The Best Southern Towns to Visit This Holiday and Winter
Escape the holiday hustle and embrace Southern charm! From festive celebrations and family fun to cozy mountain getaways, discover the best Southern towns to visit this holiday season and into early 2027. Image: Downtown Greensboro
If you’re looking to ditch the typical hustle and bustle of the holiday season or find a festive place to travel in early 2027, the South offers plenty of charming towns to get you in the spirit. With traditional celebrations, family-friendly activities, cozy downtowns, and scenic winter escapes, there’s plenty to discover across the region. Here’s a rundown of the best Southern towns to visit during the holidays and throughout the winter!
ALABAMA
Auburn-Opelika
Celebrate the season in Auburn-Opelika with spirited events full of small-town charm. In downtown Opelika, SNOPELIKA brings falling snow, photos with Santa, live music, food trucks, local vendors, and the lighting of a towering 72-foot Christmas tree to Courthouse Square.
Step back in time during the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour, where homes in Opelika’s Northside Historic District showcase their nostalgic holiday decor and traditions. Add the Hey Day Holiday celebration and a unique gingerbread village to your itinerary for even more seasonal fun.
GEORGIA
Athens
Athens brings plenty of holiday cheer, thanks to its lively college-town setting. Hit the rink at Athens on Ice at The Classic Center, then catch a Rock Lobsters hockey game. Winter WonderLights at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia adds dazzling displays, hot chocolate, and s’mores. Every weekend in December, shop holiday markets featuring talented makers, artists, and live entertainment, with plenty of unique finds along the way. Add Christmas concerts, ballet performances, and the official Miracle holiday pop-up bar for a festive season.
KENTUCKY
Bardstown
Bardstown earns its “North Pole of Kentucky” nickname with a handful of seasonal traditions. Kick things off at Light Up Bardstown on November 27, featuring a tree lighting, carolers, and Santa. Shop local boutiques downtown while sipping bourbon-spiked hot cocoa, or ride the North Pole Express with My Old Kentucky Dinner Train. On December 5 and 6, Christmas Carnival in the Park brings more than 15 attractions and activities to My Old Kentucky Home State Park. Seasonal music, parades, and candlelit tours round out the celebration.
Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown transforms into the perfect getaway, offering plenty to see and do during the holidays. Festivities begin on November 25 with Christmas in the Park, a 35-year tradition featuring more than 100 free, drive-through light displays at Freeman Lake Park. On December 4, Light Up Etown brings a lively parade, tree lighting, live music, and holiday treats to downtown. And don’t miss seasonal showings of Christmas movies at the beautifully restored Historic State Theater, where the magic of the season shines on the big screen.
Frankfort
Frankfort kicks off the holiday season with its Candlelight Weekend, a beloved regional tradition that takes place the second weekend of November. The city’s downtown district comes alive with the lighting of the Christmas tree, horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa and holiday characters, live music, local shopping, food, and drinks. Visitors can also enjoy a petting zoo, holiday tours at museums and historic sites, a Nutcracker performance, decorated storefronts, and the Pajama Sip & Shop Cocktail Stroll for the young — and young at heart.
LOUISIANA
Ascension Parish
In Ascension Parish, LA, Louisiana’s Sweet Spot, makes holiday shopping an event in its own right. Merry Market returns November 13-15 with more than 400 vendors, indoor and outdoor booths, and food trucks. Then, on December 5, the Avenue Evening Stroll brings music, shopping, and a tree lighting to historic Donaldsonville, with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a free trolley. The Gonzales Holiday Market follows on December 11-13 at Lamar Dixon Expo Center, featuring more than 300 booths filled with handmade gifts, fashion, jewelry, and home decor.
Ruston
Ruston brings Hallmark-style charm to the holiday season, with a walkable, historic downtown filled with local shops, festive storefronts, and live music. On November 19, the Kickoff to Christmas features a tree lighting, caroling, shopping, and the Art Ramble. On December 3, catch the Ruston Christmas Parade, a beloved community tradition, or on select dates, drive through Lincoln Lights Up the Pines, a three-mile display built by the community. With Southern hospitality and two universities enriching its cultural calendar, Ruston offers plenty to explore this winter.
MISSISSIPPI
Canton
Canton, MS, welcomes visitors to its annual Christmas Festival, where thousands of lights illuminate the historic square. Open November 27-29 and December 4-23, the celebration features carriage rides, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, family photo opportunities, and live entertainment starring beloved Disney characters. Food trucks and Santa’s Cookie Stop offer tasty treats between activities. The festival runs daily from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with many downtown areas free to explore and select attractions available for an additional fee.
Cleveland
Cleveland, MS, shines during 50 Nights of Lights, an annual holiday celebration featuring more than one million lights on display nightly through January 1. Kick off the season at the November 14 tree lighting, then explore downtown shops, enjoy local dining, or visit GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. The holiday calendar also includes a holiday parade, free trolley rides, family activities, and shopping events. With dazzling displays and plenty of ways to celebrate, Cleveland makes the Delta a memorable place to spend the holidays.
Greenwood
Greenwood, MS, brings holiday traditions to life with a distinctly Delta flair. The Christmas Parade and Delta Band Festival (December 4) fills downtown with more than 25 high school and college bands from four states. On December 8, over 100 singers and a live nativity take center stage at First Presbyterian’s Singing Christmas Tree. Then, on December 12, the Delta Dickens Christmas Festival features Victorian-costumed carolers and simulated snow. Round out your visit with the Buford Family Christmas Concert (December 21) and downtown shopping and dining.
Oxford
Oxford lights up the season with festive displays and playful traditions. On November 12, crowds gather for the lighting of the Square, where strands of lights stretch from the courthouse clock to surrounding buildings, creating a canopy overhead.
At mTrade Park, Holly Jolly Holidays returns from November 21 through January 3, featuring walk-through displays, an ice-skating rink, and visits from Santa. Spot hidden gnome villages around the Square, then follow the Peppermint Trail for seasonal cocktails, treats, and specials at local businesses.
NORTH CAROLINA
Graham & Mebane
Graham and Mebane in Alamance County bring plenty of seasonal charm to a North Carolina getaway. In Graham, the Polar Express Experience pairs a film screening at the historic Graham Cinema with a trolley tour showcasing Christmas lights and caroling. In Mebane, the six-week Nutcracker Stroll fills downtown with whimsical displays, including an animated snowman maker, a flying Santa, and a reindeer attraction. Add local shopping and dining to your itinerary, alongside community events and small-town charm, for a truly memorable winter outing.
Greensboro
Greensboro, NC, offers plenty of ways to celebrate the holidays. Browse the Greensboro Holiday Market (November 6-8), catch the downtown Festival of Lights (December 4) and Holiday Parade (December 5), or lace up for the Jingle Jog 5K (December 6). Winter Wonderlights at Greensboro Science Center (November 18-January 3) and Piedmont Winterfest (November 21-February 1) bring dazzling displays and ice skating to the lineup. Enjoy “Home Alone in Concert” at Tanger Center (December 12), explore neighborhood Christmas light displays, or check for upcoming SantaCon Bar Crawl events for an adults-only outing. With events for all ages, Greensboro makes holiday plans easy.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Old 96 District
South Carolina’s Old 96 District brings small-town Christmas traditions to communities across the region. Abbeville’s Light of Christmas display brightens the town throughout the holidays, while Santa’s Southern Lights at Sara’s Farm Adventure in Trenton runs November 27 through January 3. Browse Greenwood’s uptown boutiques during Holiday Sip and Shop on December 11, or visit Laurens on December 4 for its tree lighting, market, and Santa’s Village. McCormick rounds out the lineup with its Festival of Trees & Holiday Market at Dorn Mill on select December dates.
TENNESSEE
Manchester
Manchester, TN, welcomes the holidays with local shopping and beloved community traditions. From November 6-8, 26th Avenue Boutique and Reese’e Genes Boutique host their annual Christmas Open House, featuring new arrivals and plenty of gift ideas. On November 7, Foothills Crafts & Gift Shop also hosts its Holiday Open House featuring handcrafted Tennessee gifts and holiday home decor. November 28 brings the annual Christmas Parade and tree lighting to historic downtown Manchester. On December 11, the Downtown Christmas Stroll adds carriage rides, carolers, and free photos with Santa.
Springfield
Springfield, TN, offers a charming small-town Christmas experience. Winter Wonderland at J. Travis Price Park features a free drive-through light display from November 28 through December 27, with walk-through nights and family activities on the first three Saturdays in December. Free horse-drawn carriage rides are available during select Winter Wonderland activity nights and select evenings on the historic downtown square. Downtown Springfield is also decorated for Christmas, inviting you to stroll the square, shop at locally owned boutiques, and enjoy the cheerful atmosphere.
TEXAS
Early
Make your spirits bright at Early’s Holly Jolly Tree Trail, where 200 live Fraser firs decked out by local residents and businesses light up Early Town Center. Snap photos with Santa, enjoy weekend festivities, and see the 30-foot Christmas tree on the Boardwalk. The trail is free to visit. Early also marks its 75th anniversary this December, with a celebration on December 12 featuring food trucks and a drone show. Find more annual holiday events at visitearlytexas.com.
Frisco
Dubbed “The Star of the Holidays,” Frisco, TX, is known for its larger-than-life displays and family fun. At The Star, the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza features the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, team mascot Rowdy, and Santa in a free 20-minute show on select November and December evenings.
Then, Christmas in the Square (November 20-January 4) pairs choreographed lights and music with ice skating, carriage rides, and Santa visits. Families can also explore Universal Kids Resort, where beloved characters, holiday shows, hundreds of Christmas trees, and a 40-foot centerpiece bring the festivities to life.
Happy holidays!
This article is sponsored by Visit Auburn-Opelika, Athens GA CVB, Bardstown/Nelson Co. KY Tourism & Convention Commission, Elizabethtown Tourism + CVB, Frankfort Tourist and Convention Commission, Ascension Parish Tourism Commission, Experience Ruston, Alamance County Visitors Bureau, Downtown Greensboro, Canton Tourism, Visit Cleveland Mississippi, Visit Greenwood, Visit Oxford MS, the City of Springfield, Visit Manchester, Old 96 District South Carolina, Visit Early Texas, and Visit Frisco.
Brianna Goebel
Brianna is StyleBlueprint’s Associate Editor and Sponsored Content Manager. She is an avid fan of iced coffee and spends her free time reading romance novels.
