Featured image: Visit Franklin
As the holiday season wraps its twinkling lights around the South, there’s no shortage of festive celebrations that capture the spirit of Christmas in charming, unique ways. From reindeer encounters to historic home tours, here’s a roundup of some of the most magical events you won’t want to miss this December.
Reindeer Farm
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Image: Visit BGKY
We know who does the real work on Christmas eve, and a few call a charming farm in Kentucky home. Embrace the Christmas magic at the Reindeer Farm, where you can get up close to over eight majestic reindeer, take a festive sleigh ride, enjoy a dodgeball-style snowball fight, and marvel at holiday-themed ice sculptures.
New this year, the farm introduces a zipline, so if you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to fly like Santa, now’s your chance! The farm’s holiday atmosphere has become a charming fun-for-the-whole-family tradition. Want more details? Click here.
Christkindlmarkt
Helen, Georgia
Image: Alpine Helen-White County Convention and Visitors Bureau
For a Bavarian Christmas without leaving the Southeast, head to Alpine Helen in Northeast Georgia. The town’s alpine architecture and festive decor make it a magical spot for the holidays (and don’t miss experiencing it during Oktoberfest!), with the annual Lighting of the Village and the Christkindlmarkt offering German treats, ornaments, and festive cheer.
Don’t miss the Victorian Christmas events at Sautee-Nacoochee, where you can step back in time and enjoy holiday traditions from the 1870s.
Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Image: The Dollywood Company
For a Christmas experience equal-parts charming and exhilarating, head to Dollywood for “A Smoky Mountain Christmas.” This annual event transforms the parks, as well as the DreamMore Resort and Spa or HeartSong Lodge & Resort, into a mountainside winter wonderland.
The restorts offer holiday-themed accommodations, light shows, and festive packages (including a Christmas tree in your room!), and the park comes alive at night with millions of twinkling lights and a special fireworks show on Fridays and Saturdays. Check out our full review.
Merry & Bright
Bardstown, Kentucky
Image: Visit Bardstown
It’s known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, and what’s more cozy in the winter than bourbon?! Bardstown offers a perfect blend of Southern hospitality and holiday tradition. Visit the “Merry & Bright” event at My Old Kentucky Home, where costumed guides lead tours of this historic mansion, sharing stories of Christmases past. Or, explore Bardstown’s parades, local shopping, and holiday-themed tours, creating an unforgettable holiday experience in the heart of Kentucky.
Light Up Brookhaven
Brookhaven, Georgia
Just outside of Atlanta, Brookhaven’s small-town charm takes on a festive flair with events like Light Up Brookhaven on December 4. Enjoy choral singing, treat vendors, and the lighting of the Christmas trees and Menorahs. There’s even a special visit from Santa Claus, who’s known to arrive in style—from a helicopter to a fire truck! Whether you’re shopping at local boutiques or staying in one of Brookhaven’s charming hotels, this neighborhood is sure to fill your heart with holiday cheer.
Christkindlmarket at Mainstrasse Village
Covington, Kentucky
Image: Visit Covington
Step into a Christmas wonderland in Covington’s Mainstrasse Village, transformed each December into a German-inspired holiday market. The Christkindlmarkt is filled with handcrafted gifts, traditional German treats, mulled wine, and live music that will have you singing along to classic holiday tunes. Wander through twinkling lights and festive stalls, capturing the Old-World charm of this cozy Southern village.
Dickens of a Christmas
Franklin, Tennessee
Image: Visit Franklin
This annual event has been a Christmas tradition for me all my life. The charming streets of Downtown Franklin fill with costumed actors bringing Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to life in the most magical way. Stroll the streets shopping for the perfect gift from local artisans, warm up with cider spiked by Leiper’s Fork Distillery, and dance soak in the magic of this Hallmark-esque town.
A Trail Town Christmas
Damascus, Virginia
Image: Visit Damascus, VA
Known as “Trail Town USA,” Damascus lights up the season with its A Trail Town Christmas celebration throughout December. Kicking off with Small Business Saturday, visitors can shop for unique, local, and handmade gifts to check off their holiday lists. The Trail Town Christmas Parade, held on the first Friday of December, is a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
The celebration continues with the quarterly Trail Town Twirl contra dance the following day. For those looking to make it a holiday getaway, Damascus serves as the perfect basecamp for visiting pick-your-own Christmas tree farms near Mount Rogers and ringing in the New Year with First Day Hikes at Virginia State Parks on January 1.
