Holiday Events

Mahaska County Holiday Happenings 

Turn on the Lights!
Saturday, November 22 - 5:00-8:00 PM
City Square Park - Downtown Oskaloosa

Head over to the square to see 'Painting with Lights' illuminate downtown buildings at 6 pm for the holiday season. 
Grab some cookies, and cocoa, see Santa and the reindeer, and take a free horse-drawn wagon ride.

**' Painting with Lights' will turn on every day from 4:45 pm until 11:00 pm from November 22 to January 5, 2025. 

Home Decorating Contest  - Judging Date: Dec. 3 & 4 

Get your Christmas lights and decorations out! Participate to win one of the five categories and $100 Chamber Cash!
Pre-register your home by calling Lori Oaks at Hawkeye Real Estate or 641-660-7011 by Noon, Monday, December 2. 

Window Decorating Contest Judging - December 3 & December 4 

Drive around or take a stroll downtown to see area business owners' storefront and window decorations!  Displays will be up throughout the holiday season!
Winners will be notified via phone call and announced on December 5. 
Pre-register your business window by completing this form and submit by November 7. 
Late entries can call the Chamber office to learn about options, at 641-672-2591. 

The interactive Map will be available on Friday, December 5. 

COMMOTION: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Wednesday, December 3-Friday, December  @7 PM, Saturday December 6 @11 AM, Sunday December 7 @2 PM
George Daily Auditorium 

Join George Daily Auditorium for a music-filled Friday night. Tickets are available at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/tix/1008. 

Sieda Annual Holiday Tour of Homes
Presented by Legacy Real Estate Group
Friday, Dec. 5, 5-8 PM and Saturday, Dec. 6, 12-4 PM

There will be 5 homes on the tour this year. The Tour is sponsored by Legacy Real Estate for the 3rd year in a row. During the tour hours, "tourists" can stop by the Legacy Real Estate office for refreshments, last minute ticket purchases, the silent auction part of the Tour and mingling with friends and neighbors. Tickets are $15 each or 2 for $25, and go on sale November 1 at Mahaska Drug, Legacy Real Estate and online at www.givebutter.com. Follow our Facebook page (Sieda Community Action) or check out our website at www.sieda.org. 

38th Annual Lighted Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec. 6 @ 7 PM
2025 Theme - "Holiday Joys & Toys"

Come enjoy the one-of-a-kind Lighted Christmas Parade in Downtown Oskaloosa! 

Pre-Parade Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides on the Square - 4:00-6:00 PM - Don't forget your cash! 

Want to have a float entry? Fill out the application below! DEADLINE TO SUBMIT Friday, November 7, 2025

Entry Form: Link to form

Lighted Christmas Parade Route Map 

Parking before the parade is expected to be extremely limited. 10/15 Transit will be providing a shuttle service on the day of the parade. Please see the map below for parking locations and pick-up/drop-off times. Questions? Call the Mahaska Chamber! 

Shuttle Parking Map

Thank you to 10/15 Transit for providing a FREE shuttle service to the Lighted Christmas Parade. There are two parking locations and a shuttle drop-off location right downtown in Oskaloosa. 

Public Parking Map 

Please see the map below for additional public parking spots near the downtown square and parade route. 

Thank You to our 2025 Holiday Sponsors: