This Kansas Christmas Town Is Straight out of a Norman Rockwell Painting

Christmas in Kansas is magical, no matter where you celebrate it, but there's something uniquely charming about enjoying the holidays in a small town. The down-home vibes, strong sense of community, and general feeling that everything is simpler give off a sense of Americana that can't be captured in a big city. One of the best places to celebrate Christmas in Kansas is the little town of WaKeeney. Its population is under 2,000, but it's renowned throughout the region as the Christmas City of the High Plains because its holiday celebration is just that incredible! The whole town gets decked out in lights, and you'll feel like you entered a time machine into the past in this Kansas Christmas town, to the times before Facebook and the internet ruled our lives.

WaKeeney, Kansas, has been one of the most famous Christmas cities in the Midwest for over half a century. The town's holiday celebrations began in 1950 and are still going strong today. During the Christmas season, which begins the weekend after Thanksgiving, the four-block downtown area is adorned with colorful lights. The area's centerpiece is a magnificent 35-foot handmade tree topped with four stars.

The display consists of more than three miles of electrical wiring, which is quite impressive when you consider that the entire town is only two square miles in size. The charming little town takes immense pride in its status as the Christmas City of the High Plains. The yearly display is put up by volunteers, and remains up from the weekend after Thanksgiving until New Year's Day.

Walk around the town and you'll see plenty of evidence of Christmas cheer. There's a "Tour of Trees" featuring small trees that have been placed in front of businesses, and you may even run into costumed characters.

With carriage rides, visits with Santa himself, and plenty of holiday spirit, it doesn't get much better than a winter visit to this Christmas town in Kansas. If you can't make it to WaKeeney for its Christmas celebration, you can visit anytime of the year to see its North Pole Mural located downtown in the aptly-named North Pole Park. The mural features the town's famous tree and you'll certainly want to take a picture of it while you're here.

The magic of the holidays can truly be felt in a small town like WaKeeney with its festivities, community spirit, and Christmas cheer. Take a trip to this Kansas Christmas town this holiday season to experience the Christmas City of the High Plains! For more information about WaKeeney, check out the town's website or Facebook page.

If you want more holiday magic, visit 12 of the best Christmas towns in Kansas this year. And if you're still feeling inspired, try planning your own festive trip to Wakeeney, Kansas, using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.