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, festive 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 realistic snow, fireworks and special effects. If you’re planning to meet Saint Nick at Disney Springs, save time by joining the virtual queue on the My Disney Experience app.

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 Vacation 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. New York can get extremely cold at this time of year, so be sure to take a big coat and fluffy socks.

A small Alaskan city near Fairbanks, North Pole is known for bringing Christmas cheer every day of the year with year-round decorations, including candy cane striped streetlights and sculptures. During December, thousands gather at the merry town to marvel at their breath-taking firework shows and enjoy Christmas carolling.

Along with the crowning of the Christmas King and Queen, North Pole hosts a Santa Claus meet-and-greet and bustling holiday markets. 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. To make your stay extra magical, why not camp at the Chena Lake recreation area? You might even see the Northern Lights.

Ranked one of the top 20 Christmas displays in the world, the small town of McAdenville in North Carolina is renowned for their holiday decorations. Over 160 homes get together during December to light up the streets with their extravagant festive 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 influx 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 millions of Christmas lights, visit the incredible ice sculptures in 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 various times throughout the day. You can’t miss a holiday-themed Vegas show either. We recommend the Tournament of Kings’ ‘Twas the Knight for a festively raucous good time.

If you haven't visited Branson during the holidays, you’re in for an extraordinary 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 journey 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.

The experience lasts roughly 75 minutes, and all passengers, adults included, are encouraged to wear their warmest, most festive pyjamas.

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. The River Walk is a public park and is open almost every day of the year, 24 hours a day.

If you’re in town the day after Thanksgiving, consider purchasing a special ticket to the Ford Holiday River Parade. This iconic evening parade boasts illuminated floats and thousands of vivid Christmas lights arranged into pretty displays. Don’t worry if you miss the parade though, as the lights stay up until the first weekend of January.

The little mining town of Durango, Colorado comes alive during the festive season with activities all December long for everyone from the adventure seeker to the holiday traditionalist. Start out with the traditional bazaars 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.

If you’re looking for Santa, you’ll find him on selected days at the Durango Botanical Gardens and Buckley Park. Durango has some spectacular snowy mountain views, so consider seeing them via a dogsledding tour at Durango Dog Ranch or a magical sleigh ride.

Get yourself over to New Orleans for a Christmas to remember. Though 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.