This year’s holiday celebrations are packed with parades, fireworks, shopping, visits with Santa, and yes, even reindeer! And our 2021 Christmas Event Guide will ensure you don’t miss a moment of the fun.
The festivities kick off Thanksgiving weekend with annual favorites like the Live Reindeer Exhibit at Santa’s TOYS and the Santa Claus Land of Lights. December 3 marks the official beginning of the Santa Claus Christmas Celebration, spanning the first three weekends of December. And on December 4, Christmas comes to Rockport for a full day of holiday activities.
Whether you’re staying for a whole weekend or passing through the area for a day, you’ll find so many ways to make your visit merry and memorable!
$ = Cost/admission for event
Thanksgiving Weekend
Christmas fun can start as soon as the turkey and pumpkin pie have been eaten!
Thursday, November 25
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
5:00 – 9:00 pm Christmas in Dale Light Show (Nightly through January 8, 2022; Sunday – Thursday, 5:00 – 9:00 pm and Friday – Saturday, 5:00 – 11:00 pm)
Friday, November 26
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
Saturday, November 27
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
11:30 am – 4:00 pm Live Reindeer Exhibit at Santa’s TOYS
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
6:00 – 7:00 pm Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire at Santa’s Candy Castle
Sunday, November 28
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
11:30 am – 4:00 pm Live Reindeer Exhibit at Santa’s TOYS
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
November 29 – December 23 (weekdays)
5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 pm Santa Claus Flyer Train Rides ($)
First Three Weekends of December
The first three weekends of December are bursting with holiday fun! Christmas comes to the city of Rockport on December 4 with a day full of festivities, like a craft fair and parade. And the Santa Claus Christmas Celebration features a three-weekend schedule that includes fireworks, a parade with a new-for-2021 route, an arts and crafts show, and more fun annual events.
Friday, December 3
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
5:00 pm Lighting of Santa’s Great Big LED Tree of Lights at Kringle Place Shopping Center
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Christmas at the Barn at Stir-n-Up Hope
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
6:00 – 8:30 pm Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)
7:00 – 9:00 pm An Evening of Song with Hannah Fontilus at Monkey Hollow Winery and Distillery
Saturday, December 4
9:00 am – 3:00 pm Treemendous Christmas in the Village at Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum ($)
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
9:30 am Nightmare Before Christmas Golf Scramble at Christmas Lake Golf Club ($)
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Glitter Tattoos at Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop
2:00 pm Rockport Christmas Parade
3:00 – 7:00 pm All-You-Can-Eat Buffet at Santa’s Merry Marketplace (Holiday World) ($)
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
6:00 – 7:00 pm Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire at Santa’s Candy Castle
6:00 – 8:30 pm Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)
8:30 pm Christmas Fireworks
Sunday, December 5
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
Friday, December 10
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
6:00 – 8:30 pm Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)
Saturday, December 11
7:00 am – 10:00 am Breakfast with Santa at Santa Claus Historic Campground ($)
8:00 am – 6:00 pm Craft Fair at the Santa Claus American Legion
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Santa Claus Arts & Crafts Show at Heritage Hills Middle & High Schools
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Glitter Tattoos at Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop
1:00 pm Santa Claus Christmas Parade
1:00, 3:00, 6:30 pm “It’s A Wonderful Life” at Heritage Hills Auditorium ($)
3:00 – 7:00 pm All-You-Can-Eat Buffet at Santa’s Merry Marketplace (Holiday World) ($)
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
5:00 – 9:00 pm Festival of Lights at Christmas Lake Village
6:00 – 7:00 pm Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire at Santa’s Candy Castle
6:00 – 8:30 pm Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)
6:00 – 11:00 pm Beloved Farms Bourbon Ball at the Spencer County Youth & Community Center ($)
Sunday, December 12
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Balloon Twisting at Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop ($)
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
Friday, December 17
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa @ Santa Claus Museum & Village
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights @ Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
6:00 – 8:30 pm Christmas Dinner with Santa @ Santa’s Lodge ($)
Saturday, December 18
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
1:00, 3:00, 6:30 pm “It’s A Wonderful Life” at Heritage Hills Auditorium ($)
4:00 pm Live Nativity at Beloved Farms
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
5:00 – 9:00 pm Festival of Lights at Christmas Lake Village
6:00 – 7:00 pm Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire at Santa’s Candy Castle
6:00 – 8:30 pm Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)
Sunday, December 19
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Write a Letter to Santa at the Santa Claus Museum & Village
2:00 pm “It’s A Wonderful Life” at Heritage Hills Auditorium ($)
5:00 – 7:00 pm Meet Comet the Reindeer and Santa at the Christmas in Dale Light Show
5:00 – 9:00 pm Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort ($)
For full details, visit the Events page.
Get a Deal on Lodging
Looking for lodging for your holiday visit? Check out available Lodging Deals & Packages—you’ll get a great place to stay, plus bonus extras that guarantee you’ll have a merry, memorable time!
