The Christmas Capital of Texas will have many of the same attractions as in past years, along with some different ones this year in Grapevine.

Paul W. McCallum, executive director for the Grapevine Convention & Visitor Bureau, gave an update at the Nov. 4 City Council meeting on festivities that will span Main Street.

What’s happening: The Carol of Lights, the annual lighting ceremony in downtown, will be from 4-8 p.m. on Nov. 24. McCallum said at 6:30 p.m. Santa’s Great Grapevine Adventure will commence on three stages along Main Street between Dallas Road and Northwest Highway.

According to the CVB website, more than 1,400 festive Christmas events will take place over 40 days, transforming Grapevine into a storybook destination.

Also of note: The Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Show is scheduled for Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, both at 7 p.m. 

McCallum said there will be 400 drones, which will have 12 custom formations.

Volstead Prohibition Era Bar and Kitchen offers a full-service bar and kitchen in a 1920’s-inspired environment in Southlake.

Flower Mound-based restaurant group Restaurant Ventures Unlimited opened the restaurant in summer 2024, restaurant group President Dave Coussirat said.

What’s in a name? The restaurant’s name comes from the Volstead Act, Coussirat said. The Volstead Act, also called the National Prohibition Act, banned the consumption of alcohol in the United States in 1919.

“You’re supposed to feel like you’re in the Roaring '20s drinking it illegally,” Coussirat said.

What’s on the menu: The food menu offers a mix of traditional fare, such as cheese burgers and fish and chips, alongside lighter meals, such as sushi.

In addition, the restaurant runs a brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays, and includes breakfast eggrolls, macadamia nut souffle pancakes and banana bread French toast.

Get ready for karaoke, a magic show, holiday festivities and more at events around Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake during November and December.

1. Live band karaoke: Karaoke night with a live band performing at Harvest Hall allows attendees to pick a song and experience their own performance with a full band.

• Nov. 20, 27, Dec. 4, 11; 7-10 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 815 S. Main St.

• Nov. 15-16, times vary
• $6-$15
• 1209 S. Main St., Grapevine

Texas is the nation’s largest energy producer, leading other U.S. states in both natural gas production and renewable energy generation, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows. Yet as people, businesses and data centers continue to move to the state, experts say Texas leaders need to harness new strategies to make energy more affordable and ensure the state power grid remains reliable.

The details: Amid high inflation nationwide, energy prices are on the rise in Texas, and residents are feeling the strain, experts said at the Texas Energy Summit, which ran from Nov. 4-6 in Austin.

In a June 2025 report, the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, a nonprofit research organization, found that 65% of low-income Texans recently engaged in “energy-limiting behaviors,” such as turning off their air conditioning to reduce electric bills or underheating their homes in the winter. 

What they're saying: Experts said state lawmakers and officials could invest in energy efficiency and residential demand response programs to tackle affordability and grid reliability issues.