Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's Eve in our Hometowns - 2012
By Judy Hedding, About.com Guide
- Hot New Year's Eve Parties - Cities A - M
- Hot New Year's Eve Parties - Cities N - Z
- Holiday Skiing
- Best Warm Weather Holidays
- Free Holiday Events in the U.S. and Canada
- Midwest
- Northeast
- Southeast
- Southwest
- West
- Canada
- Best Places For Holiday Lights: Cities A-L
- Best Places for Holiday Lights: Cities M-Z
Hot New Year's Eve Parties - Cities A - M

How will you welcome 2013? Hopefully, you'll be somewhere where the nights are clear, the crowd is happy, the fireworks are spectacular and you've got someone next to you to kiss at the stroke of midnight.
Hot New Year's Eve Parties - Cities N - Z

People in cities staring with the letters of the alphabet after "M" aren't much different than the ones up above! You can be sure that there will be parties, champagne and kissing at midnight.
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY (Queens)
- Oakland, CA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Reno, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Washington, D.C.
Holiday Skiing

Grab those skis, snowboards and sleds. When it's holiday time in the U.S. it is also time for snow in many regions of North America. Get the family, a date, or some buddies together and head for the slopes.
- Albuquerque: Sandia Peak, Red River...
- Cleveland: Northeast Ohio Slopes
- Kansas City: Snow Creek
- Long Island, NY: Nassau County Cross Country Trails
- Montreal: Cross Country Trails
- Pittsburgh: Seven Springs, Hidden Valley...
- Portland, OR: Mount Hood & More
- Phoenix: Just a Few Hours to Snow Bowl
- Reno/Tahoe: Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows...
- Salt Lake City: Alta, Snowbird...
- Seattle: Mt. Baker, Stevens Pass...
- Vancouver: Whistler, Cypress Mountain...
- Washington, D.C.: Ski Liberty, Whitetail Mountain...
Best Warm Weather Holidays

When there's not a sign of snow or sleet or freezing temperatures, you might think it's difficult to get into the mood for Christmas. In these cities, Santa might be wearing shorts, a tee shirt, flip flops and shades but there's still plenty of holiday spirit.
- Dallas: Six Flags
- Huntsville: A Day Trip to the Gulf Coast
- Los Angeles: Christmas Surf Spots
- Miami's Best Beaches
- Nashville: An Opryland Christmas
- New Orleans:
- Phoenix: Las Noches de las Luminarias
- New Orleans: 12th Night in New Orleans
Free Holiday Events in the U.S. and Canada

On a tight budget this year? That doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the spirit of the season. There are thousands of amazing free holiday events and activities across the nation. Choirs, parades, performances, festivals -- you can celebrate the holidays without spending a cent.
- Albuquerque: Holiday Bazaar, Noche de Luces...
- Boston: Enchanted Village
- Cleveland: Larchmere, Winterfest...
- Dallas: Holiday Parade
- Huntsville: Festival of Trees, Live Nativity Scenes...
- Memphis: Christmas Parades Galore
- Milwaukee: Polar Bear Plunge, Candy Cane Lane...
- Minneapolis: Santaland, Winterskate...
- Nashville: Jingle Bell 5K Run, Wreath Making...
- New Orleans: Concerts, Bonfires, Parades...
- Orlando: Parades, Tree Lighting...
- Phoenix: Temple Gardens Christmas Lights and Concert Series
- Pittsburgh: Ice Skating, Pittsburgh Crèche...
- Reno/Tahoe: Choral Concerts, Gingerbread House Contests...
- Salt Lake City: Temple Square, Gateway, Grand America...
- San Francisco: Holiday Parades, Lantern Festival...
- Seattle: Westlake Center's Tree Lighting, Magic in the Market...
- Vancouver, BC: Candy Town, Ice Skating...
- Washington, D.C.: Bethesda's Winter Wonderland, Waterskiing Santa...
- New Orleans: Concerts, Bonfires, Parades...
Midwest

America's heartland celebrates the holidays in a host of traditional ways, with tree lighting ceremonies, Santa meet-and-greets, and Christmas markets galore.
Northeast

The oldest cities in America celebrate the holidays in fine form - from the spectacular decorations to holiday parties and events. Find information on where to shop for holiday bargains, and where to go for the best holiday celebrations.
Southeast

Look to the South for the best of America's Christmas music showcases in Tennessee cities like Nashville (aka Music City, USA) and Memphis. If you're looking for a good warm-weather climates for your holiday season, try the beaches of Miami.
Southwest

While you can participate in the typical American holiday events in these cities, you might also experience the influence of both Native American and Latino cultures that are prevalent in the Southwest.
West

From the Rockies to the Pacific, the Western states ring in the holiday season with everything from snowcapped peaks in Denver and Salt Lake City, to festive beach displays in Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Canada
Our favorite three major cities in Canada are just a stone's throw from the U.S. border. Whether you are there as a tourist, visiting family or if you are a full-time resident, you can enjoy holiday cheer Canadian-style!
Best Places For Holiday Lights: Cities A-L

Sparkling lights -- on homes, on bridges, in shopping malls, in gardens, at zoos -- during the holidays cities and towns are filled with bright and festive light displays.
- Albuquerque: River of Lights, Luminarias...
- Atlanta: Callaway Gardens, Lake Lanier...
- Baltimore: Symphony of Lights, Power Plant Holiday...
- Cleveland: Medina County Fair, Nela Park...
- Dallas: Interlochen, Frisco Square
- Denver: Hanukkah
- Long Island, NY: Hampton Bays, Montauk...
- Louisville: Galt House
Best Places for Holiday Lights: Cities M-Z

Hey, the cities that begin with the letters A - L don't have a monopoly on fantastic holiday light displays!
- Manhattan, NY: Rockefeller Center, Grand Central...
- Memphis: Graceland, Starry Nights...
- Nashville: Opryland Hotel, McGregor Park...
- New Orleans: Celebration in the Oaks, Rivertown...
- Oklahoma City: Bricktown, Chickasha...
- Orlando: Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights
- Phoenix: ZooLights, Mesa Temple...
- Salt Lake City: Temple Square, Zoolights...
- San Francisco: Christmas Trees and Holiday Lights
- Seattle: Candy Cane Lane, Christmas Ship Festival...
- St. Louis: Wild Lights, Way of Lights...
- Vancouver, BC: Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge...
- Washington, D.C.: Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland, Seneca Creek State Park...
