Downtown Country Christmas Festival to Bring Free Holiday Cheer to Jerseyville

On Nov. 29, 2025, community members can come together for activities, inflatables, and more fun in Jerseyville.

Sydney Sinks, News Reporter

Nov 24, 2025 11:50 AM Nov 24, 2025 4:34 PM

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JERSEYVILLE - The Downtown Country Christmas Festival returns to Jerseyville with a day of free holiday fun.

From 1–5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in City Center Park in downtown Jerseyville, community members can enjoy several free activities, including games, inflatables, visits with Santa, an ugly sweater contest and more. The evening will conclude with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and a parade.

“Especially this year, when things seem a little tight, what a great way to kick off the holidays,” said Beth McGlasson, who chairs the event. “It is a community event in every sense of the word. We have so many organizations and people who help us out. We appreciate every single one of them.”

While the event doesn’t officially start until 1 p.m., the morning is filled with fun. The Youth Catholic Ministries of Jersey County kicks the day off with a craft fair in the Holy Ghost gymnasium at 9 a.m. Then, you can enjoy a free Christmas movie screening at Stadium Theater at 11 a.m.

At 1 p.m., the “official Jerseyville Santa Claus” will arrive by helicopter in the parking lot west of First Baptist Church. From 1:30–2 p.m., you can enjoy music by the St. Francis/Holy Ghost Choir, followed by tunes by the Methodist Church Choir until 2:30 p.m. At 3 p.m., the Ugly Sweater Contest will crown its winner.

From 1–4:30 p.m., kids and families can try out a variety of activities and games. Hayrides, balloon animals, face-painting, and temporary tattoos will be available. Kids can also bounce on inflatables, as soon as their caregivers sign a waiver, for free.

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Santa will stay throughout the afternoon, chatting with kids and taking photos. Kids can go into the North Pole Post Office to write a letter to Santa and receive a reply. Here’s to Reading will also be onsite giving out free books.

The activities wind down at 4:30 p.m. and then, at 4:45 p.m., a lucky Jerseyville resident who embodies the spirit of the holidays will receive the Kringle Award. At 5 p.m. the community will come together for the lighting of Jerseyville’s official Christmas tree. At 5:15 p.m., Rudolph’s Red-Nosed Parade will start at East Arch, travel along Jefferson Street, and end in the high school parking lot.

This also kicks off the Bright Nights Celebration, a drive-through display of lights in Dolan Park, available every night until Dec. 31, 2025. There will also be displays at Rotary Park, Jersey County Courthouse, City Center Park, Lions Club Park, and Jerseyville’s business district until Dec. 31.

McGlasson reiterated that all the activities at the Downtown Country Christmas Festival are free, though you can purchase food from food trucks or buy Christmas wreaths from Rhonda Allen until 5 p.m. that afternoon. Wade Family Farms will also sell live Christmas trees on North State Street until 6 p.m., a tradition that is “such a great childhood memory” for McGlasson.

As they prepare for the event, McGlasson thanked the many people who have contributed to make the Downtown Country Christmas Festival a success, including many Jerseyville businesses and officials who have stepped up. She noted that it wouldn’t be possible without their support.

“It is absolutely amazing how generous the people of Jersey County and the businesses of Jersey County are,” she added. “I’ve said this for years. You just can’t beat them. Every year, we have wonderful support from these people, and we appreciate them so much.”

For more information about the Downtown Country Christmas Festival, including the full itinerary or how to get involved as a sponsor, visit the official website at DowntownCountryChristmas.com or their official Facebook page.