North Carolina Town Among America’s Best Light Displays
When it comes to holiday home décor, many people go all out for various reasons. It could be a cherished holiday tradition, a means of embracing the festive spirit, or simply an activity within the neighborhood. For many, the holiday season isn’t complete without at least one night dedicated to driving around and admiring the vibrant and colorful light displays.
To find the most festive displays, USA TODAY 10Best editors and experts combed the nation for the brightest and most beautiful holiday light shows. From neighborhoods and cities to parks, they identified the brightest and most captivating displays, putting the choices to a vote among readers.
North Carolina’s Christmas Town USA.
Securing the 7th position on the list is North Carolina’s “Christmas Town USA” in McAdenville. “Christmas Town USA” is a tradition dating back to the 1950s. Each December, McAdenville transforms into a festive Christmas wonderland, with the celebrations commencing through a Tree Lighting Ceremony. The ceremony involves a countdown, building up to a child “flipping the switch” that lights the display.
Visitors can walk or drive through the downtown area to witness the nightly illumination of lights from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. until December 26. They can also explore dining options at Terra Mia Ristorante, grab a craft beer or glass of wine at 115 Craft, and shop at Mona’s Boutique and Gifts, The Modest Market, and Revolver Records.
In addition, the Yule Log Parade, a tradition since 1949, is recognized for paying tribute to the genuine spirit of the community, according to the official website. This year’s event is scheduled for December 14.
If you’re curious about which city holds the number one spot, it’s Duluth, Minnesota for its Bentleyville Tour of Lights. The ranking highlighted it as being one of America’s largest free walk-through light displays, with more than 5 million lights spread across a 20-acre park on the shores of Lake Superior.
Completing the top three is the Chickasha Festival of Light in Oklahoma at the second position and Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana’s Circle of Lights.
See which other cities secured a place on the list by checking out the complete rankings here.
7 Festive Games and Activities for a Memorable Holiday Party
Name That Holiday Song
All you need is someone with a phone full of great Christmas songs, ready to play DJ. See who can guess the festive songs first after hearing just a few notes. It’s a laid-back way to enjoy some post-meal fun.
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Never Have I Ever Holiday Edition
Give this timeless game a festive twist by asking questions like, “I’ve never regifted a present,” and find out what secrets your friends and family may be hiding. You can stick to the traditional rules where those who’ve committed the act take a sip of their beverage, or you can opt for a point-based system, with the winner receiving a holiday surprise as their reward.
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Present Stacking
Here’s a game that allows you to unleash your creativity. Wrap a selection of uniquely shaped objects, and the challenge is to see who can build the tallest stack of presents. Using fragile items in this game should be avoided for obvious reasons.
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Christmas Carol Challenge
Here’s a straightforward, no-fuss game that’s perfect a cozy home get-together or an office party. Gather everyone in a circle, and the game begins with one person singing a line from a holiday song. The person to their right then must continue with the next line of the song, and so on. You can choose from timeless classics like Jingle Bells or opt for a more contemporary holiday hit like Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You. While you might know the opening lines of these songs, it becomes quite a challenge as the game progresses.
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Best/Worst Gift
Distribute four slips of paper to each participant. Every guest is tasked with jotting down two positive Christmas gifts and two negative ones: one from their real experiences and one fabricated. Collect all the slips in a container and let the group take turns guessing which presents were genuinely given and which were made up.
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Saran Wrap Ball Game
Make a big plastic wrap ball stuffed with little gifts like mini liquor bottles, gift cards, candy, and cash. One person starts by unwrapping it, while someone else takes the dice and tries to roll doubles. The twist is that you can’t stop unwrapping until your neighbor rolls those elusive doubles, so the pressure’s on to keep the ball moving. Players get to keep all the goodies they uncover during their turn, so everyone’s in for some prizes. You can make it more challenging by requiring the person unwrapping to wear oven mitts.
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Celebrity
Here’s a fun party game you can enjoy with friends or family anytime, anywhere. You split into two teams, and each player writes down 5 celebrity names on pieces of paper. You take turns being the clue-giver. In round one, the clue-giver describes the celebrity without saying their name or nickname, and the team guesses. In round two, you can only use one word as a clue. Round three is like Charades, where you act out the celebrity without speaking. Keep score to see which team guesses the most celebrities correctly. It’s a great game for any gathering.
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