9 Best Christmas Events for Families in the US

The United States isn’t short on Christmas-themed festivities.

From coast to coast, the country lights up with gorgeous displays, festivals, markets, and more. From Maryland to Arizona to Hawaii, you can find Christmas events that are fun for the whole family.

But which are actually worth traveling for?

If your family is looking to add a little bit of festivity to your traditional schedule of decorating the tree, stuffing the stockings, and wrapping presents, you won’t need to search for long.

With dozens of high-profile and high-quality Christmas events dotting the United States, you might find one close to home.

I’ve got nine of the best Christmas events for families listed below. Along with well-known events from Disney, I’ve also listed out other large festivals and markets that are free to the public. We’re moving from East to West—just like Kris Kringle’s sleigh.

Just make sure to book ahead if you need tickets. These popular shows fill up fast.

Best Christmas events for families in the US: East coast

Rockefeller Christmas Tree & Union Square Market (New York City, New York)

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is one of the world’s most iconic Christmas displays—it needs little introduction.

The same for the ice rink located next to the tree. If you’re interested in ice skating, you can rent skates and wait for a turn on the ice—or watch others skate past you. Even people-watching will keep you entertained for a while at this larger-than-life location.

But don’t forget about the city’s other popular Christmas events. The Union Square Christmas Market, for example, is one of the most scenic holiday setups in the city. You can shop around for artisanal products from local creators.

Kennebunkport Christmas Prelude (Kennebunkport, Maine)

Kennebunkport is New England’s best-kept secret when it comes to quaint vacations. This gorgeous little town is home to dozens of attractions, from its cozy main street to its summer camp-style RV parks.

Since 1982, the town has also hosted a Christmas Prelude event. It kicks off the winter holiday shopping season on the first Friday in December. At that time, shops stay open longer as the town prepares for the lighting of the Christmas tree in Dock Square.

Back in 2011, they even added fireworks to the display, which go off after the tree is lit.

Best Christmas events for families in the US: Midwest & Southwest

Las Vegas Christmas Celebrations (Las Vegas, Nevada)

The Ice Rink at the Cosmopolitan (Getty)

Dubbed the City of Lights, it should come as no surprise that Las Vegas is an excellent destination for Christmas events.

That’s right—you have choices for celebrating the season in Las Vegas.

There’s the Rockin’ Christmas holiday drive-through experience; the Enchant Christmas Maze that covers over 80,000 square feet; a Cowboy Christmas event at the local rodeo grounds; and plenty more, from ice skating to Santa meet-and-greets.

The Polar Express (Branson, Missouri)

This train ride is one of the most classic experiences that families can have during the holiday season. Rather than wait in lines or wander below fancy light displays, families actually board the Polar Express and cruise the Branson Scenic Byway.

For the next hour, they’re treated to milk and cookie deliveries, audiences with Santa and his elves, Christmas carolers, and plenty more. Fans of classic and wholesome Christmas events need look no further—this event is a favorite for thousands who drive hours to experience the Polar Express.

Best Christmas events for families in the US: the South

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney (Orlando, Florida)

Nobody throws a family-friendly party quite like Disney. Over the Christmas season, Disney World hosts a range of parties for guests. They run from 7 pm until midnight on select days starting in November, giving you time to plan ahead.

The show includes a fireworks show, parade, character meet-and-greets, fake snowfall, and special holiday drinks and treats.

Natchitoches Christmas Festival (Natchitoches, Louisiana)

As one of the lesser-known family-friendly Christmas events in the United States, Natchitoches lets you escape the crowds without skimping on the fun.

This unique festival period runs from November until January 6. The small town is decked out in vibrant Christmas decorations and light displays, which transform the downtown historic district.

Every Saturday, hundreds gather for a mini-festival. Families can take part in the fun with a range of children’s activities. When night comes, the mood shifts as live musicians take the stage and a small fireworks show lights up the night.

Best Christmas events for families in the US: West coast

Snowflake Lane (Bellevue, Washington)

Though Washington State’s Bavarian-style Leavenworth town usually takes the cake for Christmas-themed displays, there are two other Christmas events you should know about. (More on this below.)

Snowflake Lane is a massive show that includes classic parade-style floats.

Think: bright lights, gorgeous displays, and plenty of dancing and music—just the type of thing you’d see at the Macy’s Day Parade, for example. There’s even a Snowflake Lane Factory where kiddos can meet Santa Claus and put in a good word about their wish lists.

Gingerbread Village (Seattle, Washington)

For around 30 years, the Gingerbread Village has been a local favorite at Christmastime. This light display includes larger-than-life art installations that families can walk through. With multiple exhibits and various themes, the show usually covers a range of holiday themes.

This is a lot more than a DIY-style event. While creators are volunteers, they come from all walks of life—even architects and civil engineers have gotten involved. Just beware that the Gingerbread Village usually has a long line that can take hours to clear.

Is it Better to Get a Hotel or Airbnb?

When Airbnb first launched, the hospitality world was flipped on its head.

Suddenly, travelers could access pied-a-terres around the world and manage their own bookings on an easy-to-use platform.

No spiked prices. No loyalty programs. No add-on charges.

At least, not at first.

Since Airbnb revolutionized the way the average traveler books a room, the platform has seen many ups and downs. On the positive side, it’s innovated unique experiences headed by celebrities and iconic settings—and on the negative, it’s also gotten the boot from more than a few cities.

Love it or hate it, Airbnb is now part of the hospitality space seemingly for good.

But with climbing fees, less-than-satisfactory hosts, and a myriad of other creeping concerns, is it better to get a hotel or Airbnb?

There’s no fast-and-easy answer—but there are a few metrics we can use to dig in and learn more.

Is it better to get a hotel or Airbnb? Here’s what you need to consider

Cost: most hotels and Airbnbs are comparable

Airbnbs aren’t the affordable solution to lodging that they once were. To be fair, Airbnbs and hotels both come in all shapes and sizes. There are boutique and high-design options, along with budget stays with the bare amenities.

That being said, with climbing nightly rates and a bevy of unexpected add-on fees (from cleaning to check-in), Airbnb’s competitive pricing is no longer a guarantee.

On top of that, a hotel’s room rates come with a long list of standard amenities, from room cleaning to ice machines to indoor pools.

By contrast, every Airbnb has a different nightly rate with a series of unique fees. In other words, there’s no industry standard in Airbnb like there is in hotels, which means you can find heavy savings… or predatory pricing for sub-par stays.

Amenities: hotel amenities are a stronger guarantee

As outlined in the section above, hotels come with a familiar set of amenities. These amenities are linked to the star rating of the hotel; the more amenities, the higher the star rating.

From buffet breakfasts to rooftop pools, every rating translates to a different set of hotel features.

Airbnbs, by contrast, differ with each location. The only catch is that hosts are responsible for writing summaries of their stays—which may or may not be accurate. In reality, I recommend travelers dig through Airbnb reviews to make sure those amenities are as promised.

Service: hotels have entire teams working for you

Is it better to get a hotel or Airbnb when it comes to service? This time, the answer is a little easier: a hotel has better service.

Airbnb hosts might be hands-on with their guests, offering city guides, recommendations, and other types of support. The key word there is might. Airbnb hosts aren’t required to offer personalized service or even show their faces to guests.

If you like your privacy, that’s probably a huge plus.

If not, go with a hotel. Hotel staff are available to help you do just about anything, from booking taxis to learning about local attractions to dropping off an extra towel.

While that type of attention to care and detail certainly exists at many highly-rated Airbnbs, they’re far and few between in my experience.

Length of stay: Airbnbs are cheaper for longer-term stays & for larger groups

You might think I’ve been paid by Big Hotel to write this article given I’ve been pretty critical of Airbnbs. But there are plenty of ways in which Airbnbs outshine their industry cousins.

Compared to hotels, Airbnbs are a fantastic choice for long-term stays.

Not only are they cheaper to book for longer periods of time, but they’re also a lot more homely. (I lived in an extended-stay hotel for a few months once upon a time—it was soul-crushing despite the quality facilities.)

An Airbnb can become a home-away-from-home for students, professionals, and anyone else who needs to book a place for a few months.

The same is true for larger group stays. Thanks to homey living rooms and other additional spaces, families and large groups can more easily lounge around and hang out compared to a hotel.

Local regulations: Airbnbs face heavy regulations

Airbnb has proved so popular that dozens of cities around the world are actually fighting to regulate the private rental market. Cities like Berlin and New York City have already taken a strict stance on Airbnb rentals, closely regulating when and how hosts can put rooms and apartments up for rent.

By contrast, I’ve never heard of an illegal hotel setting up shop. And I’ve never recommended someone look up the legality of a hotel before booking.

But I do recommend that you look for a regulation code and license number before booking an Airbnb. If you don’t see one listed, it’s possible that it’s being run illegally.

Travel experience: Airbnbs take you closer to the action

One reason that Airbnb has succeeded and grown is thanks to its unique premise. The home-stay setup offers travelers an up-close look at their destination.

They live like locals compared to those who choose a hotel stay.

That type of immersion usually ends up being a memorable part of the trip because it directly shapes the traveler’s impression of a place—either for better or for worse.

Economy Ticket Tiers: Do You Know What They Include?

It happened to me weeks ago: I needed to reschedule my trip home at the last minute and, having booked on a travel site, I knew my options for rebooking would be limited.

I anticipated paying a hefty fee to change the dates of my flights. Having selected the cheapest flights available, I knew that refunds were out of the question.

After being ping-ponged between the booking site and the airline, I was told at the last minute that no refunds would be provided. Unfortunately, and to my surprise, rebookings were also off the table.

I couldn’t change my flight time or date.

As a long-time traveler and bona fide cheapskate, I wasn’t entirely shocked. But I did spend a solid hour on the phone haranguing a KLM agent for the ins and outs of its ticket tier system.

When I hit ‘buy’ months earlier, I had done so with the understanding that I could still move my flights in case of emergency.

Nope. Not anymore.

As of 2024, airlines are segmenting ticket sales according to a range of amenities. The cheapest option has never given you much wiggle room for canceling flights and getting refunds—but now, the cheapest ticket also bars you from switching your flight to a later date for a fee.

There’s no single economy class. There’s basic economy, standard economy, enhanced economy, economy plus, and more.

Welcome to the new world of flight ticket tiers. If you want to avoid expensive mishaps like mine, here’s what you need to know.

Are economy ticket tiers different on travel sites versus airline sites?

Generally speaking, you’ll pay less when booking airfare on travel sites. That’s because they leverage the cheapest routes from various airlines and string them together for you, creating a Frankenstein itinerary.

By contrast, buying flights from airlines usually comes with a steeper price tag but more assurance.

Neither matters in the case of ticket tiers. Every airline determines its ticket tier, and every travel site honors that arrangement when you finalize your purchase. Some airlines have two or three tiers while budget airlines might offer up to five.

Whether or not you’re buying flights on a travel site or straight from an airline, you need to pay close attention to the ticket tier.

Ticket tiers: the most common tiers in 2024

Economy ticket tiers

I can already hear me rasping at my grandchildren, “Back when I was your age, there was one economy class!”

For now, let me rant about the most common economy ticket tiers that you’ll see in the United States and Europe.

Basic economy: This is the cheapest tier available. It bars you from doing things like canceling the flight, rebooking the flight, selecting seats, and checking bags. Some airlines will still let you select seats and check bags, but at an exorbitant cost. I think basic economy seats are ideal for short and cheap domestic flights.
Standard economy: This mid-range option lets you select seats and check bags, both of which are included in the ticket price. Some airlines also let you make last-minute changes and cancellations with a standard economy ticket. I’d buck up for a standard economy seat for longer journeys—but read the fine print to make sure those rebookings and cancellations will be honored.
Enhanced economy or economy plus: These tickets come with bigger seats, more legroom, and added amenities like a free glass of wine. I’ve seen savvy fliers pay extra for enhanced economy seats on flights that aren’t entirely full, which helps guarantee them more leg space—or even the whole row to themselves. That being said, I don’t think I’d pay more for an enhanced economy ticket unless I wanted to be really aggressive about guaranteeing added space.

Fare packages

A few airlines also offer add-on packages that you can purchase with economy seats. These are basically modular tiers that you pay extra for.

Main Plus: This package usually includes a free checked bag and extra legroom with seats in select rows. It’s great for those worried about staying comfortable on long flights.
Main Select: This package usually focuses on making your ticket more flexible. A Main Select package lets you access priority boarding, along with making last-minute changes to your booking. If you’re uncertain about your travel plans but want to buy your ticket, add the Main Select package—trust me, it’s better than losing the entire ticket and payment later on.

Best Booking.com Deals: Save Up to 35% with Final Travel Tuesday Sale

As a big fan of Booking.com, I’m always poking around the website for deals.

Today marks the paragon of Black Friday offers from Booking—and it’s a perfect last chance to save up to 35% on deals across the website.

From flights to car rentals to lesser-known travel experiences, you can save big when finalizing your travel plans with the platform.

That being said, every Black Friday deal works differently. If you want to get the most out of the sales period, then you need to know where to find the highest-value offers.

Here’s a closer look at the best Booking.com deals as the website closes out its Black Friday sales period. Remember—you have until December 4 to complete your bookings.

Best Booking.com deals that end on December 4

Hotel deals: Save up to 35% on hotels

If you’re going to take advantage of Booking’s hotel savings, I’d highly suggest targeting a more expensive international city.

Here are my top picks for hotel deals:

Hotel deals in Rome for as little as $43/night
Hotel deals in Barcelona for as little as $83/night
Hotel deals in Bilbao for as little as $84/night

Flights: Save on over 300 airlines

Booking doesn’t offer specific deals for flights, but you can find savings on popular routes around the world.

Once again, I think these deals are best used for international flights, especially those to Western Europe and East Asia. While many American airlines offer savings for Black Friday, their offers can usually only be used on flights in North America.

Car rentals: Save up to 25% on car rentals

Car rentals run the gamut in terms of pricing—and most of that final amount depends on which country you’re renting the car in.

Booking lets you save up to 25% on car rentals from popular companies like Record Go, Budget, Golcar, Hertz, Enterprise, Clickrent, Wiber, TopCar, and Centauro.

Travel packages: Save up to 20% on select tour packages

While not nearly as popular as their hotel-booking and flight-booking features, Booking also lets you shop around for tours and travel experiences.

You can save up to 20% on select tours around the world—from Spain to Japan to the US.

These are segmented based on the country and city, which makes it easy for you to tack on great experiences to a trip you already have planned. And with 20% off select deals, that can make a huge difference in adding extra fun to your trip without driving up the tab.

Best Priceline Deals: Save Up to 99% on Final Travel Tuesday Sale

It’s your last day to save up to 99% on Priceline travel deals.

Priceline’s Black Friday sale is one of the heaviest hitters in the travel industry. But it’s not a straightforward shop-and-drop event thanks to its flash sale setup and their time restraints.

With tight sales periods for specific deals, the platform has tied a bow on dozens of deals—and they’re about to finish off Black Friday with a Travel Tuesday blow-out sale.

It’s not too late to miss out. Want to save up to 99% on travel deals with Priceline’s Travel Tuesday sale? Here’s what’s left on the table.

Best Priceline Deals on Travel Tuesday

There are dozens upon dozens of live travel deals on Priceline that you can explore straight from their Travel Tuesday sales page. If you aren’t sure what kind of travel deal you want to access, start there.

You can find sales on travel bundles, flights, car rentals, destination packages, and more. I suggest taking a look at those destination packages. They let you book flights, hotel rooms, and car rentals around the country’s most popular cities.

Want to dig a little deeper? Here are the best Priceline deals that will wrap today, including offers on vacation bundles, hotels, and experiences.

Travel Tuesday vacation bundles from Priceline

In my opinion, the best way to take full advantage of Priceline deals is to focus on vacation bundles. Bundles include hotels and flights in a single purchase, letting you save up to 30% while booking vacation.

Similar to the hotel deals (discussed below), Priceline offers these deals based on destination. Travel Tuesday includes vacation bundles for Cancun, Jamaica, the Domincan Republic, and Los Cabos, which are some of the most popular winter vacation spots for Americans.

You can also find travel bundles available for popular (and normally pricey) US cities, including New York, Las Vegas, and Honolulu.

Travel Tuesday hotel deals with up to 20% savings from Priceline

Shop around for the best hotel deals to save an extra 15% on select hotels and 20% on others. Priceline has some of its most popular destinations listed on the page, from Santorini to Machu Picchu to Tokyo.

Best Black Friday Travel Deals That Are Still Live: Monos, Booking, Royal Caribbean, and More

It’s been a whirlwind Black Friday discount period.

Travelers who played their cards right have already saved hundreds on flights, luggage, car rentals, cruises, and much, much more.

But today is Travel Tuesday—the cherry on top of the Black Friday sales period for wayward travelers, first-time tourists, and globetrotters of all stripes.

While most Black Friday deals started on November 29^th and concluded on Cyber Monday, there’s a growing number of travel companies that have focused their high-value offers on Travel Tuesday.

Want to take advantage of your last chance to save big on your 2025 trips? I’ve rounded up the very best offers that expire today (December 3) or in the coming weeks.

Best Black Friday travel deals that end today

Save on domestic American Airlines flights until December 3

Looking to save a bit on domestic flights? American Airlines is shutting down its Black Friday sales period today, so take advantage by reserving your place on a domestic flight.

Save on Royal Caribbean Cruises until December 3

Billed as the company’s ‘biggest sale ever’, you can save hundreds by booking select Royal Caribbean cruises. Whether or not you’re interested in traditional cruises, you’ll find an attractive offer with this sale.

Royal Caribbean also offers discounts on its alternative cruise options, including cross-Atlantic journeys and short weekend getaways.

Save up to $200 on Pack Up + Go trips until December 3

As a young and innovative travel company, Pack Up + Go is a great selection for any travelers who are nervous about planning their own escape.

With Mystery Trip offers and personalized adventures available, you’ll find something that works for yourself—or a traveler who you want to treat.

Save up to 30% on select Play Airlines routes until December 3

This awesome deal is valid for flights leaving from Boston, Baltimore, and New York heading to select Icelandic and European airports. All Play Airlines routes include a stopover in Reykjavik.

Best Black Friday travel deals that end in the coming days

Save on Booking.com deals until December 4

Whether you want to reserve a hotel room or land a last-minute car rental, Booking.com has a wide range of offers that are discounted by up to 35% until December 4.

This is one of my favorite Black Friday deals in the industry thanks to its range of offers. I highly suggest checking out Booking if you already have a trip planned—you can tack on a tour with up to 20% off.

Save up to 25% sitewide on Beis luggage until December 14

As one of the chicest and sexiest luggage brands out there, it doesn’t get any better than this side-wide Beis deal. Given this brand almost never does sales, it’s one of the only chances you’ll have to save on a Beis piece without buying second-hand.

Save up to 40% on Monos luggage until December 5

Beis offers style—but Monos is squarely in the luxury space. If you’ve been waiting to splurge on a high-quality piece of luggage, you won’t find a better offer. Especially not with a high-value deal worth up to 40% on select products.

Save up to 15% on select Naya Traveler packages

As a luxury travel company with shout-outs from Nat Geo and similar publications, Naya Traveler is a fantastic option for anyone who really wants to see how transformative travel can be. Just keep in mind that this sale only applies to select trips to Peru and Morocco. (Both are great choices, in my opinion.)

Save up to 25% on Hyatt Stays until December 9

World of Hyatt members can save up to 25% on select hotel and resort stays, while non-members can save up to 20%. Similar to the Hilton offer (below), this offer is available only for hotel stays booked before April 21, 2025.

Save up to 20% on select Hilton deals until January 5

You have plenty of time to take advantage of Hilton’s Season to Stay Sale, which lets you save up to 20% on select deals. Just keep in mind that deals are only available for stays booked before April 20, 2025—which means you need to book a stay within the next few months.

Save up to $800 by booking Railbookers routes before December 8

You can save hundreds on Railbookers routes across the world with its incredible Black Friday sales event. You can even book routes for 2026 during this period. Just keep in mind that this offer is valid only for routes of up to seven, 10, and 15 nights.

Check out The Guestbook for ongoing deals from Boutique Hotels

If you’re interested in digging into ongoing Black Friday deals from select boutique hotels, I highly suggest having a look at The Guestbook. It’s got an ongoing list of updated offers from some of the coolest stays in the United States and far beyond.