Holiday Festivals & Festive Places
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It's time to get your holiday cheer in gear -- as the clock is ticking down to another Christmas season. Feeling Scrooge-y? Then a fun-filled festival should do the trick. Buckling under the strain of all those packages? Then it's time for a leisurely, light-filled drive. Whatever your holiday style (or headache) -- it's time to make tracks like a reindeer to a few of our favorite holiday events.
Up Next: Gaylord Opryland's A Country Christmas -
Gaylord Opryland's A Country Christmas
Location: Nashville, TN
Dates: Nov. 15 - Dec. 25
Scoop: The Opryland elves start working as early as July at the mega-hotel to string the more than two million lights inside and out. Beyond the lights are 15,000 poinsettias, 15 miles of garland and ten miles of red ribbon. The entertainment is jolly, too: The Radio City Music Hall Rockettes perform, and a playful winter wonderland made entirely of ice brings out the kid in everyone.
More on Gaylord Opryland's A Country Christmas
Up Next: Dutch Winterfest -
Dutch Winterfest
Location: Holland, MI
Dates: Nov.17 - Dec.8
Scoop: We love Holland just because its city fathers thought to install heated sidewalks in its charming downtown shopping district -- brilliant. But add in the western Michigan town's Dutch heritage and the result is a fabulously old-fashioned, European-inspired festival featuring a Kerstmarkt -- an authentic, open air Christmas market.
See The Dutch WinterFest
Up Next: Trail of Lights -
Trail of Lights
Location: Texas & Louisiana
Dates: Nov.15 - Dec.31
Scoop: Six cities in Texas and Louisiana light up in celebration of the season in a show of holiday splendor. Highlights include the huge Rockets over the Red River fireworks show and the town of Marshall's massive display of over one million Christmas lights on the historic Harrison County Courthouse.
Holiday Trail of Lights
Up Next: Christmas at the Newport Mansions -
Christmas at the Newport Mansions
Location: Newport, RI
Dates: Nov.17 - Jan.1
Scoop: Be transported to Christmases past in Newport, where the halls of some of the city's famed mansions are decked out in elaborate style for the holidays. The Elms and the Breakers open their opulent doors for tours, special evenings filled with live musical performances, visits from Santa and even a dinner dance.
Christmas at the Newport Mansions
Up Next: Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights -
Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights
Location: Orlando, FL
Dates: Nov.13 - Jan.7
Scoop: The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights started in Little Rock -- but soon outgrew the modest 1,000 red lights, to more than three million. Soon, sightseers were crowding the streets of their neighborhood -- until Osborne moved the spectacle to Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando.
Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights
Up Next: Ozark Mountain Christmas -
Ozark Mountain Christmas
Location: Branson, MO
Dates: Nov.1 - Dec.31
Scoop: Could anything scream Christmas more than Andy Williams singing 'A Few of My Favorite Things'? We think not. The legendary Williams is just one of the performers who take to the stage in a holiday concert in Branson -- Mickey Gilley and the Osmond Family are on the schedule as well.
See Ozark Mountain Christmas
Up Next: North Pole Express -
North Pole Express
Location: Essex, CT
Dates: Nov.22 - Dec.22
Scoop: Not just one, but two ways to ride the rails with Santa this holiday season. The rail cars are decked out with vintage décor; Santa, Mrs. Claus and even Rudolph make appearances during the hour-long rides; the North Pole Express departs in the evenings and picks Santa up along the way. Sugar cookies, hot chocolate, and a little face time with Santa are all part of the fun.
See The North Pole Express
Up Next: Glory of Christmas Crystal Cathedral -
The Glory of Christmas Crystal Cathedral
Location: Garden Grove, CA
Dates: Nov.23 - Jan.5
Scoop: Live animals, flying angels and soaring voices fill the Crystal Cathedral for what's become a Southern California holiday tradition. This retelling of the nativity story in the glass cathedral is set to a soundtrack by the London Symphony Orchestra and acted out by a cast of hundreds.
Glory of Christmas Crystal Cathedral
Up Next: Santa's Workshop -
Santa's Workshop
Location: Northpole, NY
Dates: Weekends, Nov.17 - Dec.16
Scoop: The charming little Alpine-inspired village / theme park in the Adirondacks is almost 60-years old, and it's chock-full of Christmas fun for the kids including a real Santa's workshop, the jolly old elf's home, a talking Christmas tree, reindeer barn, candy shop and even reindeer games to play.
Santa's Workshop
Up Next: Mission Inn -
Mission Inn
Location: Riverside, CA
Dates: Nov.23 - Dec.31
Scoop: The historic and fabulous Mission Inn transforms into a Christmas utopia with more than two million lights decorating the grounds and buildings of the hotel, including dozens of special decorations. Animated elves and carolers will delight the children, while special holiday menus and spa indulgences will give weary shoppers a way to unwind.
Mission Inn
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