Christmas in LeClaire

Kick off the holiday season in LeClaire, Iowa!

December 1-3, 2023

The holiday season is finally here and there’s no better way to get in the holiday spirit than the 39th Annual Christmas in LeClaire, a three-day event full of shopping, fun, and activities for all ages!

Downtown LeClaire, Iowa comes alive with crafts, baked goods, and silent auctions throughout the city, plus plenty of opportunities for your little ones to meet Santa Claus himself — and other favorite holiday characters — with our Strolling Santas!

Don’t miss the chance to see Santa!

In addition to the Strolling Santas from around the world, “THE” Santa is making plenty of appearances this year for the perfect photo opp.

Saturday, December 2 — 8 am-10 am
Happy Joe’s Breakfast with Santa (Adults – $10.50, Kids – $5.50)

Saturday, December 2 — 12 pm-2 pm
FREE Photos with Santa on the Levee (along the river near the Freedom Rock)

Sunday, December 3 — 1 pm-4 pm
FREE Photos with Santa in the LeClaire Civic Center Parking Lot

Need a lift while you’re in town?

Our free trolley rides will help get you where you need to be! Catch a ride to see all the sites — decorated shops, ugly Christmas sweaters, and Strolling Santas!

The trolley runs on Saturday from 11 am-5 pm and on Sunday from 12 pm-4 pm. The stops include:

  • Mindfire’s Parking Lot – 126 S. Cody Road
  • Cody Mart – 1220 N. Cody Road
  • Mississippi Cottage Antiques – 606 N. Cody Road
  • Dwellings – 414 N. Cody Road
  • The New Fareway Grocery Store – 1301 Eagle Ridge Road

Don we now our running apparel

Lace up your running shoes and throw on the most horrendous sweater you can find — the 8th Annual Ugly Sweater 5K and Kids’ Fun Run returns Saturday, December 2, starting at the LeClaire Civic Center! Whether you run, walk, or crawl, you won’t want to miss this exciting event for all ages beginning with the Half-Mile Kids Reindeer Dash Fun Run at 9:30 am, followed by the Ugly Sweater 5K at 10 am.

The 5K will be followed by post-race walking tacos, a live DJ, an ugly sweater contest, and pull-tabs for drink specials. Registration is $40 for the 5K and $25 for the kids’ fun run through December 1 — register by November 21 to receive our famous sweatshirt! Proceeds benefit King’s Harvest Ministries.

Starting November 22, you can register for $25 for the 5k; hoodie not included. If there are extra hoodies, they will be for sale during the packet pick-up on Friday night at the LeClaire Rec Center.

Let’s Light Up LeClaire!

The 2nd Annual Light Up LeClaire Parade will take place on Saturday, December 2 at 5:30 pm. Participants get to light up their cars, trucks, or anything they would like for a chance to win the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place award! The parade will travel down Wisconsin Street from 15th Street to 3rd Street. Entry is free but you must be registered to participate. Join us for this festive event and help us celebrate the season!

Christmas in LeClaire Schedule of Events

Friday, December 1

10 am-4 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road — Watch Master Carver Luke Travers create wooden shoes

10 am-5 pm
Masonic Lodge located at 113 S. Cody Road — Cookie sale, lunch, and crafters

10 am-8 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road — Crafts, silent auction, and baked goods

11 am-8 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road — Santa’s Gift Shop where kids can use “Christmas in LeClaire Dollars” to shop for family and friends

3 pm-8 pm
Grasshoppers Gatherings located at 208 N. Cody Road — Holiday Craft Show with 30 vendors

5 pm-7 pm
Strolling Santas and other holiday characters throughout the downtown

5 pm-8 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road — Entertainment by Balloon Artist Jason Hamilton

6 pm
Please Note: The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony has been CANCELED due to rain.
2nd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on the south end of the Levee. Join us for music and a tree lighting ceremony!

Saturday, December 2

8 am-10 am
Happy Joe’s — Breakfast with Santa sponsored by LeClaire Happy Joe’s and Blackhawk Bank & Trust

9:30 am-10 am
LeClaire Civic Center Parking Lot — Reindeer Dash Kid’s ½ Mile Fun Run (ages 12 and under)

10 am-12 pm
LeClaire Civic Center Parking Lot — Ugly Christmas Sweater 5K Run

10 am-12 pm & 1 pm-3 pm
Strolling Santas and other holiday characters throughout the downtown

10 am-2 pm
Masonic Lodge (2nd Floor) located at 113 S. Cody Road — Kid’s Craft Workshop

10 am-4 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road — Watch Master Carver Luke Travers create wooden shoes

10 am-4 pm
Buffalo Bill Museum — Open with special $5 family admission price, includes a Children’s Christmas Scavenger Hunt throughout the museum and a Children’s Coloring Contest

10 am-5 pm
Masonic Lodge located at 113 S. Cody Road — Cookie sale, lunch, and crafters

10 am-8 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road — Crafts, silent auction, and baked goods

10 am-8 pm
Grasshoppers Gatherings located at 208 N. Cody Road — Holiday Craft Show with 30 vendors

11 am-4 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road — Santa’s Gift Shop where kids can use “Christmas in LeClaire Dollars” to shop for family and friends

11 am-5 pm
Free trolley rides with 5 designated stops throughout the downtown:
• Mindfire’s Parking Lot – 126 S. Cody Road
• Cody Mart – 1220 N. Cody Road
• Mississippi Cottage Antiques – 606 N. Cody Road
• Dwellings – 414 N. Cody Road
• Fareway Grocery Store – 1301 Eagle Ridge Road

12 pm-2 pm
Photos with Santa on the Levee near the Freedom Rock

1 pm-4 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road — Entertainment by Balloon Artist Jason Hamilton

5:30 pm
2nd Annual Light Up LeClaire Christmas Parade presented by LeClaire Parks & Rec (the parade will travel along Wisconsin Street)

Sunday, December 3

10 am-3 pm
Masonic Lodge located at 113 S. Cody Road — Cookie sale and crafters

12 pm-4 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road —
Crafts, baked goods, and silent auction (bidding closes at 2 pm)

12 pm-4 pm
Free trolley rides with 5 designated stops throughout the downtown:
• Mindfire’s Parking Lot – 126 S. Cody Road
• Cody Mart – 1220 N. Cody Road
• Mississippi Cottage Antiques – 606 N. Cody Road
• Dwellings – 414 N. Cody Road
• Fareway Grocery Store – 1301 Eagle Ridge Road

12 pm-4 pm
LeClaire Civic Center located at 127 S. Cody Road — Santa’s Gift Shop where kids can use “Christmas in LeClaire Dollars” to shop for family and friends

12 pm-4 pm
Buffalo Bill Museum — Open with special $5 family admission price, includes a Children’s Christmas Scavenger Hunt throughout the museum and a Children’s Coloring Contest

12 pm-5 pm
Grasshoppers Gatherings located at 208 N. Cody Road — Holiday Craft Show with 30 vendors

1 pm-3 pm
Strolling Santas and other holiday characters throughout the downtown

1 pm-3 pm
LeClaire Civic Center Kitchen — Rita Farro and her “Frankensewing” trunk show. Rita brings thrift-store shopping and sewing together as she “Frankensews” brand new one-of-a-kind garments. See how to recycle t-shirts and check out her t-shirt fringe, t-shirt finishes, t-shirt gloves, and t-shirt memory quilts.

1 pm-4 pm
LeClaire Civic Center Parking Lot — Come see Santa and Mrs. Claus in their sleigh (weather permitting)

Christmas in LeClaire Business Specials

Many businesses are open extended hours during Christmas in LeClaire weekend. Look for great holiday shopping specials at various businesses during Christmas in LeClaire!

Need more info?

For event updates or more information, follow Christmas in LeClaire on Facebook or contact us!