10 Best Places to Celebrate Christmas in the US

The happiest place on earth gets even happier during the holidays. From Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Disney’s Magic Kingdom to the brand-new winter wonderland laser show at Hollywood Studios, celebrating Christmas time at Disney is a must-do for any family. Enjoy specially themed shows, holiday cheer throughout all 4 parks and, best of all, Cinderella’s castle lit up majestically for the holidays! Stay until the park closes to experience a spectacular show filled with ‘snow’, fireworks and special holiday effects.

There’s no question about it – New York City knows how to do Christmas. They take holiday celebrations to a whole new level! From ice skating in Central Park to watching the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, the festivities in the Big Apple are as timeless as can be. Locals and tourists alike flock to see the famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree, the 5th Avenue window displays, Union Square Holiday Market and, at the centre of it, the Empire State building. Lit red and green throughout all the entire month of December, the prominent landmark marks the centre of the snowy Christmas festivities.

A small Alaskan city near Fairbanks, North Pole is known for its year-round Christmas decorations including candy cane striped street lights. During the month of December, thousands of people gather at the cheery town to take part in their holiday spectacle, including breathtaking firework shows and joyful Christmas carolling. Along with the crowning of the Christmas King and Queen, North Pole hosts a Santa Claus meet-and-greet on the 15th of every December. With street names such as Mistletoe Lane and Kris Kringle Drive, North Pole is a fun, unique and inexpensive way to celebrate the holidays in the US.

Ranked one of the top 20 Christmas displays in the world, the small town of McAdenville in North Carolina is notorious for their holiday decorations. Over 160 homes get together during the month of December to light up the streets with their extravagant holiday cheer. Enjoy a walk around the lake, complete with 38 lighted spruce trees, or take a stroll around town where you’ll find 265 Evergreen trees covered in over half a million red, green and white lights. Travelling on foot is encouraged when visiting McAdenville, as the large in-flux of visitors often causes traffic jams in the small town.

Las Vegas does everything big, and the holiday season is no exception. Drive your car through a racetrack of Christmas lights (millions of them), visit the winter wonderland at The LINQ Promenade, and of course, celebrate on The Strip! Be sure to check out the 20-metre Christmas tree at the Venetian and the famous Fountains of Bellagio. They feature free special performances of classic holiday tunes with performances starting at 3pm Monday to Friday, noon on Saturdays and holidays, and 11am on Sundays. 

If you haven't visited Branson during the holidays, you’re in for an incredible surprise. This small town has made its holiday line up of events a treasured tradition. Enjoy live shows, entertaining light displays and, best of all, The Polar Express! What better way to the snowy Ozark Mountains than taking a ride on the train? Just like the original story, hot chocolate and cookies are given out to each passenger and Santa will be there reading parts of the book during the train ride. 

Anyone who’s been on the San Antonio River Walk is familiar with the quaint, city-centre walkway lining the San Antonio River. During the holidays, though, this quiet stroll turns into a spectacular display featuring over 1,000 lights. The River Walk is a public park and is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day, except on November 23th when the Ford Holiday River Parade is held. This iconic night parade filled with lights, costumed float riders and Christmas music. It is only accessible after 4pm with a specially-bought parade ticket.

The little mining town of Durango, Colorado comes alive during the holiday season with activities all month long for everyone from the adventure seeker to the holiday traditionalist. Start out with the Old Fashioned Christmas Bazaar for old-school food and entertainment, then head to downtown for some classic Christmas shopping. Finish out the night touring the Animas Rives and its surrounding mountainside on the city’s old steam engine train.

Get yourself over to New Orleans for a Christmas to remember. Although world-famous for its Mardi Gras celebrations, this lively city sure knows how to celebrate in December as well. The ‘Running of the Santas’, an annual marathon where everyone is dressed up as St. Nicholas himself, kicks off the month-long celebration. This is followed by cathedral concerts and light shows, such as Miracle on Fulton Street. This pedestrian corridor is transformed into a winter wonderland during December, featuring giant gingerbread house displays and festive food and drinks stands.

Looking for the best Christmas markets in the country? Bethlehem’s got them for you. Located in eastern Pennsylvania, this small town is filled with creativity, world-class festivals, a rich history and, of course, some of the best Christmas celebrations in the world. Rated the top Christmas market in the country by many, ‘Christkindlmarkt’ showcases fine art and unique holiday gifts by 100 artists, live Christmas music and much more. Do your Christmas shopping here and find gifts unlike any other – your friends and family will love them!