Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Bob & LBF in the Morning

Bob & LBF in the Morning

Bob & LBF in the Morning

Three of the Best Small Towns For Christmas are in New England! And You Won’t Believe What Massachusetts Town Made the List!

By Lauren Beckham Falcone
21 of the Best Small Towns to Visit This Christmas! (Three are in New England and One is Right Here in Massachusetts) )

Where are the Best Small Towns to Visit This Christmas in New England and Massachusetts?

Yes, of the 21 Best Small Christmas towns in the US, three are in New England.

And you won’t believe what Massachusetts town made the list!

Move over Hallmark!

A great small town Christmas is right here in New England and Massachusetts.

In fact, New England is Home to three of the Best Small Towns to Visit This Christmas! (And One is Right Here in Massachusetts)

According to TripstoDiscover.com, a small town Christmas with get you spirited faster than the crazy pace of a big city!

“Instead of visiting a crowded city this Christmas, take a drive to one of America’s small towns that celebrate the holidays in a big way. Bask in the charm of these smaller cities this holiday season, where you can enjoy illuminated parades, charming shops, and town squares lit with sparkling lights. From winter wonderlands to quiet seaside escapes, read on to discover the best small towns to visit for Christmas in the United States.”

Let’s be honest. A BIG city Christmas can stress you out. Have you been to Times Square in the middle of December? NIGHTMARE.

You want a Hallmark holiday, right? Where you stroll down a not-so-crowded sidewalk with music piped in the air from God knows where. You’re bundled up, but not hot. You might be carrying a hot chocolate. The kids are NOT fighting. You and your significant other just spotted the perfect gifts to give each other. There’s room at the local inn, there’s no wait for a cozy table by the fireplace in the local restaurant and there’s no shoving, screaming, sweating or swearing.

This is SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS LIVING, PEOPLE!

Anyway!

Check out the top 11 spots – and you won’t believe what Massachusetts town made the list!

  • Santa Clause, IN

    “What could be a better Christmas destination than a city called Santa Claus? Its population hovers around 2,500, but that doesn’t stop them from going over the top for the holiday season. It’s a three-weekend celebration in this town, where you can roast chestnuts on an open fire at Santa’s Candy Castle, then visit the Santa Claus Arts & Crafts Show and check out the Santa Claus Christmas Parade. There’s an LED-light display that tells the story of Rudolph in addition to a Christmas store, Christmas museum and letter-writing activity to Santa himself.”

  • Alexandria, VA

    “Alexandria is often named among the most magical Christmas towns in the U.S. Stepping into the historic old town, you’ll feel as if you were transported into a real-life Dickens Village with its 18th-century row houses. The long list of holiday events begins with the annual Tree Lighting in front of City Hall, musical performances, and an appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Time-honored festivities also include the annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend & Parade and the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights on the Potomac River.”

  • Branson, MO

    “Known for being America’s Christmas Tree City, Branson is an inviting small town that celebrates Christmas in style. It’s here that you can experience a month-long holiday extravaganza with live music, festive displays of lights, and fun-filled parades. This Midwest city and country music capital offers drive-thru light displays in addition to an illuminated nativity scene atop Mount Branson, while An Old Time Christmas features the largest Christmas display in the area. The Branson Scenic Railway’s Polar Express Train Ride is a favorite with families, with hot chocolate, cookies, and a reading of the original story from Santa himself.”

  • Lancaster, PA

    “A small town in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Lancaster boasts a festive atmosphere amongst Amish farms. There are carriage rides, singing carolers and plenty of gift shopping available at the Lancaster Central Market. Watch the tree lighting ceremony with tuba accompaniment or hop aboard the Strasburg Rail Road for cookies and milk while Victorian-dressed actors read “The Night Before Christmas”, then explore one of Lancaster’s other top attractions.”

  • Leavenworth, WA

    “You’ll be taken aback with the beauty of Leavenworth, as this Bavarian-inspired town is straight out of a fairytale, surrounded by the snow-covered Cascade Mountains. A planned storybook village with steep roofs and trees lit with a half-million Christmas lights, you can skip the flight to Europe and enjoy sizzling bratwurst, Gluhwein hot mulled wine and roasted nuts. Join in the week-long Christkindlmarkt festivities, watch hand-bell concerts and see the over-the-top decorated outdoor tree.”

  • St. Augustine, FL

    “St. Augustine is one of the most charming Christmas towns in Florida. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a warm-weather holiday getaway, while its lack of snow is replaced with an uber-festive annual Night of Lights festival. The city is glowing with lights, candles, and Christmas decor, and you can see it all aboard the Old Town Trolley’s Famous Night of Lights Tour. The city also has other family-friendly events, including colorful boat displays at the Regatta of Lights. Participate in the much-loved Holiday Tour of Inns, or bring the kids to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum on Luminary Night to say hello to Santa.”

  • Natchez, MS

    “One of the most charming small towns in the United States, Natchez is known for its Southern hospitality and historic homes. The picturesque Mississippi town is a great place to escape the crowds this holiday season and enjoy a quiet riverside setting. There are plenty of holly jolly happenings, including brightly colored lights on Main Street and an annual tree-lighting event on Thanksgiving weekend that features pyrotechnics set to music, visits with Santa, caroling around the tree, and tasty food vendors. You can also tour Sunnyside, which is the “Biltmore of Natchez” and an elegant 1850s Greek revival gem in the historic downtown, then shop for gifts at Darby’s or antiques at Hal Garner at Nest.”

  • Dahlonega, GA

    “Dahlonega is considered one of the most fun and festive Christmas towns in Georgia for a reason. Tucked away in northern Georgia, about 75 miles from Atlanta, this town boasts an array of festive events and holiday displays around town. Its Main Street is so picture-perfect that it’s been featured in popular Hallmark movies. Typically running for a full month the day after Thanksgiving, its popular Old-Fashioned Christmas celebration includes Santa visits, lighting of the downtown square, a parade, and other festivities like caroling and Christmas-themed theater events.”

  • Woodstock, VT

    “A landscape dotted with steepled churches, covered bridges and ice skating rinks, Woodstock comes alive during the Woodstock Wassail Weekend. After admiring its colonial New England architecture and picturesque river views, enjoy the village’s wagon and sleigh rides, holiday craft fair and performances by local theater and singing troupes. Watch carolers take to the snowy streets and decorated horses trot around downtown with riders dressed in Victorian attire.”

  • Newport, RI

    “Beloved for its beautiful coastline, Newport is a charming city with stunning beaches, waterfront hotels, and plenty of New England charm. During Christmas, the Holidays at the Newport Mansions provides the perfect mix of opulence and Christmas magic, with Newport’s Gilded Age mansions decked with ornamented trees, holiday lights, wreaths, dining tables set with period silver and china, and more. You can also bundle up and see the Illuminated Boat Parade at the harbor, where colorful boats compete for the best decorated. Christmas in Newport is another notable event, featuring multiple activities, like concerts, tree lighting, craft fairs, and candlelit house tours.”

  • Taunton, MA

    “Taunton, Massachusetts is one of the best places to celebrate Christmas in New England, so much so that it has been nicknamed “The Christmas City” for its over-the-top holiday cheer. Not only does the town’s classic winter setting blanketed in snow create the perfect scenery for Christmas, but it also boasts an annual Lighting of the Green and Lights On festival, an event that has been going strong for over 100 years. The spectacle includes a Christmas parade, light displays, fireworks, kid-friendly activities, and live entertainment on historic Taunton Green.”

     

For the full list, click here: https://www.tripstodiscover.com/best-small-towns-to-visit-for-christmas-in-the-us/

Sign me up for the 105.7 WROR email newsletter!

Make sure you're in the know on the latest music and entertainment news, plus exclusive prizes, trips, and more!

*
*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Tags
,,