Raw States

Christmas by the Lake

Clear Lake, IA · Holiday

When

December 4–5, 2026

Where

Clear Lake City Park and downtown · Clear Lake · IA

Cost

Not confirmed

Status

Confirmed from the organizer's published schedule

Clear Lake's downtown turns over to a lighted parade, Santa visits, hayrack rides and holiday shopping each first weekend of December. Christmas by the Lake has won multiple statewide tourism awards for best holiday festival.

The history within reach

• Buddy Holly crash1.2 mi

  Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P.

• National Hobo Convention (Britt Hobo Days)21 mi

  Real hobos and hobo hobbyists have gathered in this small north Iowa town since 1900 to elect a Hobo King and Queen, share mulligan stew from an open kettle, and swap stories at the Hobo Jungle.

• Sturgis Falls Celebration63 mi

  Cedar Falls throws its biggest community festival on the last weekend of June, with a parade, live bands on multiple stages, a classic car show, and an arts and crafts fair anchored at Overman Park.

• Steele County Free Fair65 mi

  The Steele County Free Fair fills the fairgrounds in Owatonna each August with free admission, a full midway, and nightly grandstand concerts.

• The Dakota War and the Mankato hangings78 mi

  After treaty payments failed and traders told the starving Dakota to eat grass, war broke out along the Minnesota River.