2026 Christmas Events in Grapevine, Southlake & Trophy Club

2026 Christmas events at a glance

Southlake's tree lighting comes with fireworks this year, so put November 21 at the top of your list. Tap any event name for the official details.

• ICE! featuring Harry Potter

  Nov 13 – Jan 3

  Grapevine · Gaylord Texan

  Ticketed

• Home for the Holidays (tree lighting + fireworks)

  Sat, Nov 21 · 4:30–8:30 p.m.

  Southlake · Southlake Town Square

  Free

• Carol of Lights

  Mon, Nov 23 · 4–8 p.m.

  Grapevine · Historic Downtown Grapevine

  See event page

• North Pole Express

  Nov 27 – Dec 30

  Grapevine · 705 S. Main St.

  About $90–$100 per two-person bench

• Parade of Lights

  Thu, Dec 3 · 7 p.m.

  Grapevine · Historic Main Street

  Free to watch

• Holly Days

  Fri, Dec 4 · 5–9 p.m.

  Keller · Keller Town Center

  Free

• Hometown Holiday

  Sat, Dec 5 · 2–7 p.m.

  Roanoke · Downtown Roanoke

  See event page

• Winter Wonder Lights

  Sat, Dec 12 · 6–8:30 p.m.

  Trophy Club · Independence Park East

  Free

Christmas events in Grapevine, TX: the Christmas Capital of Texas

Grapevine packs more than 1,400 holiday events into about 40 days. The whole downtown is lit up, and the city runs a Christmas decorating contest every year, so every single business goes all out. It's wild, and it's so fun. Even if you just drive down Main Street at night, it's worth it.

We do Grapevine's downtown every year. It's our family tradition.

Here's what's on our list.

Christmas movies at the historic Palace Theatre

Every year we go see a Christmas movie at the Palace Theatre, the old theater on Main Street. It's something we look forward to all year. I'm literally so excited about it already. We've seen just about all of them, from Frosty the Snowman to Rudolph. A lot of times it's a double feature, like Rudolph and then Frosty right after, or Rudolph paired with a Peanuts movie. Sometimes we like to see the older classics there too.

We get popcorn, the kids love it, and it's so sweet because everybody's there with their families. The Palace shows Christmas movies all season, and the lineup changes from year to year, so check the official Palace Theatre Christmas calendar for this year's movies, showtimes and ticket prices. Get yours early. I'm buying ours this week.

North Pole Express in Grapevine (wear your pajamas)

We've done the North Pole Express with our kids, and it's so fun. I'll never forget getting them all in matching pajamas. It was the sweetest. You show up in pajamas, they give you hot chocolate, and you ride about 45 minutes on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. It leaves from the Cotton Belt Railroad Historic District at 705 S. Main St., inside the Grapevine Christmas Market.

For 2026 it runs November 27 through December 30. Tickets are sold online only, and they're sold as two-person benches, not individual seats. The roughly $90 to $100 price is for the whole bench, depending on the date and time. Popular departures sell out, so book early and check current prices on the official North Pole Express FAQ and ticket page. Boarding is outdoors, so bring coats over the pajamas.

Carol of Lights and the Parade of Lights

The 38th annual Carol of Lights on Monday, November 23, officially kicks off the season on Historic Main Street. Then the 47th annual Parade of Lights rolls down Main Street on Thursday, December 3, at 7 p.m. The visitors bureau calls it the largest Christmas light parade in North Texas, with more than 100 lighted floats, marching bands and Santa on the last float. Carol of Lights details · Parade of Lights details

ICE! at the Gaylord Texan

We've done ICE! at the Gaylord Texan, and it's one of those things you have to see once. This year's theme is Harry Potter, running November 13, 2026, through January 3, 2027. It's carved from about two million pounds of ice, with ice slides and photo spots. Buy tickets ahead, especially for weekends. See the official ICE! details.

Dinner at Hotel Vin

Almost every year at Christmastime, we go out to dinner at Hotel Vin. I've ordered a lot there, but I love their cacio e pepe with a nice glass of wine. The whole place is decorated next level. It's gorgeous.

After dinner, walk around Grapevine Main, the area right around the hotel. Harvest Hall, the food hall attached to Hotel Vin, has all kinds of food and fun stuff. Step outside and everything is decorated. There's usually live music. It's so cool.

And if you're making a whole evening out of it, check out the ice skating at Peace Plaza! The Peace Plaza Ice Rink is back for 2026 right in front of Grapevine Main Station, under the giant live Christmas tree. The city lists one-hour sessions at $20 per person with skates included, open through January 5. There's something so special about walking through downtown Grapevine when everything is lit up for Christmas.

Southlake Christmas tree lighting 2026: Home for the Holidays and fireworks

Southlake's Home for the Holidays is Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Town Square (1400 E. Southlake Blvd). The night includes the Christmas tree lighting, photos with Santa, a three-lane snow hill, stage performances by local school groups and a fireworks show right after the tree lights up. Admission is free, and parking is free in the East Garage (1451 Federal Way) and West Garage (351 State Street). See the official event details.

And yes, there are fireworks! Between the Christmas tree lighting, snow hill, Santa, performances, and fireworks, this is one of those nights that makes Southlake Town Square feel like a real-life Christmas movie.

But Town Square isn't just one night. All season it's like a dream: completely lit up, sweet and cozy. Take the horse-drawn carriage ride through Town Square. It is absolutely worth it. Carriage schedules, prices and reservations change each season, so check for the updated 2026 schedule before you go.

New this year: Ascension Coffee opened on Town Square in October at 100 State St. Now you can grab the best coffee or hot chocolate before you walk the square. At night, my pick is the Twilight Mocha. It isn't a coffee drink. It's made with adaptogenic mushrooms, dark and white chocolate, oat milk and smoked sea salt, and it's calming with no caffeine. It's not overly sweet and tastes almost like warm chocolate. It's really good.

Trophy Club Winter Wonder Lights 2026: our hometown event

Since we live in Trophy Club, this one is right around the corner. Winter Wonder Lights is Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Independence Park East, and it's free. The town lists a holiday drone show at 8 p.m., photos with Santa, a mini train ride, ornament-making, face painting, community choirs, holiday vendors and free hot cocoa while it lasts. See the official event details.

Trophy Club also has smaller things going on all month:

• Letters to Santa: November 30 to December 16
• Holiday Lights Contest: December 1 to 15
• Gingerbread House Decorating: December 5, sessions at 9 a.m. and noon
• Wreaths Across America: December 19

Christmas events in Keller and Roanoke, TX

We'll be honest, we don't get to Keller or Roanoke as often as Grapevine and Southlake. They're still worth a night.

Keller Holly Days is Friday, December 4, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Keller Town Center (1100 Bear Creek Parkway). It's free, with the Very Merry Light Parade, the Christmas tree lighting and pictures with Santa. See Keller's official events page.

Roanoke Hometown Holiday is Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 2 to 7 p.m. in downtown Roanoke, with a holiday parade, the Christmas tree lighting and visits with Santa. Downtown Roanoke is beautiful. It's just so cool at Christmas. See the official event details.

Living your Hallmark Christmas, right here

This is the part I love telling people who are thinking about moving here. Up here you get one beautiful, historic downtown right after another, all within a short drive and all full of tradition. That's not something you find everywhere in the Dallas area.

If you're house hunting this season, pair a showing with one of these nights. You'll see how a town feels, where people gather and how the drive home really goes. It tells you more than any listing photo will.

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