Pitt is great once you're able to stop driving! The trains take you where you need to go for little to no money, the museums and parks are solid and there's plenty of stuff to see and do.
I'm from a Catholic family so I have an apprecation for church design, organs etc. The Cathedral they have is pretty nice and reminds me of ones I've visited in Europe
They do seem to be a lot more common now, although I’m not sure we still do. Boston had a fantastic one for many years, traditionally put on by a major retailer, but that’s been in flux for a couple decades now and I don’t even know whether it still exists
I most recently went to one in Detroit. It was small but reasonably well done. Most importantly it highlighted a part of downtown that has been mostly rebuilt, revitalized. Of course it can never come close to Frankenmuth
I remember going there as a kid with my grandparents around Christmas, some of the best memories I have with them. Then years later in the summer the beer fest has some fun fuzzy memories too.
I've actually been to the first one on the list. The Dickens fair in Daly City is a good time. It's basically a Renaissance fair for a different era, and everyone there is cosplaying that they're in London during Charles Dickens' time (early to mid 1800's). I didn't partake in dressing up, but plenty of people do. The kids had a good time, and they sell (overpriced) booze, so you can get liquored up and enjoy the scenery.
In my part of Texas there will be one or two set up, but they're not a "classic" holiday experience for most families, as best I can tell. I went to one in the parking lots outside of a baseball stadium and it was... fine.