It is that time of the year again! It is Christmas time, time for Kwanza, and many end-of-the-year celebrations from around the world. Since the last week of November, everyone has had their decorations out, cities are lit up, and communities have started gathering to do good deeds and fellowship. The holiday time invites you to enter a magical world where it is hard to be sad and where you encounter kindness from everyone you meet. No time of year compares to the end-of-year holiday season.
One of the most prominent aspects of the holiday celebration is the community, sharing holiday traditions, and fellowshipping. As a traveler, being surrounded by people and various communities during the holiday season helps me not be homesick. For some travelers and nomads, the holiday season is a time to experience how different neighborhoods and cities celebrate. Frequently, people look to big cities like New York City, Paris, or Munich to experience the holiday joy. Although big cities provide fun and exciting experiences, you can sometimes experience a lack of community bonding. Hence, this post encourages you to celebrate the holidays in small towns and shows you different ways to spend time there during the end-of-year holiday season.
Why Spend The Holidays In a Small Town?
Spending Christmas in a small town is a different and unique experience. Whether it is an American small town or a European small town, the atmosphere of a small city is unmatched. You are sure to be surrounded by strangers who become family, with good food, and every experience is more intimate than spending time in big cities. Because small towns are less crowded, every activity you do is more intimate, making your end-of-the-year experience more memorable. Small towns have small gems that make the holidays more magical, and if you are a solo traveler, you can find spending holidays in a small city more homelike than spending them in a big city.
I experienced my first small-town Christmas when I went to college in Kingston, Rhode Island, a smaller city than my hometown, Providence. Kingston is rural compared to Providence. There are many green spaces and farms. It is one of those places where you need a car to get around and cannot just walk, unlike in the capital city of Providence, where I am used to. However, the holiday time in Kingston was different because the communities were more accessible. The Christmas decorations made the town feel cozier than in a big city, and the holiday traditions were more attainable. When you go to the city squares, you will meet carolers, which I never saw when living in Providence.
When living in a big city, time passes too quickly. Everyone is busy or rushing to go somewhere. In a small town, you get to enjoy the slow pace. You take your time to explore and bask in the holiday magic. You pay attention to details and are intentional about everything you do. When you are a traveler, a small town gives you a place you can call home instead of a temporary location. The mix of the holiday magic and small-town hospitality makes you feel welcome and ready to settle and integrate. Holidays activities in small towns are rooted in community bonding and fellowshipping with people who become a big part of your life. Here are some ways to spend the holidays in a small town that will help you engage with the community and give back in the spirit of the holidays.
5 Ways to Spend Christmas in a Small Town
- Tree Lighting Ceremony
The tree lighting ceremony is one of the top activities synonymous with spending Christmas and the end-of-year holidays in many small towns. The tree lighting ceremony gathers the community to ring in the holiday season in harmony and is the first fellowship event of the season. As a visitor to a small town, this is an opportunity to meet new people, try local delights, and ring in the holiday season with all the elements that make it magical.
In an environment decked with twinkling lights, people bundled in cozy scarves and mittens, holding hot cocoa and anticipating how the giant tree in the middle of town will look, adds an extra layer of excitement. At the tree lighting ceremony, everyone is a kid, sharing the same excitement as they begin counting down.
Although you are a visitor, you do not feel like a stranger because you become a community member, sharing the bond of the holiday joy. When someone lights up the tree and carolers start singing, it is the best feeling in the world. Even when you do not know the complete lyrics of the song, you join in the singing and fellowship with a town that becomes a home. Hence, an exciting reason to experience the holidays in a small town.
- Attend Parades
The Christmas Parade is another excellent event for a small-town holiday. Attending a Christmas parade is on my Christmas activity wish list. Like many kids who grew up in big cities, we see Christmas parades on TV. To be in a place where you can attend and participate in the float or on Santa’s sleigh is a dream I am hoping to achieve.
The Christmas parade is another opportunity to mingle with the community. You can make an acquaintance who will help you navigate the town while visiting. Some towns go above and beyond to give their communities the best Christmas ever.
Some towns hold their Christmas parade on Christmas Day, and others have it before the tree-lighting ceremony to ring in the holiday season. It is, therefore, essential to check the town’s schedule so you do not miss this fantastic event.
- Explore Christmas Markets
One of my favorite holiday activities is going to Christmas markets, and there are plenty around this time of year. Christmas markets offer a fun, cozy atmosphere and a great way to support local artisans. As someone who lived in Rennes, a city smaller than Paris, and has visited Christmas markets in both cities, I find those in small towns more intimate than those in big cities. You meet local, talented makers and understand the direct impact you have when you shop at a local small business, compared to when you buy from a big brand.
Attending Christmas markets in big cities also helps you support small businesses. Still, you are often distracted by the big lights and big brands in a big city. Christmas markets in small towns center on the community, bringing people together to enjoy holiday traditions. You get to build a rapport with the vendor.
Moreover, the atmosphere at the Christmas market in a small village is unmatched. For example, walking cobblestone streets in small European towns with various Christmas-themed activities turns the city into a festive wonderland, with food and live music. You get to find unique gifts for yourself and your friends.
- Participate in the Christmas Themed Contest
Another way to spend the holidays in a small town is to participate in Christmas-themed Contests. A Christmas-themed contest is a magnificent way to mingle with the community and share your creativity. They are fun, light-hearted, and a great way to bond and integrate into a new community, especially when traveling and living away from home.
Small towns love hosting these events because they bring the community closer. Community members get to know each other’s hidden talents or lack thereof. Participating in one brings the kid out of you. I used to think Christmas-themed contests were only in Hallmark movies until I went to college in Kingston and participated in a Christmas decoration-friendly competition hosted by the international education office for international students.
After that experience, I incorporated it into my holiday tradition as something I can do with my extended family and friends. I started hosting cookie-decorating competitions when I traveled abroad, which was a fantastic way to keep the traditions alive.
- Volunteer
One of the pillars of the holiday season is to give back and fellowship with everyone. There is no more significant way to fellowship and give back than volunteering. Volunteering at a local shelter is a great way to spend the Christmas holiday in a small town. Small towns, unlike big cities, only have a few resources. There is a greater need in smaller towns than in big cities, making volunteering more meaningful.
You can volunteer at food banks, homeless shelters, or animal shelters. Volunteering does not always have to be with the less fortunate. You can volunteer your time to help set up a Christmas event hosted by the town. You can offer your skills and expertise to fill a gap that the city needs. You can get involved and serve during the holiday season in many ways.
If you are wondering how to find these opportunities, ask neighbors and acquaintances in the town you are visiting. Do a thorough search or visit establishments like hospitals, food banks, or shelters, and ask whether they need anything or how you can assist them. This activity is a great way to learn a city intimately, make lasting friendships, and explore the city.
Conclusion
In conclusion, spending the holidays in a small town is a unique and unforgettable experience. The community bonding and fellowship you encounter in a small city make you feel at home, especially during this magical season. From attending the tree-lighting ceremony to participating in a Christmas parade, there are several ways to engage with the community and create long-lasting memories. Other experiences you can have in a small town include community potluck, ice-skating, caroling, and a Christmas scavenger hunt. If you’re a traveler looking for a holiday adventure, consider visiting a small town and experiencing Christmas in a new and exciting way.
As always, thank you for reading. Please like, share, and subscribe to our newsletter for my travel tips.
Until next time,
Happy holidays!
Xoxo,
Cy!
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