The Most Christmassy Place in Each State for 2019

Sometimes, it's all in the name of the town (looking at you, Santa Claus, Indiana). Other times, it's as simple as an exciting travel destination that also happens to have a holiday calendar jam-packed with jolly happenings. Regardless, certain places across the country become a dream come true at Christmastime, so click on the slideshow to find out where to go in your state in order to get swept up in the spirit of the season.

After a year spent commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landings, it's time for "Rocket City" to get dressed in its best red and green. Once again, Santa's Village will take over the Historic Huntsville Depot; turning it into a winter wonderland. Visitors will be able to spot live reindeer (and a few mischevious elves) and see the North Pole Express roar to life. You may even see some snow. Across town, the Museum of Art will play host to an outdoor skating rink.

Located outside of Fairbanks, North Pole picked up its name during an effort to attract a toy manufacturer or theme park to the area. That plan didn't work out, but the Santa Claus House has become one of the most beloved roadside attractions in America. Here, it's Christmas every day of the year and visitors can shop for gifts, see reindeer and have a letter postmarked with a genuine "North Pole" stamp.

Who says it can't feel Christmassy in the desert? The whole town of Mesa gets into the spirit, but the best event is Merry Main Street. The 2019 version will feature an ice skating rink, Christmas market, Polar Express train, food truck "forest" and the chance to admire the city's official Christmas tree.

America's first resort lights up each December and visitors are sure to be swept away by warm feelings of the season. Do like the locals and admire all the glittering lights downtown before heading to Garvan Woodland Gardens to gaze at over five million sparkling Christmas lights. There's also a Christmas parade and a Yuletide themed pub crawl.

If you can't make it to Copenhagen (which is easily one of the most Christmassy places in Europe), then Solvang is certainly the second-best place to be to experience a Danish Christmas. The town celebrates its rich Scandinavian heritage each holiday season during the month-long Julefest, which features candlelight tours, nativity plays, concerts, and plenty of excellent food & drink. Keep an eye out for the Nisse, the beloved Danish Christmas elf.

There is certainly no shortage of winter wonderlands in majestic Colorado, but Georgetown's famous Christmas market puts it atop the list. They will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of this special event in 2019 and you'll quickly find out that you haven't truly experienced a holiday until you've seen Victorian carolers and horse-drawn wagons against the backdrop of the Rockies.

It's the 40th anniversary of Mystic Seaport's Christmas Lantern Light Tours, and they are pulling out all the stops to make this year special. The beloved "traveling play" will take on a Dickensian theme and will take attendees back to the era of A Christmas Carol. Nearby at Olde Mistick Village, there will be a festival of lights that will bring the dark December sky to life and provide the perfect backdrop for holiday shopping.

Lewes will kick off December with its 88th annual Christmas Parade, which is always a wonderful time. It's what's happening just outside of town that has landed it on the list though: Winter WonderFEST. Now located at Hudson Fields, this event features a quaint Christmas Village, huge ice skating rink, Santa's workshop and the drive-through Light Spectacular.

Mickey defintely knows how to do merry. The Magic Kingdom will feature Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and a festive fireworks show; Epcot will show off holiday traditions from around the world and host a candlelight procession; Disney's Hollywood Studios will throw a party called Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! and receive a dusting of "snow"; Disney's Animal Kingdom will come to life with life-sized puppets of arctic animals while the Tree of Life will tell wintry tales.

Due to its mountain location and chocolate-box Bavarian theme, Helen always feels like a Christmas village brought to life. Mix in a cheery Christmas market and a parade that features festive floats, costumed characters and Santa himself and you have the Peach State's most Christmassy place.

While Santa's arrival on the beach via a traditional canoe is the showcase event of the season, there are plenty of other holiday-themed things to do in Honolulu. Stop by the Polynesian Cultural Center to take a Christmas train ride, take part in a scavenger hunt and even see some real snow or just walk through downtown, which will be festooned with thousands of lights.

The capital of the state is also the capital of Christmas in Idaho. Each year, downtown Boise is taken over by "Christmas in the City" which features a myriad of special events like the indoor winter market, Christmassy carriage rides, holiday concerts and even a performance of The Nutcracker.

The famous Christkindlmarket Chicago (one of the country's best authentic Christmas markets) now has a second location in Wrigleyville, and that's just the start of the fun to be had at Christmastime in the Windy City. Friday nights will feature caroling at the Cloud Gate (also known as "The Bean") and, once again, there will be ice skating at Millenium Park. This is to say nothing of the scores of excellent light displays around town, with the Chicago Botanic Garden and Lincoln Park Zoo hosting two of the best displays.

This town is so much more than just a Christmassy name. Each year, it plays host to a three-week celebration of the season, which gives kids the chance to write a letter to the big man himself, chat with an elf, see festive light displays and take a candlelight walk. The highlight for many is a trip to the post office, where you can get your letter postmarked from "Santa Claus".

They come from far and wide to drive under the canopy of twinkling lights in Iowa's self-proclaimed "Christmas City" and the experience has been making holidays special in Iowa for over 90 years.

There will be no shortage of wintry fun to be had in Wichita this year. The calendar is packed with activities such as concerts (Trans-Siberian orchestra is among the highlights), performances of The Nutcracker and festive showings of movies like A Christmas Story and White Christmas. Afterward, head to the Botanica Wichita or the private street that has been nicknamed "Candy Cane Lane" for excellent Christmas light displays.

The calendar in Louisville is loaded with Christmassy things to do. You could go watch Elf The Musical or head to the MEGA Cavern to experience the world's only underground drive-through light display: Lights Under Louisville. Then, stop by Paristown to peruse the brand new Christmas village that will feature an authentic outdoor ice skating rink and the chance to shop and indulge in warming food & drinks. Even the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory gets in on the festive fun.

You haven't fully experienced New Orleans until you've seen it dressed in its Christmas best. This genteel city knows how to do the holidays right and is home to many unique seasonal traditions. Case in point are on the Bonfires on the Levee, which are lit on Mississippi River levees and are said to light the way for Papa Noel (what they call Santa Claus in the bayous). And if you were wondering, yes, there will be plenty of over-indulging in decadent food and drink to mark the holiday season, too.

The famous Christmas Prelude takes over Kennebunkport during early December each year and it just might be the best Christmas party in the entire country. For starters, it features Christmas tree lightings (real and one made of lobster traps), caroling, a holiday hat parade, Santa arriving by lobster boat, a dog parade and a fireworks display.

Baltimore's Christmas Village is fast becoming beloved by locals and tourists alike and it will once again bring the charms of Germany to Charm City. Other reasons why its the best place in the state to get into the Christmas spirit include the impressive ice rink at the Inner Harbor and the city's 34th Street residents who collectively come together each year to put on a "miraculous" display of dazzling Christmas lights.

Even if you've never physically stepped foot in Stockbridge, the scene may feel familiar. That's because the town served as inspiration for one of the painter's Norman Rockwell's most beloved Christmas-themed works. Visit during the Main Street at Christmas festival to see the town festooned with lights and wreaths and to witness a perfect recreation of his painting-complete with vintage cars. Then, visit the Norman Rockwell museum.

Nope, that's not a typo. There really is a town called Christmas on your map of Michigan's stunning Upper Peninsula. And no, you're eyes aren't deceiving you, that really is a thirty-foot-plus Santa Claus on the side of the road up ahead.

Sure, the ground may be borderline tundra by mid-December, but that doesn't stop Twin Cities residents from getting out and celebrating Christmas. Take a spin on one of the city's many ice skating rinks and you're likely to be surrounded by twinkling holiday lights and to be a stone's throw from a decorated tree. Afterward, head to Holidazzle, a holiday event where all things wintry are turned wonderful.

After you've made a snowman on the beach in Biloxi, make a beeline for Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival to see over a million lights illuminate the sky over coastal Mississippi. There is also a truly unique Christmas on the Bayou celebration that features the only water parade in the region.

Inspired by the architecture of Seville, Spain, KC's Country Club Plaza is regarded as one of the country's prettiest outdoor shopping centers. Each December, it becomes the most Christmassy place in the state, as it is covered in twinkling lights and fills with holiday cheer.

While there are plenty of small towns in Big Sky Country that embrace the holiday, Missoula has the most Christmassy things going on. Case in point is the Parade of Lights, an event that features carolers, musical performances and plenty of hot cocoa which culminates with the lighting of a beautiful Christmas tree.

The state's biggest city becomes a beehive of pre-holiday fun each December, with a special event taking place nearly every day during the month. Shop under thousands of Christmas lights on the bricks of the Old Market district before heading to the Durham Museum to take in a display of Christmas trees inspired by different cultures around the world.

Mt. Charleston may only be a short drive from Las Vegas but it manages to feel like an alpine escape-especially around the holidays. It is located inside Spring Mountains National Recreation Area and is home to the wonderful Mt. Charleston Lodge, that comes complete with crackling fires. Come to sip spiked hot cocoa, stay for the snowy views and Christmassy vibes.

For the 15th year, Portsmouth will be putting on its adored Vintage Christmas celebration. Highlights include the candlelight stroll at the Strawberry Banke Museum that will take visitors through 300-plus years of history, which includes lots of Christmassy tidbits. The town also celebrates the lighting of its giant Christmas tree with a parade and plays host to a Gingerbread House Contest Exhibition.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that you stumbled into a Charles Dickens novel when you see the Victorian facades of Cape May adorned with Christmas decorations. The holidays also bring an annual parade, themed trolley rides and visits from Santa.

Nowhere in the country celebrates the season quite like historic Santa Fe. The rich traditions of the past come alive at Christmastime here, with two of the most popular events being Las Posadas-a reenactment of Mary & Joseph's search for a room at the inn-and the Farolito walk, a Christmas Eve stroll past hundreds of traditional paper lanterns.

The Rockettes. Ice skating in front of the famous tree at Rockefeller Center or in Central Park. Window shopping on 5th Avenue. There is no shortage of iconic holiday activities in New York City and that list also now includes a great Christmas market at Union Square.

It doesn't get any more Christmassy than seeing the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains dusted with fresh snow, but there's also lots of seasonal fun to be had indoors too. Biltmore rolls out the red carpet for the holidays with Candlelight Christmas Nights-an opportunity to see the gilded home glowing with soft light-and there's no better way to stay warm after time outside in the cold then by drinking a Christmas beer from one of the city's fine craft breweries.

They get things started early in Fargo, kicking off the season with a grand parade in November. The festive fun continues throughout the holiday season with a jolly Jingle Bell Run and various holiday markets. Perhaps the city's most loved event is the Santa Village at Rheault Farm, a non-commercial delight that features the chance to meet Santa and make cookies with Mrs. Claus.

The fact that Cleveland was the filming location for A Christmas Story and the fact that you can now visit and stay overnight at the actual house where the movie was filmed (leg lamp and all) is enough to clinch its spot on the list. The legendary Christmas ale from Great Lakes Brewery and the great decorations downtown didn't hurt the city's case, either.

Oklahoma's most impressive Christmas tree is located in downtown Tulsa and that's the same place where you'll Winterfest. This festival is the city's favorite yuletide event and it features a huge outdoor ice rink and holiday-themed train. Afterward, head to Rhema Lights, the region's best free Christmas light display.

Portland is truly a four seasons destination, but there is something special about the Christmas season. The party gets started with the annual lighting of the tree at Pioneer Courthouse Square-an area of town that is also home to the awesome Holiday Ale Festival. For Christmas lights, the Oregon Zoo's annual ZooLights will take you away to a magical place.

With a name like Bethlehem, this town was destined to become a Christmas dream come true. Their weekend Christkindlmarkt features aisles upon aisles of handmade crafts (including some straight from Germany), ice sculptures and live Christmas music and keeps the city full of festive spirit throughout December.

Each year since 1971, the Christmas in Newport event has turned this city into the festive capital of Rhode Island. It started as a way to showcase the noncommercial side of the holiday and it still carries on that tradition through lantern walks, caroling, crafts and a host of other unique events. In fact, nearly every day in December sees an event or two.

If there's one thing you remember about Aiken, it's that the town loves Christmas. The season kicks off in Aiken with the downtown tree lighting and keeps rolling through the Night of 1,000 Lights -when luminaries line the streets of town-and the Christmas craft fair. Also, there will be concerts, musicals and the showing of classic Christmas movies.

While the weather may be cold and windy outside, towns like Hill City and Deadwood will have you feeling warm and toasty inside with their festive spirit. The highlight of the season in the region is still the Black Hills Cowboy Christmas Concerts & Dance which offers an old-time Christmas feel.

Dollywood is great in all seasons, but they truly excel when it comes to the holidays. Here, you'll find millions of twinkling lights and a roster of special events throughout December. The highlight is the Parade of Many Colors, which takes place every evening and includes a cast of colorful Christmas characters.

It won't take you long to figure out why they've picked up the nickname "Winter Wonder Island". Moody Gardens hosts a handful of events (including ice carving and an impressive display of a million-plus holiday lights) while downtown shows off its signature "Lasers & Lights" display.

While it can be tricky finding a ticket to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's annual concert, take solace in the fact that there are lots of other fun events around town. The Heber Valley Railroad's North Pole Express will take you on a fantastical voyage while the city's theatres and concert halls come alive with festive shows each December.

Woodstock is well known for its Wassail Weekend, which takes place in mid-December and features a parade in addition to a full roster of classic Christmas events. And if that wasn't enough, can it get more Christmassy than seeing the local covered bridge adorned in snow?

If you ever wanted to see how Christmas was celebrated in Colonial America, then Williamsburg is the place to go. Visitors in December will get an up-close and interactive experience of what it was like to mark the merry occasion in days of old.

While there are definitely some charming small towns in Washington that are great at Christmas (Leavenworth immediately comes to mind), Seattle is surely the icing on the cake. For the 27th year, the Sheraton Grand Hotel will host its amazing Gingerbread Village and T-Mobile Park will come alive with the Enchant Christmas event, which is home to both a magical maze and Christmas market.

Historic Harper's Ferry is the place to go in the Mountaineering State to experience and "old fashioned" Christmas. Each year, the Olde Tyme Christmas event takes over the town and you can expect to find cozy, decorated streets, live holiday entertainment and plenty of shopping opportunities.

This December, Milwaukee will glitter under thousands of Christmas lights and give off warm vibes at the Christkindlmarket-no matter the weather outside. And the best place to do your holiday shopping? That's the hip and historic Third Ward, which will also be hosting a handful of holiday happenings.

The finest way to experience this city's best Christmas light displays is to view them on the Cheyenne Trolley, which offers a step back in time. There will also be the annual Depot Holiday Mart and Skating in the Plaza to keep you full of Christmas cheer.