One of my favorite Christmas settings in Arkansas is the historic courthouse and town square in Paris, which turns out one of the prettiest holiday lighting displays I've ever seen.
Located in the Arkansas River Valley and almost in the shadow of Mt. Magazine, Paris was settled in the 1820s on the old military road that connected Fort Smith and Little Rock. Union and Confederate troops passed through the area during the Civil War and the local settlers saw their farms and homes ravaged by regular troops and guerrilla raiders alike.
Today, however, Paris is a stop on the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights, an annual event that features unique lighting and Christmas displays across the state. In Paris, the courthouse and square are illuminated with over 100,000 lights. It is an impressive display and well worth the drive. Plus the view from the nearby restaurant and lodge at Mt. Magazine State Park makes for one of the most spectacular dining experiences in the South.
To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/parislights.
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