There is no mystery as to why the Christmas season is often described as the most wonderful time of the year. From singing carols and making cookies, to giving gifts and decorating the tree, holiday traditions hold a special place in everyone’s heart. Make this season even more extraordinary and enjoyable by checking out some “must-see” holiday celebrations throughout USA.
1) Christmas in Hawaii
A critical part of any Hawaii gathering or celebration is family, with Christmas being no exception. For visitors, the Hawaiian Islands are also a great family-friendly location to spend the holidays with activities for the young, old, and young-at-heart.
Ditch the snow shovel for a sand shovel and build a sandman on the beautiful golden sand beaches of Hawaii. In Hawaii, Santa has been known to surf his way to shore aboard an outrigger canoe, where he greets the keiki (children) and hands out gifts on the beach at several locations including the Outrigger Waikiki and Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki (Oahu) and the Makena Beach and Golf Resort on Maui.
Celebrate the holidays with a variety of holiday events across the Hawaiian Islands, including parades, festivals, craft fairs, concerts, and more. Christmas shopping can put a serious dent in your wallet, but with a four percent sales tax statewide, you’ll save big when stocking up on gifts in Hawaii. From national retailers like Macy’s or Prada to small local boutique shops, there’s something to satisfy every budget and style. Give your friends and family something different with unique Hawaii gifts like a handmade ukulele or a gift basket filled with Mauna Loa macadamia nuts and Waialua Estate chocolates.
2) Christmas in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s cities prepare for a Dickens of a good time with holiday festivities galore as the holidays are being celebrated with style across Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh, stores showcase their most elegant window dressings. In Philadelphia, tree lighting ceremonies ignite a season of holiday markets and caroling concerts. There’s a hustle and a bustle – a vibrant energy that swirls about as people prepare in cities across the state for Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.
Holiday Shows
A Philadelphia tradition since 1956, the Christmas Light Show at Macy’s in Center City is a must-see event. Get in the spirit with animated shop windows on Market Street and then step into the magic of the landmark Wanamaker Building. Illuminated with almost 100,000 LED lights and accompanied by music from the National Historic Landmark Wanamaker Pipe Organ, the Macy’s Grand Court Light Show inside the historic building delights both young and old with a four-story display of fanciful holiday images, open daily now through December 31st.
It’s year five for Philadelphia’s high-tech holiday show, The Comcast Holiday Spectacular, at the 58-story Comcast Center’s 2,100 square-foot video wall. Stand in awe with fellow revelers of the original holiday imagery set to the music of a 64-piece orchestra shown on the world’s largest four-millimeter LED screen in the building’s lobby. The free 15-minute show occurs at the top of the hour, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (except 5 p.m. on weekdays), now through January 1.
Shopping
Take the “Bah, Humbug” out of your holiday shopping with a trip to one of Pennsylvania’s holiday shopping destinations. You’re sure to be filled with holiday spirit and to come home with truly unique treasures for your “near and dear” – and maybe one or two for yourself – after visiting these one-of-a-kind markets that only appear at this time of year.
Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem showcases aisles of exquisite handmade works by the nation’s finest artisans, the heartwarming sounds of live Christmas music, delicious food and more. Christkindlmarkt spreads good cheer Thursdays through Sundays through December 23rd.
Outside at LOVE Park in Philadelphia, the fifth annual Christmas Village invites shoppers to browse holiday goods at this traditional German Christmas market. More than 60 decorated wooden booths display European food, sweets and drinks, as well as international seasonal gifts, traditional German Christmas ornaments, jewelry and high-quality arts and crafts. Enjoy hot mulled wine, gingerbread and bratwursts, plus thousands of twinkling lights and the city’s giant holiday tree as you stroll throughout the aisles of this shopping wonderland, which runs through December 24th.
Kids
Children are sure to have visions of sugar plums dancing through their heads after these fun and unique holiday happenings!
Santa’s Paradise Express is pulling in to the Strasburg Rail Road to celebrate the Christmas season, through December 16th. This holiday tradition provides a fun, relaxing atmosphere for families as they travel on a 45-minute ride in an authentic vintage steam train. Santa, his helper and musicians stroll from car-to-car, greeting and entertaining children of all ages.
3) Christmas in California
California kicks off winter 2013 with an abundance of attractions for kids and “kids at heart”. One of the best ways to experience the California lifestyle is to check out the state’s diverse and abundant events and festivals. From whale watching, wine and beer tasting, amazing parades and winter carnivals to state fairs and major sporting events, there’s an event or festival to let you live like a Californian.
From extravagant street parties and costume carnivals and treat-or-treating events, visitors to California can easily get into the Holiday spirit this December. With some of the most unique Holiday and Christmas experiences around for kids, families and adults, California is definitely the place to be during the most awaited season of the year.
Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Join over a million viewers as you watch beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes sail along the harbor in the 105th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, we invite you to celebrate this year as we feature the theme “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree!”
As Newport Beach’s Christmas Card to the world, the boat parade will set the harbor ablaze for five consecutive nights, beginning Wednesday, December 18 and ending Sunday, December 22, 2013. The parade starts off Bay Island at 6:30 pm and finishes at the same site at approximately 9:00 pm each evening.
Beautiful multi-million dollar yachts, kayaks, canoes and other small boats will light up the harbor as a dazzling array of holiday lights and music fill the air at the Christmas Boat Parade. Many of the boats will be richly decorated with animated Christmas scenes accompanied by music and costumed carolers. Some boat owners in the past have spent over $50,000 to decorate their vessels for the event. The Christmas floats will wind their way some 14 miles around the harbor to give viewers in restaurants, yacht clubs, on public beaches, and in private homes an incredible sight that has delighted millions of people for a century.
The Christmas Boat Parade, which has been hailed as “one of the top ten holiday happenings in the nation” by the New York Times, is truly a magical holiday tradition for all ages. The parade continues to be a premier event during the holiday season in Southern California that brings joy and happiness to all that view it.
