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Christmas with kids in Dubuque
In Dubuque, one neighborhood has lit candles in paper bags on Christmas night since 1935. Add department store windows, a beloved blue spruce and a century-old candy giveaway, and the river city has plenty of Christmas stories.
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Scuba Santa
When: Sat, Dec 5 and Sun, Dec 6, 11 am to noon
Where: National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque
Cost: Included with general admission or membership
The story of Christmas in Dubuque
How Dubuque celebrates
Dubuque's oldest Christmas light show is the luminarias on Plymouth Court and Victoria Place. The neighborhood adopted the tradition in 1935, and about 1,500 luminarias line the sidewalks on Christmas night, lit at 5 p.m. The custom began in Spain and reached Mexico in the 1800s. Downtown, children once rode in to see the window displays at big department stores like Roshek's, meet Santa and maybe watch a parade. Today the University of Dubuque lights a blue spruce each December, a tradition that has run for decades.
Christmas last year in Dubuque
On December 3, 2025, the University of Dubuque held its 28th annual tree lighting on Alumni Common, adding a second blue spruce planted that spring, with warm drinks afterward in Blades Hall. The same evening, Hotel Julien held a free tree lighting with cookies, hot chocolate, music and Santa. On December 5, Christmas at Heritage Center presented "Come, Messiah" with choirs, handbells and strings. The season also included Breakfast with Santa on December 6, Scuba Santa at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, and the World Ballet Company's Nutcracker on December 14.
Fun facts about Christmas in Dubuque
The University of Dubuque's original blue spruce is nicknamed "Bruce Spruce." In 1921 so many kids went coasting after schools closed that police banned sledding on 21 city streets. That Christmas, Telegraph Herald staff split a ton of candy into 2,000 bags, and children aged 12 and under watched western movies at the Majestic Theater, now the Five Flags Theater. A Boy Scout troop built a large "Kiddie Tree" there, Santa switched on its lights at about 4 p.m., and 30 firemen helped kids pick out toys.
Traditions today
- Luminarias on Plymouth Court and Victoria Place: About 1,500 luminarias line the sidewalks on Christmas night, a neighborhood tradition since 1935.
- University of Dubuque tree lighting: A blue spruce nicknamed Bruce Spruce is lit each December, and 2025 marked the 28th annual ceremony with a second spruce added.
- Hotel Julien tree lighting: A free evening of cookies, hot chocolate, music and a visit from Santa at Hotel Julien.
- Christmas at Heritage Center: A University of Dubuque concert called "Come, Messiah" with choirs, handbells, strings and an organ.
- Santa visits around town: Breakfast with Santa, Cookies with Santa and Scuba Santa at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium all happened in December 2025.
- Nutcracker at the Five Flags Center: The World Ballet Company performed The Nutcracker in two shows on December 14, 2025.
A fact for kids
In Dubuque, a neighborhood fills its sidewalks with about 1,500 glowing paper-bag lanterns on Christmas night. The tradition started in 1935.
Questions about Christmas in Dubuque
What is the oldest Christmas tradition in Dubuque?
One of the oldest we could verify is the luminarias on Plymouth Court and Victoria Place, which that neighborhood adopted in 1935. About 1,500 luminarias line the sidewalks on Christmas night, lit starting at 5 p.m. It is a quiet, glowing tradition that families can enjoy together.
What are luminarias and where did they come from?
Luminarias are paper bags that hold a candle and glow like small lanterns. The tradition began in Spain and reached Mexico in the 1800s. In Dubuque, the Plymouth Court and Victoria Place neighborhood adopted it in 1935, so these sidewalks have glowed on Christmas night for about 90 years.
How many luminarias are there in Dubuque?
About 1,500 luminarias line the sidewalks of Plymouth Court and Victoria Place on Christmas night. They are lit at 5 p.m. A 2020 news report said the neighborhood planned to keep the tradition going even in a year when many other traditions were changed or dropped, which shows how much locals value it.
How can I explain luminarias to my kids?
Tell your kids that luminarias are tiny paper-bag lanterns, each with a candle inside, set in a long row like a glowing path. The idea came from Spain and Mexico, and Dubuque has shared it since 1935. Children enjoy counting the bags and noticing how the light flickers.
Did Dubuque have Christmas parades in the old days?
Yes. Encyclopedia Dubuque says that for city children, Christmas meant going downtown to see department store windows, meet Santa and possibly watch a parade. Its photos show Roshek's, Washington Park and a Christmas parade. The page does not give dates for the parades.
What was Roshek's and why is it part of Dubuque Christmas?
Roshek's was one of Dubuque's large department stores, and its window displays were a Christmas highlight for local children. Encyclopedia Dubuque shows photos of Santa in Roshek's window and of the store's holiday displays. Families remember going downtown to see them.
What was Christmas in Dubuque like in 1921?
In 1921 Dubuque had a Christmas Day high of 21 degrees and enough snow for sledding. Stores sold dolls for 15 cents to $1.25 and sleds from $1.59. The Salvation Army promised a Christmas dinner for every needy family, and local newspaper staff handed out candy bags to children.
Why did Dubuque police ban sledding in 1921?
After schools closed for the break, a series of coasting accidents led Dubuque police to ban sledding on 21 city streets, including Dodge, 14th and Hill. The city manager also asked homeowners to clear their sidewalks and spread ash or sand, because the weather was snowy and icy.
What was the Kiddie Tree at the Majestic Theater?
In 1921 a Boy Scout troop built a large Kiddie Tree on the stage of the Majestic Theater, decorated with toys given by the public. Santa turned on the lights at about 4 p.m., and 30 uniformed firemen helped children cross the stage and pick a toy. The Majestic is now the Five Flags Theater.
How did Dubuque give candy to children in 1921?
Telegraph Herald staff, called Goodfellows, split a ton of candy into 2,000 bags and added an orange to each. The Dubuque Saratoga Club added popcorn balls, and more than 100 businesses and groups donated candy. Kids aged 12 and under also saw a Christmas Eve Day movie program at the Majestic.
Who is Bruce Spruce in Dubuque?
Bruce Spruce is the nickname of the University of Dubuque's original blue spruce, named after the person who began the holiday tree tradition. The tree has grown with the campus and is described as a symbol of hope, faith and togetherness. A second blue spruce was planted in spring 2025.
How long has the University of Dubuque held its tree lighting?
The University of Dubuque held its 28th annual tree lighting in 2025, which means the tradition began in the late 1990s. The ceremony took place on December 3 at 4 p.m. on Alumni Common and was open to the whole community, with a live stream and warm drinks in Blades Hall.
Where can kids see a big Christmas tree in Dubuque?
The University of Dubuque's blue spruces on Alumni Common are lit each December, and Hotel Julien holds its own tree lighting with cookies, cocoa, music and Santa. Both held ceremonies on December 3 in 2025. See our Dubuque Christmas events guide on this page for this season's date and time.
Is there a Christmas tree lighting in Dubuque?
Yes, there are at least two. In 2025 both the University of Dubuque and Hotel Julien held tree lightings on December 3. The university's was the 28th annual and had a live stream. Hotel Julien's was free and included cookies, hot chocolate and Santa. Check our Dubuque Christmas events guide on this page.
Can kids meet Santa in Dubuque?
Yes. In December 2025 kids could meet Santa at Hotel Julien's tree lighting and breakfast, at Goose & Giggles Play Cafe's Cookies With Santa, and at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, where Scuba Santa appeared December 6 and 7. Our Dubuque Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's visits.
What is Scuba Santa in Dubuque?
Scuba Santa is a holiday visit at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, where Santa goes scuba. In 2025 he appeared on December 6 and 7 from noon to 1 p.m., and it was included with a membership or general admission. Kids love the idea of a diving Santa.
What is Christmas at Heritage Center?
It is a University of Dubuque concert called Come, Messiah, called a beloved tradition. In 2025 it took place at 7:30 p.m. on December 5 in Butler Hall, with the concert band, choirs, handbell ensemble, strings and a pipe organ. The program has grown so much that the orchestra opens and the band joins later.
Is The Nutcracker performed in Dubuque?
Yes. In 2025 the World Ballet Company performed The Nutcracker at the Five Flags Center on December 14, with shows at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets were required. See our Dubuque Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
Does it snow in Dubuque at Christmas?
Dubuque is a snowy river city, and snow has been part of Christmas here for a long time. In 1921 the Christmas Day high was only 21 degrees and snow was deep enough for sledding, and an ice gorge slowed the Mississippi upstream. Dress warmly for any outdoor Christmas tradition.
Why is Christmas in Dubuque special?
Dubuque mixes old and new: neighborhood luminarias since 1935, department store window memories, a nicknamed blue spruce and a 1921 history of kindness, with candy bags and toy giveaways. The Mississippi River museum even has a Scuba Santa, which adds a river-town twist to the season.
Sources
- Christmas, Encyclopedia Dubuque
- Dubuque at Christmas, 1921, Eagle 103.3 FM
- Plymouth Court, Victoria Place Luminarias: A Wonderful Holiday Tradition in Dubuque, AM 1490 WDBQ
- University of Dubuque Tree Lighting 2025, Eagle 103.3 FM
- Christmas at Heritage Center to Celebrate the Spiritual Meaning of the Season, University of Dubuque
- Holiday Events in Eastern Iowa, December 2025, KHAK