Grapevine’s Honorable Mayor William D. Tate will mark 50 years in office in May 2026 - becoming the longest-serving mayor in Texas and in U.S. history for a city of this size. During five decades of steady leadership, he has guided Grapevine through many transformational milestones, shaping the once-farming community into an internationally recognized corporate and leisure destination with national and international headquarters, resorts and hotels, attractions, shopping, dining and wineries that welcome more than 12 million visitors each year.
The year-long Golden Jubilee celebration will kick off during the 42nd Annual Main Street Fest - A Timeless Texas Tradition presented by Bank of the West:
Friday, May 15: Texas Wine Tribute Gala
Mayor William D. Tate will receive the “Tall in Texas” Award recognizing his contributions to the Texas Wine Industry. The Gala will recognize his 50 years of impactful leadership for the Texas Wine Industry and will have special dignitaries in attendance.
6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner and ceremony. This is a private, ticketed event at the Grapevine CVB World Headquarters Grand Hall.
Saturday, May 16: Mayoral Statue Unveiling
The community is invited to attend a Public Art Dedication where the Mayoral Statue will be unveiled. There will be a smoke blessing ceremony, speakers and a high-wire performance between Grapevine City Hall and Messina Hof Winery. This takes place at 11 a.m.
Sunday, May 17: Golden Jubilee Community Picnic
Grapevine locals and festival attendees are invited to attend the Community Picnic. To accommodate picnic attendees, festival admission is free until 1:30 p.m. The Community Picnic will feature proclamations honoring Mayor Tate and lively musical entertainment from each of Grapevine’s Sister Cities and the Grapevine Cornet Band. Visitors can enjoy mariachis, bagpipers, a didgeridoo and other performances. Everyone is encouraged to wear red, white and blue!
Friday, May 15 & Saturday, May 16: Golden Jubilee Express Trains
Grapevine Vintage Railroad is honoring Mayor Tate’s service with the Golden Jubilee Express! During Main Street Fest you can enjoy special rides for $5 per passenger or $20 for a family of four or more. Guests will receive a commemorative keepsake ticket. The 22-minute excursions will recognize Mayor Tate’s lasting impact on Grapevine’s heritage programs. They will take place at 2 and 4 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Main Street Fest admission must be purchased separately. Admission is free before 5 p.m. on Friday. Ticket proceeds benefit an enclosure for the 1896 restored steam locomotive 2248, affectionately known as Puffy.
Saturday, May 15 & Sunday, May 16: High-wire Performances
High-wire performers, Antigravity Art, will be recreating a historic moment from 1914, when Will Taylor, known as “Bill the Movie Man,” staged a high-wire walk across Main Street. The local theatre owner promoted the stunt in The Grapevine Sun newspaper with bold, Hollywood-style flair, promising that during Trades Day on Saturday, May 9, 1914, he would walk, crawl or even swim across a tight wire from one of the destination’s tallest buildings. The spectacle was designed to draw attention to his business, Taylor’s Theatre. The following week, the newspaper’s editor confirmed the feat was a success, and they later published a grainy photograph that offered a faint glimpse into the moment.
During the 42nd Main Street Fest, there will be six high-wire performances between Grapevine City Hall and The Wallis Hotel (Messina Hof Winery):
• Saturday, May 16 | 11:30 a.m. during the Public Art Dedication, 3:30 & 6:30 p.m.
• Sunday, May 17 | 11:30 a.m., 2:30 & 4:30 p.m.
The year of the Golden Jubilee begins with Main Street Fest and continues throughout the year with other events, to conclude in May 2027.
Additional details and event updates will be announced in the weeks to come. For more information on the Golden Jubilee visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com/GoldenJubilee.
For information and tickets for Main Street Fest visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com.
GOLDEN JUBILEE EVENTS MEDIA STAGING INFORMATION:
Day of Media Contacts:
**Please note these names and numbers are your direct media contacts during the festival.**
• Leigh Lyons - Assistant Executive Director: 817.903.9421
• Ellen Stallcup – Director of Marketing: 940.389.8843
• Randall Sweet - Communications Coordinator: 405.808.1320
Media must be checked in and be in place 30 minutes before each mayoral event.
Saturday, May 16 Mayoral Statue Unveiling
• Media Call Time: 10:30 a.m.
• Parking: West Texas and South Church Street. This is the lot behind the Palace Theatre and right by the Grapevine Water Tower. Call Randall when on the way to meet you with media parking credentials and get you inside festival grounds to the press riser.
• There will be a stationary media riser and a mult box for clear audio.
• Visuals: Smoke blessing, speeches, audience, statue unveiling and high-wire performance.
• You are welcome to shoot video of the festival once the dedication is complete.
Sunday, May 17 Golden Jubilee Community Picnic
• Media Call Time: 11:30 a.m.
• Parking: 206 W. Hudgins Street Settlement to City Museums parking lot. Please call Randall when you arrive to obtain media parking passes and for transportation to the Main Stage.
• There is not a riser for this event, feel free to move around and get video.
• A mult box will be available.
• Visuals: Guests enjoying picnic lunches, speeches, proclamations, Sister City performances
• You are also welcome to shoot video of the festival.
