Downtown Country Christmas Festival 2026

Join the festivities at the Downtown Country Christmas Festival and Bright Nights Festival in Jerseyville, Illinois.

Schedule of Events – Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026

9 am - 3 pm – Craft bazaar at Holy Ghost Gym (310 N. State Street)

11 am – Stadium Theater shows the free holiday movie Klaus (117 E. Pearl Street)

Downtown Country Christmas Festival, City Center Plaza (the intersection of E. Pearl and Jefferson streets)

1 pm – Santa arrives via helicopter

1 - 4:30 pm – Free festival activities

• Inflatables
• Balloon Artist Mitchell’s Masterpieces, 1 - 4 pm
• Face painters – 1 - 4:30 pm
• Mini Highland cows 
• Ornament-making station
• Games and activities, including minute-to-win-it family games
• Hayrides 
• JCBA-sponsored North Pole Post Office – Children can write a letter to Santa and receive a reply.
• Photos with Santa at Royal Banks
• Toddle Town – Our fenced-in toddler area, sponsored by Illinois American Water and MJM Electric Cooperative, includes two inflatables and a sensory table for guests under the age of 2.

3 pm – Ugly sweater contest

4:45 pm – Presentation of Kringle Award

5 pm – Lighting of Jerseyville’s official Christmas tree

5:15 pm – Rudolph’s Red-Nosed Parade. The parade starts at the corner of E. Arch and Jefferson streets, follows Jefferson north, and ends in the Jersey Community High School parking lot.

Additional Paid Activities

Noon - 4:30 pm – Rhonda Allen of Allen Greenhouse will sell live wreaths at the corner of State and E. Pearl.

12 - 5 pm – Food trucks will serve a variety of food at the festival

1 - 6 pm – Wade Family Farms will sell live Christmas trees on the lot between Heneghan, White, Cutting & Roentz Insurance (200 N. State Street) and Medford Food Mart (216 N. State Street).

Bright Nights Celebration, Nov. 28 – Dec. 31
Displays are lit every night from 5 pm – 11 pm

• Dolan Park (907 E. Carpenter Street) – This spectacular drive-through lighted display features a 22-foot animated, lighted tree that plays for 15 minutes at the top of each hour. 
• Rotary Centennial Park (400 W. Prairie Street)
• Wittman/Lions’ Club Park (N. Jefferson Street, north of the E. Spruce and N. Jefferson streets)
• Jersey County Courthouse (201 N. Pearl Street) 
• State Street – Jerseyville’s business district is decked out for the holidays with 22 lighted planter trees lining State Street.

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