5 of the Best Iowa Towns to Visit During the Christmas Season

The Christmas season is upon us!

Reader's Digest recently posted a list of the 55 best Christmas towns in America, and Valley Junction was chosen as number one here in Iowa! Their "Jingle in the Junction" event throughout the month of December is a popular stop for Iowa families that want to get into the holiday spirit. But, Valley Junction isn't the only awesome Iowa town to visit during the Christmas season! Here are five other festive places in Iowa:

Amana Colonies

The Amana Colonies are a must-stop during the holiday season! The entire town is decked out with festive Christmas decor and there are a TON of different events and activities happening throughout the month of December. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, visitors can stop by the Festhalle Barn for the Tannenbaum Forest to see "over 60 unique Christmas Trees, each decorated by a different business, organization, group, or family," plus the 17-foot German Christmas Pyramid!

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from November 29th to December 22nd, the Amana Colonies will celebrate the season with their Prelude to Christmas Festival. Here's a look at the 2024 schedule:

• Shop Small Weekend
  • Friday, November 29th through Sunday, December 1st
• Amana Traditions Weekend
  • Friday, December 6th through Sunday, December 8th
• Children’s Weekend
  • Friday, December 13th through Sunday, December 15th
• Christmas Sweater Weekend
  • Friday, December 20th through Saturday, December 21th

Don't forget to stop at The General Store and check out the International Christmas Market! It's decked out from ceiling to floor with Christmas decor!

Keokuk

Keokuk, Iowa is home to The City of Christmas, a huge holiday display at Rand Park that runs from November 27th, 2024 through January 1st, 2025 . It's so popular that almost 20,000 vehicles pass through it each year! According to the website, "it now features over 150 light displays and over one million Christmas lights." It was even voted 2021's Top Christmas Town in Iowa!

The City of Christmas will run seven days a week, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You can check out the full schedule for the 2024 event HERE.

Atlantic

Located in Southwest Iowa, the city of Atlantic prides itself on its Christmas celebrations. Called "Iowa's City of Lights," the website invites Iowans to "be dazzled by more than 200,000 LED lights in a stretch of 6 blocks of historic buildings filled with gift shops, clothing stores and boutiques." 

In addition to all the beautiful lights, Atlantic also hosts a series of Christmas events each year. The 2024 Lighted Parade and fireworks display will take place on December 7th beginning at 6 p.m., and visitors can visit Santa's Cabin and take a horse-drawn carriage ride on certain dates through December 21st. You can check out the city's holiday calendar HERE.

Wyoming

Wyoming, Iowa, also known as "Christmas City," is well-known for their holiday spirit! An article from Only in Your State says they have a "beautiful canopy of Christmas lights that spans four blocks along the town's Main Street," as well as 40 Christmas trees lining the streets.

The 2024 Wyoming Christmas City Celebration will take place on Sunday, December 8th from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It will feature visits with Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, vendors, dancing, food, kid's activities, and more. You can read more about this year's events HERE.

Oskaloosa

Every holiday season, Main Street in Oskaloosa is transformed into a Christmas wonderland! The town kicks off the season with their "Turn on the Lights" event, where all the buildings downtown are decked out with colorful Christmas lights. That will take place Saturday, November 23rd from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Oskaloosa also hosts an annual Lighted Christmas Parade, which will take place this year on Saturday, December 7th at 7 p.m. This year's parade theme is "Twinkling Christmas." Saturday, November 30th, you can check out the Merry Little Downtown Christmas event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Santa and his reindeer will be on-hand, and you can enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides around the square and cocoa & cookies.

Looking for some festive light displays in Eastern and Central Iowa? You can see a list of them HERE!