If you are thinking of getting out of town this holiday season, Denton is a destination you won’t want to miss.

Denton is a small town in southeastern Davidson County. It spans just 1.98 square miles. Although it is small, it offers a wide variety of restaurants, retail stores, service providers, and small community churches. It is also just five miles from High Rock Lake and home to the Southeast Old Threshers Reunion at Denton Farmpark, the largest display of antique farm, gasoline, and steam equipment in the Southeastern Union.

What Denton lacks in size, it makes up for in Christmas spirit. This is what makes it one of the best holiday destinations in the world. Here’s what you can do when you visit.

The Country Christmas Train

The Denton Farmpark hosts a variety of events throughout the year. One is the Country Christmas Train, a holiday tradition started in 2009 by the Loflin family. The family was hoping to share the true meaning of Christmas with their community.

Guests will walk down a lighted candy cane path to the train station where they can take pictures with Santa. Then they will get to ride on the Handy Dandy Railroad which runs around a mile and a half-track. Passengers will view Christmas lights, see a short holiday movie, view a live nativity scene, take part in a dedication to the military and hang out with elves.

After the ride, you can stop by the Gingerbread House for freshly baked goodies made right in front of you care of Laramie’s Cakery. Other attractions include the Grist Mill, a petting zoo, horse-drawn carriage rides, a general store, the Radio Museum, the Doll Museum, and the Coke Museum. There are also fairground rides set up including a Ferris wheel and swinging tubs.

After you are finished taking it all in, you can ride the train back to the plantation where you can learn what life was like way back when. You will see a blacksmith working in his shop, you can tour the plantation to see how people lived and cooked, and you can visit the sleeping quarters for a candle-making workshop.

Then, take the tram back to the modern world where the Craft Barn is waiting. It’s a terrific place to buy food and crafts.

The Christmas Parade and Celebration

The Christmas Parade takes place on the first Saturday in December. It includes caroling in the park, carriage rides, and photos with Santa. The event kicks off at 10 AM and the parade starts at noon.

Denton Museum

You won’t want to leave Denton without taking a trip to the Denton Museum. It is in the Town Hall Meeting Room. It’s open from 9 AM to 5 PM and admission is free. It will provide you with a terrific overview of what the town is all about, from olden times to the present.

The Radio Museum

The Radio Museum was built in 2000 and was originally intended to house the radio collection of NC State Senator Stan Bingham of Denton. While it displays his 130 radios, it also features other pieces of memorabilia including Soap Box Derby Cars, a toy steam engine, and an axe collection. There are also items from the Estate of Francis Bavier who starred as Aunt Bea on the Andy Griffith Show.

If you are looking for a small-town experience during the holiday season, Denton may be your ideal destination. It lights up in a big way and offers a variety of things to see and do. What will you be adding to your itinerary when you’re in town?

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