3. Long Grove, Illinois
The streets of downtown Long Grove come alive for the holiday season. This inviting small town of Chicago has a yearly “Vintage Holidays” theme, a seasonal tribute to the small-town holiday market experience complete with picture-perfect shops.
Festivities each weekend include the famous Christmas Tree Parade, complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides, costumed carolers, Victorian buildings trimmed in lights, a movie-perfect covered bridge, and cobblestone walkways lined with luminaries.
You’ll even get to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus while here! You can expect all this from November 19th through December 19th, along with village merchants participating in a “Christmas Tree Parade” and much more.
The Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association organizes this event each year.
28 thoughts on “6 Small Towns in the US With Incredible Christmas Vibes”
You should check out Natchitoches, La. It’s the city where
Steel Magnolias was filmed.
I thought for sure that Helen Georgia would have made that list. I have been there and it is awesome! I guess they never came South!
It made it on one list. Definitely, worth it!
I agree that Helen, although a very small town, is definitely worth a Christmas visit!
Guthrie, OK goes all out for Christmas with people singing Christmas Carols in period costumes etc. I highly recommend you go there next time!
One is in Georgia and the other is in Michigan. Try Google maps
where is helen georgia ? and where is franken muth michigan?
Helen, GA is north of Atlanta. Frankenmuth, MI is north of Detroit.
You missed one of the best in the country. Helen Georgia.
I went to college at Moravian in Bethlehem, PA. It is called the “Christmas City” and certainly deserves to be on this list. Beautiful light displays, life size Nativity, huge tree overlooking a bridge, Advent candles displayed and the unforgettable Christmas Vespers in the Central Moravian Church. Absolutely worth seeing!
Went on the train in Durango at Christmas many years ago…it goes half way up the mountain in the winter and then back and is so beautiful in the snow. The town is magical and welcoming any time of year but I’ve been there in the winter, fall (gorgeous with golden aspens) and summer…the now helps make it so beautiful. My brother started their winter carnival (Snowdown) at the end of January each year…over 30 years now!
You need to check out Cedarburg Wisconsin. A small city 20 miles north of Milwaukee. It has a beautiful historic designated downtown, Festive Fridays beginning right after Thanksgiving, Candy Cane house. A more friendly small town doesn’t exist. It truly has the spirit of Christmas all year long.
What? No Bethlehem Pa., the “Christmas City”?
Everyone should visit Edenton, North Carolina on the 2nd weekend in December. The Christmas Candlelight Tour ( taking place for 41 years!) is stunning, fun, spirit-filled, great for families. History, decor, food, music, etc. Wonderful!
You most definitely forgot Santa Claus, Indiana.
How about Thomasville GA? Very nice small town in SW Georgia that has strolling Carolers, etc …
St. Charles, MO
For nearly half a century, Saint Charles Christmas Traditions® has made the holiday spirit of the past come to life for the young and young at heart. With a unique blend of storytelling, history, and fairy tale whimsy, guests are welcomed into a world of yuletide nostalgia and fantasy where reindeer fly, sugarplums dance in your head, and an array of international ambassadors invite you to explore unique holiday customs from around the world.
Discover a holiday feast for all of your senses: experience the taste of genuine hot-roasted chestnuts fresh from an open fire, witness the pageantry of a delegation of global Santa figures dressed in the cultural attire of their home countries, listen to the timeless Christmas melodies sung by Victorian carolers, breathe in the aroma of the crisp pine greenery that festively trims the historic district, as you feel the well-worn character of the centuries-old bricks of Main Street under your feet
Helen is a city in White County, Georgia, United States, located along the Chattahoochee River. It is a German Town making you feel you were really in Germany. A place to visit – specially in Christmas.
We visited Helen37 years ago. Great town And they may still have a giant balloon race to the coast called “To Hellen and back”
I can’t believe you forgot Santa Clause Indiana.
I vote for Woodstock, Vermont!!!! Hopefully it has not been washed away during this summers rains. Woodstock is a beautiful town any time of year. Y’all go visit sometime.
Williamsburg, Virginia. My husband I love history and how America all began. It also reminds me of my heritage and ancestry.
Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown are great any time of the year, but especially around Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the 4th of July!
They ALL look wonderful. My personal favorite is Williamsburg, VA
thanks for putting this together
You should visit Grapevine, Texas the “Capital of Christmas in Texas” and Fredericksburg, Texas.
You forgot Galena Illinois
Dahlonega, Georgia is one of the most incredible places for Christmas time. The streets are all lit up, live music on the square and a blissful feeling of happiness as you walk the streets and shop in vintage style stores. Trees surrounding the square are lit up and there’s a cheeriness in the air.
Need some southern flavor. Like St Augustine or Dunedin, FL