This Small Town in North Carolina Transforms Into a Whimsical Holiday Wonderland Every Winter — and I Got to Visit This Year

The population of McAdenville, North Carolina, is less than 1,000, but their Christmas spirit is unmeasurable.

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, 66 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 USA. 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 some 600,000 people past through to catch a glimpse of the magical scene.

“This isn’t just a one-day parade or event — Christmas Town USA 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.

For me, as an out-of-towner, I felt like an interloper visiting a small-town celebration that had lasted three generations. This year, I had 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 I’d long been obsessed with. I also visited the iconic Rockefeller Center 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 inspired by pop culture — I spotted "Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation"-themed homes — or classically decorated with toy soldiers and candy canes, every house looked like a little dollhouse plucked out of the most idyllic Christmas village.

In the past, the experience had been more of a drive-through, but Searby said starting last year, 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 USA 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.”

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, a treat at Two Scoops Creamery, or go holiday shopping at Mona’s Boutique and Gifts. (Or buy yourself a gift — I found myself with a new necklace!).

For visitors traveling in, Christmas Town USA is less than 30 minutes from Charlotte and less than a 10-minute drive from Belmont. (In Belmont, 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 this month will always spotlight Christmas Town, as a “magical experience for all ages,” as Mona Fore of Mona’s Boutiques and Gifts described it to T+L. “It’s literally a come-to-life Hallmark town, where people can shop, dine, and enjoy the spirit of Christmas with others.”

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