Looking to mix things up this year and want to know what the best Christmas towns in the USA are? Well, you have come to the right place! Here is a breakdown of the most festive towns in America that transform into winter wonderlands straight out of your favorite Hallmark movies. These are not only some of the best winter vacations, but they are full of Christmas spirit as well.
Get ready to meet Santa, in the North Pole. Or experience an authentic German Christmas market on the west coast. Each of these towns has unique traditions that embody the holiday season in its own special way. Grab a cup of peppermint hot cocoa, pull out your favorite Christmas jams, and get ready to make new memories and traditions this Christmas season.
Best Christmas Towns in the USA
McAdenville North Carolina
One of the prettiest Christmas towns in the USA is McAdenvill NC and they have earned the nickname Christmas Town USA. This small NC town is famous for its impressive light displays that first started in the 1950s. If you are planning a visit, December 1st is one of the most festive days, with the Tree Lighting Ceremony that officially announces the start of the Christmas season.
There is also an epic Yule Log Parade where an actual Yule Log is dragged around town on a sleigh and then thrown into a fireplace in Legacy Park. There is also a Christmas Town Festival, where local vendors set up shop for a Christmas Market in the center of town. And a few different types of marathon holiday runs to sign up for.
Leavenworth, Washington
Head over to Leavenworth, one of the best Christmas towns for vacation in the USA. Leavenworth is a Bavarian-style Christmas village with a serious love for the holiday season. Every year they have a major Christmas Lighting Festival, that lasts every weekend in December. Enjoy live music, plays like, “A Christmas Carol”, fun games and crafts, and een visits from Mr. and Mrs. Clause.
They have earned a spot along the list of the best west coast Christmas towns with their Village of Lights. Every day after Thanksgiving Leavenworth is beautifully lit with over half a million lights.
And you cannot forget about the Christkinlmakrt. The town sets up a traditional German Christmas Market where you can enjoy freshly prepared hot foods and drinks while shopping for the best presents in town!
Don’t forget to put this place on your USA bucket list!!
North Pole, Alaska
As you would imagine The North Pole is the best place to spend Christmas in the USA. This small Alaskan town celebrates Christmas every day of the year! You will find street names like Santa Clause Lane, St. Nicholas Drive, Snowman Lane, and even a Kris Kringle. The street lights are candy canes, and many local businesses are all holiday themed.
The biggest attraction is, of course, Santas house. This is a super cute gift shop with any and everything Santa. This is where all the letters that children send to Santa end up. Another popular thing to do is the North Pole Christmas in Ice Contest where the best ice sculptures come to compete for St. Nicks’s approval.
There is also a winter festival in December with fireworks and a beautiful candle-lighting ceremony. Keep your eye out for the wild reindeer that love wandering around the North Pole! While you are in Alaska, you can also do the ultimate Alaska road trip!
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth is one of the best Christmas towns in the USA and they are famous for Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. This is the largest Christmas store that spans over 7 acres! If you want anything Christmas this store has over 50,000 gifts and decorations to purchase. This is a must-visit for a Christmas lover.
There is more than just Christmas shopping in Frankenmuth, the town also decorates the beautiful German architecture with beautiful lights and trimmings. Be sure to swing over to the Frankenmuth Farmers Market which transforms into a festive Christmas market every December.
And there is no shortage of holiday events either. Plan to attend the Holiday Celebration and Candlewalk, the Frankenmuth Holiday Home tour, and the ever-popular Zehnder’s snow fest.
Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus, Indiana is always rated high on the list of the best holiday cities in USA. The highlight here is the 3-week take off of Santa Claus Christmas Celebration. This included a range of festive celebrations including the 1.2-mile drive light adventure inside the Lake Rudolph Campground and RV Resort.
If you are looking for the best Christmas towns in the USA for kids, try Santa Claus, Indiana they have a Santa Candy Castle. Here you can roast chestnuts on an open fire and even talk to Santa!
Another fun Christmas attraction is the Santa Claus Museum and Village. Where you can learn about the history of old saint nick, and explore the original Santa Claus Post Office that dates back to the 1930s!
Newport, Rhode Island
They take Christmas very seriously in Newport Rhode Island. The Annual Christmas in Newport celebration lasts an entire month long, and every day has something new and fun to do. It takes back to 1971 and every year it gets bigger and better.
Another highlight in Newport is the Newport Mansions, the Breakers, Elms, and Marble houses get decked out each year. Explore the thousands of Christmas trees, poinsettias, and wreaths that fill the mansion’s rooms and exteriors.
You can also buy tickets to see the Newport Nutcracker at the Rosecliff. They perform this Christmas classic ballet with a twist that takes place inside the beautiful Rosecliff mansion. Or sign up for one of the festive Holiday Lantern Tours.
Your tour guide lead you through the streets with a light of a lantern and give you a brief history of why Newport is one of the best Christmas cities in the USA.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Celebrating Christmas in Williamsburg is a very magical experience and is one of the best east coast Christmas towns. The biggest event is the annual Grand Illumination where Colonial Williamsburg comes to light for the first time of the season and then a massive firework display happens.
Christmas Town in Busch Gardens is also worth the trip to this hallmark town in America. As one of the best amusement parks in America, they pull out all the stops for Christmas town.
The grounds are transformed with over 10 million lights and with fun decorations at every turn. There are indoor Christmas plays, vendors selling hot drinks, and even some of the roller coasters are active. You will love everything Williamsburg VA has to offer, it is one of the best Christmas town in the USA.
San Antonio, Texas
When thinking of Christmas Texas isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but there is so much to love about San Antonino during the holidays. First up is the famous San Antonio River Walk, also known as the Venice of Texas. Here you can walk through over 100,000, or hop on the Holiday River Parade.
Another thing that makes San Antonio one of the best Christmas towns in America is the centuries-old tradition of the Ford Fiesta da las Luminarias. The River Walk is decorated with around 2,000 paper lanterns that are “lighting the way” for the Holy Family.
If that’s not enough, Six Flags Texas also transforms into a magical Christmas town with holiday-themed shows and yummy seasonal eats.
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen Colorado is known for their winter sports, but they are also one of the best Christmas mountain towns in the USA! You have to experience the 12 Days of Aspen at least once. This event usually runs from December 20 to 31 at the Aspen Chamber Resort and downtown Aspen comes alive as well.
The neighboring town to Aspen has a Snowmass Village with interactive Snowmen and beautiful light displays. If you are thinking of having more of a fancy Christmas vacation Aspen is a great place for that as well. Grab tickets to the Wheeler Opera House or the Belly-Up Aspen performance center for holiday-themed concerts.
And if you stay for the New Year you are in for an amazing treat. The epic New Year’s Eve Firework show at the Aspen Mountains takes place both at midnight, and mid-day so that families with young children can enjoy the festivities too!
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
As the name attests Bethlehem Pennsylvania is a historic town with plenty of Christmas activities happening. Enjoy the German Christmas market, Chriskindlmarkt, with delicious food and live Christmas music. Another popular event is the Trees of Historic Bethlehem where decorated ferns line the historic trees. They showcase the town’s diversity; each tree represents different countries and cultures.
After your day of fun, book tickets to explore the Bethlehem by Night Bus Tours. Or the ever-popular “Christmas City” flickering Candlelight walking tour, where you can learn the stories of the first Moravian settlers to Pennsylvania. You do not want to miss Bethlehem it is one of the prettiest hallmark towns in the USA.
Woodstock, Vermont
Woodstock is one of the most loved American Christmas towns. The highlight of the season in Woodstock is the Wassail Weekend. This historic parade has more than 50 horses and riders dressed in holiday costumes that date back to the 19th century!
There is also the Christmas at Billings Farm where you can see how Christmas was celebrated back in the 1890s and tour the festive farmhouse and partake in historic Christmas activities.
Or check out the Holiday Carbret at BarnArts with live performances of music dance, and Christmas plays. And the local Vermont Institute of Natural Science displays a beautiful forest of lights and decorated Christmas trees!
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches LA is one of the best Christmas towns in the South! And this year they are celebrating their 97th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival. It lasts from November 18th to January 6th with a mix of parades, food, and fireworks shows.
After your fun at the festival head over to the Holiday Trail of Lights. Here you will find over 100 lightest set pieces that make downtown glow. They light this display every day until January 6th.
Another event to mark your calendars with is the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights. This is a unique Christmas boat parade down the Cane River that ends with a big firework show! Don’t leave Louisiana off your list of the best Christmas getaways in the USA, the town of Natchitoches comes alive during the month of December.
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, New York
If you are looking for things to do in the USA in December, the neighborhood of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn is a great place to start. Every year this small neighborhood has been decorating its homes in extravagant holiday lights since 1986 and grows bigger year after year.
The best lights are found between the streets of 11th to 13th Ave and then from 83rd to 86th Street. These few blocks are always over the top and have the most elaborate decorations. You can find a self-guided route to follow from google maps. And although these homes decorate their homes out of the good spirit of the year and it is free, some of the homes have donation boxes and they donate the proceeds to local Dyker Heights charities.
Durango, Colorado
Durango Colorado is one of the very best USA Christmas towns with plenty to restore your Christmas spirit. One of the highlights is the Showdown Festival is a local tradition and features a large variety of festive events.
Be sure to book at least one sleigh ride through the Durango downtown snow-covered streets. Bundle up as it gets very cold in Colorado in December. The town also has a Polar Express Train Ride. Show up in your favorite Christmas PJs, grab a hot chocolate, and hear the Polar Express read aloud.
If you want to enjoy a scenic train ride without the story book there is also the Cascade Canyon Winter train where you can view the snow-covered canyons.
Branson, Missouri
One of the top Christmas towns in the USA is Branson, Missouri. Every year from November 1 to January 7th enjoy the celebrations of the Ozark Mountain Christmas festivals. Another fun thing to do in Branson is the Trail of Lights. This is a two-mile drive-through light display with hundreds of thousands of lights.
Dolly Partons Stampede is another classic Christmas event in Branson. Starting in November you can enjoy the special Christmas-themed shows. And last but not least the Silver Dollar City display. There are over 1,000 Christmas trees, millions of lights, and extra special holiday shows.
There is so much to be done in Branson is is no doubt one of the best Christmas towns in the Midwest.
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