The holiday season isn’t just the most wonderful time of the year; it’s business, and business is booming. In the US, holiday retail sales account for over $655 billion. And it’s not just the presents under the tree that are causing a spike in the GDP: it’s the tree itself! Christmas trees bring in $1.3 billion (so it makes sense why you can’t walk more than a block in NYC without coming across a stand). It’s good to be in the Christmas business—so good, that for these seven stores, business is open all year round.
House of Holiday (Queens, New York)
The New York branch of Santa’s Workshop might as well be in Ozone Park, Queens at House of Holiday, the largest Christmas store in the city. With 35,000 square feet of space filled with ornaments, lights and trees (both real and fake), House of Christmas is a New York holiday landmark that’s earned its spot alongside Rockefeller Center, the Rockettes and the Fifth Avenue department store windows. House of Holiday isn’t just a store; it’s an experience meant to take its customers to a, “Christmas long ago and a New England country home far away”.
Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland (Frankenmuth, Michigan)
Bronner’s really is a Christmas Wonderland. Over 300 trees, 700 figurines and 100,000 lights fill this massive 2.2 acre showroom. The Bronner family has been in the year-round holiday business since the 50’s, and have been operating out of their compound on 25 Christmas Lane since 1977. The Central Michigan attraction greets over 2 million guests a year — and for good reason! The facility is complete with its own Silent Night Memorial Chapel, a recreation of the original chapel in Austria where “Silent Night” was first sung all the way back in 1818!
Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum (Leavenworth, Washington)
Behold, the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum. Ever since George and Arlene Wagner donated their impressive nutcracker collection over 20 years ago, this non-profit museum featuring an over 6,000 piece collection has been spreading holiday cheer. Tracing nutcracker history all the way back to its origins in the Roman Empire, the museum boasts fans from over 70 countries, and even has its own coffee table book. Talk about a good stocking stuffer!
Santa Claus House (North Pole, Alaska)
If you’re truly committed to celebrating Christmas every day, pack your bags for the North Pole—literally. Ever wonder who actually writes all those letters from Santa? Since the real St. Nick is such a busy guy, the Miller family has been sending Santa letters all across the world from the Santa Clause House for over fifty years. It’s tough to miss this holiday attraction, with a 42-foot, 900-pound Santa Claus statue standing proudly in the snow. And of course, wherever Santa is, reindeers aren’t far behind. Santa and his Reindeer team mix-and-mingle with guests 12 months a year, but as the website notes, Santa does take several short breaks throughout the day (we can’t blame him!)
The Incredible Christmas Place (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
This Bavarian-style shopping village has been a mecca for all things merry since Hurshel and Marian Biggs opened their doors back in 1986. With 43,000 square feet of Christmas cheer, this truly incredible place is well-known for their award-winning window and outdoor displays, which have garnered a fair share of media attention. This family business is all about Southern hospitality, so much so, that they won’t just leave milk and cookies out for you; they’ll let you stay the night! Stop by the adjacent “Inn at Christmas Place” where a singing Santa performs twice a week!
Always Christmas (Lake Orion, Michigan)
The name says it all. Always Christmas is the crowned jewel of Canterbury Village, a year-round “Olde World” village celebrating Michigan’s rich history. Always Christmas is true to its name, packed with originally designed gifts, goodies and edible collectibles. But Always Christmas isn’t actually open 365 days a year, but rather, 363; the doors are closed on Christmas and New Years. Yep, even Santa’s little helpers get the day off!
Castle Noel (Medina, Ohio)
Welcome to “America’s largest year-round indoor Christmas entertainment attraction”. There’s so much to do at Castle Noel, you’ll be busy until it’s Christmas all over again! The “I Had That” exhibit features hundreds of retro toys from the 50’s through the 80’s, most of which you probably haven’t even thought of since you were a little kid. From the world’s largest privately owned collection of Christmas movie props to the “Blizzard Vortex”, Castle Noel truly serves up the ultimate Christmas experience.
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