You may have never heard of some of these towns, but they are all full of the best Christmas markets, festivals and parades you can find in the country. If you’re looking to get festive, consider visiting one of these cities during the holiday season.
McAdenville, NC
This town is known as Christmastown, U.S.A, and it lives up to its nickname. The town is filled with lights, with 38 lighted trees circling a lake in the center of town. Additionally, more than 160 people deck out their homes.
Asheville, NC
A historic mansion belonging to the Vanderbilts, The Biltmore, holds decorations, food and festivities each year during the holiday season. Aside from the mansion, downtown Asheville also has festive lights and activities.
Helen, GA
This quaint North Georgia town is known for its Christmas parade and Christmas market. The downtown area is a recreation of a Bavarian alpine village.
From November 19 to December 9, visitors can also enjoy the Festival of Trees. The festival is filled with beautifully decorated trees and wreaths.
Santa Claus, IN
You can’t go wrong with a town literally named after Saint Nick himself. This Indiana town is known for its post office, located on Kringle Place, that receives thousands of letters addressed to Santa each year.
They also have a theme park appropriately named Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari where you can embrace the holidays all year round.
Williamsburg, VA
This historic Virginia town turns into a holiday dream in December. There’s caroling, musical performances and walking tours of the elaborate decorations.
North Pole, AK
Just as you’d imagine the North Pole that Santa Claus live in, this town stays decked out in Christmas all year long. In December, ice sculptors gather in the town to participate in the North Pole Christmas in Ice Contest. They also have a popular post office that receives thousands of letters for Santa every year.
Wilton, CT
Wilton is home to one of Connecticut’s favorite shops, the Historical Christmas Barn. At this shop, you can find any holiday decoration your heart desires. The barn is set among restored antique buildings and is a sight to see any time of year.
Dana Point, CA
California is not usually the first place that comes to mind when you think of festive towns, but Dana Point makes the holidays beachy with their famous boat parade, which features holiday-themed decorations.
Bethlehem, PA
This town has been deemed America’s Christmas City and is now known for its Christkindlmarkt that sells festive foods, ornaments and other decorative items.
They also have horse-drawn carriage rides, historic walking tours and there’s even a “Live Advent Calendar” in the town.
Frankenmuth, MI
This town is best known for having the world’s largest Christmas store. Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, which is almost the size of two football fields houses 50,000 trims and gifts.
That alone is a reason to check this town out, but they also have festive light displays and meals with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Natchitoches, LA
This Louisiana town does a Creole Christmas. They start their preparations for the holidays in June by stringing up more than 300,000 lights throughout the town, which is why it’s sometimes called the “City of Lights.” Their Christmas festival features parades, visits with Santa and a Gala.
New York, NY
Of course, we can’t leave the Big Apple off this list. New York is synonymous with the holidays, complete with the Macy’s Parade, holiday displays throughout Manhattan and a really big tree in Rockefeller Center – you may have heard of it. And it all leads up to one of the world’s largest New Year’s Eve celebrations.
