There’s No Place Like My Hometown of Johnson City for the Holidays

The song “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” holds within it a longing sentiment that we travelers can all relate to. The idea of being home after a long trip to be close to the ones you love is something we’ve all felt before. Seeing that sweet “Welcome to Tennessee” sign brings a sigh of relief that I am much closer to home. For me, I will be spending Christmas in Johnson City Tennessee. There is nothing better than a hometown celebration, and one of my favorite holiday events in the Volunteer State is called Candyland Christmas.

Every November, my hometown transforms into an enchanted display of Christmas spirit with dozens of decorated Christmas trees and thousands of sparkling lights. The trees are all purchased by local businesses and nonprofits months in advance to prepare for the event. They can decorate it however they want to showcase their unique group. The real magic happens once the sun sets and the lights come on, illuminating the parks in the city in a hypnotic holiday glow. 

During Candyland Christmas, the trees can be found in King Commons, Commerce Street, and Founders Park. Each location has dozens of trees which round out to be just under 200 trees decorated for the festive fun. Each tree will take on a different theme depending on the business. I have seen gingerbread dog houses, a giant Grinch, whole trees that look like gnomes, and one of my personal all-time favorites: the Library's Nightmare Before Christmas tree.

You never know what to expect and it makes for an exciting adventure to walk among the trees and see them all. The community really gathers together for this event that takes place in late November and lasts until early January.

It's also completely free which makes it even more accessible for everyone to gather. We usually end up going multiple times to see the trees, bringing others with us. (We have even used the decorated trees as a background for our Christmas cards!)

The decorations don’t stop there either; the whole town is transformed with glittering lights and shiny decorations. Taking a walk through downtown, you can see beautifully adorned storefronts, garland-wrapped street lamps, and so much more. Being home for the holidays means exploring this enchanting event again, and I can hardly wait.

There is nothing quite like Christmas in Johnson City, Tennessee. Not only is the Candycane Christmas one of my favorite holiday events but it's also home. Come out and meet the wonderful locals that make this city such a great place to live and witness the unique designs of each tree. When you see the magic of Christmas firsthand, you won’t want to go anywhere, so make sure you stay awhile by renting out a downtown apartment in Johnson City and then enjoy Southern Craft BBQ. Your taste buds will thank you for trying this Tri-Cities classic.