NOW UPDATED FOR 2021!
Christmas is coming! The Sioux City area has so many fun and festive events to celebrate the Christmas season, and this post will be updated throughout the coming weeks as new events and details announced. I'm thrilled to share all the festive fun with you! You might also enjoy my posts on Christmas Road Trips (Christmas fun in Omaha, Sioux Falls, Okoboji, and more!) Christmas Tree Farms in Siouxland, Family Friendly New Year's Eve, Experience Gifts for Siouxland Families, and Last Minute Christmas Gifts You Can Buy in Siouxland!
This post features the best Christmas events in Siouxland, the best places in Siouxland to see Christmas lights, and some of the best places in Siouxland to see Santa!
Sioux City & Siouxland Christmas Events
November
Christmas at the Homestead at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
Saturday 11/13
Living Lux Holiday Tour of Homes Thursday 11/18 through Saturday 11/20
Monday 11/22
Hometown Christmas in Le Mars Friday 11/26 and Saturday 11/27
Santa Supper in Hinton Wednesday 12/1
Christmas at Morningside Thursday 12/2 and Friday 12/3
Holiday Gift-Making Workshop Saturday 12/4
Santa's Whistlestop Tour at the Sioux City Railroad Museum Saturday 12/4 and Saturday 12/11
Hinton Holiday Homes Tour Saturday 12/4
Breakfast with Santa in Jefferson, SD Sunday 12/5
Sloan Holiday Lighted Parade & To-Go Soup Lunch Sunday 12/5
Winter Workshops at LaunchPad Children's Museum Mondays 12/6, (also on 12/13, and 12/20)
Holiday Gift Workshop by Woodbury County Extension Wednesday 12/8
Drive-in Holiday Movie at the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA Friday 12/10
Winter Fun Day at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center Saturday, 12/11
Gingerbread Cookie Decorating at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center Saturday 12/11
Holiday Drop & Shop Saturday 12/11
Holiday Music live concert at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center Sunday 12/12
Christmas With the Sioux City Symphony
Sunday 12/12
Winter Workshops at LaunchPad Children's Museum Monday 12/13, (also on 12/6, and 12/20)
A Very Merry Y-Mas at the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA Thursday 12/16
Sara Evans Blue Christmas at the Sioux City Orpheum Theatre Thursday 12/16
Home Free Christmas at the Sioux City Orpheum Theatre Friday 12/17
Siouxland Civic Dance presents The Nutcracker Saturday 12/18 and Sunday 12/19
Sioux City Parks and Rec Breakfast with Santa
Saturday 12/18 and Sunday 12/19
Songs for the Holidays with Jack & Mike Langley at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center Sunday, 12/19
Winter Workshops at LaunchPad Children's Museum Mondays 12/6, (also on 12/13, and 12/20)
Siouxland is full of houses with beautiful and festive light displays, but here are a few of the best places in Sioux City and Siouxland to go if you're out driving specifically to see Christmas lights. If you know houses or neighborhoods I should add, please let me know, or if you see one on the list that ought to be taken off because it is no longer active, please let me know that too!
Sioux City
Santa is coming to Siouxland! Santa will be at many of the festive events this season, and I will list all events with confirmed attendance by Mr. Claus himself here:
- November 13th from noon to 4pm at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota
- Historical buildings will be festively decorated, vendors will be on site, and there will be delicious treats and other festive fun!
- FREE to attend (treats and vendor ware prices may vary)
- The Holiday Tour of Homes will start and end at the Warrior Hotel, with bussing between locations included as part of the tour.
- Tickets are $50 per person, with proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland
- The annual Holiday Lighted Parade is back to its traditional format for 2021, officially beginning at 6:15pm on Monday, November 22nd! Lighted parade floats will travel along Historic 4th Street from Iowa St. to Nebraska St. And at the end of the parade, St. Nicholas will stop to help with the lighting of the city tree in front of the Sioux City Public Museum!
- Cocoa, cider, and cookies will be for sale along the parade route at both the Sioux City Convention Center and Hardline Coffee Co.
- LaunchPad Children's Museum will be offering free admission with donation of socks, hand warmers, or travel size toiletries for local charities, from 3-5pm for families looking for a fun option before the parade!
- Also back for 2021 is the Festival of Trees in the Ho-Chunk Center. Each year, area businesses and non-profit organizations elaborately decorate Christmas trees, which are then auctioned off for charity (this year's auction is benefiting the Sioux City Railroad Museum!) They're all so fun to see, and a great option if you need a new tree for your home or workplace. This year's auction will take place on Thursday, December 2nd at 6:30pm.
- And Santa's House also opens for the season on 11/22, offering crafts and activities for children with proceeds going to charitable causes associated with Unity Point like the Children's Miracle Network.
Hometown Christmas in Le Mars
- Festivities kick off Friday with a drive-in movie showing of Home Alone at 6:30pm, hosted by Total Motors
- Saturday, the fun continues with Breakfast with Rudolph, a Reindeer Roundup, a 5k & 10k run/walk, crafts for all ages, cookie decorating, Christmas storytimes, live dance performances from local dance schools, and musical performances from the Dove-nominated gospel group, The Browns (including songs from their newly release Christmas album), all culminating with a tree lighting ceremony at 6pm!
- For more information, visit the Christmas in Hometown Le Mars website.
December 1st through 5th
- Hinton area families are invited to the Hinton Community Center for a FREE Belgian Waffle supper with Santa himself from 5:30 to 7:30pm!
- For more information, check out the event post on Facebook.
- This annual live musical performance from Morningside college student groups is better than ever in 2021 with two performances; both the Thursday and Friday concerts will begin at 7:30pm and tickets are required for either.
- For more information or to reserve your FREE tickets, visit the Christmas at Morningside page of the Morningside University website.
- The Sioux City Art Center is transforming into Santa's Workshop! Kids are encouraged to come create handmade gifts for FREE with 4 time sessions and 8 different gift items to choose from.
- Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be visiting the Sioux City Art Center this Saturday, from 2-4pm
- Registration is required, and kids can register for up to 2 times/projects.
- For more information, visit the Sioux City Art Center website
- This annual event is always a delight for local children and train lovers of all ages
- Come explore the trains on the museum grounds and enjoy festive fun!
- More details coming soon! I'll update as soon as I see them, but also feel free to watch the Sioux City Railroad Museum website and social media for the best info.
- Enjoy some of Hinton's most festive homes from a trolley ride taking off from Deer Run Golf Course. Then, head back to Deer Run for treats, and auction, door prizes, and more!
- Doors open at 5:30 with trolleys leaving by 6:30pm
- For more information or to purchase tickets for $25 per person (must be 21+ to attend), visit the Hinton Growth Organization website
- Make Christmas crafts, enjoy a delicious holiday breakfast, have fun coloring, and take pictures with Santa!
- $5 per person, or $10 per person for all-you-can-eat, with proceeds going towards repairing the ball fields in Jefferson.
- Held at the Jefferson Community Center in Jefferson, South Dakota from 9am to noon
- From 11am to 2pm, soup lunches will be available for carryout at the Sloan Community Hall with soup, a roll, and a cookie (FREE with donations accepted)
- Parade floats will be along 4th and Evans Street, and attendees can walk around the floats from 5:45pm to 6:15pm or drive through from 6:15pm to 7:15pm
December 6th through 12th
- From 3-5pm, kids are invited to participate in STEM activities and make gifts to bring home to give loved ones this holiday season
- $15 per child for all 3 sessions for members, $20 for non-members
- Find more information or register on the LaunchPad website
- From 6:30-8pm, kids from 4th through 8th grade are invited to come make handmade gifts for the holiday season!
- $10 per participant. More information and registration available through their Facebook event post
- Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas will begin at 6:30pm
- Sound will be broadcast over the radio, so watch for info about which frequency when you arrive
- Concessions will be available with proceeds supporting the YMCA's Winterfest lights and events, and admission is FREE
- Enjoy fun activities from 10am to 2pm, including a hike (or snowshoe hike if weather permits!) at 10am or 1pm, plus slingshot training, and FREE take-home craft kits for kids ages 5+ to take home. We got one of the craft boxes last year and it was super cute!
- More info in their event post
- Come decorate gingerbread cookies anytime from 1-3pm, with all supplies and materials included for FREE!
- All ages welcome!
- Lewis & Clark Kids Club Members are invited to a special early access event beginning at noon; contact the center for more information on joining their fun kids club!
- Parents are invited to drop kids ages 4-10 years old off at Long Lines Auditorium for an afternoon of active fun, crafts, and a snack from 1-5pm while parents shop or have other festive fun!
- Hosted by the Hesse Foundation and the Arena
- For tickets and more information, head here. Event cost is $20 per child ahead of time or $25 at the door.
- At 2:30pm, catch the New Horizons Band playing holiday favorites at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, with a reception to follow (no promises, but at the LCIC, that usually means free cookies!)
- FREE admission; all ages welcome!
Sunday 12/12
- The Sioux City Symphony Orchestra presents Christmas favorites beginning at 3pm at the Sioux City Orpheum Theater.
- For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Sioux City Orpheum website!
December 13th through 19th
- From 3-5pm, kids are invited to participate in STEM activities and make gifts to bring home to give loved ones this holiday season
- $15 per child for all 3 sessions for members, $20 for non-members
- Find more information or register on the LaunchPad website
- Join in festive fun at the YMCA including cookie and ornament decorating, a bouncy house, and fun in the pool!
- Event open from 6-8pm; FREE for Y members, $5 per person for non-members
- More information here.
- This country music icon brings classic Christmas with a twang to the Orpheum stage Thursday night at 7pm
- Check out my full post about the Sara Evans Christmas concert in Sioux City with lots of details and a ticket giveaway (giveaway open 12/8-12/12)
- For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Sioux City Orpheum website.
- Get ready to celebrate Christmas with smooth harmonies from these a capella legends at the Orpheum on Friday night!
- For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Sioux City Orpheum website.
- Catch the classic Christmas ballet live at the South Sioux City Middle School stage
- For extra fun, kids 4-8 to attend Sugar Plum Fairy Dance Camp. No prior dance experience is needed. $35 per child.
- For more information, to buy tickets to The Nutcracker (on sale beginning 11/18) or sign up for Sugar Plum Fairy Dance Camp, visit Siouxland Civic Dance.
Saturday 12/18 and Sunday 12/19
- Enjoy breakfast, tubing, and festive fun at Breakfast with Santa at Cone Park!
- Four sessions, with two times each morning, but limited attendance so sign up as soon as you're sure you'd like to go!
- Register by calling (712)279-6126 or online using the Parks & Rec registration website. If you have trouble, try going through the link from their FB event post!
- Beginning at 2:30pm, catch the duo in a live musical performance of holiday favorites and originals, with a reception to follow
- FREE and open to all ages!
Handel's Messiah
Sunday 12/19
- The Missouri River Choral Society will be presenting the Christmas section of Handel's Messiah at Blessed Sacrament Church (at 30th and Jackson Street) at 3pm on 12/19
- Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, available at the door or by emailing jcflanery7@gmail.com
December 20th through 25th
- From 3-5pm, kids are invited to participate in STEM activities and make gifts to bring home to give loved ones this holiday season
- $15 per child for all 3 sessions for members, $20 for non-members
- Find more information or register on the LaunchPad website
Best Christmas Light Displays in Siouxland
- Downtown Sioux City, especially the city Christmas tree in front of the Sioux City Public Museum on 4th Street, beautifully decorated storefronts throughout downtown, and colorful lights on the Warrior Hotel!
- Cherrywood Lane/Applewood Ave neighborhood in Morningside
- Blessed Sacrament neighborhood in Sioux City (Jackson and Jones streets between 29th and 30th) ** Featured on the Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley tour
- Grandview Blvd between 35th & 36th Street
- The Heights neighborhood, especially the Grandview Park Rose Garden. And look for the elaborately decorated vintage truck on Blackstone (off Valley Drive)!
- Ketelsen Christmas Light Show, formerly on Romans Rd, now at 2700 S Martha!
- Sunnybrook Community Church, lit up each night and also giving out cocoa and goodies for kids on Monday 12/20 from 6-7:30pm
South Sioux City & Dakota City
- 401 5th Avenue, South Sioux City
- Winterfest by the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA at the South Sioux City Scenic Park/Campground
- 1503 Willow Street, Dakota City
North Sioux City & Dakota Dunes
- Adams Homestead & Nature Preserve
- The Meadows neighborhood in Dakota Dunes, especially corner of E. Sawgrass & Pebble Beach
Other neighboring communities
- 510 Baywood Ct., Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
- Christmas Acres, 18481 Impala Ave, LeMars, Iowa
- Falls Park, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Watchorn home at 58960 882nd Road in Ponca, Nebraska, as seen on ABC's The Great Christmas Light Fight!
- In past years, Travel Plus has offered this fun trolley ride leaving from downtown Sioux City on Friday nights, visiting some of Sioux City's best light displays for about $10 per person (prices vary slightly each year but should be in the same ballpark.)
- Trolleys are also available to rent, and in 2020 cost $250 for a 25-person capacity trolley or $400 for a 40-person capacity trolley
- Availability unconfirmed for 2021; call Travel Plus at (712)233-1113 to get a ticket (leave a message with your phone number if they don't answer--they will call you back!) or e-mail TravelPlus at travelplustlc@gmail.com.
Santa in Sioux City
- Downtown Sioux City Holiday Lighted Parade (see above for more details)
- Breakfast with Santa, at both the Sioux City and Jefferson events (see above for more details!)
- Santa's House by Unity Point (see above for more details)
- Santa at the Hobbit Hole
- The hobbit hole Air BNB, owned by Koffie Knechtion in South Sioux City, Nebraska, is hosting Santa for a really unique and charming photo opportunity! All slots are currently full as of 11/5/21, but I will be sure to update if they open more dates or times!
- Sweet Treats with Santa at LaunchPad Children's Museum
- On Thursday, December 16th and Sunday, December 19th, reserve a time for your kids to visit with Santa and eat some sweet treats! $20 per child (siblings $15 after the first child in a family!)
- Santa at the Southern Hills Mall
- Santa will also be at the Southern Hills Mall to take pictures with kids. There will be many sessions of traditional Christmas photos available as well as a special sensory sensitive event! Reservations are encouraged, and more info is available on the Southern Hills Mall website.
Merry Christmas, Siouxland!
As someone who recently moved here, thank you for putting this all in one place! Especially the lights displays! We can’t wait to drive around. :)
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