Europe’s Christmas markets receive the hype, but there are several towns in the United States that don’t require a passport or pricey flight to visit and look exactly like charming towns on the continent with equally as festive celebrations.
These Christmas destinations in the United States rival Europe:
1. Leavenworth, Washington
Swap the Alps for the Cascades at this Bavarian town in Washington with alpine chalets, Christmas markets, and the famous Village of Lights display that illuminates the town with over half a million lights. Shop Christkindlmarkt for handcrafted gifts, local food, and mulled wine or explore the Cascade Mountains with a horse-drawn sleigh ride.
2. Frankenmuth, Michigan
Known as “Little Bavaria,” Frankenmuth is Christmas central all year round, thanks to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store. Frankenmuth Christmas Market, modeled after traditional German markets, has handmade crafts, treats, and holiday music. For dinner, grab a table at Zehnder’s Restaurant to enjoy a Bavarian-style feast and see the restaurant’s decorations.
3. Solvang, California
Solvang goes all out with a Danish-style Julefest celebration. Enjoy everything from Danish parades, carolers, and a tree-lighting ceremony to artisanal holiday markets. Wrap up your visit by watching a live reenactment of the nativity at the Solvang Nativity Pageant, which takes place at the Solvang Festival Theater annually.
4. Newport, Rhode Island
With its grand Gilded Age mansions, Newport feels like a slice of Victorian England. Experience Christmas at these mansions by touring The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House decked out with glittering holiday decor, fresh florals, and twinkling trees. To see the best lights in the city, take the Holiday Lantern Walking Tour and stroll through the historic district with a lantern-lit guide sharing Newport’s Christmas stories.
5. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Known as “Christmas City,” Bethlehem embraces its name with Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, a German-style Christmas market that features artisans, holiday food, live music, and glassblowing demos. While you’re visiting, take the Historic Moravian District Tour to discover Bethlehem’s historic Moravian buildings decorated with traditional candle-lit windows.
Carve out time at least one day during your visit to open an Advent calendar in a way you never have before. Daily at 5:30 pm, the Goundie House “opens” a live Advent calendar, where a special guest gives out holiday treats to visitors.
6. Vail, Colorado
This ski town is a Colorado version of an Alpine village, and during the holidays, it’s blanketed in snow and lights. Vail’s European-style architecture, fresh mountain air, and lively holiday markets make it a perfect holiday getaway.
Start the season at Vail Snow Days with with live concerts, skiing, and snowboarding. Revely Vail is a European-inspired holiday market featuring local artisans, gifts, food, and the highlight—a lantern walk through Vail Village.
7. Helen, Georgia
A tiny Bavarian village in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen has gingerbread-style storefronts that look straight out of a German holiday storybook. Time your visit with the Annual Lighting of the Village to see the town’s holiday lights are switched on with music, Santa, and treats.
Get your holiday shopping done at Christkindlmarkt, a traditional German market for hand-crafted holiday decor, ornaments, and local treats.
8. New Glarus, Wisconsin
Known as “America’s Little Switzerland,” New Glarus brings a Swiss Christmas to life with Alpine-style architecture. The town’s main attraction during the holidays is the Swiss Christmas Market, where holiday stalls sell Swiss-style crafts, gifts, and food.
Join locals for the town’s tree-lighting ceremony, which includes a visit from Santa. Before you go, taste New Glarus Bakery’s festive treats, including Swiss pastries and bread made just for the holidays.
9. Woodstock, Vermont
Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend celebration is reminiscent of an old English Christmas with parades, horse-drawn carriages, and colonial buildings decked out in wreaths and ribbons.
During the weekends, try a medieval-inspired feast at the Woodstock Inn & Resort. Take a winter ride around Woodstock in a horse-drawn wagon, snuggled up with blankets and surrounded by snow-dusted pines. Get out of town to experience Christmas at Billings Farm, a historic farm decorated for the season, complete with holiday programs and hot cider.
10. Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg has deep German roots and celebrates the holidays with an enormous Christmas pyramid, German markets, and Bavarian-inspired decorations. Follow a self-guided tour through the wineries of Fredericksburg, sampling special holiday blends.
Time your visit with the lighting of a 26-foot-tall German Christmas pyramid at Fredricksburg’s Marketplatz, one of the town’s holiday icons.
11. Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Jim Thorpe is brimming with Victorian architecture and is especially festive during the Olde Time Christmas Festival, which includes Victorian-style decor. The snowy mountains surrounding the town add to the Swiss feel. Embrace the nearby nature by hopping on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway for a holiday ride through snow-dusted forests.
12. St. Charles, Missouri
Discover characters from around the world, from Santas to Dickens’ characters, roaming the cobblestone streets at St. Charles’ Christmas Traditions Festival. Traditional decorations, Christmas characters, and performers take over the streets, spreading cheer.
See the town’s holiday lights in style on a carriage ride, then hit the Historic Main Street District, where unique shops sell local souvenirs like artisan goods, antiques, and holiday decor.
13. Santa Claus, Indiana
This city in Indiana fully embraces its namesake. For a full month, the town hosts a Santa Claus Christmas Celebration with chestnuts roasting over an open fire, visits with Santa, and festive performances.
The town goes all-out with Christmas lights, offering a two-mile light show drive featuring animated displays and Christmas music. Santa’s Candy Castle is the ultimate destination for those with a sweet tooth. Indulge in holiday treats at this whimsical candy store featuring a cocoa bar and themed sweets.
14. Branson, Missouri
Branson lights up like few other cities in America during December. An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City is an Ozarks theme park with over 6 million lights, Christmas shows, and holiday crafts.
The Branson Scenic Railway Polar Express allows visitors of all ages to relive the magic of the Polar Express with a scenic train ride that’s festive and family-friendly. After, drive through Branson’s Lights of Joy to take in miles of impressive holiday light displays.
These charming Christmas markets are worth the flight
Though the United States has some impressive Christmas markets, there’s a reason that Europe is famous for them. Some of the best markets on the continent can be found in Vienna, Austria’s capital city.
5 Best Vienna Christmas Markets
This underrated city in England has some worthwhile Christmas sights
Bath is beautiful year-round, but it truly comes alive during the holidays when Christmas markets pop up across the city.
The Top 4 Best Christmas Markets in Bath
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
