As the holiday season ramps up across the country, Birmingham is earning national recognition for its Christmas spirit.
The Magic City ranked No. 12 overall on WalletHub’s 2025 list of the Best Cities for Christmas, placing it among the top festive destinations in the United States and ahead of several much larger metro areas.
WalletHub evaluated the 100 largest U.S. cities using a data-driven approach that measures not just holiday cheer, but affordability and community engagement during the Christmas season.
According to WalletHub, cities were ranked using 28 different indicators grouped into five categories: Traditions & Fun, Observance, Generosity, Shopping, and Costs. The metrics range from the availability of Christmas tree farms, bakeries and seasonal events to charitable giving, religious observance and the cost of hotels, dining and entertainment during the holidays.
Birmingham’s strong showing suggests a well-rounded Christmas experience, blending festive traditions with relatively affordable holiday costs — a balance WalletHub analysts say is increasingly important as inflation continues to affect travel, dining and gift-giving.
For locals, the ranking reflects what many already experience each December. Birmingham’s holiday season is marked by community-focused events and family traditions, including the Lights of Noel, the city’s annual holiday block party and Christmas tree lighting at City Hall, the popular Glow Wild lantern festival at the Birmingham Zoo, and downtown holiday attractions such as seasonal markets, ornament trails and festive performances.
Area families also flock to nearby attractions like the Magic of Lights drive-through display at Alabama Adventure, which has become a seasonal staple for Birmingham-area residents.
The City of Birmingham shared a few of its holiday suggestions on social media.
Birmingham’s rank among the nation
Birmingham’s No. 12 ranking places it just outside the national top ten and firmly among the country’s strongest Christmas cities. The city finished ahead of destinations often associated with large-scale holiday tourism, including New York City and Portland, Oregon.
WalletHub notes that higher-ranked cities tend to combine strong participation in holiday traditions with active charitable communities and enough shopping and entertainment options to make the season festive without overwhelming budgets.
The top 15 cities for Christmas in 2025
- Atlanta, Georgia
- San Francisco, California
- Seattle, Washington
- Orlando, Florida
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Louis, Missouri
- Miami, Florida
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Chicago, Illinois
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- New York, New York
- Portland, Oregon
A timely nod for the Magic City
WalletHub’s recognition comes as Americans are expected to spend more than $1 trillion during the holiday season between November and December, making value and affordability key considerations for many families.
For Birmingham, the ranking highlights a Christmas season rooted in community, generosity and tradition — offering festive experiences without the sticker shock often found in larger holiday destinations.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
