We've Spotted the Most Magical Christmas Town – and You Must Plan a Visit

There are plenty of places around the globe that swear they celebrate Christmas the best (see Grapevine, Texas, as a perfect example). While these other places certainly get into the spirit, there’s no place like McAdenville, North Carolina, during the holiday season.

During the year, the town of McAdenville is best described as a teeny, but wonderful, blip on the radar. It’s home to fewer than 700 full-time residents and its streets are about as charming as charming can get. But, during the holidays, the town turns into a beacon for those looking to feel Christmas from the inside out.

You see, the town, dubbed "Christmas Town USA," puts on a light show like no other that draws in an estimated 600,000 visitors each and every year.

According to TripSavvy, the lights have been a tradition in the community for more than 50 years. Residents of the town, located about 15 miles outside of Charlotte, come together to string up an estimated 500,000 lights around the town, set up a nativity scene, as well as a Santa display with all of his reindeer. Then, they each go home to decorate their own homes to look like something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Perhaps the best part of this is the fact that the townspeople still put on the show out of the pure goodness of their hearts. They don’t make any money from the display, and entrance is free. All you need to do is drive down and walk through to check out the lights for yourself.

As TripSavvy noted, this year’s lights will be on display from November 30, through the night after Christmas. The town welcomes guests to come to see the lights Monday to Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday: 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. And really, the town isn’t hard to find. Just follow the bright light on the horizon.