You can find holiday festivals in big cities and small towns throughout the U.S. Many festivals begin with a Christmas parade, featuring Santa Claus riding in a fire truck and floats made by local organizations. Some festivals are huge events that include craft shows, delicious holiday treats, concerts and activities for children, but even the smallest holiday festivals are great fun.
Bethlehem, Connecticut holds a two-day Christmas Town Festival each year to celebrate its ties to the city of Jesus' birth. The festival begins with a reenactment of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter on the first Christmas Eve. You can listen to local choirs, visit Santa in the schoolhouse and take your holiday cards to the post office to have them stamped with this year's unique "cachet," or commemorative rubber-stamped design.
Branson, Missouri's Ozark Mountain Christmas isn't exactly small-town, but it's fun for young and old alike. Whether you prefer the talents of Andy Williams, Mannheim Steamroller or Yakov Smirnoff, Branson's shows are sure to delight. Drive through the Trail of Lights and climb Branson's Inspiration Tower for an unforgettable holiday experience.
Most people don't associate San Francisco with Charles Dickens, but the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in the Cow Palace Exhibition Halls will convince you that the spirit of Tiny Tim is alive and well in Northern California's most famous city. The Cow Palace transforms itself into a Victorian Christmas village, complete with entertainment, shops, street vendors and costumed re-enactors. You may meet Father Christmas, Nicholas Nickelby or even Mr. Dickens himself. Seniors get a discount on entrance tickets, too.
