Most Unique Christmas Event in Every State
From winter solstice celebrations to historic home tours, discover the most distinctive and memorable Christmas events across America.
While traditional Christmas events like markets and light displays are wonderful, some celebrations stand out for their unique character, historical significance, or one-of-a-kind experiences. These events offer something truly special that you won't find anywhere else.
From Alaska's winter solstice celebration to New Mexico's chile drop, we've found the most unique Christmas event in every state. These events range from historic home tours to unusual traditions, each offering a memorable and distinctive holiday experience.
Alabama: Historic Decatur Christmas Tour
Location: Decatur, Alabama
This unique event offers a rare opportunity to tour beautifully decorated historic homes during the holiday season, showcasing period architecture and festive decorations.
Learn more →Alaska: Fairbanks Winter Solstice Celebration
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Celebrate the longest night of the year in Alaska with this unique solstice celebration, featuring traditional activities, bonfires, and the return of daylight in the far north.
Learn more →Arizona: ZooLights
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Experience millions of twinkling lights illuminating the Phoenix Zoo, creating a magical nighttime experience where wildlife meets holiday wonder.
Learn more →Arkansas: Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
This traveling production brings the classic Nutcracker ballet to Little Rock with a magical twist, featuring stunning performances and holiday enchantment.
Learn more →California: First Night Monterey
Location: Monterey, California
This alcohol-free, family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration features art, music, and entertainment throughout Monterey, creating a unique community celebration.
Learn more →Colorado: December Delights at Four Mile Historic Park
Location: Denver, Colorado
Step back in time at Denver's oldest standing structure for a historic holiday experience with period decorations, crafts, and 19th-century Christmas traditions.
Learn more →Connecticut: Fairfield Museum and Historical Society Holiday Events
Location: Fairfield, Connecticut
Explore Connecticut's history through unique holiday programming at this museum, featuring historical exhibits and festive activities.
Learn more →Delaware: Blue Cross River Rink
Location: Philadelphia, Delaware
This unique outdoor ice skating rink on the Delaware River waterfront offers a one-of-a-kind winter experience with city skyline views and festive atmosphere.
Learn more →District of Columbia: DowntownDC Holiday Market
Location: Washington, DC
This premier market in the nation's capital features over 150 exhibitors and is one of the largest and most diverse holiday markets in the country.
Learn more →Florida: Key West Holiday Historic Inn Tour
Location: Key West, Florida
Experience a tropical Christmas with this unique tour of historic Key West inns, each beautifully decorated for the holidays in island style.
Learn more →Georgia: West Georgia's Original Nutcracker and Annual Winter Extravaganza
Location: Carrollton, Georgia
This original production combines the classic Nutcracker ballet with a winter extravaganza, creating a unique regional holiday tradition.
Learn more →Hawaii: Rock-a-Hula Christmas Special
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Experience a tropical Christmas with this unique Hawaiian holiday show, blending traditional Christmas music with island culture and hula performances.
Learn more →Idaho: The Spectacular Resort Holiday Lights
Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
This resort transforms into a winter wonderland with millions of lights, creating a spectacular holiday light display in a stunning lakeside setting.
Learn more →Illinois: FIRST FRIDAY
Location: Libertyville, Illinois
This monthly event transforms into a special holiday celebration, featuring local businesses, entertainment, and festive activities in downtown Libertyville.
Learn more →Indiana: Preserve Historic La Porte 2024 Christmas Candlelight Tour
Location: La Porte, Indiana
This candlelight tour of historic homes offers a romantic and unique way to experience Christmas, with homes illuminated only by candlelight.
Learn more →Iowa: SPECIAL CONCERT: New Year's Eve
Location: Waterloo, Iowa
This special New Year's Eve concert offers a unique way to ring in the new year with live music and celebration in Waterloo.
Learn more →Kansas: Christmas Open House at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Experience 19th-century Christmas traditions at this authentic stagecoach stop, offering a unique glimpse into pioneer holiday celebrations.
Learn more →Kentucky: The Brown-Forman Nutcracker
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
This signature production by the Louisville Ballet brings the Nutcracker to life with local flair and professional artistry.
Learn more →Louisiana: Alexandria's Biggest Holiday Weekend
Location: Natchitoches, Louisiana
This massive weekend celebration features multiple events, parades, and activities, making it one of the largest holiday celebrations in Louisiana.
Learn more →Maine: Northern Lights Celebration
Location: Freeport, Maine
This celebration combines the natural wonder of northern lights with holiday festivities, creating a unique Maine winter experience.
Learn more →Maryland: First Night Alexandria
Location: Alexandria, Maryland
This alcohol-free, family-friendly New Year's celebration features arts, music, and entertainment throughout historic Alexandria.
Learn more →Massachusetts: First Night Northampton 2026
Location: Northampton, Massachusetts
This community arts celebration offers a unique, alcohol-free way to ring in the new year with performances, art, and family activities.
Learn more →Michigan: Silver Bells in the City
Location: Lansing, Michigan
This massive celebration transforms downtown Lansing into a winter wonderland with lights, entertainment, and the state's largest holiday parade.
Learn more →Minnesota: Historic Mayowood Holiday Tour
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Tour the historic Mayowood Mansion decorated for the holidays, offering a unique glimpse into early 20th-century holiday traditions.
Learn more →Mississippi: Christmas Pilgrimage Tour of Historic Homes
Location: Natchez, Mississippi
This prestigious tour of antebellum homes decorated for Christmas offers a rare opportunity to see some of the South's most beautiful historic architecture.
Learn more →Missouri: Christmas Traditions Festival in Historic St. Charles
Location: St. Charles, Missouri
This month-long festival in historic St. Charles features costumed characters, carolers, and traditional holiday activities in a beautifully preserved historic district.
Learn more →Montana: A Rare Grand Alignment
Location: Butte, Montana
This unique astronomical event celebration marks a rare planetary alignment, combining science and holiday festivities in Montana.
Learn more →Nebraska: Omaha Holiday Lights Festival
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
This month-long festival illuminates downtown Omaha with millions of lights, creating one of the Midwest's most spectacular holiday displays.
Learn more →Nevada: Reno Santa Crawl
Location: Reno, Nevada
This unique pub crawl features hundreds of Santas roaming downtown Reno, creating a festive and fun holiday tradition unlike any other.
Learn more →New Hampshire: First Night
Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
This alcohol-free, family-friendly New Year's celebration features performances, art, and entertainment throughout historic Portsmouth.
Learn more →New Jersey: Historic Smithville Holiday Light Show
Location: Smithville, New Jersey
This historic village transforms into a holiday wonderland with thousands of lights, creating a magical experience in a preserved historic setting.
Learn more →New Mexico: New Year's Eve Celebration with Chile Drop
Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
This unique New Year's celebration features a giant chile drop instead of a ball, celebrating New Mexico's signature crop in a one-of-a-kind way.
Learn more →New York: Historical Society of Islip Hamlet's 2025 Holiday House Tour
Location: Islip, New York
This exclusive tour offers access to historic homes decorated for the holidays, showcasing Long Island's architectural heritage.
Learn more →North Carolina: First Night Raleigh
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
This family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year's celebration features performances, art, and entertainment throughout downtown Raleigh.
Learn more →North Dakota: Holiday Lights at the Fairgrounds
Location: Fargo, North Dakota
This drive-through light display at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds offers a unique way to experience holiday lights in North Dakota.
Learn more →Ohio: Candlelight: Christmas Special
Location: Akron, Ohio
This intimate candlelight concert series features holiday music performed by candlelight, creating a magical and unique musical experience.
Learn more →Oklahoma: Rhema Christmas Lights Extravaganza
Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
This massive light display features millions of lights synchronized to music, creating one of the largest and most spectacular Christmas light displays in the country.
Learn more →Oregon: UNIQUE WORLD: Holiday Pop-Up Experience
Location: Portland, Oregon
This immersive pop-up experience creates a unique holiday world with interactive installations, art, and festive activities in Portland.
Learn more →Pennsylvania: Highmark First Night Pittsburgh
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
This family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year's celebration features performances, art, and entertainment throughout downtown Pittsburgh.
Learn more →Rhode Island: Annual Christmas Specialty Market
Location: Tiverton, Rhode Island
This specialty market features unique, handcrafted gifts and artisanal goods, offering a curated holiday shopping experience in Rhode Island.
Learn more →South Carolina: MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights
Location: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
The South Strand's only free walkthrough Christmas light display, this marshside wonderland offers a unique coastal holiday experience.
Learn more →South Dakota: Falls Park Winter Wonderland
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
This park transforms into a winter wonderland with lights, ice sculptures, and holiday activities in the heart of Sioux Falls.
Learn more →Tennessee: Dickens of a Christmas Historical High Tea and Etiquette presentation
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
This unique event combines Victorian-era high tea with etiquette lessons, offering a refined and educational holiday experience.
Learn more →Texas: Historic Main Street Carol of Lights
Location: Grapevine, Texas
This annual tradition in the "Christmas Capital of Texas" features the lighting of Main Street with carols, creating a magical small-town holiday experience.
Learn more →Utah: Holidays & Special Events
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
The Grand America Hotel hosts a series of unique holiday events and celebrations, offering luxury holiday experiences in Salt Lake City.
Learn more →Vermont: Winter Wonderfest in Stowe
Location: Stowe, Vermont
This winter carnival combines traditional New England winter activities with holiday festivities in one of Vermont's most picturesque towns.
Learn more →Virginia: Christmas Town: Virginia's Largest Christmas Event
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
Busch Gardens transforms into Christmas Town with millions of lights, shows, and holiday activities, making it Virginia's largest Christmas celebration.
Learn more →Washington: Historic Snohomish WinterFest
Location: Snohomish, Washington
This historic town hosts a month-long winter festival with lights, activities, and holiday shopping in a beautifully preserved historic district.
Learn more →West Virginia: Light The Night
Location: Charleston, West Virginia
This community celebration lights up Charleston with holiday displays, activities, and festive entertainment throughout the city.
Learn more →Wisconsin: Historic Mansion Holiday Tour
Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin
Tour historic mansions decorated for the holidays, offering a unique glimpse into Wisconsin's architectural heritage and holiday traditions.
Learn more →Wyoming: First Friday Art Walk and Cookie Crawl
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming
This unique event combines art gallery walks with a cookie crawl, creating a festive and creative holiday experience in Cheyenne.
Learn more →Ready to Experience These Unique Events?
Discover these amazing unique Christmas events and many more on our interactive map. Find the events closest to you and start planning your unforgettable holiday adventure!