The holiday season in Iowa brings out the festive spirit across the state. With decorated towns, joyful events, and good cheer all around, it’s a magical time of year. For the celebrities who hail from Iowa, the Christmas season gives them a chance to come back home and partake in beloved traditions and celebrations unique to the Hawkeye State.
From tree lightings to parades, and pantomimes to gift exchanges, there is no shortage of holiday fun to be had for famous Iowans when they return for the most wonderful time of the year. The celebrations also give these stars opportunities to give back to their local communities through charity events, fundraisers, and small-town gatherings.
The holidays in Iowa have their own special charm. The celebratory customs across the state’s cities and towns capture the true meaning of Christmas in the Heartland. With famous faces coming back to enjoy these traditions, the Christmas spirit burns even brighter.
What kinds of Christmas celebrations bring Iowa celebrities back home for the holidays?
Iowa celebrities flock back to enjoy several signature Christmas celebrations that make the Hawkeye State shine during the holiday season:
Christmas Tree Lightings
- Many Iowa towns hold special Christmas tree lighting ceremonies at the start of the holiday season, often in late November or early December.
- Celebrities like actor Elijah Wood (from Cedar Rapids), TV personality Carson King (Altoona), and news anchor Ashton Shepherd (Des Moines) have all attended these events in their hometowns over the years.
- From Cedar Rapids to Iowa City, Des Moines to Dubuque, tree lightings bring the community together to usher in the Christmas season.
| Celebrity | Hometown | Tree Lighting Event |
| Elijah Wood | Cedar Rapids | Cedar Rapids Tree Lighting Ceremony |
| Ashton Kutcher | Cedar Rapids | Cedar Rapids Tree Lighting Ceremony |
| Carson King | Altoona | Altoona Tree Lighting Celebration |
Christmas Parades
- Christmas parades are also extremely popular throughout Iowa in November and December.
- Celebrities often serve as Grand Marshals or special guests during these festive parades.
- Some of the biggest holiday parades that attract famous Iowans take place in Mason City, Des Moines, Cedar Falls, and more.
Pantomimes and Plays
- Many Iowa theater groups and high school drama clubs put on Christmas plays and pantomimes during the holiday season.
- Oftentimes celebrities with a theater background will return to take part in these productions.
- Elijah Wood has supported holiday pantomimes in Cedar Rapids. Theatre stand-out Annabeth Gish has returned to Iowa City to act in Christmas plays.
Gift Exchanges and Charity Events
- Gift swaps, charity fundraisers, and special community get-togethers also bring stars back to Iowa for Christmas.
- Talk show host Andy Lauer loves the annual Secret Santa gift exchange in his hometown of Anamosa.
- The Dubuque Fighting Saints hockey team hosts a popular Toys for Tots drive that’s supported by coach Jason Kohl and others.
- Celebrity chef Mike Langan attends Christmas cookies and hot cocoa charity function in Des Moines annually.
As these examples show, holidays in Iowa give celebrities plenty of festive fanfare to come back to each Christmas season!
How do Iowa celebrity holiday events give back to their local communities?
Beyond just merrymaking, many celebrity holiday events across Iowa serve as fundraisers or charitable community gatherings:
Charity Drives
- Ashton Kutcher holds an annual toy and food drive in Cedar Rapids where residents can donate and meet the actor. Proceeds benefit local kids in need.
- Talk show host Andy Lauer hosts a “Letters to Santa” event in Anamosa where kids can post Christmas wish list letters while donations are collected for the local food pantry.
Fundraising Performances
- Actress Annabeth Gish has starred in several Christmas plays in her Iowa City hometown as a way to raise money for the local children’s hospital.
- The Dubuque Fighting Saints hockey club hosts a yearly Christmas variety show featuring coach Jason Kohl and others where admission proceeds go to veterans’ groups.
Christmas Meals and Gatherings
- TV personality Carson King is back in Altoona every year to serve hot turkey dinners to seniors and families in need on Christmas Day.
- Celebrity chef Mike Langan hosts a big Christmas feast at his restaurant in Des Moines and gives leftover food to shelters following the holiday.
As we can see, Iowa celebrities definitely look out for their own when coming back for the holidays – both in terms of festive fun and generous giving!
What are some of the most popular Christmas attractions and traditions unique to Iowa that celebrities take part in during the holidays?
Beyond the parades and events already mentioned, the Hawkeye State has several holiday attractions and customs found only in Iowa that celebrities make sure to enjoy in their hometowns:
The Iowa State Fairgrounds Christmas Tree Walk
- Taking place yearly in December at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, this display features over 60 decorated trees representing towns across Iowa.
- Native stars like Andy Lauer, Carson King, and others have been spotted checking out the twinkling trees lined up along the fair paths during the State Fair Christmas Walk.
Amish Country Holiday Delights
- Iowa is home to over 50 Amish settlements, mainly in the southeast corner of the state. Several towns like Kalona, Bloomfield, and Centerville transform for the holidays Amish-style.
- Actor Mark Frey – who grew up in Washington, Iowa around a thriving Amish community – makes sure to catch a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh or sample some shoofly pie when back visiting family in Iowa’s Amish Country come Christmas.
Matchstick Marvels Exhibit
- Located in Spillville, Iowa, the Matchstick Marvels Museum features intricate holiday creations made from matchsticks, like model train sets circling around tiny Christmas trees.
- Ashton Kutcher and other stars from nearby Cedar Rapids and Decorah often pop into this hidden gem of an attraction most tourists don’t know about.
Hand-carved Santas
- Dyersville, Iowa local artist Bob Smith carves unique Santa statues completely by hand every year around the holidays.
- Actor James Karen, who grew up just down the road in Mason City, collects one of Smith’s Santa carvings annually to add to his own personal Christmas display.
As we can see, the Hawkeye State keeps the holiday magic flowing with these special Christmas destinations and keepsakes found only in Iowa that many famous faces look forward to when back home celebrating the season!
What are some fun facts about Christmas celebrations and traditions in Iowa?
Beyond the specific celebrity events and attractions, there are other intriguing facts about enjoying the Christmas season in the state of Iowa:
- With over 100 magical Christmas displays, Pella, Iowa transforms into an illuminated winter wonderland after Thanksgiving every year complete with almost 2 million twinkling lights.
- For over 175 years, the all-volunteer Iowa Old Capitol Handbell Ringers have performed free Christmas concerts across the state ringing in the holidays, making them the longest continuously operating U.S. handbell group in history.
- No town celebrates Christmas bigger than Lehigh, Iowa. With a population of less than 200, they deck out the entire main street with lights, blow up over 50 inflatable Santas, plastic reindeer, and more creating a winter carnival-like atmosphere.
- The historic downtown district of Elkader, Iowa is lined with 37 Victorian-style decorated street lamps for a romantic ambiance during the holidays – the most between Chicago and Denver!
- Decorah, Iowa hosts an annual Nordic Lumina Festival in December, a multi-day winter lights event that celebrates Decorah’s Norwegian heritage with special holiday foods, concerts, parades and more.
So we can see Iowa offers plenty of distinct Christmas charm across its towns and cities during the holiday season for celebrating in style – celebrity or not!
What are some heartwarming examples of Iowa celebrities giving back or participating in Christmas events in their hometown communities?
The Christmas spirit moves many Iowa celebrities to find special ways to give back and spread joy in the places they grew up:
- Ashton Kutcher – The actor plays Secret Santa every Christmas Eve in his hometown of Cedar Rapids. He anonymously leaves $100 tips for unsuspecting patrons out dining or shopping during the holidays as his version of ‘paying it forward.’
- Mike Langan – The celebrity TV chef serves up a free holiday community meal at his restaurant in Des Moines with all the fixings – turkey, ham, stuffing – cooked professionally by him as a gift back to his hometown.
- Annabeth Gish – While starring annually in the holiday play or pantomime in Iowa City, the actress visits kids at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital dressed as Mrs. Claus, spreading cheer and taking photos.
- Andy Lauer – The comedian puts on a yearly free Christmas comedy show at his old high school auditorium in Anamosa for families, getting laughs while collecting donations for those in need.
- Carson King – After paying off the medical debts of chronically ill patients at local hospitals, King plays Santa Claus at children’s wards in Des Moines hospitals on Christmas morning, handing out gifts and smiles.
As we can see, the kindness and Christmas generosity of Iowa’s celebrities back home helping others and giving back is even more inspiring and heartfelt during the holidays.
What future celebrity Christmas events are planned across Iowa for 2023?
Based on past years’ popular celebrity-attended Christmas happenings across the Hawkeye State, Iowans can expect more of the same festive fun events on the holiday calendar for 2023:
- The Cedar Rapids Christmas Tree Lighting on November 17 will likely again have native stars Ashton Kutcher and Elijah Wood doing the honors of flipping that big holiday switch while also unveiling this year’s new public art installation.
- Over in Altoona on December 2nd, all signs point to funnyman Carson King reprising his role driving Santa Claus around on a big red fire truck during their annual holiday parade.
- On December 8th, it’s a safe bet that actress Annabeth Gish will return to Iowa City’s City Circle Theater Company to tread the boards once more in their 2023 Christmas Pantomime production after her show-stopping lead turn playing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts last year.
- The town of Bloomfield, smack in the middle of Amish Country in Iowa, expects actor Mark Frey to again make an appearance at their community bonfire night on Christmas Eve – complete with buggy rides, carolers, and holiday treats.
- Over in Des Moines on Christmas Day, celebrity chef Mike Langan will undoubtedly fire up the ovens and stovetops again to serve his free yuletide dinner to families across the city at his namesake restaurant downtown.
Stay tuned to see all the Iowa celebrity appearances spreading holiday cheer in their hometowns once December 2023 rolls around!
Conclusion
The Christmas season sparkles across the Hawkeye State, but the merriment burns even brighter when Iowa celebrities come back to join in beloved holiday happenings. Hometown stars like Ashton Kutcher, Carson King, Mike Langan, Annabeth Gish and more flock back yearly to partake in tree lightings, parades, plays, gift exchanges, and all sorts of festivities unique to an Iowa holiday.
But more than just enjoying celebrations and traditions often distinctive only to the state, these famous faces also give back generously with charity events, heartwarming community gatherings, and more. Spreading Christmas spirit while not forgetting those in need makes the season shiny and bright thanks to celebrity cheer coming home to Iowa.
So residents can expect another round of celebrity sitings and smiling stars celebrating right alongside them once the 2023 holiday season soon arrives again in the Hawkeye State – shining the light of generosity, gratitude, and good cheer even brighter this Christmas!
Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrations of Christmas in Iowa with Celebrities
Who are some notable celebrities from Iowa?
Some famous people who hail from or spent a significant part of their lives in Iowa include actor Elijah Wood (Cedar Rapids), Ashton Kutcher (Cedar Rapids), Andy Lauer (Anamosa), Carson King (Altoona), Jason Kohl (Dubuque), Annabeth Gish (Iowa City), James Karen (Mason City), and Mike Langan (Des Moines).
When do most of the Christmas celebrations with celebrities take place in Iowa?
Most of the holiday events Iowans can potentially see celebrities at across the state happen between late November and Christmas Day. Tree lighting and town parades usually occur from Thanksgiving weekend through the first week of December. Parties, concerts, plays, charity events, and more continue nearly daily closer to the 25th.
What is the Christmas tradition that brings the most celebrities back to Iowa every holiday season?
Without a doubt, the honor of drawing the largest number of Iowa natives back home for Christmas goes to the tree-lighting ceremonies happening in cities and towns across the state, mainly throughout the last week of November. From Cedar Rapids to Iowa City, Dubuque to Des Moines, and all points in between, sparkling trees signal the start of the holidays, and famous faces come back to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!
Where are the best places in Iowa to potentially spot celebrities enjoying holiday happenings?
The cities of Cedar Rapids and Des Moines offer the most options for potential celebrity sightings enjoying Christmas events given the number of native stars who hail from those areas. But festivals and gatherings happening statewide in towns like Altoona, Iowa City, Dubuque, Anamosa, and more provide chances as well for an Iowa celebrity run-in to get into the holiday spirit just like the locals!
What is a unique Christmas attraction in Iowa that celebrities like to experience when back home for the holidays?
One special Iowa holiday happening that attracts many native stars is the Matchstick Marvels Museum which displays intricate Christmas creations handcrafted from matchsticks in Spillville, Iowa. Ashton Kutcher, Andy Lauer, and other celebs from nearby Cedar Rapids and Decorah make stopping into this hidden seasonal gem to check out the toothpick Christmas trees and model railroad a yearly tradition when back celebrating the season.