Experience Mega Merriment in These Festive Southern Cities

You may have heard the saying, “there’s no place like home for the holidays.” While that may be true, these Southern towns transform with holiday cheer each winter, ready to welcome locals and travelers alike to their ho-ho-home away from home. From vibrant decor to festivals and parades and from immersive holiday light experiences to themed train rides, a visit to these small Southern towns will transport you into your very own version of a classic Hallmark movie. Grab a friend or the whole family for a festive adventure this winter.

Franklin, Tennessee

Home to America’s Best Main Street, Franklin, Tennessee, is a postcard-perfect town with its year-round charm and expansive history. The holiday season kicks off in early December with a local parade through the historic town, featuring marching bands, themed floats, dancers, local celebrities, and much more, a production serving to welcome Santa and the Christmas season to town. Franklin also hosts the annual Dickens of a Christmas, a holiday festival drawing inspiration from the famed Charles Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol. Actors and townspeople dress in Victorian-era garb, breaking out into choreographed dances and posing for pictures with festival goers – who may even catch a glimpse of the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, or Scrooge himself. The city also hosts a tree lighting ceremony, serving as the focal point for the festive decorations. A visit to Franklin is sure to make the holiday season special.

Helen, Georgia

Step into Bavaria this holiday season — not with a journey overseas, but with a getaway to Northeast Georgia’s small town of Helen. The Alpine town is trimmed with German-inspired buildings, shops and restaurants that come alive during the holiday season. Kicking off with the Lighting of the Village event, which includes appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus, the town gathers for musical performances and a ceremonious introduction of the season’s lights. Drawing inspiration from famed Christmas markets that spread nostalgic cheer across Europe, Helen hosts its annual Christkindlmarkt at the Marketplatz, featuring Christmas gifts and decorations as well as sweet treats and drinks from vendors throughout the city square. Experience a slice of Germany in Georgia this holiday season.

Bryson City, North Carolina

Nestled in the Smoky Mountains, Bryson City, North Carolina, transforms into a holiday postcard each season. The city hoists a 20-foot decorated Christmas tree outside of the visitor’s center, offering hot cocoa and cookies to accompany the sweeping city decorations. Perhaps the most exciting holiday offering is Bryson City’s functioning passenger train excursion bringing the Polar Express to life on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. The journey, which lasts just over an hour, is set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, offering guests warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. The train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting, where he will board the train and present each child with their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as guests return back to the Bryson City Depot, a memorable experience for the whole family to believe in the magic of the season.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Winter in Williamsburg, Virginia, is sure to be memorable with plenty of destinations primed for holiday shopping, holiday exhibits and yuletide festivals. The season kicks off with a tree lighting in early December, a tradition dating back to 1945, followed by a lighted boat parade. Giving new meaning to a parade “float,” the boat parade passes a beachfront bonfire ringing in the holiday cheer both on-land and in-water. The town also hosts an annual Christmas market on its Main Street, where vendors sell hand-made goods ready to claim their space under the tree. Williamsburg is home to countless holiday traditions, both existing and ready to be discovered by generations to come.

Branson, Missouri

The holiday season in Branson, Missouri, kicks off November 1 and runs through the end of the year, filling its streets with plenty of holiday cheer for an extended celebration. Known as “America’s Christmas Tree City,” Branson’s streets are filled with the largest and most varied assortment of beautiful, whimsical and awe-inspiring Christmas trees in the country. Families can also visit Silver Dollar City, a 61-acre amusement park, which ignites with 6.5 million holiday lights during its annual celebration. Branson Landing, a lakefront shopping center, transforms into a “Winter Wonderlanding” with themed shops, reindeer, a musical fountain show and the area’s largest nativity. Branson’s additional family-friendly offerings include a Polar Express-themed train activation, snow tubing, parades and more, for a memorable Ozarks adventure.

Huntsville, Alabama

Known as the “Space Capital of the Universe,” Huntsville, Alabama, transforms into a winter wonderland each holiday season. Swapping rockets for sleighs, the city welcomes Santa Claus nightly at the EarlyWorks Children’s Museum for photos and list-checking with the local children. Drawing from its popularity as the Space Capital, the Huntsville Botanical Gardens hosts an annual “Galaxy of Lights” exhibit, offering both walking and driving experiences throughout the season. In the city center, the town streets themselves illuminate on the annual Tinsel Trail, where hundreds of trees are thematically decorated by individuals, nonprofits and corporations. After a visit to Santa and an immersive stroll through the Tinsel Trail, visitors can strap on their ice skates for a few laps around an outdoor rink hosted by the Huntsville Museum of Art.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Cozying up in a Smoky Mountain cabin makes for a memo-rable getaway any time of year, but the experience is all the more enchanting during the holiday season. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, hosts its annual Winterfest event — a weeks-long celebration of the snowy season from mid-November through February – marked with millions of holiday lights, decorative displays, parades and more. Visitors can hop on a trolley for an immersive journey to see the magic unfold around them. Pigeon Forge is also home to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood, whose Smoky Mountain Christmas event transforms the park to a winter wonderland, complete with twinkling lights, holiday shows and plenty of seasonal treats. The event has earned Amusement To-day’s Golden Ticket Award for Best Christmas Event more than a dozen times. The city of Pigeon Forge itself, and neighboring Gatlinburg, offer plenty of holiday shopping and delectable din-ing options for a holiday getaway.

Galveston, Texas

Who says the holidays have to be chilly? The 32 miles of beach-front on the Texas island of Galveston transforms into a not-so-winter wonderland each holiday season. If you’re looking for a warmer–yet still festive–celebration, Galveston offers plenty of holiday cheer across the city. Step back into the Victorian-era during the annual Dickens on The Strand street festival, which bursts with live entertainment including strolling carolers, roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers and a crowd of entertainers and costumed revelers. Transport to the Caribbean during Holiday in the Gardens, a themed walking light exhibit stretching more than a mile long. In a warmer take on the beloved holiday classic, Galveston also hosts a Polar Express train experience in conjunction with the Galveston Railroad Museum.

The magic of the holidays can be found around every corner, and even more prominently in these Southern towns. Whether celebrations include walking in a winter wonderland through-out Tennessee, boarding the Polar Express in North Carolina or stepping into a slice of Europe in Georgia, we extend our warmest wishes and safest travels this holiday season.