<div id="readability-page-1"><div> (NewsNation) — If you live for the holidays, these towns may be calling your name. Zillow analyzed home listings featuring holiday-related keywords to rank the 10 most festive towns in the U.S. Here are the towns that made Zillow’s list and what makes each one stand out. <h3>10 – Ransom Canyon, Texas</h3> Typical home value: $375,732 Christmas lights are usually a drive-by affair, but in Ransom Canyon, community members and visitors have a chance to step inside homes to see decorated interiors — part of a tradition that’s been going on for nearly four decades. <h3>9 – Shaver Lake, Calif.</h3> Typical home value: $574,823 The annual Shaver Lake tree lighting has been a local tradition for over 25 years, featuring live music, hot cocoa and an appearance by Santa himself. “With real snow, evergreen forests and lakeside views, Shaver Lake naturally appeals to holiday enthusiasts,” Zillow said. <h3>8 – Windcrest, Texas</h3> Typical home value: $308,343 Residents of this San Antonio suburb take Christmas seriously. The annual Windcrest Light-Up is a decades-old tradition that turns neighborhood streets into sprawling holiday light displays. Neighbors compete for awards across various contest categories, including “Best Use of Inflatables” and “Best Use of Handmade Decor.” <h3>7 – Palmer Lake, Colo.</h3> Typical home value: $532,161 The town’s holiday season centers on its iconic star. Built in 1935 at the height of the Great Depression, the Palmer Lake Star shines nightly from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through December to “proclaim the spirit of goodwill.” Made up of 92 lightbulbs, the star was added to the state’s register of historic properties in 2013. <h3>6 – Natchitoches, La.</h3> Typical home value: $185,180 The oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory, Natchitoches is home to one of the country’s longest-running community-based holiday celebrations, according to the festival’s website. The six-week Christmas celebration begins the Saturday before Thanksgiving and runs through January 6, featuring more than 300,000 lights and over 100 set pieces each night. <h3>5 – Dahlonega, Ga.</h3> Typical home value: $376,741 Dahlonega’s historic town square is decked out for the season with festive events happening almost daily — from caroling and carriage rides to live theater. The North Georgia mountain town’s month-long celebration starts the day after Thanksgiving and runs through the first week of January. <h3>4 – Breckenridge, Colo.</h3> Typical home value: $1,170,091 Known for its world-class skiing, the Rocky Mountain town also goes all-in on holiday cheer. Each year, hundreds of Santas run down Main Street in Breckenridge’s “Race of the Santas.” For those who prefer a slower-paced experience, downtown is decked out with 250,000 holiday lights, spanning over 59,000 feet. Even dogs get in on the fun, with a holiday parade of their own. <h3>3 – Bethlehem, Pa.</h3> Typical home value: $344,320 The Lehigh Valley town’s Christmas roots date back to 1741, when it was christened Bethlehem. It’s often credited as the home of America’s first documented, decorated Christmas tree. These days, the community celebrates the season with traditions like the Christkindlmarkt, a German-inspired Christmas market, along with carriage rides and free photos with Santa. <h3>2 – McAdenville, N.C.</h3> Typical home value: $471,800 Nicknamed “Christmas Town USA,” McAdenville’s annual celebration draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. The small town in Gaston County has been lighting up Christmas displays since the 1950s, with over 100 decorated homes and half a million lights across 250 evergreen trees. The lights shine each night from Dec. 1 to Dec. 26 between 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. <h3>1 – Santa Claus, Ind.</h3> Typical home value: $294,208 Santa Claus, Ind., took the top spot, with more than half of its listings referencing the holiday spirit. The town in Spencer County is home to Santa’s Post Office and has made Christmas part of everyday life. Even in a town known for Christmas year-round, the holidays still raise the stakes. Each December, Santa Claus hosts a three-weekend celebration featuring lights, ice skating and chestnuts on an open fire. “Our community embraces the spirit of Christmas and takes great pride in welcoming visitors who come to celebrate and experience the magic unique to Santa Claus, Indiana,” Melissa Arnold, executive director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau, said in a statement. “Local businesses add extra sparkle to the holiday season and help create a cheerful atmosphere for visitors and residents alike,” Arnold said. Zillow analyzed descriptions for more than 7 million homes listed for sale between Nov. 1, 2023, and Oct. 31, 2025. </div></div>

Zillow analyzed home listings with holiday-related keywords to rank the 10 most festive towns in the U.S. Santa Claus, Ind., topped the list, known for its year-round Christmas spirit. Other towns include McAdenville, N.C., and Bethlehem, Pa., each with unique holiday traditions. The analysis covered over 7 million homes listed between Nov. 2023 and Oct. 2025.

The 10 most festive holiday towns in the US