If you think the guy down the street puts up too many lights or that house on the corner starts to decorate for the Holidays too early you should see the small town (just over 600 residents) McAdenville, NC.

McAdenville at one time was what is refered to as a Mill Village. This was common in textile towns from the late 1800's to the mid 1900's. These were towns that were build by and owned by the textile mills. Normally the mill would be in the center of town. There would be houses, churches, schools, and stores, all owned by the mill. The story goes that Pharr Yarns - the mill that started McAdenville pays the December power bill for the entire town to encourage people to put up as many lights as possible. I have heard this from people who were high up within Pharr Yarns.

Every year my family would join the line to slowly drive our way down the main road in town and look at the lights and listen to the music. Also my family's Christmas Cards were always sent from McAdenville since the cancelation was Christmastown USA.



Link to the town's website.
http://www.mcadenville-christmastown.com/

 

thats pretty cool!