Celebrate Christmas With Events In Grapevine
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GRAPEVINE (CBSDFW.COM) - The turkey isn't even in the oven yet, but the countdown to Christmas has already started in Grapevine. The city promises to help you with the season -- whether you're looking to finish your shopping list or find some early holiday cheer. After all, they are 'The Christmas Capital of Texas.'
No, really. The State Senate officially declared Grapevine as 'The Christmas Capital of Texas' in 2009 and the city has held the title ever since.
Grapevine has no shortage of shopping options. From the massive Grapevine Mills outlet mall to more than 80 locally-owned shops, you're sure to find something for everyone on your 'nice' list. Thanksgiving weekend shopping is predicted to be bigger than ever this year. Black Friday is like an early Christmas gift for Grapevine retailers.
Vintage Tex is just one of the small shops located along Main Street in historic downtown Grapevine. The retailer offers a little something for everybody -- timeless trinkets to put under the tree or even stylish clothes for your holiday cocktail party. They are also having their biggest sale ever this weekend.
"We are a vintage clothing store," said Caylor Tompkins with Vintage Tex. "We carry pieces all the way back from the 1920s up through the 1970s, and they're all locally sourced, which is great. And they're also really unique, which makes us a really good option for holiday gifts."
The store is hosting a free holiday open house on November 30 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. including wine tasting and their newest holiday collection. Tompkins explained, "Anywhere from more casual Christmas morning kind of outfits to some more glamorous evening outfits."
If you're looking to satisfy your sweet tooth during the holidays, then one Grapevine shop offers just what the doctor ordered, literally. Decked out in mint green and red for the Christmas season, Dr. Sue's Chocolate Shop is run by Dr. Sue Williams, an actual physician.
"The mission of Dr. Sue's chocolate is really to inspire people to a healthier lifestyle," Williams stated. "Everything we make is all natural dark chocolate. We make everything right here in the shop, and we include dried nuts, fruits, different seasonings and flavoring that really add to the flavor without adding to your waistline."
There is also a hot chocolate happy hour every day at Dr. Sue's Chocolate Shop, giving you just another reason to visit the shop when it gets chilly outside.
When you need a break from hauling those shopping bags, just step outside, where Grapevine always has something fun to do between now and the new year. More than a million people visit the city each holiday season, and events really begin to ramp up on Thanksgiving weekend.
Liberty Park features giant decorations and a tunnel of sparkling lights -- tons of places to get some great family photos. The Gaylord Texan is already exhibiting its annual ICE! display, including amazing ice sculptures and a frozen slide for kids. There is also live Christmas music and Grapevine's vintage railroad decked out for the holidays. It's enough to make any Grinch start to smile.
"We have 1,400 events in 40-plus days," said Leigh Lyons with the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau. Click here for a full list of the festivities. Lyons suggests coming on a weeknight -- while school is in session -- to avoid the largest crowds and some traffic. "Everybody should come out and celebrate the season with us here in Grapevine!"