This Surprising Spot Was Just Named the Most Festive U.S. City to Celebrate Christmas

Runners up included classic winter getaway destinations like Aspen, Col.; Park City, Utah and New York City

Credit : Peter J. Cimino/Visit Buffalo

Sleigh bells are ringing in this Upstate New York city!

Beating out contenders in holiday hotspots like Colorado and Vermont, Buffalo, N.Y. has been named the most Christmasy city in the United States by the online crypto casino JB, according to Travel and Leisure.

A study found that Buffalo has hundreds of holiday events and typically receives over 25 inches of snowfall in December. Additionally, the city has a 53% chance of snow on Christmas day, they said.

JB also noted that hotel rates in Buffalo are typically under $170 per night on the special holiday, making it a comparatively affordable option.

Tom Burns/Visit Buffalo

“About half of American families will travel to another city this Christmas, and many are still deciding where to go,” the company said in a statement to Travel and Leisure. 

“What our study showed is that some unexpected places can really give you a great snowy Christmas experience, and could be well worth a visit,” LB continued. “At the same time, the rankings show that popular destinations like New York are crowded for a reason too, and they truly feel cool during holidays.”

PEOPLE reached out to JB for additional information on Tuesday, Dec. 9, but did not immediately hear back.

The list recognized 32 festive cities. Following Buffalo was Aspen, Col.; Park City, Utah; New York City and Minneapolis, Minn.

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Buffalo offers a variety of Christmas activities during the season. The Visit Buffalo website includes options such as holiday markets, ice skating, historic tours and more.

The city’s Buffalo Holiday Market is a 4-week European-styled shopping series with artisan makers, vintage sellers and holiday foods.

Visitors can also enjoy the “Tom and Jerry’s trail,” which is an 18-stop culinary trail dedicated to the spiced holiday cocktail that is said to have been served in the city since the 1940s.

There are also multiple options for those wanting to hit the rinks. The city, which has a population of over 270,000, boasts The Ice at Canalside, a 33,000 sq. ft. skating rink on the waterfront, as well as the downtown Rotary Rink.

Last November, BetMGM Casino declared North Pole, Alaska, Park City, Utah; Denver, Colo.; Kennebunkport, Maine and Asheville, N.C. as the top five “coziest” holiday getaways in the U.S.

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