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Best Holiday Destinations Top Cities and Locations Worldwide for Christmas Season Events European Christmas Markets
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Best Holiday Destinations Top Cities and Locations Worldwide for Christmas Season Events European Christmas Markets |
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NO
LAST CALL! 
RELATED CITY PubClub.com has compiled this list of the best places to spend the Holiday season around the world.
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Where to Spend The Holidays
In some places, chesnuts are roasting by an open fire while in others, it's a beautiful site as people are happy tonight walking in a winter wonderland. Throughout the world the Holidays are, as one of the seasonal songs most famously says, the most wonderful time of the year. It's also the most festive. There are office parties, city celebrations, old-style markets in Europe and super shopping. Just the atmosphere of being in a place that says "it's the Holidays" makes the season special. For kids from 1 to 92. PubClub.com has compiled this list of the best places to spend the Holiday season around the world. It beings with our #1 location, New York City, with other places listed in alphabetical order. Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? Let others build the snowman (and other decorations). Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling. So gitty up, gitty up, let's go! Out into that wonderland of snow. – New York City –
It begins with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and continues throughout the Holiday season. Some of the world's best shopping is in NYC and the Christmas tree and ice skating rink in Rockefeller Plaza make for the ultimate festive atmosphere. If one can't get into the spirt of the season here, then they should go have some eggnog with Ebenezer Scrooge. The lighting of the tree takes place Tuesday, Nov. 13. and it stays lit until early January from 5:30 a.m., until 11:30 p.m. The tree has been a part of Rockefeller Center since the 1930s. There's also FAO Schwartz, the decorated department store windows (Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Bloomingdale's Bergdord Goodman, Barneys and Lord & Taylor with live models in front of XOXO clothing retailer on the corner of 38th Street and Fifth Avenue) and the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. The latter runs until Dec. 30, and features snowfall and fireworks (tickets $42-$250).
Throughout the Holiday season, and well into January, swarms of shoppers, Christmas tree gawkers and window shoppers fill the city's streets. Hotels, restaurants, retail storees, arts and cultural attractions and event venues all get into the spirit with decorations, specials, events and more. New York's five boroughs all have their own individual traditions, as well. Christmas in New York is one of the great American holiday experiences. – Chicago –
A dynamic destination in the summer – as well for its annual – St. Patrick's Day parade – Chicago is full of festivities in November and December.
It begins with two events in November, the first of which is the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival procession down North Michigan Avenue. The parade, which starts at 6 p.m., is followed by a spectacular fireworks show over the Chicago River (the 2010 event was Nov. 20).
The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, which has been going on for 97 years, takes place in the heart of Chicago's downtown "Loop." Holiday music begins at 4 and the holiday season officially commences at 4:30 p.m., when the switch is flipped and the lights shine in Daley Plaza. The tree is on display in the plaza from Thanksgiving through New Years as a sign of the city’s holiday spirit. The 2010 event was Nov. 24.
And that's just the cookies platter of Chicago's holday feast. The main course is served in December.
Daley Plaza: Christkindlmarket Daley Plaza is transformed into a little piece of Germany, known as Christkindlmarket Chicago. Chicago’s iconic Picasso sculpture is surrounded by red and white crested huts and is overflowing with curios. Nutcrackers, cuckoo-clocks, beer steins, European chocolates, toys, jewelry, clothing and a wide variety of holiday ornaments are just a few of the items for sale from more than 50 vendor booths.
Thursday, November 24, through Thursday, December 24. Opens daily 11a.m.; Closing hours Sunday through Thursday 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9 p.m. (Closes at 4 p.m. on November 26th and December 24th). Amission: Free
Millennium Park: Caroling at Cloud Gate On Friday nights, a variety of choral groups take part in a holiday sing-along. Singers include the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, the Chicago Children’s Choir, the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Wooten Choral Ensemble
Thru December 17, 6 p.m. Admission: Free
Navy Pier: Winter Wonderfest Now in its ninth year, this relatiavely new holiday tradition features more than 750,000 holiday ornaments, hundreds of decorated trees, an indoor Ferris wheel, musical carousel, North Pole E-Wish Center, inflatable games and giant slides, a Winter WonderStage, carolers and more.
Friday, December 3, 2010 through Sunday, January 2, 2011
Schedule: December 5 - December 18. Sunday-Thursday: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. December 19th- January 2. Sunday-Thursday: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Admission Free, wristbands required to participate in rides and attractions ($16-19)
Do-Division Holiday Walk
The shops, boutiques, restaurants and bars of trendy West Division between Milwaukee and Leavitt rock the holiday cheer on Saturday, December 5 at this annual Holiday event. Beginning at 11 a.m., and continuing throughout the evening, merchants offer specials on merchandise and cuisine along decked-out Division Street. Sseasonal activities like a free horse-drawn carriage ride (from Ashland to Leavitt) helps get revelers into the proper spirit.
Saturday, December 4, 2010, 11 a.m. Admission: Free
Mayor Daley’s Sports Festival The annual event include interactive zones featuring trampolines, golf, climbing walls, football, chess, obstacle course, tot’s zone, bowling, table tennis, inflatable tumbling, tennis, badminton, boxing, a pitching zone, fishing ponds, footbag, giant slide, 40-Yard dash, skateboarding area, wrestling, and open courts for volleyball and basketball. The Halftime Stage features special performances and demonstrations from 12 – 4 each day.
Dec. 18-19,, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. McCormick Place in Halls A & B Admission: Free
The city is making it easy for visitors to experience Chiago for the Holidays by offering hotel deals. People can receive Chicago brochures, reserve hotel accommodations and receive trip-planning assistance by calling toll-free 877-CHICAGO (1-877-244-2246), or visiting the city's offical website (link below). – Germany –
The country that originated the festive and decorate Christmas market continues this tradition today. Called "Christkindmarkt" they date back several hundred years and turn town squares and narrow lanes of streets into holiday markets. There are vendors selling gingerbreak, roasted almonds and grilled sausages. Advent calendars are big in Germany and many town halls are transforted into giant "Advent calendars." Every city, town and village in Germany has a Chritmas market. In Berlin, there are some 60 markets, and many include cultural events such as concerts. Gendermenmarket square, historical setting for the "WeihnachtsZauber" is one of Berlin's top markets. Dusseldorf has the illuminated Konigsalle. The "little angel" market on Heinrick-Heine-Platz square is art nouveau while the old-fashioned stalls are by the historical town hall with artists.
Muich, which in 2010 celebrated the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest, has a one of the world's largest Nativity scenes (in the Krippemarket) and there is live music every day on the town hall balcony. Even the Munich Airport has a Chrstimas market. And an ice skating rink. And a beer garden... – London –
Elaborate department store window displays make London one of the world's most desirable holiday locations. The settings are spectacular, detailed scenes depicting the festive spirit of the season. It's the reason to go to London this time of the year. But, like a headliner concert that features a warm-up band, there's more to London for the Holidays than the main event. There are dozens of German-style Christmas markets, several ice skating rinks, a holiday amusement festival and, of course, touches of Charles Dickens and "A Christmas Carol." All the Christmas lights in the West End and the city of London are switched on simultaneously. Every year since 1947, Norway has given a Christmas tree to London to thank Britain for its support in World War II. It's displayed in Trafalgar Square and in 2010 is being lit on Dec. 2. London – and much of England for that matter – is one of the several European countries that feature Christmas markets. Along London's Soutbank, between the Southbank Center and London Eye, there are foods, arts, crafts, and 40 chalet stalls (Nov. 19-Dec. 24). Other markets can be found at Parklike Oxford Street – set against the backdrop of the famous Okford Street Christmas lights – and Covent Garden.
Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park features an ice skating rink (among the others are at the Natural History Museum, Hampton Court Palace and Tower of London Museum), a Christmas circus (each night, 7 p.m.), rides, a Christmas market, a Bavarian Village with food and drink and, of course, Santa. Admission is free, though there's a cost for some of the attractions. For a "Dickens" of an experience, the Dickensian Christmas Fair at Leadenhall Market has a Charles Dickens-themed market set up along the cobbled streets shops, restaurants and cafes. Throughout England, there are Christmas markets including in Bath, Oxford, and Manchester, which also had a Spot the Santa competition (Dec. 12-19) and Christmas Fun Day on the 19th that involves carolers and characters walking around the city. – Los Angeles –
Sure, Santa Claus wears shorts. It's 70 degrees for Christmas shopping. The only snow is fake. But despite its Endless Summer weather that doesn't give the feel of the season, Los Angeles is one of the best places in the USA to spend the Holidays. Why? It's because there are several boat parades in cities along the coast, Christmas parades and even a spectacular fireworks event that's as good any any you'll see on the Fourth of July. Rather than detail all the events here, simply click the link below for the schedule of the boat parades, Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, Santa Monica tree lighting and the Manhattan Beach Fireworks. – Paris – The City of Lights gets even brigher this time of year. The Champs Elysees has lights on the trees. Department stores also have elaborate window displays. Another element of Paris are the Christmas markets, which feature wooden chalets offering food, wine and gingerbread. The Notre Dame Cathedral, spectacular any time of the year, has a huge Christmas tree in the plaza. The Christmas tree at Galeries Lafayette department store has a monumental, baroque dome with 10 stories of lights and draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower – Portugal –
In this country, Christmas is just the beginning of the holiday season, for the celebration rolls well through the New Year. The largest Christmas tree in Europe is in raça do Comércio in Lisbon; it's more than 230 feet tall. The city of Funchal, the capitol of Madeira, is a great example. It all starts in mid-November as the streets are decorated with lights of all colors and sizes featuring designs allusive to the island and the season. Lights are switched on in the center of the city, lasting through December.
In December, the squares are decked with flowers and the build-up to Christmas is full of celebrations and special lighting throughout the green hills that surround the town. Poinsettias, holly and lady’s slipper orchids all help to brighten up the city’s streets. People break out in song singing Christmas carols, adding to the season's spirit. Plus,the mild climate makes being outdoor a pleasant – rather than chilly – experience. There are also cultural events, such as high-quality concerts and exhibitions about the season and the archipelago. And the activity doesn't slow down after Christmas, as on New Year's Eve, Funchal’s amphitheater is illuminated by more than 250,000 colored lights and the hillsides are dotted with white lights. With the centre of the city lit up for Christmas, begins the Festa (Festivity), the term used by the people of Madeira to call the celebration period of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The Festa is lived intensively by the people of Madeira right up to 6th January. • Nov. 26 – Opening of Christmas illuminations in city center – Zurich, Switzerland –
A very cool city that really shines in the summer with its bath houses and famous Street Parade, this Europen banking capitol puts its unique stamp on the Holiday season. The highlight is the Lichterschwimmen, when children release 800 floating candals from the Stadthauquai quay in order for them to float down the River Limmat. Best of all, perhaps, Tourism Zuirch provides food and drinks ("warm punch and something sweet" they say). This occurs on Dec. 17. The friendly people at Tourism Zurich also do guided tours of the city for a first-hand look at the traditions, stories and showplaces of Zürich’s Christmas season. Along the way, there's a "tasty culinary surprise." The tour takes two hours and costs CHF 20 (it's in German, but there are tours in any language for groups of up to 20 at a cost of CHF 260). Information and reservations: Tel.: +41 44 215 40 88. E-mail: tourguide@zuerich.com Zurich also has a market in historic Old Town, the Bahnhofstrasse in the heart of the city surrounded by Zürich’s department stores and specialty shops. Europe's biggest indoor market featuring the Stadthausquai, a 50-foot street with 5,000 ornaments in the main train station, plus a singing Christmas tree (thru Dec. 23 at Werdmuhlplatz., Monday-Friday 5.30 and 6.30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 2.30 3.30 4:30 and 5.30 p.m.). And take advantage of the ice skating rink at the inner courtyard of the Swiss National Museum (by the main train station). Admission is free and skates are for rent.
Of course, while in Switzerland, get a Swiss Travel System pass and go to any of it's incredible ski resorts. Shredders will love Saas-Fee, a haven for snowboarders. Maja Gartmann of Tourism Switzerland gives this advice: "Party like a VIP on a small budget. Enjoy glitz and glam in St. Moritz at moderate prices. Stay at the affordable boutique Hoten Misani, shop like a celebrity at the Jet Set Outlet and dance away the night with the rich and famous at the King's Club in the Badrutt's Palace Hotel." © 2009. All rights reserved. |
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