With a name like Christmas Town USA, this village in North Carolina takes the festive season very seriously with more than 250 fir trees and 500,000 lights on display for all to see.
Also known as McAdenville, the community got its festive moniker thanks to a tradition that was born in 1956 down at the local men’s club.
That year, a collection of club members decided to go about decorating a few trees around the community center with Christmas lights and year by year the decorating efforts got grander and more elaborate.
Now the town of less than 1,000 residents, gets more than 600,000 visitors during December, with its spread of larger-than-life decorations luring spectators from far and wide.
With a name like Christmas Town USA, this village in North Carolina takes the festive season very seriously with more than 250 fir trees and 500,000 lights on display for all to see
Also known as McAdenville, the community got its festive moniker thanks to a tradition that was born in 1956 down at the local men’s club
Now the town of less than 1,000 residents, gets more than 600,000 visitors during December, with its spread of larger-than-life decorations luring spectators from far and wide
The Christmas celebrations traditionally kick off with a tree lighting ceremony on December 1
Another of the town’s highlights is the annual yule log parade which takes place mid-month
Social media is awash with photos of Christmas Town’s dazzling light displays
The Christmas celebrations traditionally kick off with a tree lighting ceremony on December 1 and another of the town’s highlights is the annual yule log parade which takes place mid-month.
According to Christmas Town’s website, the Yule Log Parade started in 1949 after the town’s biggest business owner, W. J. Pharr, attended a yule log celebration overseas with his wife and decided to bring the idea back home.
Detailing what visitors can expect from the parade, the website notes: ‘The townspeople, adults and children alike traditionally meet in front of the Pharr Office in downtown McAdenville (Christmas Town) to join in the parade led by a local high school band.
‘The log is pulled through our historic downtown to the Memorial Yule Log Fireplace at Legacy Park and placed upon the fire with great exuberance!’
Social media is awash with photos of Christmas Town’s dazzling light displays.
One Instagrammer said that visiting the town and walking through the streets is one of their family’s annual traditions and ‘so much fun.’
While another resident of Christmas Town said that the lights ‘never disappoint’ and the spectacle ‘really is magical.’
In terms of the light displays, one of the standout instalations can be seen at McAdenville Lake, with a 75-foot-tall colorful fountain flanked by illuminated floating trees.
One Instagrammer said that visiting the town and walking through the streets is one of their family’s annual traditions and ‘so much fun’
Another resident of Christmas Town said that the lights ‘never disappoint’ and the spectacle ‘really is magical’
In terms of the light displays, one of the standout instalations can be seen at McAdenville Lake, with a 75-foot-tall colorful fountain flanked by illuminated floating trees
The lights around Christmas Town glow nightly from 5pm to 10pm, with the last night being December 26
While the town goes about instaling public light displays thanks to the help of volunteers, photos show how the residents take things to a whole new level, with giant candy canes, nutcrackers, penguins and more adorning the front of homes.
Lea and Paul Newnham from the UK told Our State, that they make a pilgrimage to Christmas Town every year.
Explaining the lure, Lea said: ‘Christmas isn’t Christmas until we’ve seen those lights.
‘Yes, it is a long trip but it’s always worth it.
‘When you see those lights for the first time each year, it gives you a tingle every time. It’s just magical.’
The lights around Christmas Town glow nightly from 5pm to 10pm, with the last night being December 26.
There is also a bell tower, built in 1883, which plays Christmas tunes for the whole town to enjoy.
