By Eric Miller
Santa has arrived in Grapevine. Mayor William D. Tate made the big announcement this week just as Santa and Mrs. Clause rounded the corner in their horse-drawn carriage. The North Pole may be home, but it probably seems empty this time of year with Santa spending so much time in North Texas.
It's no wonder; Grapevine is the Christmas Capital of Texas and there are many reasons to make the city a big part of your holiday this year.
First, there just are not many places as well decked out for the holidays. A stroll along Main Street alone will fill your heart with the holiday spirit. Up and down the street every storefront seems to be brimming with cheer. Garland is strung all the way from City Hall to the Train Station and in the center, the Gazebo park features one of the largest trees around.
A special time to see the decorations will be during North Texas' largest lighted Christmas parade, The Parade of Lights. Thousands of merrymakers will participate with a captivating display of more than 100 colorfully lighted floats, which pass through Historic Downtown Grapevine to the tunes of festive holiday music provided by colorful marching bands. The parade will take place on Dec. 1 and will begin at Main St. and Hanover St. to head north on Main St. to Wall St.
There's also plenty more to do. Rides on the North Pole Express, holiday movie favorites at the Palace Theater, the Grapevine Opry Christmas Spectacular as well as ICE and a Lone Star Christmas at the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine all come together to make the city the undisputed Christmas Capital.