Every December, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania lives up to its nickname, Christmas City USA, transforming into a glowing holiday wonderland steeped in history and tradition. Founded on Christmas Eve in 1741 by Moravian settlers, the city embraces its yuletide heritage with twinkling lights, charming markets, and a warm community spirit that draws visitors from across the country.

Downtown Bethlehem sparkles with thousands of white lights draped across colonial-era buildings, lampposts, and shop windows. The historic district’s cobblestone streets invite leisurely strolls past festive storefronts, horse-drawn carriages, and the towering Christmas tree in Payrow Plaza. The “Live Advent Calendar”—the only one of its kind in the U.S.—offers nightly surprises and treats to gathered visitors. Visitors gather in the Sun Inn Courtyard at 5:30 pm and then a selected visitor is asked to knock on the door.

When the door is opened, a special guest from a local business or organization appears and distributes treats to the crowd.

The Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem is a holiday highlight, featuring artisan gifts, glassblowing demonstrations, live performances, and plenty of seasonal treats like strudel and mulled wine. Just steps away, the Bethlehem Star, perched high on South Mountain, shines as a beacon visible for miles, symbolizing the city’s enduring holiday spirit.

Free outdoor concerts, guided historic walking tours, and the annual “Holiday Putz” nativity displays add to the old-world charm. Even the Lehigh River waterfront glimmers with illuminated bridges and festive decor.

Over in nearby Allentown, the newest holiday light installation in Lehigh Valley  comes to life November 14 and runs through the new year until January 3, 2026. “Illumination” is brought to you by the IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park. This outdoor light experience includes over one million twinkling lights, delicious treats and winter cocktails, and tons of activities for the whole family to enjoy. 

Continue your holiday adventure with a fun afternoon at the Easton Winter Village in historic, downtown Easton. Browse through as many as 40 vendor huts full of holiday treats and gifts, hum along to festive music, zip around the ice skating rink, take a carriage ride, and more! Easton Winter Village runs Fridays–Sundays, November 23–December 22, 2024.

Branson dazzles with drive-through light spectacles like the “Lights of Joy” and “Trail of Lights,” featuring millions of twinkling bulbs, animated scenes, and towering Christmas trees. Along the Branson Strip, theaters, shops, and attractions join in, outlining buildings in brilliant color. Together, these displays blanket Branson in holiday magic, blending Ozark charm with an unforgettable, citywide celebration of the season. Santa makes frequent appearances throughout the season, and the whole city hums with cheer.

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, the community of Branson embraces the season with a mix of small-town charm and big-stage spectacle, making it one of America’s most beloved Christmas destinations.

At the heart of the celebration is Silver Dollar City’s “An Old Time Christmas,” where more than 6.5 million lights blanket the theme park in color. Strolling through the park feels like stepping into a storybook—every building is outlined in twinkling bulbs. Two Broadway-style Christmas productions fill the air with music, including a Broadway-worthy production of “A Dickens’ Christmas Carol” as part of its holiday festivities. The event will also include a new six-story Christmas tree, a new area called The Plaza, and an expanded light display with over 6.5 million lights. A towering five-story special-effects Christmas tree wows with synchronized lights and holiday songs. Plus, the nightly “Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade,” with illuminated floats and costumed characters, is a must-see highlight.

The holiday season shines just as brightly on stage as it does in the town’s famous light displays. Dozens of theaters transform their productions into festive spectacles, blending music, comedy, and heartwarming holiday spirit. The Andy Williams Performing Arts Center hosts The Andy Williams Ozark Mountain Christmas Show, a tradition filled with classic carols, dazzling costumes, and variety acts. The Sight & Sound Theatre stages its epic biblical production Miracle of Christmas, complete with elaborate sets and a live animal cast. At the Clay Cooper Theatre, the Clay Cooper’s Country Express Christmas mixes country hits with seasonal favorites, while the Presleys’ Country Jubilee adds a Christmas twist to their long-running mix of gospel, country, and comedy. From the Hughes Brothers Christmas Show to Dolly Parton’s Stampede Holiday Dinner Show, Branson’s stages burst with yuletide joy, offering visitors the chance to pair spectacular performances with the town’s delightful winter atmosphere.

Branson’s drive-through displays are equally magical. Branson’s “Lights of Joy” stretches for a mile with animated scenes and festive tunnels, while “Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights” takes visitors along a two-and-a-half-mile path winding through the historic homestead, showcasing themed displays, traditional nativity scenes, and views from Inspiration Tower.

Whether you’re sipping cocoa under a canopy of lights, cruising a glowing drive-through display, or enjoying Branson’s famous live entertainment with a holiday twist, the city offers a warm, joy-filled celebration of the season. Here, holiday lights aren’t just decorations—they’re part of an immersive Ozark Christmas tradition that captures the magic of winter in every twinkle.

Grapevine earns its nickname with a 40-day holiday spectacle—streets aglow, and civic light displays everywhere you turn. Highlights include the “Carol of Lights” lighting ceremony, a 40-ft tree at Peace Plaza, the dazzling “Merry & Bright” show at Gaylord Resort, and the “Parade of Lights” of lighted floats and bands.

Known as the Christmas Capital of Texas®, Grapevine may be better known for its location in between Dallas and Ft. Worth and home to Dallas/Ft. Worth International airport (DFW). The small city turns into a festive wonderland each winter, offering one of the most elaborate and joy-filled holiday celebrations in the United States. With more than 1,400 events in 40 days, this North Texas town dazzles visitors with millions of twinkling lights, charming decorations, and nonstop seasonal cheer.

The heart of the celebration beats along Historic Main Street, where Victorian-style buildings are draped in thousands of lights, garlands, and oversized ornaments. Every evening, the street glows with holiday charm as families stroll past boutique shops, sip hot cocoa, and pose for photos beneath illuminated archways. The Peace Plaza sparkles with a towering Christmas tree, synchronized light shows, and a giant interactive ornament perfect for selfies.

One of Grapevine’s signature attractions is “ICE!®” at the Gaylord Texan Resort, a walk-through wonderland carved from two million pounds of ice, featuring larger-than-life sculptures, slides, and themed displays. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad adds a nostalgic touch with its North Pole Express®, where children meet Santa and enjoy cocoa and cookies as the train chugs through the lights.

Festive activities extend across the city—the Parade of Lights parade floats down Main Street with marching bands and illuminated entries and features 100 lighted floats and marching bands, with Santa Claus making a grand appearance on the last float.

Grapevine Christmas Village offers artisan markets, live entertainment, and classic holiday treats. At Town Square Gazebo, nightly performances and story times with Mrs. Claus keep the magic alive.

Other highlights of the season include Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge, where the lodge turns into a Winter Wonderland with daily snow showers, dance parties, Christmas activities and more. Peace Plaza Ice Rink, considered by some to be the Rockefeller Center of the Southwest. The historic Palace Theatre features classic Christmas movies and live Broadway-style performances all season long. Not to be missed is the Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Shows, where a fleet of 400 drones lights up the sky above Historic Main Street with festive Christmas images.

From its meticulously decorated storefronts to its grand holiday spectacles, Grapevine captures the spirit of Christmas with warmth, creativity, and a touch of Texas flair. Whether you’re there for the shimmering lights, the joyful music, or the cherished traditions, a visit during the holidays feels like stepping into a storybook—one where the season’s magic shines in every twinkle.

Modeled after a Bavarian village, Leavenworth becomes a storybook come to life during the holidays. More than half a million lights decorate the town from late November through February, with twinkling buildings, alpine scenery, and cozy charm around every corner.

Tucked into the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth, Wash. becomes a snow globe come to life each winter during its famous Christmas Lighting Festival. This charming Bavarian-themed village transforms into a glowing alpine wonderland, drawing visitors from across the country to experience its old-world charm and dazzling holiday displays.

From late November through December the entire village is bathed in color—every gable, balcony, and lamppost strung with shimmering strands that create an enchanting glow against the snowy backdrop. Strolling down Front Street feels like walking through a European Christmas market, complete with festive music, spiced cider, and the scent of roasted nuts drifting through the crisp mountain air.

The centerpiece of the celebration is the Christmas Lighting Ceremony, held on weekend evenings throughout the season. As the sun sets, carolers in traditional attire gather in the gazebo, the crowd counts down, and the entire village bursts into light—a magical moment followed by live music and appearances from Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, and other holiday characters.

Leavenworth’s holiday spirit goes beyond the lights. The town hosts festive activities such as horse-drawn sleigh rides, visits to the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, and seasonal concerts at the Festhalle. Boutique shops brim with handcrafted ornaments, nutcrackers, and German treats, while restaurants serve hearty Bavarian fare perfect for a cold winter night.

Set against the snow-dusted peaks of the Cascades, Leavenworth’s Christmas celebrations blend storybook beauty with heartfelt tradition. Whether you’re sipping mulled wine by a firepit, singing along to carols, or simply standing in awe of the twinkling lights, the experience captures the magic of the season in a way that feels both timeless and unforgettable.

The historic city of St. Augustine transforms its entire downtown into a luminous wonderland, draping millions of white lights over 20 city blocks—from historic architecture to the iconic Bridge of Lions. The festival runs from late November through January and has earned acclaim as one of the nation’s most magical holiday experiences.

St. Augustine, Florida—the nation’s oldest city—glows with timeless holiday magic during its award-winning Nights of Lights celebration. More than three million white lights blanket the historic district, tracing the outlines of centuries-old buildings, palm trees, and cobblestone streets. The result is an ethereal glow that transforms the city’s Spanish Colonial architecture into a living holiday postcard.

The heart of the display centers on Plaza de la Constitución, where a towering Christmas tree sparkles alongside the illuminated Government House. From there, the lights stretch along the bayfront to the iconic Bridge of Lions, whose graceful arches shimmer in the reflection of Matanzas Bay. Strolling the narrow lanes of St. George Street, visitors are surrounded by twinkling facades, carolers in period costume, and the scent of roasted chestnuts from festive vendors.

There are countless ways to experience the Nights of Lights. Horse-drawn carriage rides offer a slow, romantic views of the displays, while holiday trolley and train tours provide narrated journeys through the city’s glowing streets. Adventurers can even take to the water—gaily lit local boat charters and schooner cruises sail past the dazzling waterfront, offering spectacular panoramas of the entire bayfront ablaze in light.

Restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries extend their hours for evening visitors, creating a lively holiday atmosphere. Seasonal events, from candlelight tours at the Colonial Quarter to festive performances at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, add to the city’s yuletide charm.

Whether admired from a quiet park bench or during a lively festival evening, St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights isn’t just a display—it’s a luminous celebration of history, community, and holiday spirit. It’s no wonder it’s been named one of the best Christmas light displays in the world, drawing visitors back year after year to bask in its warm, golden glow.