The song goes, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go. ” The best part is that Christmas can look a little different as you travel from coast to coast.
Sure, there are traditional symbols like Christmas trees, snowmen, and candy canes, but each state puts its own local twist on the festive celebrations.
Whether you’re planning to spend your holiday on the sunny beaches of Hawaii with Shaka Santa and his wife Tutu Mele or ice skating at Rockefeller Center in New York, here’s a peek at how each state makes the holidays special.
Alabama
It’s been widely reported that Alabama became the first state to make Christmas a legal holiday in 1836.
These days, the state celebrates with a tree outside the state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.
Alaska
In 1952, Con and Nellie Miller set up a trading post outside Fairbanks, Alaska, and called the town North Pole. The Miller family built Santa Claus House, a general goods store there.
Arizona
In the Arizona desert, some people decorate cacti for the Christmas season.
In 2018, the Associated Press reported that a family in Phoenix built their Christmas tree from a cactus skeleton. They called it a “Phoenix Christmas tree.”
Arkansas
Every year, Fayetteville, Arkansas, hosts the “Lights of the Ozarks” Christmas light display.
This year, the display will be up from November 22 to January 1, and according to ExperienceFayetteville.com, it’s free to visit every night until 1 a.m.
California
California is home to the original Disneyland, which hosts several Christmas-themed events during the holiday season.
This year, through January 6, the park will be transformed into a winter wonderland. Even Sleeping Beauty’s Castle gets the holiday treatment with wreaths and lights of its own.
Colorado
Every year, Denver turns into a holiday wonderland for an event known as “Mile High Holidays.”
Throughout November and December, the city is decorated with a 110-foot-tall LED light tree, while the botanical garden and zoo are transformed with lights.
Connecticut
In 2021, software company Porch conducted a study that found that people in Connecticut spend the most time decorating the exteriors of their homes, using an average of seven hours and 36 minutes to do so.
One of the most popular houses to visit was that of the Setti family in Norwalk, who decorated their home into a Christmas village for 26 years before retiring in 2014.
Delaware
Nemours Estate is typically decked with elaborate Christmas decorations in Wilmington, Delaware.
According to the estate’s website, visitors can tour the 77-room 20th-century mansion, the Chauffeur’s garage, and the gardens, complete with their holiday displays through December 29.
Florida
Universal Studios in Orlando transforms for the holidays every year with holiday lights, Christmas trees, and other festive decor.
In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section, guests can sip hot butterbeer while the Grinch hangs around Seuss Landing.
Georgia
Every year, Atlanta hosts “Skate the Station,” where a large, temporary ice skating rink is installed at Atlantic Station.
This year’s rink is in operation through January 15.
Hawaii
Shaka Santa and his wife, Tutu Mele, are fixtures of the holiday season in Honolulu.
Every year, the pair of 21-foot statues are placed in front of city hall or Honolulu Hale. The city is also known for the “Honolulu City Lights” celebration.
Idaho
Every year, Idaho’s state Christmas tree is lit in front of the statehouse in Boise.
According to a local news station, this year’s tree is a 36-foot-tall blue spruce that weighs about 3,750 pounds.
Illinois
Chicago and Aurora, Illinois, will host the Christkindlmarket this year.
It’s the 28th year the market has been held in Chicago, and over those years, it’s become a popular attraction for residents looking to buy gifts, ornaments, and food from around the world.
Indiana
Indianapolis decorates the Soldiers and Sailors Monument with 4,784 Christmas lights to make it look like a giant Christmas tree in an event known as the “Circle of Lights.”
Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa, hosts the “City of Christmas Display of Lights”, a light display in Rand Park that visitors can drive through.
About 20,000 cars drive through the park annually to see more than 150 light displays, including the nativity scene, Santa’s workshop, reindeer, and elves.
Kansas
Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, is a public garden that hosts the holiday light show “Illuminations.”
“Illuminations” features up to two million lights and has music, carousel rides, treats, and an opportunity to see Santa Claus. This year’s display will be available through January 4.
Kentucky
Visitors of Lexington, Kentucky’s Triangle Park, can enjoy an ice skating rink through January 20, 2025.
Louisiana
“Celebration in the Oaks” is an annual tradition where the city of New Orleans covers 25 acres of New Orleans City Park in Christmas lights.
The display spans the Park, Botanical Garden, Storyland, and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.
Maine
Since Maine is known for its lobster, it’s fitting that residents build special Christmas trees focused on the sea creature.
In 2018, Rockland, Maine, residents built the world’s largest tree out of lobster traps, reaching 40.5 feet. The tree included 155 lobster traps, 180 lobster buoys, and 2,500 lights, News Center Maine reported.
Maryland
The Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore attracts visitors every year thanks to its elaborate Christmas decorations, which are displayed in a display called “Miracle on 34th Street.”
Almost all the homes on the block are covered in Christmas lights, candy canes, Santa dolls, and other holiday displays.
Massachusetts
Boston transforms during the holiday season, with hundreds of Christmas lights covering the trees in the Public Garden, Copley Square, the Prudential Center, and the Common.
Michigan
Millions of lights become the focal point at the Detroit Zoo’s “Wild Lights” event. According to its website, the zoo features more than 500 immersive displays. Some of the massive light displays include a lion, whale, fox, and snake.
Minnesota
Decorated in various Christmas lights, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stops in more than 20 towns throughout Minnesota to raise money, awareness, and food donations for local food banks and pantries.
Though visitors can’t actually ride the train, they’re treated to a concert of holiday songs and popular originals. Some of this year’s performers include Alana Springsteen, American Authors, Clerel, and Tiera Kennedy.
Mississippi
While most of the country decorates houses for Christmas, some residents in Mississippi decorate their boats with Christmas lights and other holiday decor.
The boaters show off their festive vessels at the Biloxi Beach Water Boat Parade, culminating in a fireworks show over the water.
Missouri
Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, is decorated with Christmas lights, falling snowflakes, a Christmas tree, and toy trains for the holiday season.
People also come to the station to take in the holiday-themed shows, which include piano recitals, pageants, and caroling.
Montana
Volunteers in Bigfork, Montana, called the Bigfork Elves, are known for decorating the town yearly.
According to Bigfork.com, the volunteers “deck the town with over 10,000 feet of garland and lights” and have been active in the area for over 40 years.
Residents also gather for a tree-lighting ceremony and host other festive events.
Nebraska
“Christmas at the Cody’s” is an annual celebration at the mansion of “Buffalo Bill” and Louisa Cody in North Platte, Nebraska.
The property is part of the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, and guests can enjoy Christmas lights, carols, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Nevada
In 2019, Business Insider named Las Vegas one of the most festive places to spend the holidays, and the annual Las Vegas Great Santa Run might be part of the reason.
The event draws thousands of people dressed in Old Saint Nick costumes to the city’s downtown area to run or walk the course.
New Hampshire
Though residents in Connecticut win for most time spent on exterior decorations, New Hampshire residents spend the most time decorating overall, with an average of 17 hours dedicated to the activity, according to Porch.
Loudon, New Hampshire, is also home to the Gift of Lights, a 2.5-mile drive with hundreds of light displays.
New Jersey
Christmas Day looks a bit different for some in New Jersey because they re-enact George Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River.
The event starts at the Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania and ends in Trenton, New Jersey, just as the former president did in 1776.
New Mexico
Every Christmas Eve, the streets leading to the Mesilla town square are lined with paper lanterns.
The square is also decorated in lights, as local choirs sing Christmas tunes, visitors enjoy holiday treats, and a vigil is held for fallen service members of the local fire department.
New York
Rockefeller Center was completed in 1939 and has since become one of New York City’s most popular tourist destinations. Millions of people visit the Christmas tree every year.
According to NBC, the tree is completed with a 900-pound Swarovski star with 70 spikes, 3 million crystals, and plenty of lights.
North Carolina
According to a 2022 report by the USDA, North Carolina produces the second-most Christmas trees of any state in the US, with more than 3 million trees.
North Dakota
This year, Williston, North Dakota, celebrated its 10th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony with a 41-foot-tall Colorado Blue Spruce.
In addition to the tree lighting, guests enjoyed a bonfire, music, and fireworks.
Ohio
“A Christmas Story” was released in 1983 and quickly became a cult classic during the holidays.
The house seen in the movie is still standing in Cleveland, and across the street, there’s a museum that houses props, costumes, and other artifacts from the film.
Oklahoma
Every year, the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce hosts the Purcell Christmas Parade in Purcell, Oklahoma.
One key detail for parade participants: No one can dress up as Santa Claus — that responsibility belongs to the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce.
Oregon
Beating out North Carolina for Christmas tree production is Oregon.
According to the USDA, the “Beaver State” produced more than 4.5 million Christmas trees in 2022 to earn the top spot in the country.
Pennsylvania
In Philadelphia’s Love Park, you’ll find the Christmas Village, an open-air market with small business owners’ booths, a Ferris wheel, treats, and the second-annual Festival of Trees fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Rhode Island
Newport is known for its famous mansions like The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House.
The Preservation Society of Newport County welcomes visitors every year inside these homes to tour the Christmas decorations. You will find wreaths, poinsettias, white candles, and elaborate Christmas trees inside.
South Carolina
The Poinsettia Christmas Parade has been a Greenville, South Carolina, tradition for over 75 years.
This year, the best walking group award was given to the Bike Walk Greenville “Poinsettia Pedalers and Pedestrians.”
South Dakota
According to Travel South Dakota, the state’s “Christmas at the Capitol” tradition started in 1981 with 12 Christmas trees and now features almost 100 trees decorated by different organizations, cities, and businesses.
Tennessee
Business Insider’s Priyanka Rajput reported that the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville has hosted “A Country Christmas” for 41 years.
To celebrate the holidays, the hotel prepares for six weeks to decorate the space with everything from life-size ice sculptures and hand-tied ribbons to elaborate Christmas trees.
Texas
The AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas hosted the “Reliant Lights Your Holiday” festival earlier this month. The free event included live music, local vendors, a drone show, fireworks, cookie decorating, and more.
Utah
Founded in 1847, the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (previously known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) tours the world for most of the year but returns to Salt Lake City for its annual Christmas concert.
This year’s guest artist is Tony Award winner Ruthie Ann Miles.
Vermont
House Beautiful named Woodstock, Vermont, one of 2024’s “most charming Christmas towns” in the US.
One of its attractions is Wassail Weekend, a festival with a parade, Christmas tree lighting, caroling, ice skating, and more.
Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia, is known for having a variety of festive activities, including markets, fireworks shows, performances, and Busch Gardens Christmas Town.
Washington
Like other major cities, Seattle hosts an annual Christmas market with artisans, food, drinks, and more. The city also participates in SantaCon, a bar crawl where people dress up as Santa.
West Virginia
The “Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights” dates back to 1985 and takes place in Wheeling, West Virginia. Today, it includes more than 100 light displays across 300 acres, WBOY-TV reported, and this year’s display also features lights choreographed to music.
Wisconsin
At the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin, visitors can ride two holiday-themed trains: the Santa Express and the Holiday Flyer.
According to the museum’s website, passengers aboard the Santa Express will take a 55-minute ride and receive a visit from Santa and a small gift, while passengers on the Holiday Flyer will receive hot chocolate and treats.
Wyoming
The Jackson Hole Town Square is famous for its arch made of antlers.
After Thanksgiving, the city holds an event — with Santa, cookies, candies, and carols — to watch the antlers light up with Christmas lights for the first time in the season.
The post What Christmas looks like in every state appeared first on Business Insider.
