The 10 most festive holiday towns in America

  • Zillow named Santa Claus, Indiana, the most festive town in the U.S.
  • The list spans communities from California to Pennsylvania 
  • Here are Zillow's 10 most festive holiday towns nationwide

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(NewsNation) — If you live for the holidays, these towns may be calling your name.

Zillow analyzed home listings featuring holiday-related keywords to rank the 10 most festive towns in the U.S.

Here are the towns that made Zillow’s list and what makes each one stand out.

10 – Ransom Canyon, Texas

Christmas tree fully decorated, close-up. (Getty Images)

Typical home value: $375,732

Christmas lights are usually a drive-by affair, but in Ransom Canyon, community members and visitors have a chance to step inside homes to see decorated interiors — part of a tradition that’s been going on for nearly four decades.

9 – Shaver Lake, California

John Mount, manager of forest resources for Southern California Edison at Shaver Lake, standing on it’s South Shore covered by winter’s snow. WEDNESDAY MARCH 1, 2006 (Photo by Don Kelsen/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Typical home value: $574,823

The annual Shaver Lake tree lighting has been a local tradition for over 25 years, featuring live music, hot cocoa and an appearance by Santa himself.

“With real snow, evergreen forests and lakeside views, Shaver Lake naturally appeals to holiday enthusiasts,” Zillow said.

8 – Windcrest, Texas

A young girl in a warm coat and hat smiles as she reaches toward a bright, wireframe reindeer sculpture lit with white lights, creating a magical holiday moment. (Getty Images)

Typical home value: $308,343 

Residents of this San Antonio suburb take Christmas seriously. The annual Windcrest Light-Up is a decades-old tradition that turns neighborhood streets into sprawling holiday light displays.

Neighbors compete for awards across various contest categories, including “Best Use of Inflatables” and “Best Use of Handmade Decor.”

7 – Palmer Lake, Colorado

The Palmer Lake Star was built in 1935 at the height of the Great Depression. (Credit: FOX21 News)

Typical home value: $532,161 

The town’s holiday season centers on its iconic star. Built in 1935 at the height of the Great Depression, the Palmer Lake Star shines nightly from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through December to “proclaim the spirit of goodwill.”

Made up of 92 lightbulbs, the star was added to the state’s register of historic properties in 2013. 

6 – Natchitoches, Louisiana

The Natchitoches Christmas Festival has been going on since 1927 (Credit: Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Typical home value: $185,180

The oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory, Natchitoches is home to one of the country’s longest-running community-based holiday celebrations, according to the festival’s website.

The six-week Christmas celebration begins the Saturday before Thanksgiving and runs through January 6, featuring more than 300,000 lights and over 100 set pieces each night.

5 – Dahlonega, Georgia

Dahlonega’s month-long holiday celebration runs through the first week of January (Credit: Discover Dahlonega)

Typical home value: $376,741 

Dahlonega’s historic town square is decked out for the season with festive events happening almost daily — from caroling and carriage rides to live theater.

The North Georgia mountain town’s month-long celebration starts the day after Thanksgiving and runs through the first week of January.

4 – Breckenridge, Colorado

Runners dressed in Santa Claus outfits take off from the starting line during the Race of the Santas in Breckenridge, Colorado, on December 2, 2023. (Photo by Jason Connolly / AFP) (Photo by JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images)

Typical home value: $1,170,091

Known for its world-class skiing, the Rocky Mountain town also goes all-in on holiday cheer. Each year, hundreds of Santas run down Main Street in Breckenridge’s “Race of the Santas.”

For those who prefer a slower-paced experience, downtown is decked out with 250,000 holiday lights, spanning over 59,000 feet. Even dogs get in on the fun, with a holiday parade of their own.

3 – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt is a popular holiday tradition (Photo courtesy of DiscoverLehighValley.com)

Typical home value: $344,320 

The Lehigh Valley town’s Christmas roots date back to 1741, when it was christened Bethlehem. It’s often credited as the home of America’s first documented, decorated Christmas tree.

These days, the community celebrates the season with traditions like the Christkindlmarkt, a German-inspired Christmas market, along with carriage rides and free photos with Santa.

2 – McAdenville, North Carolina

MCADENVILLE, USA – DECEMBER 7: Named Christmas town USA the small town awaits visitors from all over the world with about a half a million lights while some enjoy driving through, others stroll along in McAdenville, United States on December 7, 2024. (Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Typical home value: $471,800 

Nicknamed “Christmas Town USA,” McAdenville’s annual celebration draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. The small town in Gaston County has been lighting up Christmas displays since the 1950s, with over 100 decorated homes and half a million lights across 250 evergreen trees.

The lights shine each night from Dec. 1 to Dec. 26 between 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

1 – Santa Claus, Indiana

Santa Claus, Indiana, is home to the nation’s only post office named after Saint Nick, and it receives thousands of letters each holiday season. (Credit: Spencer County Visitors Bureau)

Typical home value: $294,208 

Santa Claus, Indiana, took the top spot, with more than half of its listings referencing the holiday spirit. The town in Spencer County is home to Santa’s Post Office and has made Christmas part of everyday life.

Even in a town known for Christmas year-round, the holidays still raise the stakes. Each December, Santa Claus hosts a three-weekend celebration featuring lights, ice skating and chestnuts on an open fire.

“Our community embraces the spirit of Christmas and takes great pride in welcoming visitors who come to celebrate and experience the magic unique to Santa Claus, Indiana,” Melissa Arnold, executive director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau, said in a statement.

“Local businesses add extra sparkle to the holiday season and help create a cheerful atmosphere for visitors and residents alike,” Arnold said.

Zillow analyzed descriptions for more than 7 million homes listed for sale between Nov. 1, 2023, and Oct. 31, 2025.

Holidays

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