Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
‘Tis the season to embrace the ridiculous, over-the-top, jolly, sparkly, merry and bright. Naturally, the gays are all over it.
Get wrapped up in these classic and oh-so-fun holiday happenings. Consider it your gift to your inner cheeseball.
Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Now through December 22
Never made it on the stage? Get in character and interact with the hundreds of costumed players at San Francisco‘s Victorian extravaganza, Great Dickens Christmas Fair. Guests enjoy food, drinks, entertainment and shopping along recreated, bustling London streets, as illustrated by the great Charles Dickens in his classic novels.
Trail of Lights
December 10 – 23
Austin’s Trail of Lights returns to Zilker Park, and the electric company is working overtime. Millions of lights make for a sparking scene, and performances round out the festive atmosphere.
Christkindlmarket
Now through December 24
Last-minute shopping usually results in buying the same sweater in varying colors for everyone on your list. Procrastinators near Chicago — home to Christkindlmarket, the largest traditional Christmas market outside Europe — need not disappoint Mom and Aunt Rita. Performances and entertainment set the mood as you browse handmade ornaments, crafts and toys and indulge in German food and drinks. Don’t forget to say “danke.”
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Featuring the Rockettes
Now through January 5
Yes, this is the obvious one. Do as tourists to New York City do and take your seat at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The Rockettes dance, prance and kick those legs higher than seems humanly possible. It’s part of the magic of the season.
Holiday Cactus Garden
Now through January 5
You won’t find an evergreen in sight at the Las Vegas Ethel M Chocolate Factory’s Holiday Cactus Garden. Throughout three acres, half a million lights twinkle and dance every evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Santa stops by every weekend, so ask him to throw your next trip to Southern Decadence in his sleigh. Word to the wise for the cacti-curious: Look, but don’t touch.
Photos by Rich Yee, and Flickr users MarkScottAustinTX, Neal Patel, Ralph Daily, and Roxanne Ready used under the Creative Commons Attribution license