Holiday Events & Santa Sightings

Find an ongoing list of holiday events and Santa sightings in the Yankton area!  Keep checking, as additional events will be added as we are notified.  

November 16th
Candlelight Christmas 5:30 PM
Visit Santa at 5:30, story walk, lighted vehicle parade at 7 and more in Hartington, NE.

November 23rd
Lesterville Parade of Lights - 6:30 PM
Watch the parade of lights and then join after at the Hall for hot chocolate, cookies and Santa.

November 24th
WJ Ranch Cowboy Christmas - 10 AM - 5 PM
Petting zoo, bale maze, rides starting at 1 and Santa from 1-3 and more.

November 25th
WJ Ranch Cowboy Christmas - 10 AM - 5 PM
Petting zoo, bale maze, rides starting at 1 and Santa from 1-3 and more.

November 29th
Holiday Festival of Lights Activities - 4-6 PM
Businesses in the Meridian District will be offering activities such as carriage rides, letters to Santa and more.

Holiday Festival of Lights Parade- 6 PM
Yankton's Meridian District will host a parade of lighted floats.

Vermillion Parade of Lights - 6 PM
Historic Downtown Vermillion is the backdrop for the stand-still parade of lights.

Holiday Open House - 6:45-8 PM
Vermillion Library will host photos with Santa, holiday crafts, children's choir and more.

A Prairie Christmas Live - 7:30 PM
A special Christmas show with stories and music.

November 30th
Holiday On Ice - 6:30 PM
Yankton figure skaters skate to holiday classics.

December 1st
Breakfast with Santa - 9 AM - 12 PM
French toast breakfast and pictures with Santa at St Agnes in Vermillion.

Yankton Mall Santa 10 AM - 5:30 PM
Visit Santa at the Yankton Mall and get a photo taken with him.

The Christmas Store - 1-4 PM
Children PreK-5th grade are welcome to shop for a gift for their parents at Riverview Reformed Church.

Ham Drawing & Santa 6:30 PM
Join in the ham drawing and see Santa at Beseda Hall in Tabor, SD.  Bring your cameras.

December 2nd
Crofton Santa Day 3-6:30 PM
Soup supper, Santa arrives at 4 PM, crafts, caroling and more in Crofton, NE.

December 3rd 
Gingerbread Houses TEEN Event 6:45-7:45 PM
Grades 6-12 are welcome to build gingerbread houses at the Yankton Community Library.

December 6th
Santa's Workshop 3:45-4:45 PM
Holiday themed make and take crafts at the Yankton Community Library.

Dinner & A Movie 4:30 PM
Showing Christmas with the Kranks (rated PG) and serving a Sirloin Steak dinner at The Center call 665-1055 for reservations.

December 7th
Visit Santa & Mrs Claus 6:30-8:30 PM
Don't forget to bring your camera. Each child receives a goodie bag. 1000 W 11th St, Yankton.

December 8th
Breakfast with Santa 8-10 AM
Eat free French toast sticks and visit with Santa at the Yankton Hy-Vee.

Yankton Mall Santa 10 AM - 5 PM
Visit Santa at the Yankton Mall and get a photo taken with him.

Utica Hall Bazaar 10 AM - 4 PM
Stop in and see Santa Claus and have a photo with him.

Write Letters to Santa USD Men's BB Game 1 PM
Writing letter station at the game, plus kids are invited after the game to join the layup line.

Visit Santa & Mrs Claus 6:30-8:30 PM
Don't forget to bring your camera. Each child receives a goodie bag. 1000 W 11th St, Yankton.

December 9th
Write Letters to Santa USD Women's BB Game 1 PM
Writing letter station at the game, plus kids are invited after the game to join the layup line.

Just Cuz' Does Christmas - 2-4 PM
Your favorite Christmas carols, cookies and refreshments.

Visit Santa & Mrs Claus 6:30-8:30 PM
Don't forget to bring your camera. Each child receives a goodie bag. 1000 W 11th St, Yankton.

December 14th
Visit Santa & Mrs Claus 6:30-8:30 PM
Don't forget to bring your camera. Each child receives a goodie bag. 1000 W 11th St, Yankton.

December 15th
Christmas Workshop 10 AM - 12 PM
K-6th Grade students are invited to come make gifts for their parents.

Santa Visits Rexall 1-3 PM
Stop by Yankton Rexall and visit with Santa, bring a camera for a picture.

Grand Reopening Excitement 1-4 PM
Meet Father Christmas, make and take ornaments, decorate cookies, listen to Mrs Claus read stories, visit the hall of trees and more at the Mead Cultural Education Center.

Santa for the Kids 2:30-4 PM
Visit with Santa at the Yankton VFW.

Visit Santa & Mrs Claus 6:30-8:30 PM
Don't forget to bring your camera. Each child receives a goodie bag. 1000 W 11th St, Yankton.

December 16th
Santa Visits Rexall 1-3 PM
Stop by Yankton Rexall and visit with Santa, bring a camera for a picture.

Visit Santa & Mrs Claus 6:30-8:30 PM

Don't forget to bring your camera. Each child receives a goodie bag. 1000 W 11th St, Yankton.

December 20th
The Movie The Polar Express 3:45-5:25
Join your friends at the Yankton Community Library to watch The Polar Express.

December 21st
Santa at USD Men's Basketball 7 PM
Game starts at 7 and Santa will be on hand and it's Buy 1 adult get a kid ticket free night.

Fall & Halloween Fun - Yankton Area

A fun list of events celebrating the change of the season and Halloween. Click on the event name for more information about the event, including times and cost.  Additional events may be added, so be sure to check back often or bookmark this list.

You can also find a full kid-friendly event calendar on the website each day here.

Make and Take Scarecrow - Saturdays now until October 13th
Bring your scarecrow clothes to Diane's Greenhouse in Fordyce, NE and use supplies to make a scarecrow.

Hocus Pocus Movie Night - October 6th approx 7 PM
Head to Huber Holiday Acres in Freeman for a movie on the side of the barn (weather pending).

Fall Fun at Huber Holiday Acres - October 7th & 8th and each weekend through October
Pick out your pumpkin, kids activities, hay bale maze, etc.

Ufford Hills Fall Festival - First 2 weekends of October
Pick out your pumpkin, enter the corn maze, ride the train and more.

Laser Barn Haunted House - Dates between October 12 - October 31st
If you don't want the full scare, there are kids days on Sundays.

Scotland Haunted House - Dates between October 12 - October 27th
For the older kids, who enjoy a good scare attend the haunted house in Scotland, SD.

Ufford Hills Haunted Corn Maze - Last 2 weekends of October
Try out the corn maze when it becomes "haunted" for the final 2 weekends of October.

Vermillion Haunted House - Oct 19, 20th, 26th, 27th 7-10 PM
For the older kids who like a scare.

Casper Outdoor Movie Night - October 20th approx 7 PM
Join in an outdoor movie at Huber Holiday Acres near Freeman.

Halloween Indoor Pin Shoot - October 21st
Wear your costume and join in the pin shoot.

USD Volleyball Home Match Halloween Bash - October 21st
Wear your costume and receive candy at the door.

Trick or Treat with the Yotes - October 21st After VB Game
6th grade and younger invited to trick or treat at the Sanford Coyote Center after the VB Game.

Trick or Treat the Farmer's Market - October 25th 3-7 PM
Trick or treat from the vendors at the Vermillion Area Farmer's Market located at the Clay County Fairgrounds.

Bark after Dark - October 25th 5:30-7:30 PM
A Halloween pooch party with dog carnival games, dog costume contest and more.

Harvest Halloween - October 26th & October 27th
Lots of fun family-friendly activities going on downtown, Yankton.

Shivers and Quivers Archery Fun Shoot - October 26th
A glow in the dark fun shoot, prizes and more.

Youth Halloween Party - October 26th 6-9 PM
Older kids can watch a Halloween movie (PG), decorate pumpkins and more at the Vermillion library.

The Great Pumpkin - October 27th 11AM -12:15 PM
Do you have the neatest painted, heaviest or most unusual naturally grown pumpkin?

KVHT Trunk or Treat - October 27th 11-1 PM
Trick or treat from trunk to trunk in downtown Yankton.

Niobrara Trunk or Treat - October 27th 4-6 PM
Meet at the Lutheran church in Niobrara for trunk or treating fun.

Welcome Fall Event - October 28th 2-7 PM
Bring a pumpkin to carve with materials provided, dinner and more at WH Over Museum in Vermillion.

Dinner & A Movie - October 29th 4:30 PM
The Center is showing Hocus Pocus (rated PG) along with a meal.  Call for reservations.

Monster House Free Showing - October 29th 6 PM
Vermillion Coyote Theaters will be showing Monster House (rated PG) free.

Trunk or Treat at Vermillion Library - October 31st
Move from car to car trick or treating, be sure to dress in costume.

Trunk or Treat Yankton 1st Assembly Yankton - October 31st
Trick or treat in the parking lot.

Crofton Trick or Treat - October 31st 4 PM
Join Crofton businesses with downtown trick or treating fun for the kids.

Avenue Halloween Party - October 31st 7 PM
Family-friendly fun with minute to win it games and more.