There is no better way to take in the sights and sounds of the holiday season than a Horse-Drawn Trolley Ride around downtown. Enjoy a FREE whimsical ride while singing carols to the tune of antique sleigh bells, nestled in the enclosed comfort provided by Country Gentleman’s Horse and Carriage.

**“TICKETS” WILL BE HANDED OUT AT HILLS BANK AND TRUST IN DOWNTOWN IOWA CITY EACH SATURDAY STARTING AT 11:00AM. We recommend arriving early to reserve your spot!

Small Business Saturday is an event that began in 2010 as a way to encourage people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday has become a national holiday campaign, and Downtown Iowa City as a regional center of locally owned businesses once again will celebrate in the importance behind shopping local.

Santa will leave his busy workshop for four special trips Downtown to meet the area’s good girls and boys. Families can enjoy FREE photos with the jolly ol’ fella at FilmScene in the Chauncey (404 E. College St. Suite 100). In addition to the free photos provided, families are welcome to take pictures using their own cameras.

Come see teddy bears galore! Yes, the Downtown Teddy Bear Room is exactly how it sounds, for 4 weeks, one of the Hilton Garden Inn’s rooms will be filled with hundreds of teddy bears, big and small! From November 30th to December 24th; families, children, everyone is invited to come hug a bear, take photos, and spread the holiday cheer!

Join us for the Downtown Hunt for the Elves, a FREE kid-friendly scavenger hunt in downtown Iowa City! Starting Friday, November 29th, there will be elves hiding in different downtown businesses waiting to be found! Once you have found the elves in each participating store, get a stamp on your card and turn them in to The Englert Theatre, Iowa Book, or Children’s Room at the Iowa City Public Library to receive a prize and to be entered to win a grand prize gift basket. See the official list of participating businesses here!

Join our downtown shops for a Holiday Retail Open House! Each participating retailer will be hosting a holiday party in their store that includes snacks, drinks, or a gift for you at each stop.

Participating retailers include: Akar, Active Endeavors, Bender’s Yoga, Bread Garden Market, Catherine’s, Discerning Eye, Dulcinea, Domby, Ewers Men’s Store, Glassando, Hands Jewelers, Luxe Interiors, MC Ginsberg, Moss, Pitaya, Prairie Lights, Revival, r.s.v.p., Tailgate, Ten Thousand Villages, Textiles, The Maker’s Loft, The Shop Iowa City, and Velvet Coat.

Additionally, the Iowa City Public Library will host an Arts & Crafts Bazaar from 10:00am – 3:00pm and MERGE will host Not Your Mother’s Craft Fair from 9:00am – 3:00pm (136 S. Dubuque St.). Summer of the Arts is presenting the Holiday Art Market at the Iowa Memorial Union  on December 7th from 12:00 – 6:00pm and December 8th from 10:00am – 4:00pm.

There is no other place like Downtown for the holidays–
Come experience the holiday season in Downtown Iowa City and explore the Downtown Holiday Pop-Up Market, back again in the heart of the city!

For 7 weeks, beginning November 8th, the beautiful pop-up market, sponsored by GreenState Credit Union will transform Black Hawk Mini Park into a festive holiday destination. Each week, for the seven weeks, new pop-up shops will fill the spaces.

Here is the full calendar of shops that will be joining us for the 2019 Holiday Market:

*Nov. 8-10- Fontenelle Supply Co. in all three shops!
*Nov. 11-17 – Local artists & Luxe Interiors
*Nov. 18-21 – Holiday Escape Room & Rare Bird Soap Shop
*Nov. 22-24 – Necessary Behavior, SLICE: A Bakery Emporium, The Pop Up Co.
*Nov. 25-28 – Riverside Theatre
*Nov. 29-Dec 1 – (Downtown Iowa City Small Business Saturday)- Catherine’s Boutique – Iowa City, IA, The Pop Up Co., West Music
*Dec 2-5 – Rare Bird Soap Shop, The Pop Up Co. , Butter Custom Bakery, LLC
*Dec 6-8 – Wolf Den Wares, The Pop Up Co., Glassando
*Dec 9-12 – Revival Clothing Store, Ruka, {made} community
*Dec 13-15 – Daydreams Comics, Revival Clothing Store, {made} community
*Dec 16-17 – Rare Bird Soap Shop, University in 3D Design
*Dec 18-19 – Fownd Vintage/ Ramitas, Rare Bird Soap Shop, University in 3D Design
*Dec 20-22- Susan Shinnick, Whoa Nelli Natural Cleaning Products, The Makers Loft Iowa City
*Dec 23-24 – Whoa Nelli Natural Cleaning Products