NC Christmas Towns: Winston-Salem twinkles with Christmas spirit

Winston-Salem has been ranked in the top ten of the top 100 cities in America for a winter staycation. Not only is Winston-Salem an excellent location for a cozy staycation this winter, it’s bursting with holiday spirit — the city is the latest installment in the “NC Christmas Towns” series. 

Ranked No. 8 out of 100 cities, Winston-Salem scored 67.97 out of 100. The average price for a hotel room in 2024 was $110.42 per night out of a sample of 145 lodging options. Between 2020 and 2023, the city recorded an average of 0.03mm daily snowfall and 329 winter activities.

“Winter staycations are becoming increasingly popular in America,” said Yulia Saf, Founder of Miss Tourist. “As the colder months approach, people are looking for cozy, convenient getaways without venturing too far from home. The top ten destinations cover a large part of the country and are easily accessible to most of the population.”

The data reported in this study was compiled by Tripadvisor, Open-Meteo, and Eventbrite and analyzed by Miss Tourist. 

Christmas at Old Salem is a must-do during the holiday season. During “Salem Saturdays at Christmas,” visitors can tour historic buildings, interact with period interpreters, chat with Saint Nick, and experience Moravian traditions for themselves from 10 am to 4 pm every Saturday, leading up to Christmas. You can also experience the living history of the original Moravian settlement during an evening tour or a guided lantern tour. Learn more about Christmas at Old Salem here.

During the holiday season, Tanglewood Park transforms into a winter wonderland during Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights, which boasts over a million lights. This exhibit opened on November 15 and runs through Jan 1 every evening from 6-11 pm.  Attendees can view spectacular light displays while listening to holiday tunes on the interactive exhibits, which include original compositions from UNC School of Arts students. Visitors drive through more than 80 light displays on the countryside route. 

“All of your favorite displays, plus some brand-new ones, have been rearranged to make sure you still experience the full magic that Tanglewood Park’s Festival of Lights is famous for,” according to the website. Learn more about the Festival of Lights here.

Christmas at Körner’s Folly is a magical holiday experience in the “strangest house in America,” according to the website. The 22 rooms are decked out in complete holiday décor inspired by the Victorian era; this year’s decorating theme is A Gilded Christmas. Self-guided tours can be made Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sundays from 12 to 4 pm. Victorian-inspired Christmas gifts can also be purchased in the gift shop. The home’s Christmas by Candlelight evening tours occur on Dec 7th and 21st. Tickets can be purchased onsite or online.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, stroll through illuminated recycled tulips at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville. This unique twist on holiday lights features illuminated trees, festive lights, and more than 10,000 “flowers.” Learn more here.

Additional Christmas festivities in Winston-Salem can be found here.

The post NC Christmas Towns: Winston-Salem twinkles with Christmas spirit first appeared on Carolina Journal.