Holiday Happenings in the U.S.

You can tell the holidays are right around the corner. As soon as Halloween was over stores began transforming into winter wonderlands, holiday decor abound. I’ve even already been to a Holiday party, can you imagine! So in an effort to help you figure out the many ways you can treat yourself to some holiday magic, we’ve laid out some of the United States’ holiday happenings.

Gatlinburg, TN
Gatlinburg Winter Magic started November 5, 2008 and runs through February 28, 2009. Visitors of all ages marvel at the traditional mountain scenes, colorful winter displays, playful teddy bears and other familiar, much-beloved displays bothdowntown and along Hwy. 321 which have been making Gatlinburg a must-see destination for both the young and young at heart for years. Gatlinburg Winter Magic has been named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society.

From the River Road popular Riverwalk area, complete with romantic, arched 40-foot swans, to the landmark downtown triangle, transformed into a cluster of tall evergreens swirled in color, to the display areas after the holidays, withwild animal scenes, winter forests and swirling trees accenting the season, Gatlinburg will amaze you.

Winter Magic Tunes & Tales begins during the holiday season, where visitors can meet characters and storytellers and enjoy caroling and entertainment along the Parkway on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through December 20.

On Friday nights on the Parkway, a Yule Log fireside sing-along will take place for the whole family to get together and sing their favorite holiday season songs.

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Myrtle Beach, SC
The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting for Myrtle Beach will be Friday, December 5th at 6:00 pm in McLean Park, North Myrtle Beach.

The Park will be transformed into a brilliant holiday scene with luminaries, decorations and the spirit of Christmas. The ceremony includes entertainment by local dance groups. Also enjoy holiday songs from Mary Kline and MC Susan Trexler. Mayor Marilyn Hatley will welcome attendees and begin the countdown to light the glorious 36-foot Christmas Tree. The tree will be decorated with over 2,780 lights.

Once the tree has been lit, the children are invited to visit with Santa and receive a free bag of candy while the entertainment continues! The North Strand Optimist Club will serve complimentary hot chocolate and refreshments. Bring the entire family for a fun Christmas celebration in North Myrtle Beach.

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Park City, UT
From December 23rd – December 25th, Santa will shred the slopes at The Canyons Resort area, near Westgate Park City Resort & Spa, delivering candy and treats to all the good boys and girls around. Look for Santa at the Flight of The Canyons gondola, as well as throughout the entire resort, from 10:00am – 2:00pm.

On December 24th, look for Santa Claus skiing around the Park City Resort during the day handing out treats. Just after sunset, enjoy holiday music and treats, then watch as Santa leads the Resort’s Ski and Snowboard School gracefully down PayDay run with torch lights during the traditional torch light parade. This must see event is free to the public.

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Charleston, SC
The Holiday Festival Of Lights is more than two million enchanting lights adorning James Island County Park from November 14, 2008 – January 4, 2009. Come experience the three-mile driving tour and see a wide array of dazzling designs for the holidays. Create your own light display at the Lakeside Lights activity center or take a leisurely stroll through the Enchanted Forest. The Festival of Lights was ranked on the 2006 AmericasBest.com Top 10 list.

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Orlando, FL
Florida’s theme parks are magical throughout the year. By adding an overlay of holiday cheer, the parks supersize the magic and fun between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. The week between Christmas and New Year’s is among the busiest–if not THE busiest–of the whole year at Florida’s theme parks.

Walt Disney World – Special holiday attractions and events, such as the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights  and the Candlelight Processional abound throughout the parks and across the resort, but Disney’s Christmas magic may best be appreciated in the unexpected discovery of some of its less-trumpeted features. For example, a fragrant and festive gingerbread house inside the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort bombards the senses. At 16 feet high, and comprised of thousands of gingerbread pieces, guests can actually walk inside the Victorian house. The curiosity doubles as a mini bakery, and patrons can purchase edible gingerbread cookies and other goodies. There are other Christmas creations throughout the World, including a life-size carousel made from chocolate and gingerbread in the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

Universal Studios Resort - It’s Universal’s version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The theme park rendition includes some of Macy’s signature giant balloons, including Uncle Sam and a toy soldier, plus floats, clowns, and guest marching bands. Santa Claus and his reindeer wrap up the parade with a big ho-ho-ho (and not just any Santa, but the actual, authentic, Macy’s-certified one, straight from the Big Apple).

SeaWorld – SeaWorld adds some holiday cheer to its marine park in the form of festive decorations and live holiday music from classical musicians and carolers. The Wild Arctic motion simulator ride gets a holiday makeover into The Polar Express Experience. Scenes from the film are repurposed for the ridefilm attraction. SeaWorld Orlando also features special nightly presentations of the Shamu Christmas Miracles stadium show, a Christmastide Holiday Fountain Show, and a nightly snow shower over the park’s waterfornt shopping area. Discount tickets for SeaWorld are sold for $30 each with reservations made at any of the Orlando/Kissimmee Westgate Resorts. There is no tour or obligation involved.

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