2021’s Most Festive Cities

Sleigh bells are ringing, snow is glistening, and Mariah Carey is serenading shoppers at every Target and Macy’s — it’s the most wonderful time of the year. 

But which of the 200 biggest U.S. cities most resemble a scene out of a Hallmark movie?

LawnStarter made a list of 2021’s Most Festive Cities and checked it twice to find out which among them will fill you with holiday cheer.

We looked for cities packed with holiday events, Euro-style Christmas markets, delicious goodies, and other fun things to do and see.

Of course, no winter wonderland is complete without snow, so we also measured the average snowfall in each city to find the most Instagram-worthy backdrops. 

Check out our ranking below, followed by some highlights and lowlights.

Table of Contents

1. City Rankings
2. Highlights and Lowlights
3. Methodology

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

OVERALL RANK	City	Overall Score	Frolicking Rank	Merrymaking Rank	Entertaining Rank	Eating Rank	Shopping Rank
1	New York, NY	85.98	24	1	1	1	1
2	Chicago, IL	42.9	13	4	26	2	9
3	Boston, MA	38.35	7	6	68	9	5
4	Philadelphia, PA	36.76	30	2	63	4	41
5	San Francisco, CA	35.84	60	3	41	6	10
6	Los Angeles, CA	35.81	80	13	5	3	30
7	Jersey City, NJ	35.79	19	8	11	48	54
8	Newark, NJ	33.93	22	7	13	109	124
9	Denver, CO	30.74	23	39	29	17	4
10	Washington, DC	29.66	27	5	54	14	64
11	Anaheim, CA	28.01	95	24	7	33	69
12	Irvine, CA	27.74	142	43	2	51	95
13	Las Vegas, NV	27.49	141	27	64	7	2
14	Santa Ana, CA	26.88	82	54	3	47	97
15	Garden Grove, CA	26.56	88	59	8	22	56
16	Orange, CA	26.25	111	30	4	80	119
17	Torrance, CA	25.6	81	57	15	75	18
18	Seattle, WA	23.99	52	32	34	8	19
19	Minneapolis, MN	23.89	9	72	84	49	8
20	Portland, OR	23.88	62	47	77	11	6
21	Glendale, CA	23.72	74	44	10	84	107
22	Baltimore, MD	23.67	44	12	92	12	36
23	Long Beach, CA	23.64	73	28	17	34	75
24	Huntington Beach, CA	23.2	95	42	14	132	65
25	Fullerton, CA	23.12	103	62	9	122	90
26	Houston, TX	22.41	118	36	19	15	34
27	Paterson, NJ	22.4	25	9	89	40	145
28	Honolulu, HI	22.39	85	76	103	5	3
29	Pasadena, CA	22.19	77	52	12	68	132
30	Milwaukee, WI	22.12	11	23	111	39	32
31	Yonkers, NY	22.01	28	11	79	99	136
32	Fort Lauderdale, FL	21.86	93	17	31	78	57
33	Arlington, VA	21.69	46	15	74	82	52
34	Miami, FL	21.67	67	14	50	13	92
35	Pasadena, TX	21.4	136	136	6	107	115
36	Nashville, TN	21.07	42	34	104	29	11
37	Buffalo, NY	20.99	2	35	160	45	113
38	Bridgeport, CT	20.95	29	10	88	159	171
39	Salt Lake City, UT	20.45	8	156	55	36	22
40	Dallas, TX	20.1	110	63	20	19	49
41	Providence, RI	19.52	12	38	153	43	23
42	San Diego, CA	19.35	111	22	81	10	37
43	Hollywood, FL	19.19	101	16	48	66	120
44	Austin, TX	18.57	146	26	46	30	51
45	Rochester, NY	18.56	3	67	189	32	110
46	Arlington, TX	18.5	140	69	24	106	44
47	Anchorage, AK	18.41	10	66	195	113	16
48	Orlando, FL	18.3	153	48	39	23	43
49	Corona, CA	18.28	164	64	16	155	175
50	Syracuse, NY	18.25	1	178	159	65	102
51	Atlanta, GA	18.24	106	29	65	21	45
52	Cleveland, OH	18.12	6	79	107	54	50
53	St. Paul, MN	17.71	14	50	113	80	55
54	New Orleans, LA	17.51	91	37	129	16	13
55	Hialeah, FL	17.5	77	21	73	154	70
56	Alexandria, VA	17.42	53	19	94	121	81
57	Worcester, MA	17.39	5	33	144	98	112
58	Fort Worth, TX	17.33	155	58	21	73	88
58	Ontario, CA	17.33	125	25	33	63	134
60	Cincinnati, OH	16.84	50	55	118	26	33
61	Pittsburgh, PA	16.81	16	86	133	18	47
62	Pembroke Pines, FL	16.64	183	18	49	123	130
63	Grand Rapids, MI	16.59	4	125	93	137	159
64	Columbus, OH	16.29	49	71	120	25	28
65	Oakland, CA	16.26	70	31	70	38	98
66	Louisville, KY	16.17	34	122	105	42	24
67	Naperville, IL	16.16	40	56	51	129	169
68	Omaha, NE	16.09	15	164	150	83	15
69	Aurora, CO	15.97	33	163	38	55	89
70	Santa Clarita, CA	15.84	173	49	25	66	138
71	Charlotte, NC	15.75	166	111	83	50	12
72	Raleigh, NC	15.73	122	75	100	79	14
73	Plano, TX	15.66	132	100	22	76	101
74	Sacramento, CA	15.56	128	51	56	28	71
75	San Jose, CA	15.35	116	46	57	20	105
76	Lexington, KY	15.32	31	98	91	117	67
77	Frisco, TX	15.23	189	99	18	157	139
78	Tempe, AZ	15.07	103	134	23	92	83
79	Aurora, IL	14.79	36	61	95	127	121
80	Albuquerque, NM	14.66	87	166	127	36	7
81	Scottsdale, AZ	14.52	187	148	32	59	46
82	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	14.38	157	80	28	120	135
83	Lakewood, CO	14.34	35	92	60	173	174
84	Colorado Springs, CO	14.32	57	74	80	62	96
85	Akron, OH	14.15	21	83	161	108	63
86	Tampa, FL	14.07	116	41	155	52	26
87	Phoenix, AZ	13.93	153	93	40	41	104
88	Detroit, MI	13.71	20	95	169	148	62
89	Pomona, CA	13.68	107	70	37	115	165
90	San Antonio, TX	13.54	168	82	72	24	60
91	Miramar, FL	13.51	192	20	86	188	128
92	Reno, NV	13.46	61	73	136	142	42
93	Fort Collins, CO	13.44	37	102	132	111	53
94	Fremont, CA	13.3	120	94	42	188	116
95	Bellevue, WA	13.1	84	151	43	111	85
96	Tacoma, WA	12.99	66	167	98	68	27
97	Riverside, CA	12.97	151	40	58	72	183
98	Joliet, IL	12.89	39	85	114	87	122
99	Springfield, MA	12.88	17	45	179	168	184
100	Mesa, AZ	12.84	74	115	61	102	99
101	Madison, WI	12.73	26	107	125	145	118
102	Lincoln, NE	12.7	54	144	119	169	40
103	Dayton, OH	12.54	47	128	173	135	38
104	Boise, ID	12.47	59	153	148	103	20
105	Hayward, CA	12.43	95	117	45	87	129
106	Sioux Falls, SD	12.32	45	131	182	169	31
107	Fontana, CA	12.29	170	81	35	197	180
107	Sunnyvale, CA	12.29	92	78	71	140	127
109	Garland, TX	12.22	126	120	30	176	189
110	McKinney, TX	12.2	182	109	27	167	181
111	Chula Vista, CA	11.96	142	106	52	27	144
112	Kansas City, MO	11.84	64	114	112	64	59
113	Rockford, IL	11.65	38	60	200	197	117
114	Savannah, GA	11.59	136	152	116	68	21
115	San Bernardino, CA	11.58	72	77	82	118	173
116	Salem, OR	11.53	89	162	109	99	25
117	Oklahoma City, OK	11.37	100	135	102	56	48
118	Richmond, VA	11.36	63	103	110	77	99
119	Spokane, WA	11.34	18	161	117	44	161
120	Irving, TX	11.19	115	116	47	176	164
121	Virginia Beach, VA	11.07	113	170	150	46	17
122	Gilbert, AZ	10.77	192	138	36	126	146
123	Oceanside, CA	10.72	170	65	76	164	162
124	Thornton, CO	10.58	43	171	75	174	190
125	Escondido, CA	10.5	134	97	67	161	167
126	Overland Park, KS	10.47	64	173	97	90	72
126	Chandler, AZ	10.47	173	121	53	135	150
128	Lancaster, CA	10.42	190	84	66	94	165
129	Mesquite, TX	10.4	155	101	69	180	151
130	Stockton, CA	10.32	142	53	115	151	125
131	Grand Prairie, TX	10.19	167	124	44	188	197
132	Palmdale, CA	10.12	198	89	59	158	172
133	Oxnard, CA	10.09	95	104	90	71	158
134	Indianapolis, IN	9.75	56	141	130	60	111
135	Greensboro, NC	9.62	119	96	138	90	77
136	Memphis, TN	9.57	123	129	197	73	35
137	Des Moines, IA	9.38	41	184	184	176	58
137	St. Louis, MO	9.38	48	108	179	35	156
139	Santa Rosa, CA	9.34	134	88	106	123	126
140	Glendale, AZ	9.32	157	140	62	134	152
141	Baton Rouge, LA	9.16	152	154	157	114	39
142	Tulsa, OK	8.91	55	183	140	58	78
143	Tucson, AZ	8.78	133	127	134	61	74
144	Moreno Valley, CA	8.63	183	68	101	160	188
145	Norfolk, VA	8.57	86	133	139	179	93
146	Fort Wayne, IN	8.52	51	112	182	149	154
147	Elk Grove, CA	8.21	183	118	78	174	187
148	Toledo, OH	8.16	32	137	189	147	198
149	Columbus, GA	8.06	194	90	193	164	61
150	Winston-Salem, NC	7.93	150	147	135	128	67
151	El Paso, TX	7.92	102	146	166	31	79
152	Bakersfield, CA	7.75	177	87	128	87	160
153	Spring Valley, NV	7.74	127	126	108	171	133
154	Huntsville, AL	7.73	180	110	152	151	82
155	Metairie, LA	7.62	99	169	99	110	140
156	Eugene, OR	7.52	90	158	175	101	73
157	Modesto, CA	7.47	128	91	143	140	163
158	St. Petersburg, FL	7.37	142	105	149	92	137
158	Murfreesboro, TN	7.37	124	142	144	196	84
160	Henderson, NV	7.24	186	168	96	150	123
161	Salinas, CA	6.96	121	119	142	116	149
162	Knoxville, TN	6.87	108	145	172	85	114
163	Jackson, MS	6.82	188	192	197	161	29
164	North Las Vegas, NV	6.74	172	175	85	125	192
165	Chesapeake, VA	6.73	159	130	163	200	108
166	Fayetteville, NC	6.58	169	113	141	144	148
167	Jacksonville, FL	6.41	197	149	168	57	80
168	Paradise, NV	6.4	114	176	188	53	91
169	Durham, NC	6.37	131	132	123	186	177
170	Chattanooga, TN	6.28	165	139	177	97	109
171	Peoria, AZ	6.19	190	177	87	183	186
172	Cary, NC	6.09	148	150	121	142	170
173	Springfield, MO	6.06	71	165	184	129	141
174	Tallahassee, FL	5.97	181	160	166	105	94
175	Birmingham, AL	5.83	162	179	170	95	87
175	Wichita, KS	5.83	79	174	157	95	178
177	McAllen, TX	5.77	138	159	146	138	131
178	Clarksville, TN	5.76	160	182	176	188	66
179	Mobile, AL	5.74	179	172	178	151	76
180	Killeen, TX	5.72	175	157	165	183	103
181	Little Rock, AR	5.71	139	191	162	103	86
182	Lubbock, TX	5.58	58	197	181	132	142
183	Kansas City, KS	5.35	68	190	124	197	199
184	Midland, TX	5.28	105	185	122	138	176
185	Olathe, KS	5.08	76	193	137	194	184
186	Fresno, CA	4.96	128	194	131	119	146
186	Newport News, VA	4.96	109	143	173	172	193
188	Vancouver, WA	4.72	94	180	154	156	182
189	Macon, GA	4.42	178	123	189	194	194
190	Augusta, GA	4.38	83	195	184	180	157
191	Montgomery, AL	3.97	195	188	184	188	106
192	Amarillo, TX	3.77	69	198	197	180	191
193	Sunrise Manor, NV	3.76	163	187	147	86	195
194	Cape Coral, FL	3.74	199	181	125	145	179
195	Shreveport, LA	3.62	176	186	156	186	168
196	Brownsville, TX	3.41	161	199	171	131	143
197	Corpus Christi, TX	3.18	149	196	189	164	155
198	Laredo, TX	2.79	147	200	195	163	153
199	Port St. Lucie, FL	2.41	200	155	194	185	196
200	Enterprise, NV	2.24	196	189	164	193	200

Highlights and Lowlights

New York, I Love You

There’s a reason the Big Apple is the central character in countless holiday-themed movies: Nobody does the holidays like New York, our No. 1 most festive city. In fact, New York earned more than double the points of our silver medalist, Chicago, and swept all but one category.

With so many timeless traditions like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Times Square Ball Drop, kids from 1 to 92 indeed will find it hard to sleep in The City That Never Sleeps. So if you want to witness a miracle on 34th Street this year, add New York to your holiday bucket list.

Skate on ice in Central Park, browse the holiday window displays of 5th Avenue department stores, or watch the tree lighting ceremony at the Rockefeller Center. When you’re ready to sit down, let the Radio City Rockettes dazzle you with their high-kicking Christmas Spectacular. 

The Bigger, the Merrier

If frolicking, merrymaking, entertaining, eating, and shopping are all equally a top priority this holiday season, you can’t go wrong with big cities.

Cities like Chicago (No. 2), Boston (No. 3), Denver (No. 9), and Washington, D.C. (No. 10) have it all: parties, goodies, and shops galore — and, of course, snow. These cities are frequent tourist destinations, which means there’s never a shortage of holiday activities. 

That’s not to say that small towns aren’t big on holiday fests — many of them just aren’t big enough to make our survey. Santa Claus, Indiana, for instance, is a year-round wonderland, while Grapevine is the Christmas Capital of Texas. This year, Seneca Falls, New York, celebrated 75 years as the inspiration for “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Baby, It’s Warm Outside

Nothing says “winter wonderland” like Jack Frost nipping at your nose, but California cities like Los Angeles (No. 6 overall) and its suburbs can warm up your holiday spirit, too.

You won’t get much, if any, snow in most Golden State cities in our ranking, but if there’s one thing Californians know how to do well, it’s how to throw a smashing holiday party. California cities — the Los Angeles metro area in particular — occupy nearly every top 10 spot in the Entertaining category.

But if you absolutely need low temperatures to get in a festive mood and can’t leave the state, head to nippy San Francisco (No. 5 overall). If you missed the downsized return of Santacon SF, check out the Drive-Thru Great Dickens Christmas Fair.

The Grinch Stole Christmas — from Small Texas Cities

Not everything is bigger in the Lone Star State, it turns out. 

Holidays appear to be less of a production in smaller Texas cities, most of which landed in the lower half of our ranking. Laredo, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, and Amarillo slipped to the bottom 10 and took the last spots in the Merrymaking category. 

But bigger Texas cities know how to party, with Houston faring best at No. 26 overall. Fort Worth’s Parade of Lights, San Antonio’s Chanukah on the River, Austin’s Trail of Lights, and KwanzaaFest in Dallas are just some of the larger events in the state that stand to make your holiday wishes come true.

Christmas Markets Come to America

Christmas markets are more of a tradition across the pond, but they’re catching on here at home. In other words, you might be able to get a taste of this European experience in your own backyard — if you live close enough to one.

Modeled after the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, Chicago’s annual Christkindlmarket, for example, starts in mid-November and ends Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, the newer Savannah Christmas Market in Georgia offers a unique Southern twist on the Salzburg Christmas Market in Austria and lasts into the new year. 

You can find others in smaller towns like Kerstmrkt in Holland, Michigan, and Julefest in Solvang, California. Grab an authentic bratwurst, savor some mulled wine, and be transported to another continent. 

Happy holidays!

Methodology

We ranked the 200 biggest U.S. cities from most (No. 1) to least festive (No. 200) based on their overall scores (out of 100 possible points), averaged across all the weighted metrics listed below. 

Sources: Christmas Market Guides, Eventbrite, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Walk Score, and Yelp

Main photo credit: Shutterstock