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INSIDE IOWA’S ‘CHRISTMAS TOWNS’ A BIT OF THE NORTH POLE IN THE MIDWEST
Most states are full of cities that set up a Santa’s village in the mall, light a tree, and consider Christmas taken care of, but not Iowa. We take the holiday seriously here in the Hawkeye State, and that’s doubly true for our tiniest towns. For decades, “Christmas Towns” have popped up across Iowa every November and December. These wholesome spots are bastions of holiday cheer, filled with twinkle lights, parades, puppet shows, hot chocolate, and visiting Santas. The festivities stick around for days, weeks, or even months at a time. We’re not talking about fabricated displays, either. For the most part, Iowa’s Christmas Towns aren’t filled with Wild West facades (unless you count the reindeer stables) — they’re just little hamlets whose residents are obsessed with the holidays.
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OnlyInYourState.com calls our Christmas Towns “magical” and points to 11 spots with special seasonal celebrations. Here are some of our favorites.
• Keokuk, Iowa , made the list for its more than 1 million Christmas lights, and the 20,000 cars that pass through to see them each year. It’s also been home to Toyland, Santa’s Workshop, and a famous nativity scene since 1989. • Anamosa, Iowa , got a shoutout for its annual Christmas Tree Walk and Craft Show, and its one-night-only supper with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The town also boasts a Christmas concert, and you can take it from us — there’s nothing quite like the jolly sound of Christmas carols floating over Iowa snowbanks. • Storm Lake, Iowa , made the cut because it’s home to Santa’s Castle. The rest of the year, this historic building is the Carnegie Library, but every December, it transforms into a Christmas wonderland fit for a fairy tale. • Boone, Iowa , is special because it’s the station of the real-life Polar Express, aka the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. The railroad offers hourlong train rides that include all of the fixings kids love: hot chocolate, story time, Christmas carols, and a visit from Santa. This has been a rough year for Iowa’s Christmas towns, and many may not open in all of their splendor due to COVID-19. Still, we have no doubt they’ll be back up and jingling next year.
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