20 Best Christmas Towns in the USA to Add to Your Holiday Bucket List

When Leavenworth set a goal to become one of the best cities for Christmas in the USA, little did they know that they would far exceed their expectations. Now, it’s one of the most popular towns and a frequent destination for year-round holiday seekers.

Leavenworth is a Bavarian-style village with a distinctly European atmosphere thanks to architecture and local traditions. The best time to visit is during the holiday season when the fresh blanket of snow creates a beautiful winter wonderland that fills you with the Christmas spirit.

Over half a million lights decorate the town for the Christmas Lighting Festival. In addition, adults and kids can enjoy recreation in the snow like sledding, sleigh rides, and dog sledding. Visitors can also check out the local reindeer farm and feed the reindeer.

Immerse yourself in Christmas traditions like shopping the stalls at the Christkindlmarkt, visiting the Nutcracker Museum to see a collection of 7,000 nutcrackers, or tasting a fresh batch of cookies at the Gingerbread Factory.

Once the holiday season kicks off in Woodstock, this quaint New England town becomes a bustling hub of Christmas cheer. From the lights to the local events, there’s plenty to get involved with the seasonal activities.

Wassail Weekend is held on the second Saturday of December, where the season begins with a parade led by horse-drawn carriages. After what feels like the opening ceremony to the holiday, you’ll then find several activities leading up to the big day.

See the artistic talents displayed during the Snow Sculpture Festival with live carvings before the final day, revealing the ice masterpieces. Or visit the Billings Farm to see their farmhouse light display and family-friendly holiday events.

Woodstock is one of the best places to visit during Christmas. Treat yourself to a stay at a cozy bed and breakfast for pleasant New England hospitality while enjoying the widespread excitement of a holiday.

The residents of Durango, Colorado, waste no time getting into the Christmas spirit, kicking off their first event on the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a chance to see Santa and Mrs. Clause parading down Main Street to welcome in a new season at one of the top Christmas towns in the USA.

Winters in Durango are filled with lots of snow, making it a fun place for outdoor fun. Hit the slopes of one of Colorado’s largest ski areas at Purgatory or go snowmobiling.

Shopping is an exciting part of the Christmas season in Durango because it hosts the seasonal Winter Solstice Artisans’ Market and Noel Night.

These Christmas-themed markets invite local vendors and artisans to sell handicrafts, merchandise, art, and other items that go perfect for stocking-stuffers.

You can’t experience a true Durango Christmas until you’ve ridden on the Polar Express train—a historical train ride perfect for kids with storytelling and meet and greet with Santa.

The small Bavarian community in Helen, Georgia, creates one of the biggest holiday celebrations in the US. The locals know how to put on an impressive display of lights while showcasing their German heritage.

Christmas lighting is one of the key elements to transforming Helen into a Christmas town, and it gets all the locals involved in the task.

Not only will you see a colorful light display on the town’s buildings, but you can also visit the Hardman Farm to see acres of trees decorated by the local community. Visitors can vote on their favorite trees!

Stick around town for the Christkindlmarket, a German-style Christmas market held for two weekends in December. Also, the Christmas in the Mountains Festival.

Then there’s always the annual Christmas parade that you can’t miss with a remarkable display of floats, bands, and, of course, Santa making their way down Edelweiss St. leading to Festhalle.

North Carolina seems like an unlikely place for a Christmas town, but visiting Asheville will let you experience one of the best Christmas light displays.

Its popular attractions get a complete makeover during the Christmas season, giving you even more reason to add it to your holiday travel bucket list.

Asheville is nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains, which provides a scenic backdrop to the illumines light displays around town.

One of the best attractions is the Biltmore Estate. This French Renaissance mansion from the gilded age was once one of the largest homes in the country, with over 250 rooms.

It boasts over 100 Christmas trees, including a 35-ft tree in the front. The next place to see incredible light displays is at the North Carolina Arboretum. Lights cover 434-acres of the garden, which features a massive 50-ft animatronic tree.

Every holiday season, Asheville hosts the National Gingerbread House Competition, where you’ll see some of the most creative Gingerbread houses, from traditional style to recreations of historical landmarks.

With a name called Santa Claus, it’s hard not to be one of the best US towns for Christmas. Let’s be honest, most people visiting (or passing through) will be expecting something Christmas-related, and Santa Claus, Indiana, doesn’t disappoint.

Santa Claus is a Christmas-themed town that has fun attractions for the entire family. Learn about the history of the town and its name in the Santa Claus Museum.

Don't forget to snap photos in front of the 22-foot tall statue of Santa. The kids can also write letters to Santa and send them to the Santa Claus Post Office.

Families looking for a bit of thrill for the holidays can enjoy a day at Holiday World, a Christmas-themed theme park full of wild roller coasters.

On the way back to your cozy Christmas Cabin on Lake Rudolph, drive past the Santa Claus Land of Lights to see the story of Rudolph told through a light show extending over a mile long.

Have you ever wondered where all the letters go when kids white them to Santa? Then, celebrate Christmas in the USA at the North Pole in Alaska to discover the real-life location of Santa’s Workshops. Flooded with letters all year, it gives the locals plenty to do to create a Christmas spirit the entire year.

The North Pole is a town destined to be one of America’s best Christmas towns, where it’s Christmas everywhere you look. Stop by the Santa Claus house to shop for Christmas gifts and see the wall of Christmas letters written to Santa.

And as if the Christmas lights decorating the town all year isn’t enough Christmas energy for you, it’s hard to ignore the street lights designed like candy canes or the GPS giving directions like turn right on Mistletoe Lake or make a left on Kris Kringle Drive. And there’s always the annual Christmas parade that runs right down Santa Claus Lane.

Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia, is charming at any time of year, but there’s a special magic that happens during the holidays that makes it one of the best Christmas towns in America.

Walk the same brick sidewalks that the founding founders once strolled and discover how it creates a spectacular Christmas setting.

Alexandria is located just outside of Washington DC, so it’s a popular destination for those who want a unique Christmas experience.

The Winter Stroll is one of the main events where crowds admire the lights decorating the trees lining Old Town’s King Street. There’s also the annual parade that happens in Old Town.

Grab a spot on the Alexandria waterfront to see a stunning display of sailboats decorated in Christmas lights as they sail down the Potomac River. And if you’re lucky, you’ll land tickets to see a world-class performance of “A Christmas Carol” at the Little Theatre of Alexandria.

Nestled within the Santa Ynez Valley in Solvang, California, a destination that seemingly transports you to a small town in Denmark.

Solvang is a Danish community known for its traditional-style architecture, traditions, and shops reminiscent of Denmark. So, save yourself a trip to Europe for the holidays and spend it right here in Solvang.

Solvang gets the entire community involved with its Christmas celebrations. During the day, check out the shops on Copenhagen Drive to see the uniquely designed trees for each storefront and excellent gift ideas. At night, these shops provide the canvas for a spectacular light show.

Join in the celebrations at Solvang Park as you welcome the holiday with the Christmas tree Lighting Festival and ice skating.

In addition, the ever-so-popular Julefest is something hundreds of locals prepare for all year to put on a major parade through town with giant floats and an appearance from the big guy himself.

If you’re in the mood for an old-fashioned Christmas, no other place does it better than Skaneateles, New York. This lakeside city in New York’s Finger Lake Region will give you an immersive experience into one of Christmas’s favorite tales, “A Christmas Carol.”

Skaneateles is famous for its Dickens Christmas Festival. This month-long celebration of the Christmas story brings the tale to life with characters such as Scrooge, Father Christmas, and the Spirit of Christmas Past, making appearances around town for pictures and fun.

The Dickens Christmas Festival includes several live events, shopping, and dining. Skaneateles has stores like the Christmas Shop and White Sleigh, where you’ll find excellent gift ideas. And the kids will love watching the snowman-building contest.

You can join in the fun of celebrating Christmas in Skaneateles as soon as the day after Thanksgiving because it’s never too early to revel in the Christmas cheer.

Most people know Vail, Colorado as one of the top ski resorts in the country, but while seasonal travelers come for the slopes, this town has something a bit more exciting in-store every holiday season.

Vail transforms into a winter wonderland once the snowy season arrives. The ski slopes open, and Vail Village at the foot of the mountain showcases its festival spirit.

The entire town features European-style homes decorated with a spectacular display of lights. Everything dawns its finest lighting and Christmas decorations from the trees lining the main road to the shops.

The Christmas spirit in Vail only adds to the town’s appeal, where visitors have plenty to do during the holidays.

Spend the day out on the slopes before returning to town in the evening to warm up by the fireplace, sipping hot chocolate. It has daily events, sleigh rides through town, and lots of shops where you’ll find the perfect gifts for everyone on your nice list.

It seems unlikely that you’ll find the Christmas spirit in a hot climate, but you’re in for a pleasant surprise when you visit St. Augustine, Florida, during the holiday season.

The northern Florida city is one of the best Christmas towns in the USA that will truly brighten up your holiday season.

St. Augustine is famous for its incredible light displays. There are a few different places to see them in their full glory. For example, Night of Lights is one of the most popular events where the over three million lights illuminate 20 blocks of the Historic District.

Next, head over to the banks of Matanzas Bay on the second Saturday of December for a parade of boats floating along the bay decorated in a brilliant display of lights called the Holiday Regatta of Lights. Or visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse for a unique lighting display and a chance encounter with Santa Claus during his annual visit.

If you thought the opulent, Gilded Age mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, were impressive during the summer, wait till you see them during the holidays.

You’ll feel like you’re invited to an exclusive party only reserved for the super-wealthy as you get a taste of a Gilded Age Christmas.

Newport is one of the best US towns for Christmas, where holiday magic meets wealth. Visitors can tour the famous Newport mansions to see one of the best house Christmas decorations you’ve ever seen.

The Breakers, the Elms, the Blithewold Mansion, and others are open during the holidays for visitors to tour inside.

These opulent mansions take you around their hundreds of rooms to see unique themes and creative designs. Every year is something different, so you never know what to expect when you enter their doors.

Celebrate with the Christmas in Newport Festival that runs two weeks leading to Christmas filled with tree lighting ceremonies, concerts, train rides, and other events.

Christmas time turns Mystic from a quiet seaside village into a bustling town full of Christmas joy. Tourists come from all over to experience the unique New England Christmas with a bit of sea fanfare.

The cold weather of Connecticut makes Mystic the perfect holiday retreat to cozy up in bed and breakfast stay and enjoy all of the local activities that will make anyone's Christmas feel special.

Mystic kicks off the Christmas season with the opening of the Yetter Tree Farm, where it’s tradition to get a tree. The Lantern Light Village is one of the most highly anticipated events of the season. Located at the Mystic Seaport Museum, it recreates a 19th-Century village with dozens of Christmas trees and other displays.

Next, head downtown for the Holiday Stroll. Walk the snowy streets of downtown while a live choir provides the soundtrack to a beautiful evening beneath the Christmas lights.

Get ready to check off items from your Christmas bucket list when you visit Kennebunkport, Maine. Famous for its Christmas Prelude, this 11-day festival will give you plenty of excitement to keep your Christmas joy going all month.

Kennebunkport is located on coastal Maine that recently emerged as one of the top best US towns for Christmas. The annual Christmas Prelude introduces a full itinerary of events for the holiday season.

Christmas Prelude has many traditional Christmas activities, such as a tree-lighting ceremony in dock Square, singing Christmas carols by candlelight, or participating in the Christmas parade.

See Santa testing out his latest ride as he arrives via lobster boat—something you will only see in New England. Lastly, do some last-minute shopping at the outdoor Christmas Market to find unique gifts.

Visiting Duluth, Minnesota, can be one of the most fun places to go for a Christmas vacation in the USA as long as you dress warm because it can get extremely cold.

But don't worry, the cold weather is not enough to keep the locals and visitors alike from enjoying the many exciting activities happening in this midwestern Christmas town.

Duluth is located along Lake Superior that gives a perfect opportunity for ice skating! Spirit Mountain is an alternative for outdoor recreation if you prefer skiing.

Climb aboard the Christmas City Express to go for a scenic ride along the coast of Lake Superior. The ride starts at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, where adults and kids can enjoy amazing views while listening to Christmas music.

You’ll witness one of the biggest Christmas trees at Bayfront Park for the Bentleyville “Tour of Lights.” Its centerpiece tree towers 128-feet tall above immersive Christmas scenes that visitors can walk through and take photos of.

Treat yourself to a Western-inspired holiday with a visit to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where the winter activities and wildlife run in abundance. But, don’t worry, they’ll be plenty of snow to give you a truly white Christmas experience.

The holiday atmosphere in Jackson Hole centers around the town square, where you’ll discover lots of events in the days approaching Christmas.

From the tree lighting ceremony to rides on a horse-drawn carriage along the Jackson Hole Mountain ridge, this Old Western-style town becomes a winter wonderland complete with lights and Christmas spirit.

Visit the famous Elk Antler Arch after light snow to see the stunning Christmas lights twinkling off its fresh coat of snow. Don't be surprised if you have to line up for pictures underneath the arch.

If the Christmas season for you means lots of outdoor activities, you’ll feel right at home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with skiing, snowmobile tours, and sledding.

Christmas is always a special time in Williamsburg when this quaint colonial village becomes one of the most beautiful places to visit at Christmas in the USA. Get ready to witness a record-breaking light display and plenty of heart-pumping rides.

Williamsburg boasts a charming 18th Century colonial appearance that still preserves traditional English customs like leaving a candle in the window of homes. Candles aren’t hard to find in Williamsburg since it’s the home of Yankee Candles.

Visit the factory to discover the Yankee Candle Village, a model Christmas town complete with a train, animated shows, lights, and lots of candle scents that remind you of the holidays.

A trip to Busch Gardens will be the most exciting part about visiting Williamsburg, as you’ll get to experience the holiday spirit of this popular theme park.

It features North America’s largest Christmas light displays as you navigate the park to attractions like roller coasters, a Christmas tree maze, or a live holiday show.

Christmas happens all year round in Frankenmuth, where it isn’t just a holiday but a way of life. Frankenmuth is a little Bavarian town settled by Germans who maintained their rich holiday customs throughout the entire village.

You can’t mention Franekmuth without noting Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, its most famous attractions.

This retail shop is considered the largest Christmas store in the world. And with over 96,000 square feet of everything Christmas, you’re lucky if you don’t have Christmas songs stuck in your head for the next few days.

Browse Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland to see nearly 350 fully decorated trees, 150 different nutcrackers, and a Christmas light display of more than 100,000 lights extending for a half-mile.

While Bronner’s keeps Frankenmuth in the Christmas spirit all year, the holidays are even more magical as you can ride down Main street in a horse-drawn carriage admiring the Christmas light displays and go shopping for gifts in the seasonal Christmas market.

It may seem like a mirage when you find a town as full of Christmas cheer as Taos in the middle of the desert, but this is one illusion that you’ll just have to believe. Taos is one of the magical Christmas towns in the United States that celebrates Native American heritage.

The Yuletide Caroling and Tree Lighting Festival have started off the local Christmas season for over three decades.

Visitors can sip hot chocolate while singing carols around the large tree. There will even be appearances by Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Grinch.

Taos continues the celebration with light ceremonies and bonfires scheduled on Ledous Street and Bent Street.

Celebrating the rich Taos culture is a highlight of visiting Taos. You’ll get to see traditional ceremonial dances from the Native American tribe and find handicrafts made by Taos artists at the local arts and crafts fair.

Witness Santa coming to town as he rides down a sleigh attached to a ski lift to land in the heart of Park City, Utah.

His grand entrance is only just the beginning of what makes Park city one of the exciting Christmas towns in the USA to visit during the holidays.

Park City rests within Heber Valley, surrounded by snow-covered mountains. Park City Moutain Snowfest is a major ski event that brings lots of visitors from all over the experience the holiday activities.

On your days off from the slopes, you’ll frequently find yourself on Main Street. See Santa leading a parade of cars decorated with lights for the electric Parade—stick around until the end for caroling. Also, hop on the North Pole Express for an hour and a half ride full of entertainment, views, and treats.

The beauty of Whitefish, Montana, makes it one of the most magical Christmas towns in the United States. The stunning display of lights, garland, and bells set against the backdrop of the snowy Whitefish Mountain makes it quite a sight to see during the holiday season.

Join the locals for the annual Christmas Stroll down Central Ave with fun for the entire family, including caroling, kids activities, and dining. Next, help welcome in Santa at the Torchlight Parade happening at the Whitefish Mountain Resort.

The Christmas events around town are a bonus to the already popular ski town. Winter is the most popular time to visit Whitefish.

The brilliant lights display gives the perfect atmosphere to explore the shops and restaurants around town in between runs on the ski slopes.

Celebrating Christmas in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, brings back the traditions from over 300 years ago. Relive a colonial-era Christmas through an engaging living museum experience.

Portsmouth is home to the Strawbery Banke Museum, a living museum recreating the oldest settlement in New Hampshire. The 10-acres of historical buildings get reimagined for the holidays as a winter wonderland.

Visitors can participate in the Candlelight Stroll, a unique self-guided walk through the village while being greeted by actors dressed in colonial costumes. The Puddle Dock Pond is also frozen over for the season for ice skating.

Market Square is a hub for the Christmas festivities in Portsmouth.

First, listen to the magical voices of carolers performing their outdoor Christmas concert in the square and see the luminous Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Next, head to Goodwin Park for one of the best spots to watch the parade and prepare for an unforgettable Christmas theater show playing at The Music Hall.

The Christmas tradition in McAdenville started with a set of trees decorated in front of the McAdenville Community Center during the 1950s. Now, more than 60 years later, these nine trees have grown into a town-wide display of decorative Christmas lights.

Just a short drive outside of Charlotte is the self-proclaimed Christmas Town, USA. Its small population of approximately 600 people hosts over a half million tourists who come to see the light shows.

Drive along “the loop,” which takes you through the neighborhoods to see houses covered from top to bottom in colorful lights, and almost every tree in sight has some type of Christmas decorations on it. Over 500,000 lights are used to create the town’s light show.

Preparations for the holiday season are a long process for the locals, but it’s well worth it as they sit comfortably as one of the most Christmassy towns in the USA.

You don’t get the nickname City of Lights by putting up an average display of Christmas lights every year. Instead, Natchitoches takes Christmas to a new level, with a six-week-long celebration filled with lights, events, festivals, food, and more.

Natchitoches was established in 1714 as the Louisiana Purchase’s oldest settlement. Locals started the annual Christmas festival in the small French town to bring holiday cheer, and it has grown exponentially every year since. Now nearly a century later, it’s one of the best Christmas Towns in the USA.

The headlining Festival of Lights lasts for a day where you’ll see the creative displays of hundreds of thousands of lights.

Experience Christmas on the river with over one hundred individual light displays exhibited on Cane River Lake.

Go for a tour around the National Historic Landmark District in a horse-drawn carriage or get dressed up for the Northwestern State University Christmas Gala.

Generation after generation, families have made it a tradition to drive to the Pennsylvania countryside to see what many call one of the best light displays in the world.

Bernville is home to Koziars Christmas Village, which features a magnificent presentation of one million lights.

Koziars Christmas Village is an award-winning light display that completely illuminates the dark valley during the holiday season. Lights have been a part of the town’s seasonal traditions for 70 years and remain a major draw for tourists to Bernville.

Enter Koziars Christmas Village to walk through the indoor and outdoor spaces entirely decorated with lights and other Christmas displays.

You can easily spend hours admiring the different displays in search of your favorite. There are also tons of family-friendly activities, dining, shopping, and more.

The experience is set on a lakeside where the still lake surface creates a surreal reflection of the lights in the nighttime.

The residents of Annapolis, Maryland, make excellent use of its waterfront location by providing festive holiday activities on land or water.

You’ll have to experience them both for a proper Annapolis holiday in one of the top Christmas towns in America.

Annapolis becomes a bustling Christmas town full of activities during the holidays. The Christmas and Maryland themes intertwined give its visitors a one-of-a-kind way to celebrate the holidays.

Mark your calendars because there are lots of events that you don’t want to miss. Those who enjoy water can enjoy the Jolly Express Cruises for a Christmas-themed cruise on the waterfront or grab a spot along the banks to see the decorative boats sailing by during the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade.

Those who prefer land activities can enjoy the displays along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay for the Light of the Bay event, go on the Holiday Candlelight Stroll, or shop for gifts at the European-style Christmas market.

Most people know Bardstown for being one of the most beautiful small towns in the country. But people who visit during the holiday season also recognize it as one of the best Christmas Towns in the USA.

The historical town comes to life during the holiday where one month of celebration still isn’t enough.

Bardstown is the 2nd oldest settlement in Kentucky. There’s something about its historical buildings lining Main Street that gives it a charming Christmas town atmosphere.

Main Street is where you’ll spend most of your time as you enjoy the Light Up Bardstown festival right after Thanksgiving and watching the parade for a chance to see Santa.

If you’re traveling with kids, the Christmas Tour of Homes is a fun activity to see some of the best-decorated houses in town or going for a ride on the North Pole Express.

As for the adults, you’ll be glad to know that Bardstown is situated on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, where you can pick up some great gifts from local distilleries.

The Christmas spirit in Middle Tennessee is better than any other destination in the region. With the long-running Christmas traditions in Franklin, Tennessee, it’s perfected the art of creating a magical holiday for its visitors.

Franklin hosts the annual Dickens of a Christmas festival, billed as the largest outdoor Christmas festival in the region. The two-day event brings Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” to life with the characters walking around downtown as visitors enjoy live music and other activities.

Walk the two blocks of the Victorian village, where you'll find live performance stages showcasing local musicians.

In between sets, browse the different Christmas-themed window displays. There are also vendors exhibiting and selling art, craft, gifts, and treats.

When you need a break from the festival, check the schedule for the Franklin Theatre to see a special screening of classic Christmas films.

Christmas in Essex County, Connecticut, is one of the most exciting times to visit this New England destination. Discover the different Christmas traditions in the three different villages that make up Essex to see why it’s one of the best Christmas Towns in the USA.

Ivoryton is the favorite village to visit in Essex to see an excellent display of over 400,000 Christmas lights decorating the town.

This Ivoryton Illuminations event exhibits lights around the entire historic district that you can enjoy set to music playing on the radio.

Before leaving town, be sure to write a letter to Santa in the Ivoryton Library or catch a Christmas play at the Playhouse.

Visitors can ride on a vintage Essex Steam Train for a North Pole Express experience. Mr. and Mrs. Claus join passengers on this 90-minutes ride which includes a live onboard performance of “The Night Before Christmas.”