Chicago ranked #1 for Christmas celebrations by a 5-criteria results (Atlanta: crime, hotel)

[DavePa]

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-place...ristmas/41924/

Though most expect NYC Tops ...... Cost lowered it most by the criteria
- CHICAGO edged out NYC over Cost (neither city was great in) and Shopping too (read over criteria before scoffing).

Top 10 out of 100
#1 CHICAGO
#2 San Francisco
#3 Pittsburgh
#4 NYC
#5 Seattle
#6 Orlando
#7 Atlanta
#8 DC
#9 Las Vegas
#10 Portland

Chicago still beat NYC in Shopping and Cost and the HUGE Cost gap gave Chicago the win.
Traditions & fun - Observances - Generosity - SHOPPING - Cost
... CHI #7 ................ #4 .............#18 .......... #8 ........ #53
... NYC #1 ................ #3 ............ #8 ........... #11....... #99

A point system was used by these 5 main criteria and points under each more distinct factor.

Costs - Total Points: 20

- Average Price per Christmas Party Ticket: Double Weight (~6.67 Points)
- Cost of Three-Star Hotel Room: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
- Restaurant Meal Costs: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
- Number of Affordable, High-Quality Restaurants (4.5 stars and higher): Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
- Average Beverage Price (beer and wine): Full Weight (~3.33 Points)

Traditions & Fun - Total Points: 20

- Ranking on Top 25 Destinations for Christmas (advance hotel reservations): Double Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Christmas Popularity. (% of incoming flights to the city): Double Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Christmas Events per Capita (festivals, performances and galas): Double Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Google Search Interest for ‘Christmas Celebration’: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
- Christmas Tree Farms per Capita: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
- Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
- Diversity of Restaurants: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
- Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
- Ice Skating Rinks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
- Nightlife Options per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
- Bars per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)

Observance - Total Points: 20
- Share of Christian Population: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
- Churches per Capita*: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)

Generosity - Total Points: 20
- Food Banks per Capita: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Share of Income Donated to Charity: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Share of Population Collecting/Distributing Food & Clothes for the Needy: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Online Giving per Capita: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Christmas Spirit: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)

Shopping - Total Points: 20
- Christmas Markets per Capita*: Double Weight (~5.71 Points)
- Gift Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Shopping Centers & Outlets per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Toy Stores & Hobby Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Candy Stores & Chocolatiers per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Cards & Stationery Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)

They left crime out FOR THOSE READY WITH THAT

[BRU67]

What's an occasional physical altercation with a roving flash mob of ghetto street thugs when you have the twinkling snow, the Kindlemarket, and the Mag Mile lights! And how does Orlando make this list? Its like 120 degrees there at Christmas.

[DavePa]

Originally Posted by BRU67

What's an occasional physical altercation with a roving flash mob of ghetto street thugs when you have the twinkling snow, the Kindlemarket, and the Mag Mile lights! And how does Orlando make this list? Its like 120 degrees there at Christmas.

Do you not know that winter is the peak time of year to visit Florida?

Orlando December temps here and forecast for Christmas eve id 84° and sunny and 73° for Christmas with showers.

Ahhhh to be on the white sand beaches of Florida and the smell of the ocean breezes ......
But not in Orlando for that. Just Disneyworld there

[drro]

Amazing how high Chicago scores on those ranking lists these days. I also read it is the city with historically by far the most fireworks during New Years eve and the 4th of July weekends.

[DavePa]

Originally Posted by drro

Amazing how high Chicago scores on those ranking lists these days. I also read it is the city with historically by far the most fireworks during New Years eve and the 4th of July weekends.

Chicago has nightly fireworks at its Navy Pier every Wednesday and Saturday end of may thru early September as it is a big tourist draw. Though the city's Millennium Park has the highest tourist numbers. Corporate sponsorship probably helps in paying also.

https://navypier.org/explore/fireworks/

The Macy’s sponsored NYC fireworks display is the largest in the nation! Macy’s can use anywhere between 40,000 and 50,000 firework shells per show, 55 times more shells than any average display in the nation.

https://www.julyfourth.com/july-fourth-top-5-cities/

[dnrodriguez]

Hialeah, FL in the #100 spot?? I wouldn't expect that on a top 1000 list.