As the holiday season approaches, not every celebration revolves around typical tree lightings or mall Santas. Across America, communities are embracing wonderfully weird and hyper-local Christmas events that put unique twists on tradition. From lobster trap Christmas trees on New England shores to surfing Santa Claus contests in California, these one-of-a-kind festivities are attracting curious travelers and loyal locals alike.
Below we highlight some of the most unique Christmas events in the U.S. for 2025, grouped by theme, and explain what makes each so special. (All events are U.S.-based and scheduled for the 2025 holiday season.)
Weird and Wonderful Holiday Traditions
Dickens of a Christmas — Franklin, Tennessee
Location: Franklin, Tennessee
In historic Franklin, an entire downtown district travels back to the 19th century for Dickens of a Christmas, one of the nation's largest Victorian Christmas festivals. The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County transforms Main Street into a scene from A Christmas Carol, complete with characters like Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge, and Father & Mother Christmas roaming the streets. In 2024 the festival drew a record 150,000 visitors, and 2025's 40th annual event promises the same nostalgic magic. Attendees can mingle with costumed Dickens-era reenactors, then enjoy modern perks like a whiskey lounge and beer garden amid the old-timey cheer.
Learn more →Lobster Trap Christmas Tree — Stonington, Connecticut
Location: Stonington, Connecticut
Forget fir trees – in the seaside village of Stonington, the community stacks real lobster traps into a towering Christmas tree. The Lobster Trap Tree stands about 35 feet tall, constructed from hundreds of wire lobster pots, buoys, lights and zip ties. This nautical creation, a tribute to the local fishing industry, lights up from late November through early January. It has become a proud local landmark, with an ideal viewing time at sunset to catch the twinkling traps against the ocean backdrop. It's a perfect example of coastal New England's creative holiday spirit.
Learn more →Tumbleweed Christmas Tree — Chandler, Arizona
Location: Chandler, Arizona
In the desert town of Chandler, residents celebrate with a Tumbleweed Christmas Tree instead of pine boughs. This offbeat tradition began in the 1950s when a shortage of decorations led locals to bundle tumbleweeds into a makeshift tree. Today, Chandler's 35-foot Tumbleweed Tree is the pride of the town, ceremonially lit the first week of December amid a parade and festival. The spiky "tree" is adorned with thousands of lights and glitter, proving that even weeds can become a beloved holiday centerpiece. Chandler's decades-old tumbleweed tree has earned its status as one of the country's most famous novelty Christmas trees.
Learn more →Genesee Brewery Keg Tree — Rochester, New York
Location: Rochester, New York
Upstate New York toasts the season with an enormous Christmas tree made of beer kegs. Outside Rochester's Genesee Brewery stands the Keg Tree, built from 650 empty steel kegs and strung with 25,000 lights. 2025 marks the 10th year of this beer-lover's tradition, which is illuminated in a lighting ceremony in early December. Spectators gather with craft brews in hand as the pyramid of kegs glows brightly against the winter night. The Genesee Keg Tree has become a quirky holiday beacon for the city – a spirited blend of Christmas cheer and brewery pride.
Learn more →Miracle on 34th Street Lights — Baltimore, Maryland
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
For over 75 years, one block in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood has gone "Miracle on 34th Street" – an over-the-top display of holiday lights and decor covering every rowhouse. This spontaneous community tradition began in 1947 and now runs from late November to New Year's, drawing throngs of visitors. The eclectic decorations include everything from Disney characters to illuminated crab sculptures alongside classic Santas and Nativity scenes. With houses decked from rooftop to sidewalk, the 700 block of West 34th Street becomes a glowing winter wonderland that epitomizes neighborhood Christmas spirit.
Learn more →Live Advent Calendar — Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
In Bethlehem – nicknamed "Christmas City" – a Live Advent Calendar event takes place nightly from December 1 through 23. Each evening, a crowd gathers outside the 1810 Goundie House on Main Street for a countdown and the dramatic opening of an "Advent window." A costumed town crier leads a selected child to knock on the door, from which emerges a local business or group offering treats or mini-performances for the crowd. Billed as the only live Advent calendar of its kind in the country, this charming tradition regularly draws 200–300 people each night to share in a 10-minute dose of community cheer. It's a uniquely participatory way Bethlehem celebrates its heritage as America's Christmas City.
Learn more →Key West Conch Shell Drop — Key West, Florida
Location: Key West, Florida
On New Year's Eve in subtropical Key West, the symbol of choice isn't a crystal ball – it's a giant conch shell. The Conch Shell Drop is a Florida Keys take on the Times Square countdown, featuring a massive, brightly decorated pink conch shell lowered from the roof of Sloppy Joe's Bar as midnight approaches. This quirky island tradition began in 1993 and honors the Conch Republic's seafaring culture. Crowds pack Duval Street to cheer as the shell descends amid fireworks and revelry. It's an only-in-Florida way to ring in the New Year and cap off the holiday season with a splash of tropical flair.
Learn more →Santa Claus, Indiana – Town Celebration
Location: Santa Claus, Indiana
In the aptly named town of Santa Claus, Indiana, every day is Christmas – but December is truly magical. This small Midwestern town embraces its name with a month-long Santa Claus Christmas Celebration filled with events. Visitors can drive through the 1.2-mile "Santa Claus Land of Lights" to see storybook LED displays of Rudolph. By day, families visit Santa's Candy Castle to sip cocoa and even roast chestnuts over an open fire like in the song. There's an annual Santa Claus Parade down the main street featuring Santa himself (of course) and even a live reindeer exhibit where kids can meet Santa's horned helpers. The town's post office, meanwhile, receives thousands of letters from children worldwide. With its blend of traditional activities and unique attractions, Santa Claus, IN has become a beloved pilgrimage for those seeking a real-life Christmas town experience.
Learn more →Elfapalooza — Mobile, Alabama
Location: Mobile, Alabama
Even Santa's helpers get to have some fun in Mobile. Elfapalooza is this Alabama city's wackiest holiday gathering – an annual attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest assembly of people dressed as elves. Crowds of over a thousand "elves" don pointy hats and ears in Bienville Square, hoping to top the needed 1,800 participants. At 7 p.m. on the chosen December evening, an official count and group photo memorialize the effort. Afterward, downtown shops and restaurants welcome the festive mob for holiday ArtWalk and dining. Whether or not a record is broken, the sight of hundreds of costumed elves taking over the streets makes Elfapalooza a uniquely joyful (and slightly zany) local tradition each year.
Learn more →Animal-Inspired Festivities
Scuba Diving Santa — Camden, New Jersey
Location: Camden, New Jersey
At the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, Santa Claus trades his sleigh for swim fins. The aquarium's "Christmas Underwater" show features Scuba Santa, a diver in a Santa suit who plunges into a 550,000-gallon tank to wave at onlookers through the glass. He swims alongside sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays, pausing to pose for underwater holiday photos with visiting families. As an added attraction, the aquarium even boasts the "World's Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree" submerged in the tank. Running daily from late November to Christmas Eve, Scuba Santa has become a beloved tradition for New Jersey families – blending marine life with holiday magic in a way that's anything but ordinary.
Learn more →Reindog Parade — Cincinnati, Ohio
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
In Cincinnati's historic Mt. Adams neighborhood, canines join the Christmas fun at the annual Reindog Parade. Now in its 36th year, this event invites dog owners to costume their pooches in their best antlers, sweaters, and holiday attire for a jovial parade through the streets. Led by Santa Claus himself and a local celebrity Grand Marshal, dozens of festively dressed dogs wag their way past cheering spectators. The parade, which raises funds for the local animal shelter, turns pets into "reindeer" for a day and celebrates the four-legged members of the family. After more than three decades, the Reindog Parade has become a unique Cincinnati tradition that's equal parts adorable and hilarious – truly a pet-lover's winter wonderland.
Learn more →Cinnamon Bear Breakfast Cruise — Portland, Oregon
Location: Portland, Oregon
Meet Cinnamon Bear – the holiday icon you've probably never heard of, unless you're from Portland. The Cinnamon Bear Breakfast Cruise is a family-themed riverboat cruise on the Willamette River where children can dine and party with "Cinnamon Bear," a costumed teddy bear character who has been a Portland Christmas mascot since the 1930s. 2025 marks the 20th year of this revived tradition, which runs from late November through December 27th. Aboard the decorated Portland Spirit ship, families enjoy a hot breakfast, sing-alongs, and storytelling, capped off by a keepsake photo with Cinnamon Bear. The character originated from a 1937 radio serial and department store holiday promotion, and thanks to the cruise, new generations of Oregon kids are growing up with this cuddly local legend. It's a heartwarming example of a regional Christmas mascot brought to life.
Learn more →Festive Food Feats
The Great Fruitcake Toss — Manitou Springs, Colorado
Location: Manitou Springs, Colorado
One town's disdain for holiday fruitcake turned into a world-famous competition. Each year after Christmas, Manitou Springs hosts The Great Fruitcake Toss, inviting folks to launch those unloved loafs as far as possible by any means – be it catapults, slingshots or just a good arm throw. Since 1996 this tongue-in-cheek festival has celebrated the re-gifting joke of fruitcake by literally flinging the desserts skyward. Participants have gotten increasingly creative, engineering high-powered tossing devices to achieve longer distances. The event draws spectators and competitors from around the world, all sharing a laugh and some friendly competition. In a sweet twist, Manitou Springs has embraced the fruitcake – once the butt of jokes – as the centerpiece of a beloved and quirky tradition.
Learn more →National Gingerbread House Competition — Asheville, North Carolina
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
For a more delicious display of creativity, head to Asheville's Omni Grove Park Inn for the National Gingerbread House Competition. For over three decades, this renowned contest has attracted master bakers and amateurs alike to build wildly intricate gingerbread structures. The 2025 competition drew more than 200 entries ranging from quaint cottages to elaborate castles. After judging in mid-November, all entries remain on display at the historic hotel through early January for the public to marvel at. Strolling the exhibit has become a holiday pilgrimage for many families – an experience filled with the aroma of ginger and awe at the candy-covered artistry. From piped-sugar icicles to stained-glass candy windows, the level of edible craftsmanship on display truly makes this the "Super Bowl" of gingerbread artistry.
Learn more →Santa and His Alternatives (Santa Gone Wild)
Krampus NOLAuf Parade — New Orleans, Louisiana
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Santa isn't the only holiday figure with his own parade. In New Orleans, the dark Alpine legend Krampus comes alive in the Krampus NOLAuf Parade, a wild French Quarter procession that's equal parts creepy and festive. Dozens of participants dress as the horned, goat-like Krampus – the folklore creature said to punish naughty children – complete with elaborate masks and fur costumes. They parade and playfully "swat" onlookers, handing out coal candy and growling for photos. After the march, an open-to-all afterparty features live music and German-inspired food, with proceeds often benefiting charity. New Orleans' embrace of this macabre Christmas tradition showcases the city's love of pageantry with a quirky, mischievous twist. The Krampus parade has quickly become an anti-holiday favorite that still manages to spread plenty of cheer (and a few chills).
Learn more →Running of the Santas — Philadelphia, PA & New Orleans, LA
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania & New Orleans, Louisiana
What began as a bar crawl among friends in Philadelphia has exploded into a multi-city phenomenon known as the Running of the Santas. In cities like Philly and New Orleans, thousands of costumed revelers dressed as Santa (and elves, reindeer, and creative holiday mash-ups) take to the streets for a raucous "run" from one venue to another. In New Orleans, the event is dubbed "the most unique and craziest Christmastime event", drawing holiday partiers from across the South. The tradition dates back to 1998, when about 40 buddies in Philadelphia decided to don Santa suits for a night out; over 25 years later, Running of the Santas has spread to more than 20 cities (and even other countries). Part pub crawl, part costumed block party, each city's event features live music, contests, and an avalanche of Santas bouncing between bars. It's a chaotic celebration of Christmas spirit – emphasis on the spirits.
Learn more →Santa Speedo Run — Boston, Massachusetts
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
In Boston, Santa ditched the red suit for a Speedo – for a good cause. The Santa Speedo Run is an annual one-mile charity run through the city's Back Bay, featuring hundreds of runners wearing nothing but skimpy swimwear, Santa hats, and sneakers in the winter cold. What started in 2000 as a dare among five friends has become a beloved (if slightly insane) tradition now attracting around 700 participants each December. The event has raised millions for local children's charities over two decades. Spectators line Boylston and Newbury Streets to cheer on the festive nearly-nude runners jangling all the way. It's a bracing display of holiday bravery that proves Boston's Christmas spirit is alive, well, and not afraid of a little frostbite.
Learn more →Surfing Santas — Cocoa Beach, Florida (and Dana Point, California)
Location: Cocoa Beach, Florida & Dana Point, California
Who says Santa can't catch a wave? On Christmas Eve morning, Florida's Space Coast hosts the Surfing Santas event, where 300+ surfers dressed as Santa Claus hit the breakers at Cocoa Beach. Spectators flock at dawn to see the ocean turn red with Santa suits as surfers (and stand-up paddleboarders) show off their best moves. The spectacle, which began as a small gathering, now doubles as a charity fundraiser for local causes and even comes complete with its own hashtag #SurfingSantas. The concept has caught on elsewhere – in Dana Point, California, a similar Surfing Santa contest is in its 15th year, raising money for an autism surf camp. Whether Atlantic or Pacific, there's nothing quite like the sight of Santa Claus hanging ten. These sunny Santa surf festivals bring a carefree, beachy twist to the holiday – board shorts and all.
Learn more →Climbing Santa at Chimney Rock — Chimney Rock, North Carolina
Location: Chimney Rock, North Carolina
Before Santa squeezes down millions of chimneys on Christmas Eve, he gets some practice in North Carolina. At Chimney Rock State Park, a 315-foot natural rock chimney formation becomes Santa's personal rock wall during the Climbing Santa event. On the first two Saturdays of December, visitors watch as Santa Claus rappels down the sheer cliff face in full red suit and harness. Park organizers play up the story: "Santa has a big job climbing down all the chimneys in the world… where better to practice than one of the world's largest natural chimneys?" After cheering on Santa's acrobatics, families can meet him and Mrs. Claus back on ground, enjoy live animal encounters, and join guided hikes with elves. This adrenaline-fueled tradition at Chimney Rock adds adventure to holiday merriment – proving that even Jolly Old St. Nick needs a good workout.
Learn more →Santa's Wonderland (Cowboy Christmas) — College Station, Texas
Location: College Station, Texas
Everything's bigger in Texas – including Christmas. Santa's Wonderland in College Station is a sprawling holiday theme park that bills itself as the "largest Christmas attraction in the U.S." Here, Santa wears a cowboy hat and belt buckle, and a seven-foot gunslinging snowman named Marshall Frostbite greets visitors at the gates. The park is decked out like an Old West town crossed with the North Pole: you can take horse-drawn hayrides through over 3 million lights, stroll past Western storefronts twinkling with decorations, and snap a photo atop a Texas-longhorn steer decorated for Christmas. Beyond the light displays, Santa's Wonderland offers a Texas-sized slate of activities – from a petting zoo and live Nativity, to mechanical bull rides and fire pits for s'mores. There's even a cozy wine tasting barn and a giant outdoor movie screen playing holiday classics. Blending cowboy culture with Christmas kitsch, this unique park has become a Lone Star holiday pilgrimage for families seeking a different kind of "yeehaw" season.
Learn more →Why Quirky Christmas Events Are on the Rise
From coast to coast, these offbeat holiday events are surging in popularity – and it's easy to see why. Many travelers and families now seek experiences that break the mold of the standard shopping mall Christmas. Local communities, in turn, have leaned into their heritage or creativity to offer something distinctive. Whether it's a whimsical throwback to Dickensian England or a tongue-in-cheek Santas-in-Speedos dash, these events provide a fresh way to celebrate and often support good causes or local businesses along the way.
There's also a strong social component: in the age of Instagram and TikTok, a quirky Christmas photo or story (say, posing with a surfing Santa or under a tumbleweed tree) is the ultimate sharable content. These events bring communities together and draw visitors off the beaten path, fostering both civic pride and tourism. Most importantly, they remind us that the holidays are meant to be joyful and inclusive of all kinds of traditions – even totally bizarre ones. As Americans crave more meaningful and fun-filled ways to spend the season, expect these unique Christmas celebrations to keep growing, adding new chapters to our ever-evolving holiday story.
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