is yet another fun activity for children…it provides an opportunity for youngsters to interact and play, with fun to be had by all.

Thousands of children will turn fiction into reality this holiday season as they hop aboard the North Pole Express, sponsored by Great Wolf Lodge. Children, cozy in their pajamas, will experience the enchanting excursion. Children will become engaged in exciting activities including ornament making, caroling, pictures with Santa and many more exciting adventures! The North Pole Express and Christmas on Main runs the last weekend of November, and three weekends in December (concludes before Christmas).

During the holiday season, Grapevine’s Palace Theatre will feature "The Magic of Christmas" holiday musical presented by the Gaylord Texan Resort. The production will bring fantasy to life in the spectacular holiday production, which celebrates all of the warm and cozy sights and sounds of holiday wishes and memories. Nine performances will be held from Nov. 30 through Dec. 21. The audience will be delighted as Frosty the Snowman comes to life! A very special vocal tribute reminds us all, young and old, of home, family and every child’s dream of peace on earth… remembering "The Magic of Christmas."

Then on Dec. 1, Grapevine will host the Carol of Lights. Approximately 2,500 enthusiastic holiday goers will gather at the downtown gazebo for this fun-filled, complimentary event. Guests sing along with local choirs as the switch gets thrown and Historic Downtown Grapevine becomes lit with millions of Christmas lights!

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 Dec. 4 and will begin at Main St. and Vine St. and heads north on Main St. to Wall St.

Lights, lights and more lights will sparkle during the Twinkle Light Parade on Lake Grapevine at dusk on Dec. 6. This lighted boat parade begins at Scott’s Landing and ends at Little Pete’s. It’s a floating festival of lights on Lake Grapevine with a parade of boats decorated in their holiday finest!

Now you can’t forget about the shopping in Grapevine! Christmas shopping is a treat when strolling down Main St. Shoppers have the wonderful opportunity to marvel at the holiday lighting in Historic Downtown Grapevine and complete all their holiday shopping. Holiday shoppers will fill the sidewalks and can enjoy the charming, local shops.

For additional information about Grapevine’s Christmas events, attractions, or hotels, please contact the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-457-6338 or 817-410-3185 or visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com.

For a complete listing of Christmas Capital of Texas events, please visit www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com.