1. History:

Situated within 1.5 square miles of historic charm, McAdenville is proof that the best things really do come in small packages. McAdenville is a village with a heritage of tenacity and faith in what it was, is and will be. This town represents what can happen when the willpower of hard-working people, the vision of enlightened collaborations, the leadership of corporate stewards, and a compassionate caring, community of co-workers, families, friends, and neighbors come together for the betterment of a community.

McAdenville was destined to become a vibrant textile manufacturing center with its flowing rivers and acres of cotton all around. It took the pioneering vision of Rufus Y. McAden to make this a reality. With the Atlanta-Charlotte Railroad laying tracks in 1873, McAden purchased land along the South Fork of the Catawba River in 1880 and then chartered the Springs Shoals Manufacturing Company in 1881. The town was planned around the cotton mill with houses built to attract workers from the mountains and surrounding area. A company mercantile was established along with wheat and corn mills, a town library and phone lines to enhance the quality of life. In 1883, the town was incorporated as McAdenville and the company became known as McAden Mills.

2. Christmas Town USA

Many North Carolinians have no idea that our state has one of the most magical towns in the country. Each year McAdenville, or better known as Christmas Town USA comes to life – an entire town of businesses, homes, schools and churches that transforms overnight into a world of twinkling lights and holiday sights. Children carol in the streets, shouting ‘Merry Christmas!’ to passersby. Santa walks through town waving at cars. People walk past glowing lights sipping warm cocoa, while holiday music inexplicably fills the air. It’s like a magical Christmas movie come to life.

Every single night from December 1st to December 26th Christmas lights illuminate the entire town for visitors and residents to enjoy. It is a spectacular spectacle to see. Every Year, over 600,000 visitors travel to this town to see the lights. And guess what? It’s completely free!

Christmas Town USA History 

For more than 60 years the Christmas lights lights have sparkled on hundreds of trees and buildings as well as public spaces around town, but where did it all begin? 

The tradition of Christmas Town began in 1956, when a few members of the McAdenville Men’s Club asked Pharr if they could decorate a few trees around the McAdenville Community Center. Pharr not only gave permission – he offered to pay. In fact, he offered to pay for any lights they wanted to put up. Year after year, more and more lights were added to the display. Lights began to sparkle down main street. Lights began to encircle the lake. Thousands upon thousands of lights poured across the town.

In 1980, Christmas Town U.S.A.® gained national attention when featured on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt. Since then, Christmas Town U.S.A. has been featured on Good Morning America, Carolina Impact – 2017 Christmas Town and other television shows, in addition to popular periodicals such as Southern Living Magazine.