By: Nicholas DeRenzo | From: AFAR
There’s a shift in the air that seems to happen every November as cities around the country begin to snap into holiday mode: Festive lights are (untangled and) hung with care, skating rinks start to appear in parks and plazas, and carols and standards take over radio stations.
Each of these cities across the United States has its own unique ways of ringing in the holidays, including tamale-making in Texas and quirky spins on The Nutcracker in New York. Just in time for the holiday travel rush, these eight cities invite you to get into the local spirit.
Celebrate a feliz navidad in San Antonio
The San Antonio River Walk runs through the heart of Alamo City, and it looks especially spectacular when strung with 100,000 lights. Festivities kick off on November 28 this year with the Ford Holiday River Parade, which sees 27 floats gliding through the water, decked out with Mexican folk dancers and themed decor—including one covered in oversize Mexican pastries like conchas and bigotes.
Throughout the festive season, south-of-the-border inspirations continue with events like holiday boat caroling, in which singers perform holiday classics in both English and Spanish. And be sure to book a ticket to Las Nuevas Tamaleras (December 4–7), a holiday comedy about a trio of women throwing their first tamalada, or tamale-making gathering. Speaking of which, you’ll definitely want to pick up one of the seasonal specialties before checking out the lights displays around town. They’re delicious, and they make for great hand-warmers.
And, of course, remember the Alamo, where seasonal events include meet-and-greets with a boot-clad Cowboy Santa and holiday movies in the park. On December 13, Christmas at the Alamo offers a window into what the holiday season would have been like for early settlers on the frontier in the mid-1800s, complete with period crafts, storytelling, and demonstrations such as candy-making, blacksmithing, and leatherworking.
Where to stay
- Book now: Hotel Emma
Anchoring the Pearl District, Hotel Emma occupies a 19th-century brewhouse along the riverfront. In December, the concierge desk can set guests up with a private cruise along the river to see the area’s various light displays.