Inside North Carolina’s Christmas Town, complete with 500,000 lights and a Christmas tree trunk parade – after a men’s club started the festive traditions 67 years ago

With a name like Christmas Town USA, this North Carolina town takes the holidays very seriously, with more than 250 pine trees and 500,000 lights for all to see.

Also known as McAdenville, the community got its festive name thanks to a tradition that started in 1956 at the local men’s club.

That year, a group of club members decided to decorate a few trees around the community center with Christmas lights and year after year the decoration efforts became bigger and more elaborate.

Now the city of fewer than 1,000 residents attracts more than 600,000 visitors each December, with the spread of larger-than-life decorations drawing onlookers from far and wide.

The community, also known as McAdenville, got its festive name thanks to a tradition that started in 1956 at the local men’s club

Now the city of fewer than 1,000 residents attracts more than 600,000 visitors every December, with the spread of larger-than-life decorations drawing onlookers from far and wide

Christmas celebrations traditionally begin with a tree lighting ceremony on December 1

Another highlight of the city is the annual Christmas Log Parade, which takes place mid-month

Social media is full of photos of Christmas Town’s dazzling light displays

Christmas celebrations traditionally begin with a tree lighting ceremony on December 1 and another highlight of the city is the annual Christmas Tree Trunk Parade that takes place mid-month.

According to Christmas Town websitethe Yule Log Parade began in 1949 after the city’s leading entrepreneur, WJ Pharr, attended a Christmas tree party abroad with his wife and decided to bring the idea home.

The website describes what visitors can expect from the parade, noting: ‘The townspeople, adults and children alike traditionally meet in front of the Pharr office in downtown McAdenville (Christmas Town) to take part in the parade led by a local high school band.

“The wood is pulled through our historic downtown to the Memorial Yule Log Fireplace in Legacy Park and placed on the fire with great exuberance!”

Social media is full of photos of Christmas Town’s dazzling light displays.

One Instagrammer said visiting the city and walking the streets is one of their family’s annual traditions and “so much fun.”

While another Christmas Town resident said the lights ‘never disappoint’ and the spectacle ‘is truly magical’.

As for the light shows, one of the standout installations can be seen at McAdenville Lake, featuring a 75-foot-tall colorful fountain flanked by illuminated floating trees.

An Instagrammer said visiting the city and walking the streets is one of their family’s annual traditions and ‘so much fun’

Another Christmas Town resident said the lights ‘never disappoint’ and the spectacle ‘is truly magical’

As for the light shows, one of the standout installations can be seen at McAdenville Lake, featuring a 75-foot-tall colorful fountain flanked by illuminated floating trees

The lights around Christmas Town are on every night from 5pm to 10pm, with the last night being December 26

As the city installs public light shows with the help of volunteers, photos show how residents are taking things to a whole new level, with giant candy canes, nutcrackers, penguins and more adorning the fronts of homes.

Lea and Paul Newnham from Great Britain told us Our statethat they make a pilgrimage to Christmas Town every year.

Leah explained the attraction, saying, “Christmas isn’t Christmas until we see those lights.

‘Yes, it’s a long journey, but it’s always worth it.

‘When you see those lights for the first time every year, you get a tingle every time. It’s just magical.’

The lights around Christmas Town are on every night from 5pm to 10pm, with the last night being December 26th.

There is also a bell tower, built in 1883, that plays Christmas carols for the whole town to enjoy.