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It’s the most wonderful time of the year… mistletoe hangs in doorways, the scenery is bathed in white, and families gather to celebrate together. Around the winter solstice, cities and towns gear up for their annual winter festivals, the perfect diversions for the entire family.

The winter solstice is celebrated for both religious and secular reasons: for one, it’s our sign that spring is just around the corner, which may be just what we need in the dead of winter. As cold bleeds into slightly less freezing, the New Year is celebrate, most famously in China, but also in the Bahamas and Scotland. As Lent approaches, Rio and New Orlean’s prepare for the biggest parties of the year, through Carnival and Mardi Gras are not the only celebrated around the globe.

Of course, if you don’t want to jump a plane to Shanghai, Rio, or the sunny Caribbean, chances are that a town near you will be having a seasonally-themed party sometime during the next three weeks. Snowman contests, outdoor ice skating, and colorful lighted decorations await you, helping you forget the chill and get into the season, so block out part of your schedule to take part in a winter celebration.