New York Joins Williamsburg, Chicago, Santa Fe, Leavenworth, Asheville and More in Transforming the US Into a Bucket-List Christmas Wonderland — Find Your Perfect Holiday Escape This Season

Published on December 2, 2025

New York, Williamsburg, Chicago, Santa Fe, Leavenworth, Asheville and Bethlehem are redefining Christmas travel across the United States for the 2025–26 festive season. These destinations have developed structured winter tourism programs, officially supported holiday calendars, historic illuminations and large-scale light festivals that attract millions of domestic and international visitors every year. From New York’s world-renowned Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Bryant Park Winter Village to the living-history traditions of Williamsburg and the candlelit farolitos of Santa Fe, each destination presents a distinct holiday identity backed by verified official tourism sources. Together, they form one of the most compelling winter travel circuits in the world, blending heritage, architecture, seasonal markets, mountain scenery and citywide celebrations that extend the holiday period well beyond December.

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — AMERICA’S GLOBAL CHRISTMAS ICON

New York remains the centerpiece of Christmas tourism in the United States. Its holiday programming is led by the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a globally recognised event listed in official Rockefeller Center schedules. The tree remains illuminated from early December through mid-January, giving travellers extensive opportunities to plan winter trips. Ice skating beneath the tree, Midtown’s holiday décor and the entire Rockefeller Plaza complex form a structured visitor experience that anchors winter tourism across Manhattan.

The city’s official tourism channels additionally highlight the Bryant Park Winter Village, which houses New York’s only free-admission ice-skating rink. Seasonal kiosks, restaurants and a signature Christmas tree extend the village’s appeal into early January. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation also promotes winter activities across Central Park, where carriage rides, bridges, landscapes and designated walking trails become key elements of the winter visitor experience.

With its concentration of holiday markets, landmark light displays, theatres and shopping corridors, New York continues to serve as the primary gateway for Christmas travel to the United States.

WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA — COLONIAL CHRISTMAS RECREATED WITH HISTORIC PRECISION

Williamsburg hosts one of America’s most historically authentic Christmas seasons, centred on Colonial Williamsburg’s official Grand Illumination. According to the organisation’s event calendar, this signature celebration includes fireworks displays, torch-lit streets, traditional music from fifers and drummers and natural-material wreaths adorning 18th-century buildings.

The Historic Area transforms into a living interpretation of early American winter traditions, with costumed historians, colonial taverns and decorated landmarks offering structured walking routes for visitors. The regional tourism authority, Visit Williamsburg, also highlights Busch Gardens’ Christmas Town, the East Coast’s largest theme park holiday event, featuring millions of lights, seasonal shows and winter-themed attractions.

Together, these offerings blend immersive historic tourism with modern entertainment, making Williamsburg an important stop for heritage-focused travellers during the holiday season.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — LAKEFRONT LIGHTS, MARKETS AND FESTIVE URBAN ENERGY

Chicago creates one of the most comprehensive winter tourism environments in the country through its officially organised citywide celebrations. The lighting of the Chicago Christmas Tree in Millennium Park marks the official start of the holiday season, supported by scheduled performances and civic programming. According to the City of Chicago’s tourism information, the tree remains illuminated throughout the winter period.

Adjacent to the tree, the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink serves as a major attraction, offering skyline views and extended hours as part of the park’s winter offerings. Further north, the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival lights up one of the city’s most prominent commercial avenues with millions of bulbs, parades and coordinated displays, according to the festival’s official website.

Chicago’s official tourism website also lists the Christkindlmarket as a central element of its Christmas season. This European-inspired market features wooden chalets, festive foods and traditional crafts, contributing significantly to the city’s winter economy and tourism identity.

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO — FAROLITOS, LUMINARIAS AND CULTURAL WINTER TRADITIONS

Santa Fe presents a distinctly different holiday atmosphere, shaped by its unique blend of Native American, Hispanic and Southwestern cultural traditions. The city’s official tourism information highlights the Canyon Road Farolito Walk as its signature Christmas event, held annually on Christmas Eve. During this evening celebration, thousands of farolitos—small paper lanterns—illuminate the historic arts district, forming a candlelit walking route.

Local galleries and studios extend their hours to support the walk, creating a rare combination of cultural tourism and seasonal festivity. The Santa Fe Plaza also features official lighting displays, historic architecture and winter markets offering regional crafts, pottery and traditional holiday goods.

With snowfall often blanketing the surrounding mountains, Santa Fe’s adobe architecture and cultural heritage create a winter experience fundamentally different from major city destinations.

LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON — BAVARIAN LIGHTS IN THE CASCADES

Leavenworth stands out as Washington State’s most iconic Christmas village, officially promoted as a Village of Lights: Christmastown. According to the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce’s official releases, the town displays more than half a million lights from Thanksgiving through February, creating one of the longest-running seasonal illumination programs in the country.

The Bavarian-themed downtown hosts weekend entertainment with carolers, musicians, dancers and costumed Christmas characters. The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, recognised by the state’s tourism authorities, offers controlled visitor interactions with reindeer, adding to the destination’s family-oriented appeal.

Surrounded by the snow-covered Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth combines European-inspired architecture with winter landscapes, creating a Christmas aesthetic unmatched in the Pacific Northwest.

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA — BILTMORE ELEGANCE AND BLUE RIDGE WINTER SCENERY

Asheville frames its Christmas tourism offerings around the official Christmas at Biltmore program, one of the most extensive holiday events in the southeastern United States. According to Biltmore’s official event schedule, the estate displays hundreds of decorated trees, elaborate garlands, holiday floral installations and evening candlelit tours of the mansion.

The North Carolina Arboretum contributes to the region’s winter programming through Winter Lights, a million-light outdoor show that transforms gardens and walking paths into illuminated winter landscapes. The official Explore Asheville tourism website also highlights downtown lighting events, seasonal markets and local craft attractions that operate throughout December.

The combination of heritage tourism, estate experiences and scenic mountain views make Asheville a compelling winter destination for travellers seeking both cultural depth and natural beauty.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA — AMERICA’S OFFICIAL “CHRISTMAS CITY”

Bethlehem maintains the formal municipal designation of Christmas City, a title supported by official winter tourism programs and historic Moravian heritage. According to the City of Bethlehem’s seasonal information, the city hosts the Christkindlmarkt, a multi-week holiday market featuring artisan crafts, traditional foods and festive entertainment.

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites also operate the Christmas City Village, a European-inspired street market open on December weekends, adding another cultural component to the holiday season. Horse-drawn carriage rides, historic district walking tours and Moravian star displays further reinforce Bethlehem’s winter identity.

With its compact downtown and distinctive heritage motifs, Bethlehem remains one of the most atmospheric small-town holiday destinations in the United States.

Signature Christmas Attractions Across the Destinations

CONCLUSION

New York, Williamsburg, Chicago, Santa Fe, Leavenworth, Asheville and Bethlehem illustrate how Christmas tourism in the United States has evolved into a structured seasonal economy supported by official municipal programming, cultural heritage sites, illuminated districts and extended holiday markets. Each destination offers a distinct blend of history, architecture, winter scenery, family attractions and organised events, enabling travellers to choose from metropolitan celebrations, small-town charm, colonial heritage, Bavarian-style villages or Southwestern traditions. As more travellers plan winter trips around curated seasonal experiences, these seven destinations are positioned to remain at the forefront of America’s Christmas tourism landscape for 2025–26.