These spectacular Christmas cities in the U.S. go all out for the holidays

It’s not just the name Bethlehem that led this community to adopt the moniker “Christmas City”; the quaint Pennsylvania town is known for dressing to the nines each holiday season. Bethlehem’s annual Christkindlmarkt is a heartwarming holiday event with live Christmas music and artisan vendors. While in town, stop by the nearby Lehigh Valley Zoo for their annual Winter Light Spectacular, which features over a million dazzling bulbs. For even more holiday spirit, drive about an hour to the famed Koziar’s Christmas Village, which has operated for over 75 years. 

Time Out tip: Bundle up! Many of the city’s best Christmas attractions take place outdoors, and the weather can get chilly, especially in the evenings. 

This South Carolina mountain town is especially charming come Christmastime, when its picturesque Main Street is decked out in twinkling lights—and, if you’re lucky, you may also catch Santa’s motorized sleigh (a converted 1993 Ford Aerostar) making its way downtown. There’s also an outdoor ice skating rink and the annual Greenville Gingerbread Exhibit, which features a slew of creative gingerbread houses on display for the public to vote on. Don’t skip town without checking out the Greenville Christmas Market at the Grand Bohemian Lodge for some last-minute shopping. 

Time Out tip: Toast to the season at holiday pop-up bars found at Southernside Brewing Co. and Up on the Roof; alternatively, drink and dine in your very own private igloo at Juniper.

Turns out the North Pole isn’t as far as you might think! This Alaska town has Christmas spirit all year round with the Santa Claus House, the world’s largest Santa (standing nearly 50 feet!), live reindeer, candy cane-striped lamp posts and fun street names like Kris Kringle Drive and Snowman Lane. After shopping for gifts and posing with Santa, mail your holiday cards or letters to loved ones with a genuine North Pole postmark. As a bonus, you might even glimpse the wondrous Northern Lights.

Time Out tip: Visit a nearby reindeer farm! Running Reindeer Ranch in Fairbanks is a great option and just a short drive from North Pole.

Less than 20 miles from Atlanta lies the smaller—albeit just as spectacular—city of Sandy Springs. This holiday season, Sandy Springs is pulling out all the stops with Sparkle Sandy Springs. As part of the celebration, locals and visitors can enjoy seasonal festivities such as a dazzling holiday parade, Christmas tree lighting, live music, a bustling holiday market and ice skating.

Time Out tip: When it comes to drinking and dining, look no further than The Select, which features a beloved holiday pop-up bar complete with over-the-top decor and seasonally inspired drinks. 

If you’ve searched this list for a mention of Charles Dickens, this is your destination. Using Franklin’s charming Victorian architecture as a backdrop, the annual Dickens of a Christmas fills the streets with characters from A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist (don’t miss your chance to yell “bah humbug” at Ebenezer Scrooge) as well as merry-making dancers and musicians. Franklin also hosts a Christmas parade, tree-lighting ceremony and the fan-favorite Festival of Lights.

Time Out tip: For the fewest crowds possible, consider a midweek trip. 

This Christmas, celebrate on the water with the annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade—the largest at-sea holiday celebration in the country—and the waterfront light display, the Ring of Lights. More than 100 boats ranging in size from yachts to canoes light up and sail around Newport Harbor for five consecutive nights. Prizes are awarded in categories such as best animation and originality. 

Time Out tip: While the boats are impressive, don’t skip out on other holiday festivities, such as the city’s Nights of 1000 Lights at Sherman Library and Gardens, which is equally noteworthy. 

Natchitoches boasts more than 300,000 lights and 100 set pieces that celebrate the city’s history. (Fun fact: It’s the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory.) Held for six weeks, from late-November to early January, the annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival transforms the riverfront into a glowing holiday village that’s nothing short of spectacular. 

Time Out tip: Save some room to try the famous Natchitoches meat pie, a local specialty that’s especially satisfying on a cool winter night.

Duluth has a lot to offer Christmas lovers, including a winter village where visitors can shop for local souvenirs, sip hot drinks and embark on a scenic holiday train ride around Lake Superior. Best of all is Bentleyville, a massive walk-through light display. Located in downtown Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park, the event features over five million lights and free sweet treats, including cookies, popcorn and marshmallows you can roast over a fire. 

Time Out tip: Duluth is steep and icy in winter, so if you’re renting a car to explore, make sure it has all-wheel drive.

With a name like Santa Claus, this town gets pretty busy come winter. Dating back to the 1920s, the local post office (and its merry band of “elves”) has answered thousands of children’s letters to Santa every year. Dubbed “America’s Christmas Hometown,” the city also celebrates the holiday with local festivities that include a candy castle, a traditional chestnut roasting, live reindeer exhibits and Santa’s Land of Lights, a 1.2-mile drive-through holiday light show.

Time Out tip: Santa Claus is tiny and lodging fills up quickly, so consider staying in nearby towns like Ferdinand or Jasper.

The little town of Leavenworth, Washington, is an interesting place: In the 1960s, town leaders gave the area a Bavarian-style facelift, renovating the downtown area and inaugurating a series of German festivals to invigorate the area’s tourism. Their plan was successful, as the town now attracts around two million visitors annually. From December to February, Leavenworth’s Village of Lights: Christmastown celebrates the holiday with over half a million lights, live entertainment, carolers, roasting chestnuts, photo ops with Santa and, in the true spirit of Germany, glasses of Glühwein (mulled wine). 

Time Out tip: In Leavenworth, the early bird gets the worm—shop before noon to avoid the biggest crowds.

Historic Williamsburg was restored in the early 1900s when museum founders fashioned the colonial city into the living history museum it is today. The site recreates the former capital in the 18th century, with all employees dressed in period costumes year-round. At Christmas, Williamsburg truly shines brightest, offering historic celebrations, a festive ice rink in Merchants Square, a charming Christmas market and a delightful “Cookies with Santa” event.

Time Out tip: Don’t miss the charming window displays in Merchants Square, and, for something more out of this century, check out the Busch Gardens Christmas Celebration.

Carrying the distinction of “America’s Christmas Tree City,” Branson means business when it comes to decking the halls (err, streets) for the holidays. Local businesses display hundreds of colorful evergreens and creative trees made from go-kart tires, wine bottles, library books and more; follow the town’s Christmas Tree City Tour to find the best ones. Additionally, the scenic and nostalgia-inducing Polar Express train ride through the Ozark Mountains will delight kids and kids-at-heart alike. 

Time Out tip:  Why ride a sleigh when you can hop on a rollercoaster? Head to An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City, where over 6.5 million lights, 1,000 decorated Christmas trees and Broadway-style holiday shows turn the park into a dazzling winter wonderland.

Come December, this Charlotte, North Carolina suburb transforms from regular ol’ McAdenville to “Christmas Town USA.” What began in 1956 is now an impressive downtown display featuring 265 evergreen trees adorned with 500,000 lights and 160 decorated houses. Annual traditions include a tree-lighting ceremony, the Yule Log Parade and a three-mile fun run through holiday lights.

Time Out tip: McAdenville draws big crowds for its nightly Christmas lights, so plan to arrive right at dusk—or much later in the evening—to avoid long traffic lines.

Durango has a lot going for it this time of year. In addition to being a great ski destination, the town transforms its historic steam train into a can’t-miss holiday attraction. Board the Polar Express train for a scenic ride through snowy mountains, where kids will see Santa Claus in his workshop, meet two of his reindeer and interact with characters from the book.

Time Out tip: For some time on the slopes, head to the nearby Wolf Creek Ski Area (an easy 30-minute drive from Durango), which boasts having “The Most Snow in Colorado,” an annual accumulation of 430 natural inches!

If you’re in Texas, Big Spring is the place to be for the holidays. Often called the “Lighted Poinsettia Capital of Texas” for its huge light festival featuring large poinsettias, the city offers a Christmas parade and multiple events over the Christmas season. Enjoy more than one million colorful lights from the warm comfort of your car at the Comanche Trail Festival of Lights or take the kids to experience a magical Christmas Tree Forest at the Heritage Museum, where they can also meet Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and the Grinch on the first Saturday in December.

Time Out tip: Swing by the historic Hotel Settles in Big Spring, which is decked out in holiday decor, making it one of the most charming spots to visit after dark in town.

While Ogunquit is a beloved summer vacation destination—as is the state of Maine as a whole—this seaside town is well worth a visit during the holiday season. Don’t miss the Christmas By the Sea festival, which includes concerts, craft shows, a parade down Main Street, fireworks, Santa meet-and-greets and tree and bridge lightings. The charming downtown area—dotted with mom-and-pop shops and restaurants—is outfitted with festive decorations and dazzling lights. Last but not least, the oh-so-cozy Beachmere Inn is well worth a visit for its unique Christmas tree constructed from lobster traps—it is Maine, after all.

Time Out tip: Theater-goers need not miss A Christmas Carol: Dinner with Dickens at Clay Hill Farm, a theatrical dinner that’s sure to impress. 

Want to enjoy the Christmas season and warm weather at the same time? Head to St. Augustine to see America’s oldest city decked out in lights, candles and holiday decor from November to January. Line up for the city’s Christmas parade, see boats lit up in the Holiday Regatta of Lights or hop aboard Old Town Trolley’s Nights of Lights Tour, where you’ll see millions of twinkling lights stretching across nearly 20 blocks.

Time Out tip: If you prefer, trade your Christmas trees for palm trees and spend a day relaxing by the shore: St. Augustine boasts over 40 miles of sugar-sand beaches. 

Not to be confused with our earlier entry, Newport Beach, this Ocean State gem is the perfect holiday destination to reenact your favorite scenes from The Gilded Age (a Christine Baranski side-eye is fully encouraged). See the famous mansions decked out and dressed up for Christmas with gorgeously decorated trees, garlands, wreaths and fresh floral arrangements. For a unique take on a classic tale, check out the Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff, where the audience follows the dancers through the mansion, feeling like part of the story. Finally, throughout December, Christmas in Newport offers concerts, tree lighting, craft fairs, candlelight house tours and more.

Time Out tip: Warm up with a cup of hot cocoa from The Chanler at Cliff Walk’s gourmet hot chocolate bar, just steps from the famed seaside path (open weekends through Dec 30).