Christmas – it’s the most wonderful time of the year! No matter where you go this holiday season, there are numerous Christmas towns in Iowa that each has its own special celebration or festival. And while this list just scratches the surface, here are some of our favorite towns that are wonderful places to be during Christmastime.
- Keokuk
Daniel Holt/Flickr During the holiday season, Keokuk is famous for its City of Christmas at Rand Park. The tradition began in 1989 when Toyland, Santa’s barn complete with reindeer and elves, Santa’s Workshop, a Nativity scene, and the International Christmas display all appeared in Rand Park. There are nearly 100 displays and approximately one million lights, with around 20,000 cars passing through each year. This year, the event is open from November 25th through January 2nd. Make sure to come and see one of Iowa’s most delightful holiday traditions before it’s gone again until next year! Get all the details for this season on the official website. Keokuk, IA 52632, USA
- Wyoming
Phil Roeder/Flickr Iowa’s very own Christmas City, Wyoming, is known for its beautiful canopy of Christmas lights that spans four blocks along the town’s Main Street. Plus there are at least 40 lighted Christmas trees tied to light poles that line the streets. If you love Christmas, don’t miss out on Wyoming this year. Learn more by visiting the Wyoming website. Wyoming, IA 52362, USA
- Fairfield
City of Fairfield, Iowa Government/Facebook Fairfield is another small town that offers lots of Christmas fun. Year after year, you’ll find all the best festivities here. Plan your visit and read about Fairfield’s holiday lighting dedication! Fairfield, IA, USA
- Winterset
Education and Engagemen/Flickr Aside from checking out the beautiful bridges of Madison County during the holidays, Winterset has many more Christmas activities for visitors to do. Every year, the town does a Christmas Tour of Homes, a Children’s Old Fashioned Christmas Party, and a community Christmas concert. Check out the official Madison County website for all the holiday goings-on this season. Winterset, IA 50273, USA
- The Villages of Van Buren
Villages of Van Buren/Facebook There is nothing quite as magical as Christmas in the Villages of Van Buren. From their Festival of Trees, to “Light Up First Street,” the villages are a great place to make those holiday memories. And don’t miss the Lighted Christmas Parade! See the Villages website for more details. Van Buren County, IA, USA
- Le Mars
Christmas Acres/Facebook The Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland in Le Mars is just about as perfect as it gets. Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride on a beautiful winter night, or check out the live nativity scene and musical performances. When you’re done with that, roast marshmallows and sip hot chocolate around a campfire in the snow. Learn more on the official Christmas in Hometown Le Mars website! Le Mars, IA 51031, USA
Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland/Facebook
- Storm Lake
Santa’s Castle Storm Lake, Iowa/Facebook When he’s not at the North Pole, Santa can be found at Santa’s Castle in Storm Lake! Located in the historic Carnegie Library, Santa’s Castle is the perfect place to bring the kids this weekend. With Santa Claus himself there to take orders for Christmas gifts and a plethora of antique Christmas toys and gifts, there is plenty of magic to be experienced here. Get all the important info on the Santa’s Castle website. Storm Lake, IA 50588, USA
- Orange City
Dutch Heritage Boosters, Orange City, IA Community/Facebook Every year, the Dutch Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) visits Orange City to bring Christmas tidings to the townsfolk. It’s definitely worth putting on the calendar every single year. Visit Orange City’s website to learn more about this celebration. Orange City, IA 51041, USA
- The Amana Colonies
austin herman/Flickr The Amana Colonies are amazing to visit any time of the year, but especially so during the Christmas season. This little town prides itself on an array of delightful holiday festivities that you won’t soon forget! See the full Amana Colonies events calendar on the official town website. Amana, IA 52203, USA
- Boone
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum/Facebook The Boone & Scenic Valley Railway’s Santa Express is an absolute must for those with young children or grandchildren. Let the kiddos put their pjs on and head over to Boone for your own “Polar Express” experience. The ride lasts about an hour, and during that hour you will be treated to cookies and cocoa, story time, Christmas carols, and a visit from Santa Claus - complete with your own gift. Boone, IA 50036, USA
We know this list is far from extensive, so we want to hear what you think! What are some more Christmas towns in Iowa that everyone should visit? If you’re feeling up for a weekend adventure, how about a road trip through these Christmas towns in Iowa? They’re just to leave you feeling merry and bright!
Daniel Holt/Flickr
During the holiday season, Keokuk is famous for its City of Christmas at Rand Park. The tradition began in 1989 when Toyland, Santa’s barn complete with reindeer and elves, Santa’s Workshop, a Nativity scene, and the International Christmas display all appeared in Rand Park. There are nearly 100 displays and approximately one million lights, with around 20,000 cars passing through each year. This year, the event is open from November 25th through January 2nd. Make sure to come and see one of Iowa’s most delightful holiday traditions before it’s gone again until next year! Get all the details for this season on the official website.
Keokuk, IA 52632, USA
Phil Roeder/Flickr
Iowa’s very own Christmas City, Wyoming, is known for its beautiful canopy of Christmas lights that spans four blocks along the town’s Main Street. Plus there are at least 40 lighted Christmas trees tied to light poles that line the streets. If you love Christmas, don’t miss out on Wyoming this year. Learn more by visiting the Wyoming website.
Wyoming, IA 52362, USA
City of Fairfield, Iowa Government/Facebook
Fairfield is another small town that offers lots of Christmas fun. Year after year, you’ll find all the best festivities here. Plan your visit and read about Fairfield’s holiday lighting dedication!
Fairfield, IA, USA
Education and Engagemen/Flickr
Aside from checking out the beautiful bridges of Madison County during the holidays, Winterset has many more Christmas activities for visitors to do. Every year, the town does a Christmas Tour of Homes, a Children’s Old Fashioned Christmas Party, and a community Christmas concert. Check out the official Madison County website for all the holiday goings-on this season.
Winterset, IA 50273, USA
Villages of Van Buren/Facebook
There is nothing quite as magical as Christmas in the Villages of Van Buren. From their Festival of Trees, to “Light Up First Street,” the villages are a great place to make those holiday memories. And don’t miss the Lighted Christmas Parade! See the Villages website for more details.
Van Buren County, IA, USA
Christmas Acres/Facebook
The Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland in Le Mars is just about as perfect as it gets. Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride on a beautiful winter night, or check out the live nativity scene and musical performances. When you’re done with that, roast marshmallows and sip hot chocolate around a campfire in the snow. Learn more on the official Christmas in Hometown Le Mars website!
Le Mars, IA 51031, USA
Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland/Facebook
Santa’s Castle Storm Lake, Iowa/Facebook
When he’s not at the North Pole, Santa can be found at Santa’s Castle in Storm Lake! Located in the historic Carnegie Library, Santa’s Castle is the perfect place to bring the kids this weekend. With Santa Claus himself there to take orders for Christmas gifts and a plethora of antique Christmas toys and gifts, there is plenty of magic to be experienced here. Get all the important info on the Santa’s Castle website.
Storm Lake, IA 50588, USA
Dutch Heritage Boosters, Orange City, IA Community/Facebook
Every year, the Dutch Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) visits Orange City to bring Christmas tidings to the townsfolk. It’s definitely worth putting on the calendar every single year. Visit Orange City’s website to learn more about this celebration.
Orange City, IA 51041, USA
austin herman/Flickr
The Amana Colonies are amazing to visit any time of the year, but especially so during the Christmas season. This little town prides itself on an array of delightful holiday festivities that you won’t soon forget! See the full Amana Colonies events calendar on the official town website.
Amana, IA 52203, USA
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum/Facebook
The Boone & Scenic Valley Railway’s Santa Express is an absolute must for those with young children or grandchildren. Let the kiddos put their pjs on and head over to Boone for your own “Polar Express” experience. The ride lasts about an hour, and during that hour you will be treated to cookies and cocoa, story time, Christmas carols, and a visit from Santa Claus - complete with your own gift.
Boone, IA 50036, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Christmas Towns in Iowa November 28, 2021 Tori Jane Where is the best place to spend Christmas in Iowa? Okay, so maybe Iowa isn’t the first place many folks think about when they’re thinking about a picture-perfect holiday season, but we’re here to say that – well – maybe they should. As it turns out, Iowa is home to plenty of delightful little towns that love going all-out for the holidays. For example, the town of Atlantic is home to an absolutely dazzling light display year after year, which is lit in November with the help of Santa Claus himself! Then, there’s Forest City, a small town with a huge heart that hosts wagon rides, horse-drawn carriages, and, of course, plenty of holiday lights each year in an effort to make the season that much more magical (and they do it quite well). Le Mars has a Pioneer Village, which also loves getting decked out each winter during the first two weekends of December. What are some fun things to do at Christmas in Iowa? Iowa is SO much fun during the holidays! No matter how you dream of your perfect Christmas season, you’re sure to find it somewhere in Iowa. You can go ice skating on any number of our amazing ponds and rinks or build a snowman or two in what will undoubtedly be plentiful snow. You can attend various Christmas festivals and events in almost every town, like the 12 Days of Christmas event at the Hotel Julian Dubuque or A Brucemore Christmas, which goes through the month of December. Sip hot cocoa while shopping for loved ones at any one of Iowa’s most charming main streets, or take a horse-drawn sleigh ride across Iowa’s frozen landscape. You will, undoubtedly, find plenty of amazing, fun things to do at Christmas in Iowa.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Christmas Towns in Iowa
November 28, 2021
Tori Jane
Where is the best place to spend Christmas in Iowa? Okay, so maybe Iowa isn’t the first place many folks think about when they’re thinking about a picture-perfect holiday season, but we’re here to say that – well – maybe they should. As it turns out, Iowa is home to plenty of delightful little towns that love going all-out for the holidays. For example, the town of Atlantic is home to an absolutely dazzling light display year after year, which is lit in November with the help of Santa Claus himself! Then, there’s Forest City, a small town with a huge heart that hosts wagon rides, horse-drawn carriages, and, of course, plenty of holiday lights each year in an effort to make the season that much more magical (and they do it quite well). Le Mars has a Pioneer Village, which also loves getting decked out each winter during the first two weekends of December. What are some fun things to do at Christmas in Iowa? Iowa is SO much fun during the holidays! No matter how you dream of your perfect Christmas season, you’re sure to find it somewhere in Iowa. You can go ice skating on any number of our amazing ponds and rinks or build a snowman or two in what will undoubtedly be plentiful snow. You can attend various Christmas festivals and events in almost every town, like the 12 Days of Christmas event at the Hotel Julian Dubuque or A Brucemore Christmas, which goes through the month of December. Sip hot cocoa while shopping for loved ones at any one of Iowa’s most charming main streets, or take a horse-drawn sleigh ride across Iowa’s frozen landscape. You will, undoubtedly, find plenty of amazing, fun things to do at Christmas in Iowa.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Okay, so maybe Iowa isn’t the first place many folks think about when they’re thinking about a picture-perfect holiday season, but we’re here to say that – well – maybe they should. As it turns out, Iowa is home to plenty of delightful little towns that love going all-out for the holidays. For example, the town of Atlantic is home to an absolutely dazzling light display year after year, which is lit in November with the help of Santa Claus himself! Then, there’s Forest City, a small town with a huge heart that hosts wagon rides, horse-drawn carriages, and, of course, plenty of holiday lights each year in an effort to make the season that much more magical (and they do it quite well). Le Mars has a Pioneer Village, which also loves getting decked out each winter during the first two weekends of December.
What are some fun things to do at Christmas in Iowa?
Iowa is SO much fun during the holidays! No matter how you dream of your perfect Christmas season, you’re sure to find it somewhere in Iowa. You can go ice skating on any number of our amazing ponds and rinks or build a snowman or two in what will undoubtedly be plentiful snow. You can attend various Christmas festivals and events in almost every town, like the 12 Days of Christmas event at the Hotel Julian Dubuque or A Brucemore Christmas, which goes through the month of December. Sip hot cocoa while shopping for loved ones at any one of Iowa’s most charming main streets, or take a horse-drawn sleigh ride across Iowa’s frozen landscape. You will, undoubtedly, find plenty of amazing, fun things to do at Christmas in Iowa.
