Glowed Up
The only real difference between Whoville, the village from Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," and the cities on our list is the grumpy green guy. Outside of that, these otherwise quiet towns can go mistletoe-to-mistletoe with any big-city winter wonderland, real or made up. Read on to find out which petite places in the U.S. outshine the rest.
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Boothbay, Maine
It can get pretty nippy in the harbor town of Boothbay, Maine, but that doesn't deter excited crowds from visiting Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens from mid-November until New Year's Eve for Gardens Aglow, the annual holiday event that features more than 500,000 lights. Hopeful visitors should purchase tickets in advance as soon as possible, and even then, they're expected to sell out. Thankfully, there's also the annual Harbor Lights Festival, leaving visitors with multiple options to celebrate through large lights and nostalgic nights.
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Rochester, Michigan
With 1.2 million lights draped over buildings in an array of playful colors, Rochester, Michigan, has earned the right to name its holiday event the Big Bright Light Show. This small suburb outside of Detroit brings people from the city to its back yard every night from November 19-January 6. The BBLS is in its 12th year and bigger, better and brighter than ever. Drive by before midnight to witness the magic of a million tiny lights come to life.
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Hershey, Pennsylvania
Known by many as "The Sweetest Place on Earth," Hershey, Pennsylvania, is famous for being the birthplace of the candy company of the same name and home to Hersheypark, the chocolate-themed amusement park. The theme park adds sparkle to its usually sweet rides and games with Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, a full holiday experience, including a choreographed light show and display running from mid-November through December 29. More than 4 million lights can be found throughout the park, especially via the two-mile drivable trail, Hershey Sweet Lights, which shows off close to 600 beaming holiday light displays.
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Gatlinburg, Tennessee
It might be located right on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but Gatlinburg, Tennessee, spent a whopping $1.6 million to make sure that its holiday light tour shines like a super beacon. On the bright side (get it?), the city has replaced its formerly incandescent bulbs with LED lights, saving cash on the power bill. Gatlinburg offers a comfy seasonal experience with the Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights. The trolleys are enclosed, heated and only charge $5 per person (kids under 3 are free if on an adult's lap).
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Branson, Missouri
They're not trying to brag, but Branson, Missouri, champions Christmas cheer without even trying. Millions of lights flood the city, with events you can explore in various ways. Drive-through tours include Branson's Gift of Lights, Trail of Lights and Let There Be Light! Local theme park Silver Dollar City has more than 6 million lights on display, with parades headed by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and 1,000 decorated Christmas trees, including a five-story special-effects tree.
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Woodstock, Georgia
Not only does Woodstock, Georgia, have an annual Parade of Lights on the first of December, the city also bathes Hobgood Park in 2 million lights for the Holiday Lights of Hope, a giant walkthrough display. For half of the month (December 7-23), holiday light enthusiasts can wander in wonder through Woodstock's illuminated winter displays, some of which are even animated! The best part isn't even the awesome mile-long maze, lit throughout by beautiful bulbs. It's that proceeds benefit the Anna Crawford Children's Center, a foundation that helps children who are victims of abuse.
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Gulfport, Mississippi
This year will only be the fourth time that Gulfport, Mississippi, has put on its Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival, but somehow they have developed one of the most exciting small town light shows in the country. More than 150 animated holiday displays cover 40 acres of Jones Park, including the famous dancing Christmas Trees. There are more than 1 million lights this year, and visitors may simply walk through or travel by climate-controlled trolley, an option included in the admission price. We recommend staying on foot to visit the hot chocolate and marshmallow-roasting stations.
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Mankato, Minnesota
If you're lucky enough to find yourself in Mankato, Minnesota, anytime between the day after Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, you're in for a twinkling treat. Sibley Park will host its annual Kiwanis Holiday Lights. There's the colossal kickoff parade to break in the holiday season and a new theme for each day of the event, including Dashing Through the Snow, where a small fee buys you a horse-drawn carriage ride. (The actual event is free, but donations are appreciated.) The layout of lights is the most unforgettable of all. Find ice sculptures, giant Christmas trees and scenes straight out of a holiday fairy tale, all covered with starry lights.
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Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Since 1982, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has had a special reason to look forward to the holiday season. Rhema Bible Church puts on a light show that includes more than 2 million bulbs and draws hundreds of thousands of spectators. Rhema's Christmas Light Extravaganza will feature a mega tree this year, standing over 22 feet tall, including the 5-foot star atop. There is no admission fee for this event, but the church accepts donations.
Livermore, California
A small town outside of Oakland called Livermore, California, has a big reputation for huge holiday light displays. Local residents know the name Deacon Dave all too well, since he is the creator of Casa del Pomba, a free walkthrough Livermore light display. Deacon Dave began the tradition of hanging lights with the simple theme "Christmas" in mind. Now, 36 unique themes (such as last year's International Christmas Party) and the same amount of years later, Casa del Pomba is more anticipated than ever. This year's theme won't be revealed until opening day on November 30.
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Coos Bay, Oregon
With modest beginnings and only 6,000 lights in 1987, the first year friends of Shore Acres in Coos Bay, Oregon, began decorating to celebrate the holidays, and a true tradition was started. Now with 325,000 LED lights sculpted into creative creatures, including the lifelike 45-foot spouting whale, or animated hummingbirds, the 32nd annual Holiday Light Show is sure to bring cheer and good tidings to all who see it. Come early to beat the tens of thousands of people who patiently wait for the lights to go up year after year.
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Leavenworth, Washington
If you don't get around to taking your holiday decorations down until after New Year's Day, you're in good company. Leavenworth, Washington, home to the seasonal "Village of Light," is so in love with the holidays, they keep their lights up from Thanksgiving until Valentine's Day! Faithful village visitors flock to the sensational scene every year for Christmastime fun every weekend in December. Celebrations continue into January with the Bavarian Ice Festival and Timbrrr! Music Festival. To start off, seasonal spectators can be there for the initial lighting ceremony on Black Friday, when over a half-million lights trim tall Christmas trees and boutique businesses with shining holiday spirit.
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