The 16 Most Festive Cities in the US to Visit This Christmas Season

Skip to main contentThere may be no place like home for the holidays, but these merry and bright getaways will get you in the yuletide spiritPhoto: Nathan Bilow/Getty ImagesEven the most steadfast Scrooge will find themselves humming a holiday jingle in these places that pack on the seasonal cheer. The most festive cities in the US for Christmas are fully devoted to their merry-making, with multi-weekend celebrations, European-style holiday markets, millions of twinkling lights, and Christmas tree lighting ceremonies for the whole town to enjoy. Some tried and true classics appear on this list—the Big Apple, of course, is included—but others might come as a surprise. You’ll also find a city that celebrates the holidays in 18th-century style, a Danish town famous for its architecturally impressive gingerbread, and a ski destination that even sends Santa down the slopes. Below, tour the 15 most festive cities in the US for Christmas.Photo: Nikada/Getty ImagesNew York CityWe couldn’t put together a Christmas list without giving a nod to NYC. The setting of many a holiday film, the Big Apple is full of Christmas spirit, including the Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony, Christmas shows like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the ice skating rinks in Central Park, and holiday windows at the iconic department stores.Photo: helivideo/Getty ImagesPark City, UtahDog sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, and snowboarding are a major part of the holiday activities in this alpine city, which is home to the country’s largest lift-served ski resort, Park City Mountain. The resort’s Town Lift even carries Santa into Park City for an annual celebration with cocoa, carolers, and tunes. On Christmas Eve, Santa returns for a torchlight parade as over 100 ski and snowboard instructors carve their way down the mountain.Photo: Getty ImagesSolvang, CaliforniaCan’t make it to Copenhagen before Christmas? Instead, head to Solvang—a deeply Danish town only about 35 miles from Santa Barbara that puts a Scandinavian spin on holiday cheer. The city’s seasonal celebration is called Julefest, which takes place from late November through early January and features holiday markets, a parade, carolers, and holiday concerts. Be sure to swing by The Solvang Bakery, famous for its elaborate gingerbread houses.Photo: John Kieffer/Getty ImagesVail, ColoradoIf you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see some snow in Vail, where alpine sports are in full swing by December. In addition to hitting the slopes at Vail Ski Resort, wandering its idyllic village—with cobblestone walkways, Bavarian-style architecture, and tons of twinkling lights—will make you feel like you’re in a real-life storybook. Take part in an ugly sweater fun run, do some holiday shopping at Kris Kringle Market, and take in a free skating show, featuring world-class athletes.Photo: Courtesy of Spencer County Visitor’s BureauSanta Claus, IndianaThis tinsel-loving town in southern Indiana, about 60 miles from Louisville, Kentucky, celebrates Christmas year round. Holiday World, an amusement park with rides named after Santa’s reindeer; Santa’s Candy Castle, a confectionary shop that dates back to 1935; and the Santa Claus Christmas Store, stocked with 8,000 ornaments, are open beyond just December. But the last month of the year is when the holiday vibes kick into high gear. Over the first three weekends of December, the town hosts its annual Santa Claus Christmas Celebration, including a Christmas parade, an arts and crafts show, and elaborate holiday light displays. The city is also home to the Santa Claus Museum & Village, where local “elves” answer letters to Santa for kids from all over.Photo: Getty ImagesCharleston, South CarolinaDespite its warm temperatures and palm trees instead of pines, Charleston curates a ridiculously cozy holiday scene. One beloved tradition is the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park, which includes a spectacle of more than 750 illuminated displays (even the palm trees are aglow), a holiday train ride, and visits with Santa. Elsewhere, historic homes are decked in vintage decor, and residential neighborhoods like I’On—just 15 minutes from downtown—go all in, with luminary-lined sidewalks, horse-drawn carriages, and neighbors gathering at the European-inspired wine bar Saint Urban’s for post-caroling sips.Photo: Richard Hamilton Smith/Getty ImagesChicagoThe Windy City embraces the holidays with travel-worthy Christmas markets. The most famous is Christkindlmarket, a European-style outdoor extravaganza with handcrafted gifts, mulled wine, and giant German pretzels. On Michigan Avenue, an illuminated nighttime parade, The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, kicks off the season; an ice skating rink opens in Millennium Park; and hotels deck their halls in elaborately festive fashion. For example, The Pendry Chicago transforms its rooftop bar, Château Carbide, into a winter wonderland with cozy chalets, each featuring a personal fireplace.Photo: BDphoto/Getty ImagesWilliamsburg, VirginiaTake a trip back in time at Colonial Williamsburg, which celebrates Christmas with 18th-century flair. While in town, make sure to visit the Busch Gardens Christmas Town, decorated with eight million lights.Photo: Brett KigerAsheville, North CarolinaAsheville’s iconic Biltmore Estate, built by George Vanderbilt, is America’s largest home. How fitting, then, that it features one of the grandest Christmas displays in the country. More than 70 trees fill the 175,000-square-foot house for the holiday season. In 2023, Hallmark even premiered a fantasy rom-com inspired by the spectacular, appropriately titled A Biltmore Christmas.Photo: Getty ImagesBranson, MissouriExperience an Ozark Mountain Christmas in Branson, the Live Music Show Capital of the World. (There are, of course, many special performances throughout the season.) Stroll down the two-and-a-half-mile Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights, or see the five million Christmas lights and 1,000 decorated trees at Silver Dollar City.Photo: Nathan Bilow/Getty ImagesAspen, ColoradoStarting December 20, this town hosts the 12 Days of Aspen, during which local businesses offer holiday activities to visitors and residents, from designing your own gift wrap at the St. Regis to a performance of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol at the Wheeler Opera House.Photo: Getty ImagesNewport, Rhode IslandFrom November to January, visit the Gilded Age mansions in Newport to see them filled with Christmas decorations. Plus, the whole town partakes in Christmas in Newport, a monthlong holiday celebration established in 1971, where residents and businesses alike decorate and host events.Photo: Getty ImagesCape May, New JerseyThe crown jewel of the Jersey Shore, this seaside town is filled with quaint bed and breakfasts and charming shops. The Victorian houses that line its streets are decorated with wreaths, lights, and garlands—take a ride on a holiday-themed trolley or join a popular walking tour to see them all.Photo: Francine Orr/Getty ImagesNewport Beach, CaliforniaWho says you need to have snow for Christmas? In Newport Beach, you can enjoy a 108-year-old tradition: the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. More than a million people watch yachts, boats, and kayaks sail through the harbor each year. Outside of the annual spectacular, the parks services helps further set the holiday tone, adding Christmas trees in unexpected places, like at the Crystal Cove State Park, seen here.Stefanie Waldek is a freelance journalist based in Saratoga Springs, New York, with more than a decade of experience. She writes about travel and design for publications like Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and House Beautiful, among others, and has penned three books: 150 Gardens You Need to Visit Before You Die, ... Read MoreAmelia Mularz is a freelance journalist specializing in interior design, garden, and travel stories. She has previously contributed to Real Simple, HGTV Magazine, New York magazine's The Strategist, and Travel + Leisure, among other titles. She has also held long-term roles at Vogue and The Knot. In 2018, she received ... Read More