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Posted in Mississippi Festivals December 06, 2018 by Daniella DiRienzo

Visit Mississippi’s City Of Lights For The Best Christmas Festival In The State

If you thought charming small towns with elaborate Christmas celebrations existed only in Hallmark movies, think again. Each year, Canton holds a Christmas festival, during which, the town square is set aglow with more than 200,000 lights. The festive fun doesn’t end there, though. There’s also late night shopping, parades, horse and buggy rides, and more! Take a look:

Nicknamed the "City of Lights," it should come as no surprise that Canton transforms into a lights-filled wonderland during the holiday season.

Each year, the city’s historic courthouse square is blanketed with twinkling lights for the annual Christmas in Canton celebration.

This year, more than 200,000 lights will make square "glow with small-town charm, nostalgia for holidays past, and a dash of the season’s magic."

Under the canopy of sparkling lots, there’s lots of festive fun to be had.

Kids will be delighted by the interactive Christmas Village, where they can make reindeer food and roast marshmallows with Frosty.

There are also carousel rides and parades.

But it’s not just kids who’ll enjoy the festival. Visitors of any age can get in on the fun with trolley rides, horse and buggy rides, and events, like Sip ‘n’ Cider.

Several shops on the square have extended holiday hours throughout December, offering you an enjoyable alternative to the hectic malls.

As you make your way through the gift shops, vintage stores, and boutiques, you’ll hear festive music being played overhead — does it get any more charming?!

During Christmas in Canton, the city’s animation museums are given a holiday makeover and feature Christmas themed displays, like penguins enjoying a winter day around a park.

The magical celebration has become increasingly popular over the years. It’s even been featured in Southern Living, which referred to Canton as "one of our favorite small towns for celebrating Christmas in the South."

Make sure to mark your calendar for this incredible holiday event. The festive fun is going on now through December 23, 2018, and takes place nightly from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information on Christmas in Canton, call (601) 859-1307. You can also visit the Canton Tourism website or Facebook page.

So, ever celebrated in the City of Lights? If so, what’d you think? Have another favorite holiday festival? Tell us in the comments section.

This isn’t the only can’t miss holiday event. Read about another here.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Daniella DiRienzo

Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.