Keokuk, Iowa’s “City of Christmas” lights display made the list of the Top 50 Christmas Light Displays in America.

It contains over one million lights. Over 20,000 vehicles make it through the lights each year. We did find ourselves in a small backup, but it was well-regulated and we didn’t have to wait long to enter the lights.

I was impressed with the variety of lights along with some constructed displays. I’ve included photos along with explanations of some of the light displays.

A little History

The lights began in 1989 and started with a Toyland, Santa’s Barn with reindeer and elves, Santa’s Workshop, a Nativity Scene, and an International Christmas Display. Just over three decades later, the lights have continued and they have increased the number of displays ever since.

Tune In on the Radio

You can also tune the radio to 90.1 FM to hear holiday music and comments about the various displays.

Details

Hours: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., Opening Night Nov. 27; 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Nov. 28-Dec. 23, seven days a week; All night beginning at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve; 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Christmas Day; 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. from Dec. 26 – Jan. 1, 2024.

Admission: By Donation

Address: 900-998 Rand Park Terrace, Keokuk, IA 52632 (Between 15th and 17th– Grand and Orleans Avenue)

What’s for Dinner?

Before checking out the lights we had dinner at Dr. Getwell’s Bar and Grill. It is in a brick building in downtown Keokuk that dates to the 1880s.

I had their bacon ranch burger which included cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, and sour cream along with onion chips, with a side of crinkle-cut fries, which all was pretty tasty. My son Andrew ate all his chicken or crazy fingers and fries, so he must have liked it, too.

It is a popular place so you might want to order earlier than around 6 pm, we had a bit of a wait.

Hours: Food service is available from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday, and Closed Sundays, and Mondays.

Address: 1100 Main St, Keokuk, IA 52632

MORE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ROAD TRIPS

East Peoria’s Over-The-Top Festival of Lights

Dinosaurs, the Batmobile, a Star Wars X-Wing, and the Star Trek Enterprise are just some of the amazing light displays at East Peoria’s Festival of Lights.

The Festival of Lights electric park is made up of floats that begin in the Parade of Lights prior to Thanksgiving each year. Being floats allows them to be huge displays that you drive by.

Kansas City’s Plaza Lights Shine at Christmas

I spent some of my childhood in the Kansas City area and what I enjoyed the most when I was young was seeing the Plaza lights at Christmas time.

It is a 90-year-old tradition that spans a 15-block area with Christmas lights over the entire Country Club Plaza. The lights come on in a special ceremony at each year’s Thanksgiving.

You can walk or drive through the Plaza area since the lighting is spread out throughout the retail district.