Charming Christmas Towns You Should Visit This Holiday Season (2024)

The spirit of Christmas—and Santa—live year-round in North Pole, Alaska. But over the holidays, visitors can meet the jolly man in red himself at Santa Claus House, get personalized letters from him, and take photos with the largest Santa statue in the world, which towers at 50 feet.

You’ll step back in time in Colonial Williamsburg, where the history and holiday celebration are rich. Enjoy any of the town’s 18th century-themed Christmas events, including concerts, caroling, dinners, and more.

Vail is a quintessential winter-kissed village. Its mountain location gives it an enamoring snow halo, and its quaint, low-lit shops and restaurants complete the storybook dream. If you’re the outdoorsy type, enjoy the slopes at the local ski resort or try a snowmobile tour.

Santa Claus lives up to its namesake. Visiting the Santa Claus Museum & Village, hunting down the over 15 Santa statues on its grounds, and delighting in a homemade confection from Santa’s Candy Castle are just a few of the many activities to indulge there. Drive through the Santa Claus Land of Lights for some warm festive fun.

Also referred to as Christmas Town, USA, McAdenville holds traditional tree lighting and yule log ceremonies, and the entire town is decorated in festive, over-the-top decor. It’s well worth a visit, especially if you live nearby.

Like Vail, the city of Durango has winter wonderland charm, but its main attraction is its scenic railroad tours. Families with kids will love the Polar Express-themed ride, during which staff reenact the beloved tale. If you’re traveling without kids you might prefer the Cascade Canyon winter train route, best enjoyed while sipping hot chocolate.

This Bavarian-inspired gem celebrates Christmas year-round, which explains why it’s home to the world’s largest holiday store: Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. It’s the size of one and a half football fields! While you’re there, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride and visit Christkindlmarkt, where local artisans sell all kinds of treasures.

If you’re looking to celebrate the holidays without the icy temps, check out St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights. Every year, the tropical city illuminates in an award-winning light display to be marveled by all who come and go.

People flock to Bernville to visit Koziar’s Christmas Village, an eight-acre family property that’s annually adorned with more than 1 million lights that reflect on its central lake, making for an overwhelming visual experience in the best way.

The Bavarian village of Leavenworth offers every opportunity for Christmas revelry that you could possibly want, all lit by over half a million Christmas lights: Caroling, chestnut-roasting, gingerbread house crafting, festive photo ops, and appearances by Santa & Mrs. Claus themselves.

Myrtle Beach’s Brookgreen Gardens displays over 2,700 hand-lit candles every year as part of its popular Nights of a Thousand Candles.

Billing itself as America’s Christmas Tree City, Branson is stacked with things to see and do during the holidays. Check out the town’s event lineup (featuring concerts, a Christmas cruise, and more) and book a trip on the Branson Scenic Railway’s Polar Express Train Ride, where you can take in the views and watch the classic film.

A picturesque Christmas town (think wreathed lampposts, festive storefronts, and a steady sprinkle of snow) with world-class ski slopes, Whitefish is where to go for a classic holiday celebration. The town’s annual Christmas Stroll offers wagon rides, ornament decorating, and carols.

Each December, Woodstock hosts Wassail Weekend, its annual holiday festival. With ticketed admission, you can participate in all the festivities, including historic farmhouse tours, shopping for locally made foods and antiques, breakfast with Santa, and more.

The historic Strawbery Banke Museum’s “Candlelight Stroll Under the Stars” features costumed historical re-enactments, in which visitors (meaning, the tour’s participants) "call on" families in beautifully-decorated buildings who recreate traditions of times past, such as a Victorian Christmas and a 1919 Hanukkah Celebration.

Known for being the backdrop of Norman Rockwell’s famous painting, “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas (Home for Christmas),” the city lives up to the hype. Its 2023 list of events includes dance performances and special exhibitions at the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Bethlehem’s historic SteelStacks host the area’s ultimate holiday destination, the Bethlehem Christkindlmarkt, where more than 50 of the nation’s finest artisans’ work is featured, along with live music and a historic Bethlehem tour. It’s recommended to purchase tickets in advance.

This Danish-settled town is marked by a giant windmill and dozens of quaint storefronts that are decked out for its annual Julefest (Yule Fest), where activities include a nightly light and music show, candlelight tours, photos with Santa, and the Julefest Parade.

If you’re looking for small-town, Southern holiday cheer, Blue Ridge is where it’s at. During the months of November and December, plenty of heartwarming events will take place—a Christmas parade, tree lighting, and Blue Ridge train rides with Santa are on the list.

Christmas in Newport is a two-week long festival that celebrates the “non-commercial” elements of the holiday season, and 2022 would mark its 52nd year. Activities include historic walking tours, live music, and local art displays.