Seasonal trips · Christmas trips
Where to go in December: Christmas towns, holiday markets and lights
December is peak season for Christmas villages, German-style holiday markets and towns covered in lights. Weekends sell out months ahead, so lock in rooms early and consider a midweek stay.
Leavenworth · Cleveland · Frankenmuth · Bethlehem · Solvang · Grapevine · Santa Fe · McAdenville · Chicago · New York City
Bavarian Christmas village
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is a Bavarian-style mountain town in the Cascades that becomes a Christmas village each winter, with lighting ceremonies, carolers, market stalls and snow.
Highlights
- Christmas lighting weekends
- Front Street holiday market
- Sledding and snowshoeing
- German food and bakeries
Where to stay: In-town hotels and inns book up months ahead. Groups often rent cabins nearby or stay in Wenatchee.
Getting there: Seattle (SEA) is about 2.5 hours away. Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee (EAT) is about 35 minutes.
Group tip: Mountain passes can be snowy. Plan a charter bus or vehicles with good tires, and check road conditions.
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A Christmas Story hometown
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is home to the house from the movie A Christmas Story, plus holiday shows at Playhouse Square, downtown lights and seasonal light displays around the city.
Highlights
- A Christmas Story House and Museum (Tremont)
- Holiday shows at Playhouse Square
- Downtown holiday lights on Public Square
- Seasonal light shows around the city
Where to stay: Downtown and the Flats are close to Playhouse Square and Tremont.
Getting there: Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE) is about 20 minutes from downtown.
Group tip: The Christmas Story House gets busy in December. Plan a weekday morning visit for groups.
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Michigan's Little Bavaria
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth is home to Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, a huge Christmas store, plus a Bavarian main street, chicken dinners and holiday events.
Highlights
- Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland
- Bavarian-style main street
- Family-style chicken dinners
- Holiday lights and events
Where to stay: Large resort hotels in town have indoor water parks that families love.
Getting there: Flint (FNT) is about 30 minutes away. Detroit (DTW) is about 90 minutes.
Group tip: Reserve the chicken dinner for big groups. Holiday weekends book up.
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Christmas City USA
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem calls itself Christmas City USA. It has a well-known Christkindlmarkt, historic Moravian buildings and candlelit walking tours.
Highlights
- Christkindlmarkt
- Historic Moravian district
- Holiday walking and bus tours
- SteelStacks lights
Where to stay: Historic downtown inns fill quickly. Hotels near the Lehigh Valley airport work well for groups.
Getting there: Lehigh Valley International (ABE) is about 15 minutes away. Philadelphia (PHL) is about an hour.
Group tip: The market can be crowded on weekends. Weekday visits are calmer for groups.
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Danish village holidays
Solvang, California
Solvang is a Danish-style village in Santa Barbara wine country. During Julefest it fills with lights, tree lightings, bakeries and holiday events.
Highlights
- Julefest lights and events
- Danish bakeries
- Santa Ynez Valley wineries
- Windmills and village shops
Where to stay: Solvang's small hotels fill fast. Buellton and Santa Ynez have more rooms.
Getting there: Santa Barbara (SBA) is about 45 minutes away. Los Angeles (LAX) is about 2.5 hours.
Group tip: A good pick for California families who want a winter-village feel without snow.
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Christmas Capital of Texas
Grapevine, Texas
Grapevine calls itself the Christmas Capital of Texas, with hundreds of holiday events, a lighted Main Street and Christmas train rides, right next to DFW Airport.
Highlights
- Historic Main Street lights
- Christmas train rides
- Large resort holiday displays
- Grapevine Mills and Grapevine Lake
Where to stay: Big resorts near DFW host holiday events. Smaller hotels along the highways cost less.
Getting there: Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) is minutes away.
Group tip: Easy for out-of-town groups: fly into DFW and skip the rental cars if you stay near Main Street.
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Farolitos and adobe holidays
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe's adobe buildings glow with farolitos, small paper lanterns, in December. The Christmas Eve walk on Canyon Road is a famous tradition.
Highlights
- Christmas Eve farolito walk on Canyon Road
- The Plaza decorated for the holidays
- Art galleries and museums
- New Mexican food
Where to stay: Hotels near the Plaza are walkable. Cerrillos Road has more affordable options.
Getting there: Santa Fe Regional (SAF) is close to town. Albuquerque (ABQ) is about an hour.
Group tip: Nights are cold. Pack warm layers for evening walks.
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Christmas Town USA
McAdenville, North Carolina
McAdenville is a small town near Charlotte that covers its trees and homes in lights each December. Visitors drive or walk through the displays.
Highlights
- Town-wide light displays
- Walking nights and drive-throughs
- Charlotte holiday events nearby
Where to stay: Stay in Gastonia or Charlotte. The town itself has very few rooms.
Getting there: Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) is about 20–30 minutes away.
Group tip: Traffic backs up on weekends. A charter bus or a weekday visit keeps the group together.
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Christkindlmarket and holiday lights
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's German-style Christkindlmarket, the Magnificent Mile lights, ice skating and holiday shows make it a big-city Christmas trip.
Highlights
- Christkindlmarket
- Magnificent Mile lights
- Ice skating downtown
- Holiday shows and theater
Where to stay: The Loop and River North are walkable to the market and Michigan Avenue.
Getting there: O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW). CTA trains run from both airports.
Group tip: Bring warm gear. Lakefront wind makes it feel much colder.
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Rockefeller tree and holiday windows
New York City, New York
New York at Christmas means the Rockefeller Center tree, holiday store windows, ice skating, holiday markets and shows.
Highlights
- Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
- Fifth Avenue holiday windows
- Bryant Park holiday market and skating
- Dyker Heights lights in Brooklyn
Where to stay: Midtown is central but pricey. Long Island City and Jersey City are a short train ride away for less.
Getting there: JFK, LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR).
Group tip: Weekday evenings are much less crowded around the tree.
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Event dates change each year, so check the official town or event website before you book. GroupVoy may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you.
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