This MS town is one of 50 best to visit during for Christmas, HGTV says. Here’s where & why
Ready for a Hallmark-esque holiday season?
Natchez, Mississippi — a town of just under 15,000 people — has all the cozy vibes of some of your favorite Christmas movies and was recently named one of the best small towns in the United States to visit during the holidays by HGTV.
So why is Christmas in Natchez so great? Here’s what HGTV said:
“Christmas in Natchez officially kicks off with the lighting of the town’s 34-foot-tall Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. It’s the beginning of a month-long festivity where the town’s famed array of historic homes dress up in garland and lights for the holidays. Though you’re unlikely to see snow on the banks of the Mississippi River this far south, Natchez brings home the holiday spirit.”
The years-long tradition of lighting the Natchez Christmas Tree brings a crowd of several hundreds, according to the Natchez Chamber of Commerce. Streets are blocked off as the whole downtown gets involved with the celebration.
The tradition began with a real tree set up at Main and Commerce Streets, but now the town uses a 34 inch “forever tree,” according to the organization.
Other holiday celebrations in Natchez
There are several more festive events to look forward to after the lighting of the Christmas tree up to Christmas day, according to the Natchez Chamber of Commerce.
Here are some other festive events to look forward to in Natchez during the holiday season, according to Visit Natchez:
- Nov. 22 to Jan. 3: Christmas Pilgrimage of Historic Homes 2025
- Nov. 29-Dec. 1: European Christmas Shopping Village
- Dec. 5: Yule Be Rockin’ Festival of Music
- Dec. 5 to 6: Natchez Merry Market
- Dec. 6: Annual Christmas Parade
- Dec. 13: Wardo’s Rouxdolph Roll 4th Annual 10K, 5K & Kids Fun Run
- Dec. 13: Wreaths Across American Ceremony at Natchez National Cemetery
What other Southern small towns made HGTV’s list?
The following Southern towns are also among the 50 best small towns to visit for Christmas, according to HGTV’s list:
- Fairhope, Alabama
- Hot Springs, Arkansas
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Bardstown, KentuckyNatchitoches, Louisiana
- Blowing Rock, North Carolina
- Guthrie, Oklahoma
- Dahlonega, Georgia
- Beaufort, South Carolina
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Fredericksburg, Texas
