Cities Known for Spectacular Holiday Celebrations
December 2, 2025
“Discover festive hotspots worth adding to your travel wish-list.”
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Public holiday celebrations are popular affairs each December. Communities big and small come together during the holiday season, which is a big part of what makes the final month of the year such a special time.
Travel enthusiasts who also happen to love the holiday season may want to take their festive outlook on the road and visit any of the many cities across North America with notable holiday celebrations.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Given its namesake, it’s perhaps no great surprise that this city in eastern Pennsylvania goes all out for the holiday season. Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem is a holiday market featuring live music, offerings from skilled artisans, collectibles from Germany (the country’s holiday markets are inspiration for Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem), and more. More information about the celebration in Bethlehem can be found at steelstacks.org/festivals/christkindlmarkt-bethlehem/.
Kennebunkport, Maine: Where else but Maine might visitors watch in awe as Santa Claus arrives in town via lobster boat? That unique tradition is just one of many events that make the Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport a must-see for any holiday season enthusiast. And while fireworks might be most often associated with warm weather holidays like Independence Day, Kennebunkport hosts an annual Christmas Fireworks Display as well, making a December visit to this coastal town in southern Maine a truly unique experience. More information is available at Christmasprelude.com.
Québec City, Canada: Québec is a beautiful and historic city at any time of year, but it’s especially magical during the holiday season, when the city’s cobbled streets, numerous cafes and German Christmas market combine to make visitors feel as though they have stepped back in time. The Christmas Market is spread out across various locations throughout the city. Christmas choirs add to the throwback appeal, which might prove even greater if visitors are lucky enough to experience a little snowfall during their visit, a weather event that is not uncommon in Québec during the month of December. More information is available at quebec-cite.com/en/what-to-do-quebec-city/christmas.
New York City: From the Rockefeller Center tree to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, NYC fully embraces the season with lights, markets, skating rinks, and world-class window displays along Fifth Avenue.
Vienna: Famous for its traditional Christmas markets, classical concerts, and elegant old-world atmosphere, Vienna turns the holidays into a cultural experience filled with music, pastries, and warm mulled wine in historic squares.
These are just five of the many notable locales holiday enthusiasts may want to add their travel-inspired seasonal bucket lists.
