The Most Festive Cities in America Revealed—Is Yours One of Them?

From over-the-top, extravagant light shows to classic, elegant installations, homes across the country are starting to twinkle as the holiday decorating season kicks into high gear.

But which city shines the brightest? Thumbtack recently released its annual ranking of the most festive cities in the U.S. of 2025 based on where homeowners are booking the most holiday light installations. The findings were based on customer requests made on the platform from October 2024 to October 2025 for installations.

For the fourth consecutive year, Austin ranked number one, with the Texas capital leading the way in holiday lighting and outdoor decorating projects. Dallas and Seattle followed in the second and third spots.

Thumbtack's 20 Most Festive Cities of 2025

1. Austin, Texas
2. Dallas, Texas
3. Seattle, Washington
4. Las Vegas, Nevada
5. Sacramento, California
6. Houston, Texas
7. San Francisco, California
8. Charlotte, North Carolina
9. San Antonio, Texas
10. Atlanta, Georgia
11. Orlando, Florida
12. Washington, D.C.
13. Tampa, Florida
14. Kansas City, Missouri
15. Raleigh, North Carolina
16. West Palm Beach, Florida
17. Phoenix, Arizona
18. Portland, Oregon
19. Denver, Colorado
20. Chicago, Illinois

But these aren't the only cities investing in dazzling displays. This year, more than half of homeowners are upgrading their lights with roofline lighting, wrapped trees, and color-changing LEDs. According to Thumbtack, most homeowners consider lighting as the best "bang-for-their-buck" upgrade.

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For those who don't want to DIY, the national average cost to have lights installed ranges from around $208 to $500, with most people paying around $323, according to Thumbtack data. Pricing depends on a range of factors, including where you want the lights hung, the square footage of your property, whether you’ll need the installer to provide the lights, and whether you will also want the lights removed.

For example, wrapping outdoor trees with lights can cost anywhere from $60 for a small tree to $1,200 for a large one, depending on the type, shape, and height of the tree. A deciduous tree with open branches requires tight wrapping of the light strings around the branches to achieve the best look, whereas putting lights in a conifer with a typical cone shape may take less time and require fewer lights.