Best Holiday River Town 2022 Winners!

Best Holiday River Town 2022 Winners!

Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Best Holiday River Town Contest and thanks to everyone who participated!

River Travel Magazine is excited to announce the 2022 Best Holiday River Town Contest winners at rivertravelmagazine.com! This survey focused on the best Holiday Towns along all rivers in the United States from the Mississippi River to the Nooksack River in the Pacific Northwest to the Conecuh River and the Colorado River to the south, to the Piscataqua River in the east, and to everything in between.

Over 80 river communities throughout the US were voted on between 8 categories based on population. Readers were invited to vote for one of our pre-picked towns in each category, or nominate up to eight of their favorite Holiday River Towns based on population. This year nominations ranged from quaint river towns and small alpine villages with charming holiday traditions to bigger river communities bustling with holiday events and spectacular light shows, coming in from all around the US.

Based on the votes, river communities were ranked 1st place through 5th place for the Best Holiday River Towns in each category. River Travel Magazine is excited to congratulate these river communities on their first place ranking and designation as the Best Holiday River Towns nationwide and share a little bit about what makes these top destinations so special during the holiday season!

Best Holiday River Town (Below 500 Pop)

1. Stockholm, Wisconsin

Stockholm is a quaint and charming village located on the Mississippi River. Each year the community looks forward to God Jul, a celebration filled with Swedish traditions. The holiday event continues over the three weekends leading up to Christmas Day, including the Swedish traditions of Jultomte and Mini Tomte, a Holiday market at all of the local shops, and a celebration of the Winter Solstice where the village is lit up with luminaries, ice candles, torches and bonfires!

2. Prairie du Rocher, Illinois

3. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

4. Rocheport, Missouri

5. Grand Lake, Colorado

Best Holiday River Town (501-1000 Pop)

1. McGregor, Iowa

McGregor, Iowa is another wonderful holiday river town on the Mississippi River. Each year the community participates in a variety of holiday events to spread joy and get into the holiday spirit. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, shop local at the charming businesses, and check out holiday light displays around town.

2. Saugatuck, Michigan

3. Lansing, Iowa

4. Helen, Georgia

5. Talkeetna, Alaska

Best Holiday River Town (1001-5,000 Pop)

1. (Tie) Galena, Illinois & Red Bud, Illinois

A charming river community in northwestern Illinois, Galena is also a great holiday river town to visit during the holiday season. December in Galena is home to holiday concerts, fireworks, celebrations, luminaria, fun festivities and events, and dazzling décor along the historic Main street.

For an old fashioned holiday feel, Red Bud is a charming place to visit during the month of December. Decorated shop windows, holiday lights, and a cheerful community make the holiday season full of joy and holiday spirit. Plus fun events like the annual Red Bud Christmas Walk, the gingerbread house decorating contest, and the parade add to the fun in this beautiful little river town.

2. Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

3. North Pole, Alaska

4. Blue Ridge, Georgia

5. Boothbay, Maine

Best Holiday River Town (5001-15,000 Pop)

1. Branson, Missouri

A visit to America’s Christmas Tree City will bring you an Ozark Mountain Holiday experience like no other in Branson. With celebrations running from November 1st through January 7th, there is tons to see and do throughout the holiday season. Popular events include visiting Silver Dollar City for the “An Old Time Christmas” event, driving through the variety of holiday light displays, and visiting Santa.

2. Keokuk, Iowa

3. Jackson, Wyoming

4. Bardstown, Kentucky

5. Rhinebeck, New York

Best Holiday River Town (15,001- 30,000 Pop)

1. Red Wing, Minnesota

Red Wing pulls out all of the stops for their community each holiday season. The annual Holiday Stroll has been a tradition for over 20 years and the event includes a whole day of events and festivities. Caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides, letters to Santa, a lighted parade and much more! With all the dazzling lights, this charming town feels like a holiday vacation straight from a Hallmark Christmas movie.

2. Stillwater, Minnesota

3. St. Augustine, Florida

4. Natchitoches, Louisiana

5. Williamsburg, Virginia

Best Holiday River Town (30,001- 60,000 Pop)

1. La Crosse, Wisconsin

A La Crosse holiday tradition for over 25 years, the city holds the annual Rotary Lights Display at Riverside Park right on the Mississippi River. Walk, drive, or take a carriage ride through the park to see the amazing displays including a Live Nativity, Santa and a few of his reindeer, an ice rink and free skate rental, free s’mores at the fire pits, and over 3,000,000 lights synchronized with holiday music.

2. Moline, Illinois

3. Grapevine, Texas

4. (Tie) Gainesville, Georgia & Dublin, Ohio

5. Annapolis, Maryland

Best Holiday River Town (70,000+ Pop)

1. Duluth, Minnesota

With a prime location on the St. Louis River and Lake Superior, Duluth brings out a whole new level of beauty during the holiday season when the area is decked out in holiday lights. The annual Bentleyville Tour of Lights showcases over 4 million lights in a variety of dazzling light displays. Another great tradition is visiting the Glensheen Mansion for a holiday candlelight tour of the most visited historic home in Minnesota on the shores of Lake Superior.