North Carolina doesn’t just deck the halls for the holidays, it smothers them! It seems that every small town has its lampposts and shop windows wrapped in twinkling lights, and coastal towns are filled with merriment and Southern hospitality. When December rolls in, the chaos of Christmas shopping and finalising business endeavours before the end of the year can feel overwhelming and stressful – so why not take a much-earned time out and enjoy the festivities outside our City of Oaks?
Whether you’re dreaming of a white Christmas in the high country or prefer the glow of seaside lights reflecting off calm winter waves, there’s more than enough reasons yule love a Holiday getaway from Raleigh this year.
If you’re looking for some charming small towns in North Carolina that really go all-out for Christmas, with festive lights, holiday events, and full small-town charm, then be sure to check out these unmissable destinations.
1. McAdenville, AKA “Christmas Town USA” (Gaston County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 2 hr 45 min (179.5 mi) via I-40 and I-85 S
McAdenville, also known throughout the holiday season as Christmas Town USA, is the most well-known holiday destination in North Carolina. McAdenville transforms every December (from the 1st to the 26th) with a massive display of Christmas lights and decorations that engulf the downtown district. Just on the 1.3-mile drive into town alone, there are over 500,000 red, green, and white lights decorating more than 375 trees. Keep in mind that the lights are only turned on at night, from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM each night.
Although a small town of only 600-900 people throughout January – November, this Holiday season draws over 100,000 people each year. There’s also a Yule Log Parade on December 11th, 2025, which brings in large numbers of people. It might not be the hidden gem you’re looking for, but the Holiday atmosphere is second to none. You would have to be a total Scrooge to not feel Christmassy at McAdenville in December. To avoid the crowds, as best as you can, try to visit on a weekday.
Some other festive things to do in Christmas Town are have dinner at the famed Terra Mia Ristorante, have a festive craft beer at 115 Craft and The River Room, and buy your stocking stuffer candy from Life is Sweet-Candy Shop.
2. Forest City (Rutherford County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 3 hr 30 min (225.3 mi) via I-40 E
Can you think of a more inviting name for a town than Forest City? It certainly lives up to its name, as this storybook small town in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains has seemingly every tree covered in Christmas lights during the Holiday season. Its historic Main Street will be illuminated with over a million lights throughout December (from 5:00 pm – 11:30 pm), and if the display doesn’t wow you, then the holiday activities will.
Throughout the month, Forest City will offer hometown holiday activities such as carriage rides, hay rides, visits to see Santa, and an ice-skating rink. Forest City will also be showcasing the largest lighted ornament in the Greater Asheville area, a giant illuminated bauble, which would make the ideal backdrop for Holiday photos.
On Fridays and Saturdays, there will also be a concession stand selling hot chocolate, cider, and coffee, as well as food trucks on Mill Street, which will keep your belly warm as you enjoy the Holiday festivities.
3. Brevard (Transylvania County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 4 hr 30 min (278.2 mi) via I-40 E
Nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains, Brevard has long been voted one of the most underrated towns in North Carolina, but now it’s turning heads, especially during the Holiday season as the town goes all out for Christmas.
The town looks like your typical Hallmark Christmas Card, with a lavishly decorated town square, tons of twinkling lights and Holiday displays in store windows, and lots of local charm. Throughout the holiday season, there are seasonal events like Light Up The Night, which coincides with the town’s Christmas Parade on December 6th, when the town’s Christmas tree is officially lit up for the season.
There’s also a Holiday window display competition, running from November 28th – December 31st, where downtown businesses are tasked with decking their windows with more than just bells and holly. As we all know, with competitions, when you can win the glory of winning, you can expect these displays to be a little extra! As well as all the Holiday magic, Brevard has a handful of craft breweries, nostalgic eateries, and scenic mountain views.
Read more: Secluded retreats in North Carolina for a quiet escape from Raleigh
4. Dillsboro (Jackson County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 4 hr 30 min (294.4 mi) via I-40 E
Want to visit a hidden gem? The tiny town of Dillsboro (population under 300) is one of those places that transforms from ghost town to Christmas town in a day. It’s on track to take McAdenville off the top spot as the most Christmassy town in North Carolina. Each year, Dillsboro hosts the Festival of Lights & Luminaries, which features 2,500 candles and twinkling white lights decorating its downtown area. It takes place over the first two weekends in December (from 5 pm – 9 pm), and will host carolers, live music, a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus, and stores will also stay open late for Christmas shopping.
What makes Dillsboro special is that the streets are lined with candles in little white bags, paving the way into storefronts full of artisan and handmade gifts. Backed by decorated houses built in the 1800s, the whole town glows. The nearby town of Sylva (3 miles away) also has a similar tradition and is worth exploring while you’re in the area. Dillsboro is the perfect destination for a quieter but still very festive holiday getaway.
5. Banner Elk (Avery County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 3 hr 30 min (206.0 mi) via US-421 S and I-40 E
High up in the North Carolina mountains off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Banner Elk is a cute small NC town that has the perfect small town Christmas vibe – choose-and-cut tree farms, luminary‐lit train rides, carol singing, and a beautifully decorated downtown. What more could you want?
How about a Holiday event to kick things off? The first week in December hosts a holiday-themed event, A Small Town Christmas in Banner Elk, which starts on Friday and runs through to Sunday.
Over the weekend, you can take part in caroling, watch the lighting of the official town tree, watch a drama and dance performance of “A Banner Elk Christmas,” by a local professional theater group, have breakfast with Santa, join a festive Reindeer Run 5K, shop in a Christmas market, join a community carol sing, watch a Christmas Parade of Lights, and so much more.
The whole town gets involved with A Small Town Christmas, and it’s the most magical time in Banner Elk. Book your accommodation as soon as you can for this one, it’s going to be massive!
Bonus: Being in the mountains means a better chance of a white Christmas vibe (though not guaranteed).
6. Bryson City (Swain County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 4 hr 45 min (309.3 mi) via I-40 E
We love Bryson City any time of year, but over the Holiday season, it draws huge crowds, not just for its Smoky Mountain setting, but also for its famous Polar Express train ride on the GSMR. We experienced the Polar Express in Bryson City, and it was just like the movie. You can read about that experience here.
As well as the Polar Express, downtown transforms into a festive wonderland with garlands, wreaths, and a 50-foot Christmas tree. There is also a drive-through light show: the “Smoky Mountain Christmas Light Spectacular,” which could rival the famed Speedway Christmas Lights Winterfest in Charlotte.
Bryson City is the perfect place for combining a festive town experience with mountain scenery. Read more: What It’s Like To Ride The Polar Express in Bryson City, North Carolina.
7. Beech Mountain (High Country)
- Distance from Raleigh: 3 hr 50 min (212.5 mi) via US-421 S and I-40 E
Fancy a ski resort experience for a Holiday getaway? Consider Beech Mountain in North Carolina’s High Country, which has the most “wintery” ambiance of all the towns on this list, as it’s the highest town on the East Coast.
Although snow is never guaranteed, Beech Mountain has high snow possibilities, and even if there is none, they will make some! Head to Beech Mountain Sledding Hill from November 28th – February for free sledding (bring your own or purchase one from Fred’s Mercantile), before sledding into the Holiday Market at Buckeye Recreation Center where you can pick up locally made crafts and listen to live music.
The Christmas Parade and Festival takes place on the 23rd December, much later than other towns, so if you’re thinking of leaving Raleigh for the big day itself, consider a few days in Beech Mountain and visit for the parade. Beech Mountain also gives us rural mountain village vibes, similar to what you would find in the Swiss Alps, and made our list of towns in North Carolina that look just like Europe!
8. Waynesville (Haywood County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 4 hr 15 min (274.8 mi) via I-40 E
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even… oh wait a minute, that’s not true in Waynesville! The Night Before Christmas event is an annual event in Haywood County and features horse-drawn wagon rides, live music, plenty of caroling, and decorative lights for photo ops.
Its bustling Main Street is very walkable and is highly festive this time of year – not a tree branch or shop window in sight without a twinkling light on it! This festive winter wonderland usually takes place from the beginning to mid-December. Don’t miss the First Baptist Church’s Living Nativity scene and take your kids to visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
9. Southport (Brunswick County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 2 hr 30 min (161.5 mi) via I-40
During the Holiday season, Southport forgets it’s called Southport and simply goes by Winterfest. This annual festival is when the whole town transforms into a fairytale Christmas harbor town as twinkling lights dance across the waterfront and sailboats have their sails wrapped in ribbons and tinsel.
As you stroll the charming, historic streets, you’ll stumble past festive parades, outdoor concerts, and of course, the beloved Christmas flotilla, a light display that illuminates the Cape Fear River. Local shops brim with handmade coastal gifts, cozy cafés serve specialty hot chocolate, and park lawns make way for outdoor cinemas playing family-friendly Holiday favorites.
And each year, the festival only gets bigger. In 2025, Winterfest will be hosting the first Winterfest-ival of Trees, where local businesses and organizations will display dozens of lit and decorated Christmas trees for one beautiful evening.
There’s so much going on in Southport throughout the Holiday season, it’s a true Southern town with events that bring the whole community together. It has an irresistible blend of holiday magic and small-town charm. We know Southport residents are recovering from a recent dreadful tragedy, visiting this wonderful town during the holidays is a great way to show our support.
10. Hendersonville (Henderson County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 4 hr (270.1 mi) via I-40 E
Known for its “Home for the Holidays” event during the festive season, Hendersonville is well worth the trek. The festival has a whole series of yuletide events running across mid-November through to New Year’s Eve.
The town’s Main Street looks like walking through a Christmas card, with splendidly decorated storefronts and ribbon-wrapped street lights; the whole town is aglow in holiday cheer. From carriage rides, visits with Santa, Holiday markets, train rides, a nighttime Christmas parade, and there will be a Christmas musical performance running for 25 nights at the Flat Rock Playhouse.
If you’re visiting the Smoky Mountain region and you want to pack in lots of holiday activities whilst still enjoying a small-town setting, Hendersonville has it.
11. Statesville (Iredell County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 2 hr 15 min (147.5 mi) via I-40 E
Statesville shines merry and bright during the holiday season, packing in big energy within its small town borders. Downtown’s historic streets glow with twinkling lights as horse-drawn carriages trot past boutiques and bakeries dressed in their holiday best.
Lace up your skates and glide across the seasonal ice rink, watch the beloved Christmas Parade, and shop in special pop-up holiday markets that shine the spotlight on local makers and farm-fresh treats, and when evening falls, watch as the light displays turn city parks into sparkling wonderlands. Statesville feels like stepping into a heartwarming seasonal postcard.
12. Blowing Rock (Watauga County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 3 hr 15 min (194.0 mi) via US-421 S and I-40 E
Blowing Rock was once described as a “fairytale village” at Christmas by WRAL, and what can be more magical than the Tweetsie Railroad with festive lights and holiday music as you ride through the alpine forest?
Perched high in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blowing Rock is a quaint town that truly comes into its own during the Holidays. The chalet-style shops that line Main Street are adorned in Holiday decorations and filled with artisan gifts for Holiday shopping.
When outdoor adventurers beckon, take advantage of nearby ski slopes for winter sports and snow tubing, or strap on your snowshoes for frosty hikes with panoramic winter views. From holiday markets to the charming small-town Christmas parade to the yearly Festival of Trees event, which sees trees auctioned off for a good cause, all in the spirit of Christmas, Blowing Rock feels sprinkled with festive cheer.
Read more: Top Family Vacations in North Carolina on a Budget
13. Cary (Wake County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 20 min (12.3 mi) via I-40 E
Ok, you might be thinking these suggestions all sound wonderful so far, but they are a fair bit to drive to. And you would have a point. So why not make a holiday vacation from Raleigh a staycation? Just a 20-minute drive away is probably the most Christmassy town in Wake County, our beloved Cary.
While a larger town than some others on this list, Cary’s holiday spirit is packaged in its downtown district like a well-wrapped present. The holiday installation is very impressive every year. It has a walkable district blanketed in lights, as well as a (fake) ice rink and large ornaments that you can use for Holiday photos.
They have a wonderful tree lighting celebration each year at the Downtown Cary Park, which has illuminated art installations throughout. Downtown Cary Park also has many free community events – so expect an extra dosing of Christmas cheer. Good alternative if you are based in the Triangle and don’t want to travel too far.
14. Carolina Beach (New Hanover County)
- Distance from Raleigh: 2 hr 20 min (141.3 mi) via I-40
Carolina Beach brings coastal joy to the holidays. This laid-back seaside town has a calendar packed with festive fun throughout December. The “Christmas by the Sea” celebration turns the boardwalk into a fairytale wonderland that glows with colorful lights and is filled with festive music as you wander between beachy boutiques and sweet shops offering holiday treats.
The beloved Island of Lights celebration brings shimmering parades to the shore and fireworks that burst over the ocean.
Don’t miss a stroll around the brilliantly decorated lake park and watch the Holiday lights reflect on the water. With mild temperatures, ocean breezes, and plenty of cheerful community traditions, Carolina Beach is an unexpected but delightful choice for a place to visit for the Holidays from Raleigh.
Read more: Essential Things to Do in Carolina Beach + Places To Eat and Top Places to Stay in Carolina Beach, NC
15. Beaufort (Crystal Coast)
- Distance from Raleigh: 2 hr 40 min (155.0 mi) via US-70 W/U.S. Hwy 70 W and I-42 W
Lastly, one of our more recent discoveries along the “Crystal Coast”, Beaufort. Each year, this small Southern town hosts a “Christmas Flotilla,” which sees its marina of boats aglow with festive lights. You can also do a Candlelight Tour of historic homes, similar to our own Oakwood Candlelight tours in Raleigh.
Beaufort is bursting with history and is known for being a town frequented by the pirate Blackbeard, and it’s amazing to see all the heritage 18th-century homes adorned in garlands, wreaths, and candlelit windows.
The handful of boutiques along Front Street is the place to go to pick up coastal-inspired gifts, while the waterfront cafés are the place to go to warm up with East Coast chowders. Beaufort has small-town cheer all year round, but during the Holidays, it’s just a little bit more enchanted.
Read more: 36 Hours in Beaufort, NC (Things to Do, Where to Eat & Stay)
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