Explore the 7 Best Christmas Towns in Missouri

In the heartland of the United States lies a region where the holiday season takes on a magical charm of its own. This enchanting place is none other than our home state of Missouri, where the spirit of Christmas continues to produce wonder and joy year after year. We see communities around the state hoping to make the list of the best Christmas towns in Missouri.

What is the Best Christmas Town in Missouri to Visit? From our experience, Branson tops the list if you’re looking for a Christmas celebration to dazzle your whole family. Every generation will find enough of the lights, festive wonderment, and Dickens charm to satisfy their cravings. That said, Missouri has so many more amazing Christmas towns to visit.

Join us on a whimsical journey as we explore our top 7 Christmas towns in Missouri, each a portal to a winter wonderland of dreams come true…if you know where to look. Let’s take a look at which ones we’re featuring this year.

Best Christmas Towns in Missouri (2023 edition)

Branson

Branson, with its rolling hills and dazzling lights, transforms into a symphony of holiday enchantment every Christmas. The town comes alive with shimmering displays, live music shows, and festive activities, including the ‘Trail of Lights’ and the ‘Most Wonderful Time of Year’ parades at Branson Landing.

Here’s a handy holiday event guide to help you plan your Branson Christmas getaway.

Witness the radiant glow of Silver Dollar City, a theme park where the spirit of Christmas resides all year long, but especially when the lights come on in November. Where everything is appropriate for all ages, experience thrilling rides and millions of twinkling lights throughout the park. You won’t soon forget your Christmas trip to Branson.

USA Today readers have declared the Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City the “Best Theme Park Holiday Event” for 5 straight years. With over 6.5 million lights, it’s hard to describe just how impressive this event is until you see it in person.

Hermann

Hermann, a charming German-inspired village just south of the Missouri River, enchants visitors with its warm and inviting atmosphere. Picture cobblestone streets lined with rustic boutiques and vineyards. With an Amtrak train station sitting in the heart of this adorable village, folks from Kansas City and St. Louis love trekking in for the weekends.

If you want to get the most out of this city during the holidays, you should plan to experience the Weinachtsfest, a Christmas market that rivals those in Europe. Sip on local wine and revel in the genuine gemütlichkeit of Hermann.

St. Charles

Step back in time in St. Charles, where history and Christmas coexist harmoniously. Main Street, adorned with gas lamps and colonial-era buildings, transforms into a Dickensian winter wonderland during the holiday season.

The Christmas Traditions festival boasts lively characters from the pages of Charles Dickens and spreads merriment throughout the town. Be sure to check their website to see what is happening each weekend throughout the season.

Fulton

Fulton’s ‘Kingdom of Callaway Lights‘ is a spectacle that must be seen to be believed. Each year, this magical kingdom illuminates with millions of twinkling lights. The crowning jewel is the ‘National Churchill Museum,’ which dazzles as ‘Churchill’s United Kingdom.’

Fulton is gearing up for a festive holiday weekend in early December, jam-packed with shopping, music, lights, food, drinks, and events for the whole family. They have all the makings of a hometown holiday celebration you’ll want to bring your kids to year after year. Circle your calendar, pack your bags, and head over to Callaway County!

Excelsior Springs

Excelsior Springs is a lovely Victorian gem during the holidays. The town’s architecture is reminiscent of a bygone era, making it the perfect setting for a nostalgic Christmas experience. Walk through the Christmas tree-decked Hall of Waters. Take in the annual parade and Lane of Lights.

Getting around on the Excelsior Springs Chamber Trolley makes it easy to see everything without much effort. If you’re looking for a great evening to go back in time and experience the Christmas you remember growing up, we highly recommend a trip to the festive celebration in Excelsior Springs.

Kansas City

Kansas City takes Christmas to a whole new level. In 1925, the famous Country Club Plaza’s holiday Christmas light tradition started with a single strand of 16 colored bulb lights. Today, the “Plaza” has 80 miles of colored lights and is a must-see, iconic holiday tradition for the entire Midwest. Thousands gather after Thanksgiving each year for a festive celebration and count down the lighting of the Plaza’s display.

The Crown Center’s holiday festivities and Union Station’s Holiday Reflections grand hall and model train exhibit make Kansas City a vibrant urban wonderland. Be sure to check reservation times to ensure you get into this popular event.

Noel

Since the 1930s, the charming town of Noel, known as “Christmas City,” has drawn global attention, a remarkable achievement for a small community of fewer than two thousand residents. Nestled by the Elk River, Noel is pronounced like “mole,” though many outsiders prefer “No-el,” evoking the spirit of Christmas.

Noel’s festive fame began when the postmaster started a tradition of sending letters with the Noel postmark. This practice swiftly gained international popularity. Every holiday season, thousands of letters and Christmas cards flood the Noel Post Office, graced with one of three decorative stamps: a red wreath, a green Christmas tree, and the word “Noel.” These cards, sent from all corners of the world, have arrived from places as distant as France, Germany, China, and Taiwan.

Final Thoughts

Missouri, with this list of seven sparkling Christmas towns, offers a world of enchantment during the holiday season. Whether you seek the warmth of a cup of hot wassail with Tiny Tim or the dazzling lights of an urban wonderland, these towns in the heartland promise a magical and unforgettable Christmas experience.

So, gather your little ones and embark on a journey to these splendid Christmas towns in Missouri, where dreams come true and magic is just around the corner.

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