The small Gaston County town of McAdenville, officially known as “Christmas Town USA,” is about to hold its annual tree lighting ceremony on December 2nd at 5:30 p.m.
The town’s legendary light displays will be illuminated nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m. until December 26. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, as some roads will close at 5:30 p.m. Public parking is available at several locations, including McAdenville Elementary School and near CaroMont Family Medicine.
Starting in 1956, Pharr Yarns began subsidizing the town electric bills every Christmas, ensuring that nobody paid anything extra on their December bills for putting up lights.
The town itself alone puts up over half a million Christmas lights on over 375 trees (not counting what the residents themselves do). The light display covers a 1.3-mile stretch of road that meanders through town… and every home is lit.
Economic impact studies have suggested the light display brings in $11.8 million in economic activity for McAdenville and the surrounding areas.
