What It’s Like to Visit Christmas Town U.S.A., McAdenville, North Carolina

The small-town holiday destination of McAdenville—aka Christmas Town U.S.A.—packs in the decorative lights, seasonal treats, and all-around cheer with tons of events and charming local businesses.

Back in 1956, W.J. Pharr, the founder of the textile company Pharr, was searching for a way to bring more holiday spirit to the 1.5-square-mile North Carolina town of McAdenville. He, along with the town’s men’s club, came up with the idea to decorate the trees around the community center with red, white, and green lights.

Now, nearly 70 years later, the tradition has grown into one of the nation’s most famous celebrations, as the town of about 900 people transforms into Christmas Town U.S.A. There are more than 250 evergreens, 100 meticulously decorated homes, half a million lights, and, most impressively, a lake full of floating Christmas trees—all in the three original colors. It is estimated that some 600,000 people pass through to catch a glimpse of the magical scene.

“This isn’t just a one-day parade or event—Christmas Town U.S.A. is a 26-day lifestyle. Every night, it transforms into this magical place where people are driving, walking, and enjoying the lights with their families and friends,” John Searby, the CEO and executive director of Catawba Riverkeeper, who has lived in the area since 2011, told Travel + Leisure. 

Festive lights on display in McAdenville, NC, also known as Christmas Town U.S.A.

Melissa McCauley/Courtesy of Gaston County Tourism

As an out-of-towner, I felt like an interloper visiting a small-town celebration that had lasted three generations. I dived into the holiday festivities early, already having flown to my hometown of San Jose, California, to decorate a tree I sponsored for our city’s Christmas in the Park event that I’d long been obsessed with. I also visited Rockefeller Center’s iconic Christmas tree three times in New York City, where I now live. With both of those being in the country’s top 10 biggest cities, where I could melt into the crowds, the idea of stepping into the long-held tradition of such a tight community initially made me feel like I was crashing their party.

Turns out, I was absolutely wrong. From the moment I arrived, there was an openness from the locals, proudly welcoming visitors into their cozy hometown and enthusiastically pointing me to the highlights.

I started at The River Room, sipping on a Sycamore Christmas Cookie ale that tasted like Christmas in a cup and watching the sun slowly dissolve. Then, at precisely 5:30 p.m., the outdoor lights flipped on, instantly transforming the already sweet town—often likened to The Andy Griffith Show’s Mayberry, which is a fictional town in North Carolina—into a holiday wonderland. 

Walking around McAdenville Lake, I was like a kid in Santa’s world, squealing in delight at every new sight I saw, like the lake’s 75-foot-tall colorful fountain flanked by the floating trees reflected in the moonlit waters and the “Merry Christmas” sign in the distance. As I made my way through the neighborhood, there was a simple classiness to all the decor that matched the throwback vibe of the town. Whether they were classically decorated with toy soldiers and candy canes or themes inspired by pop culture icons like the Grinch and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” every home looked like a little dollhouse plucked out of the most idyllic Christmas village. 

Christmas trees constructed of lights reflect on the water in McAdenville, NC.

Rachel Chang/Travel + Leisure

In the past, the experience had been more of a drive-through, but Searby said starting in 2022, there was a shift into more of a pedestrian experience. Strolling the 1.3-mile loop on foot, I instantly felt a sense of connection, waving to locals in their homes, smiling at other visitors, and stopping every few feet for totally lit photos. In the distance, holiday tunes rang out from an 1883 tower, setting the mood for all to enjoy.

“The traditions of Christmas Town U.S.A. really give the locals a sense of place,” Searby said, adding that the famous festivities instill “pride and an awareness that we can work off of to make sure people know that we’re a great place to visit the other 11 months of the year too.”

A McAdenville home decorated for the season.

Melissa McCauley/Courtesy of Gaston County Tourism

During the 26-day event, the holiday lights stay on from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The local businesses lean into the celebrations, so visitors can grab a bite at Terra Mia Restaurant, a drink at 115 Craft or The River Room, or a treat at Two Scoops Creamery, and shop for gifts (or yourself) at Laundry Dae.

For visitors traveling in, Christmas Town U.S.A. can be reached in less than a 30-minute drive from Charlotte. It’s also about 10 minutes from Belmont, NC; in this small city, you can stop in for the always festive Southern cooking at Nellie’s Southern Kitchen—I’m still dreaming of the fried green tomatoes and collard and artichoke dip—and visit Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, which is delightfully lit with its Holidays at the Gardens event.

No matter where your adventures take you in Gaston County, the talk of the area in December will always spotlight Christmas Town as a “magical experience for all ages,” as Mona Fore, owner of local online shop Mona’s Boutique and Gifts, described it. “It’s literally a come-to-life Hallmark town, where people can shop, dine, and enjoy the spirit of Christmas with others.”