Take the long way.
The best parts of the trip are usually the ones you didn't plan.
May 25 – May 25, 2026
VFW Memorial Day Service
Burt
Northwest Iowa
Holidays in Northwest Iowa
14 events found
Keep it easy.
The best days usually come without pressure or overplanning.
May 25 – May 25, 2026
American Legion Memorial Day Service
Wesley
At South Park.
Go a little further.
The next turn is often where things start to get interesting.
Oct 22 – Oct 22, 2026
Santa Day
West Bend
Visit Santa, see live Nativity at the Grotto of the Redemption.
Pause when it feels right.
Some stops aren't on the map, but they're worth taking.
Oct 24 – Oct 24, 2026
Holiday Open House
West Bend
Holiday activities, soup and pie supper, retail promotions.
Leave room for the unexpected.
The best parts of a trip rarely show up on an itinerary.
Oct 26 – Oct 26, 2026
Downtown for the Holidays
Sioux City
Holiday season kickoff with soup supper, entertainment, Santa Claus, and fireworks high above downtown.
Stay a little longer.
Rushing through a place rarely does it justice.
Nov 2 – Nov 2, 2026
Live Greeting Card Windows
Algona
Windows come alive with holiday scenes. Strolling entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides, food. 7:00 to 8:30pm.
The road is the experience.
Getting there is often the point, not just the outcome.
Nov 6 – Nov 6, 2026
Santa Claus Day
Algona
Cookie walk, tree display, Santa's workshop.
Let the road decide.
Plans are useful, but flexibility is where the real discoveries happen.
Nov 6 – Dec 6, 2026
Holiday Lighting of the Grotto of the Redemption
West Bend
World-famous grotto outlined in lights.
A place to slow down.
Not every stop needs to be busy to be worth your time.
Nov 8 – Nov 8, 2026
Holiday Celebration
Rockwell City
Santa Claus, horse and buggy rides, entertainment, food.
Not every place needs a reason.
Sometimes it's enough just to be there.
Nov 8 – Nov 8, 2026
Christmas at the Lakota Museum
Lakota
Holiday open house with treats and decorations.
Follow what feels interesting.
Curiosity is usually a better guide than a strict plan.
Nov 9 – Nov 9, 2026
Miracle on Lake Avenue
Storm Lake
Downtown lighted parade, entertainment in each store window, street carolers, and Santa.
Pause when it feels right.
Some stops aren't on the map, but they're worth taking.
Nov 10 – Nov 10, 2026
Holiday Open House
Storm Lake
Retailers offer holiday merchandise, refreshments, displays, and samples.
Worth the stop.
Some places don't need much time, just the right moment.
Nov 15 – Dec 14, 2026
POW Nativity Scene
Algona
Large Nativity scene built by German prisoners of war in 1944. Open First Sunday through…
Take the long way.
The best parts of the trip are usually the ones you didn't plan.
Nov 29 – Nov 29, 2026
Christmas Festival
Lake City
Christmas concert at the Union Church, window displays, soup supper, night parade. Weekend following Thanksgiving.