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Christmas with kids in Iowa City
In Iowa City, downtown fills with free tractor wagon rides, a room full of teddy bears and a scavenger hunt for hidden elves. The college town also has a brass tradition that has gone on for 50 years.
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The story of Christmas in Iowa City
How Iowa City celebrates
Downtown Iowa City's holiday season runs under the name 'Tis the Season, organized by the Iowa City Downtown District. Saturdays bring free tractor wagon rides around downtown and visits with Santa, and kids hunt for hidden elves in local shops. The Holiday Kids' Market, new in 2021, lets children shop for their families with help from Santa's helpers. One of the oldest customs is Holiday Tubas, a brass concert on the steps of the Old Capitol Museum that has been celebrated as a 50th anniversary event, with a toy collected for a local shelter's holiday shop.
Christmas last year in Iowa City
The 2025 season ran from early November through December. Festive Fridays on November 21 and 28 and December 5, 12 and 19 offered free Holly Trolley rides and carols. Santa Saturdays at FilmScene took place on November 29 and December 6, 13 and 20, with free photos on your own device. The Teddy Bear Room at the Hilton Garden Inn opened November 29 with Teddy Bear Storytime for ages 2 to 5. Across town, Lights at the Lake ran nightly at West Overlook Campground through December 31, with walk-throughs on Wednesdays and drive-throughs costing up to $10 per car.
Fun facts about Christmas in Iowa City
Kids who find 10 or more hidden elves around downtown can turn in a card for a prize, and the hunt ran from November 29 through December 31 in 2025. The Teddy Bear Room is filled with hundreds of bears of many sizes. Tractor wagon rides come around every 15 minutes, and riders get a candy cane. The Holiday Kids' Market gives each child about 30 to 45 minutes to shop for gifts before an elf helps with wrapping, and the market was brand new in 2021.
Traditions today
- Tractor wagon rides: Free rides around downtown on Saturdays, with a candy cane for each rider.
- Hunt for the Elves: A free scavenger hunt through downtown shops, with a prize for finding 10 or more elves.
- Teddy Bear Room: A room of hundreds of teddy bears at the Hilton Garden Inn, with a weekly Teddy Bear Storytime for ages 2 to 5.
- Holiday Kids' Market: Children shop for their families with help from Santa's helpers, then get help wrapping, an idea that began in 2021.
- Holiday Tubas: A brass concert on the Old Capitol steps, celebrated as a 50th anniversary tradition, with a toy collected for a local holiday shop.
- Lights at the Lake: A nightly drive-through light display at West Overlook Campground from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve.
A fact for kids
In Iowa City, kids can hunt for hidden elves all over downtown. Find 10 or more and you can turn in a card for a prize.
Questions about Christmas in Iowa City
What is Iowa City's main Christmas tradition?
Downtown Iowa City's 'Tis the Season program is the center of the holiday season. It brings free tractor wagon rides, visits with Santa on Saturdays, the Teddy Bear Room, a Hunt for the Elves and a Holiday Pop-Up Market, all organized by the Iowa City Downtown District for families.
When does the holiday season start downtown?
In 2025, activities began in early November with the Holiday Kids' Market, and most Saturday and evening events started the weekend after Thanksgiving, on November 29. The Teddy Bear Room, Hunt for the Elves and Santa Saturdays then ran through December, and the pop-up market continued to December 24.
What are tractor wagon rides?
Tractor wagon rides are free trips around downtown on a wagon pulled by a tractor. In 2025 they ran on four Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm, with wagons leaving about every 15 minutes from Washington and Clinton Streets, and each rider received a candy cane.
What is the Teddy Bear Room?
It is a downtown room at the Hilton Garden Inn filled with hundreds of teddy bears of many sizes. In 2025 it opened on November 29 and stayed open through December 31, and a Teddy Bear Storytime for ages 2 to 5 was held on Tuesday mornings at 9:30.
What is the Hunt for the Elves?
It is a free scavenger hunt in which kids look for small elves hidden in downtown shops. In 2025 it ran from November 29 through December 31, and children who found 10 or more could turn in their cards at Iowa Book or the Iowa City Public Library Kids' Department.
Where can kids see Santa in downtown Iowa City?
In 2025, Santa Saturdays took place at FilmScene at the Chauncey, 404 E College St., from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm on four Saturdays. Photos were free on your own device, and kids could bring letters for Santa. A Santa display stayed up all season.
What is the Holiday Kids' Market?
It is a downtown shopping event just for children. Kids shop for their holiday lists with help from Santa's helpers, spending about 30 to 45 minutes picking gifts, and then get help wrapping them. The market was new in 2021, and parents submit a gift list and budget ahead of time.
What is Holiday Tubas?
Holiday Tubas is a brass concert on the steps of the Old Capitol Museum, celebrated as a 50th anniversary event by Think Iowa City. Listeners are invited to bring a new unwrapped toy for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program's Holiday Shop. The 2025 concert was held on December 12.
What are Festive Fridays?
Festive Fridays are Friday evenings from 5 to 8 pm with late-night shopping, carols and free Holly Trolley rides downtown. In 2025 they were held on November 21 and 28 and December 5, 12 and 19, giving families several chances to enjoy the lights after dinner.
Is there a drive-through light show near Iowa City?
Yes, Lights at the Lake is a nightly light display at West Overlook Campground in Iowa City, running from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve in 2025. Admission was up to $10 per car, with walk-through nights on Wednesdays at $5 per person.
What music can families hear at Christmas in Iowa City?
Two music traditions stand out. Holiday Tubas is a brass concert on the steps of the Old Capitol Museum, celebrated as a 50th anniversary event. On Festive Fridays, families can hear carols and ride the free Holly Trolley downtown. Check our Iowa City Christmas events guide on this page for this year's confirmed dates.
Is downtown Iowa City good for toddlers at Christmas?
Yes, many activities are free and short, such as tractor wagon rides, the Teddy Bear Room and Teddy Bear Storytime for ages 2 to 5. Pick one or two a day rather than rushing between them, and check our Iowa City Christmas events guide on this page for current times.
Where can we park when visiting downtown?
The downtown organizers noted that downtown ramps offered free parking on Small Business Saturday in 2025, which kicks off the season. Parking rules can change for each event, so check the current year's page. Our Iowa City Christmas events guide on this page lists the confirmed 2026 plans.
Does it usually snow in Iowa City at Christmas?
Iowa City is in eastern Iowa, where winters are cold and snow is common, so families often bundle up for outdoor events like tractor wagon rides. Dress children in layers, hats and mittens, and plan for warm-up stops at downtown shops and cafes.
How do I explain Santa's helpers to a young child?
Tell your child that Santa's helpers are friendly elves who help kids pick presents and wrap them. At the Holiday Kids' Market, children shop on their own with an elf by their side, which is a good time to practice thinking about what someone else would like.
What should we bring for an outdoor wagon ride?
Bring warm layers, mittens and a hat, since the rides are outside. Plan on a short wait between wagons, which leave about every 15 minutes. Each rider gets a candy cane, so bring wipes for sticky fingers and a small bag for wrappers.
How can kids help others at Christmas in Iowa City?
Toy drives are part of the season. Holiday Tubas invites guests to bring a new unwrapped toy for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program's Holiday Shop, and kids can pick out and carry the toy themselves. It is an easy way to talk with kids about giving.
Who organizes the downtown holiday season in Iowa City?
The Iowa City Downtown District organizes the downtown season, which goes by the name 'Tis the Season. It includes free tractor wagon rides, the Teddy Bear Room, the Hunt for the Elves, Santa Saturdays and the Holiday Kids' Market. Think Iowa City lists the Holiday Tubas concert alongside other festivities.
What are good Christmas books to read before visiting?
Look for picture books about Santa's workshop, elves and winter traditions, and ask your library for holiday storytime picks. Reading one before you go, then spotting an elf or a teddy bear downtown, helps children connect the story to the real place.
How can we find this year's Iowa City holiday dates?
Dates change each year, so check our Iowa City Christmas events guide on this page for what we have confirmed for the 2026 season. The 2025 pattern was a Teddy Bear Room, elf hunt and Saturday wagon rides from the weekend after Thanksgiving through December.
Sources
- Downtown Iowa City Holiday Season 2025, Iowa City Downtown District
- Holiday Festivities in Iowa City, Think Iowa City
- Downtown Iowa City celebrates the holidays with return of 'Tis the Season, Hola America
- Where to see holiday lights, Santa and more around Eastern Iowa this year, The Gazette