Join us for a Holiday Experience like no other at Santa Village!
Guests from across the Midwest are invited to join us for the Hawkeye Downs Santa Village!
This year’s Santa Village will be FREE ADMISSION to the public. No ticket is required.
DATES: December 5th through December 21st, 2025
HOURS:
Fridays: 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturdays: 1:00pm to 9:00pm
Sundays: 1:00pm to 6:00pm
CLOSED Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Here’s What To Expect…
This holiday season, Hawkeye Downs Speedway and Expo Center is excited to bring back the Santa Village to Cedar Rapids!
Guests are welcome to the Hawkeye Downs Santa Village in the North Expo Hall. Admission to Santa’s Village is FREE with no ticket or registration required!!
The indoor holiday experience is complete with fun for all ages, including:
$5 photos with Santa at Santa’s Workshop, sponsored by KMB
Craft & Coloring Station, sponsored by Target
Letters to Santa Station, sponsored by Hills Bank
Selfie Stations, sponsored by Rinderknecht Associates, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, Impact Embroidery & Balster Pediatric Dentistry
Holiday Market
Peppermint Putt Putt Golf, sponsored by Basepoint Wealth
The elves will host inflatable fun for kids in the Santa Village, too! Wristbands for unlimited play and individual inflatable tickets will be available for purchase nightly.
Need a snack or something to warm up while you’re visiting the Santa Village? Hawkeye Downs will offer concessions for sale, including items such as hot cocoa, cookies, coffee, and other snacks.
Have another question? Review our Frequently Asked Questions here.
SPECIAL EVENTS
SPECIAL EVENTS
Saturday, December 6th
Santa’s Music Factory
Join Santa and his elves for LIVE MUSIC in Santa's Music Factory on Saturdays from 6:00PM to 8:00PM throughout the holiday season! 🎶 On Saturday, December 6th, Hawkeye Downs will host Spencer Ammons.
Hailing from Oklahoma, Spencer Ammons resides, records, and performs live in Eastern Iowa. With a mix of power vocals and skilled guitar, coupled with captivating originals and classic covers, his set lists intrigue ears of all kinds! When he’s not performing live, he’s recording and releasing new music on all streaming platforms. His latest release - a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” - is just the newest addition to his diverse and growing discography. Learn more about Spencer Ammons here.
Sensory-Friendly Day in partnership with ChildServe
11:00AM to 1:00PM
Sponsored by Scott & Penny Olson
Sunday, December 7th
Hawkeye Downs is proud to partner with ChildServe to host the 2nd Sensory-Friendly Day at Santa Village!
The environment will be designed for children, teens, and adults with autism or sensory processing disorders, offering activities planned with modifications, including the mitigation of sounds and motions as much as possible. A ChildServe Calming Space will also be available and staffed by ChildServe therapists for the duration of the event.
Sunday, December 7th
Sunday Reading Corner
Join guest readers in front of the fireplace at Santa Village on Sunday afternoons at 2:00PM and 4:00PM!
Local celebrities will be reading holiday favorite books with guests. There is no cost for this event experience. All ages welcome.
Friday, December 12th
FREE Game Night
On Friday, December 12th, Hawkeye Downs will host game night in Santa Village!
Guests of all ages are invited to join us for FREE bingo or trivia. Game will be announced soon. Sign-up for individuals and teams will be on site beginning at 6:00PM. Games will run from 7:00PM to 8:30PM.
Saturday, December 13th
Santa’s Music Factory
Join Santa and his elves for LIVE MUSIC in Santa's Music Factory on Saturdays from 6:00PM to 8:00PM throughout the holiday season! 🎶 On Saturday, December 14th, Hawkeye Downs will host Scott Dix.
Sunday, December 14th
Sunday Reading Corner
Join guest readers in front of the fireplace at Santa Village on Sunday afternoons at 2:00PM and 4:00PM!
Local celebrities will be reading holiday favorite books with guests. There is no cost for this event experience. All ages welcome.
Friday, December 19th
FREE Game Night
On Friday, December 19th, Hawkeye Downs will host game night in Santa Village!
Guests of all ages are invited to join us for FREE bingo or trivia. Game will be announced soon. Sign-up for individuals and teams will be on site beginning at 6:00PM. Games will run from 7:00PM to 8:30PM.
Saturday, December 20th
Santa’s Music Factory
Join Santa and his elves for LIVE MUSIC in Santa's Music Factory on Saturdays from 6:00PM to 8:00PM throughout the holiday season! 🎶 On Saturday, December 20th, Hawkeye Downs will host our friends from the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy.
EIAA Rock Academy Program is home to 8 youth rock bands ranging from ages K-12th grade who play their favorite genres of music, ranging from country, rock, pop, heavy metal, and more.
Each band is directed by a professional performing local musician who is passionate about sharing their talents and skills with the students to foster musical growth, unity, and confidence in their instrument and peers.
Sunday, December 21st
Sunday Reading Corner
Join guest readers in front of the fireplace at Santa Village on Sunday afternoons at 2:00PM and 4:00PM!
Local celebrities will be reading holiday favorite books with guests. There is no cost for this event experience. All ages welcome.
Sunday, December 21st
ONE NIGHT ONLY! Don’t miss out! Snag a festive holiday photo with your four-legged friend with Santa on Sunday, December 21st, from 3:00PM to 6:00PM at Santa Village for just $5. All pet owners will be required to check in upon arrival. Here’s how it works…
Human guests and their dogs are invited to Santa Village on Sunday, December 21st, from 3 to 6pm at Hawkeye Downs. Admission is FREE.
This event is open to dogs only. Sorry, no ferrets, cats, snakes, tarantulas, or other animals.
All vaccinations must be current and include Rabies, Parvo, Distemper, and Bordatella. Proof of vaccinations must be produced upon request while visiting Santa Village. All guests will be required to sign in upon arrival with their name, phone number, and veterinarian's name.
All dogs must remain on a short leash, no more than six (6) feet in length.
All dogs must be controlled by their owner/handler at all times while visiting Santa Village at Hawkeye Downs. Any dog acting in an aggressive manner, whether the aggression is directed toward a person or another dog, will be asked to leave.
Dogs will not be able to be held by Santa or sit on Santa’s lap.
Pet Night
Hawkeye Downs is proud to partner with ChildServe, a specialty pediatric healthcare organization, to host the Sensory-Friendly Day at Santa Village on Sunday, December 7th, 2025!
DATE: Sunday, December 7th, 2025
TIME: 11:00AM to 1:00PM
During the Sensory-Friendly day, Hawkeye Downs and ChildServe will create an environment designed for children, teens, and adults with autism or sensory processing disorders in mind so families who have a member with special healthcare needs can visit, explore, and enjoy the event. Guests are welcome to RSVP on Facebook for event updates.
The 2025 Santa Village Sensory-Friendly Day will offer activities planned with modifications, including the mitigation of sounds and motions as much as possible. A ChildServe Calming Space will be available and staffed by ChildServe therapists. If an individual gets overstimulated at the event, this space will provide families with a safe space to take a break. Activities are in place for individuals who need relief from the event’s stimulating environment and those who need to release energy to regulate their bodies.
For additional information, you can review the Frequently Asked Questions about Sensory Night here on our website.
Interested in being a part of this magical holiday event?
We’re looking for…
Holiday market vendors (limited to one per product/craft type)
Sponsors for special events and activities
Community marketing partners
Volunteers
Groups that want to attend Santa Village
Contact Information
Jennifer Lawrence, Hawkeye Downs Executive Director
Jonelle House, Hawkeye Downs Marketing & Events Programming Intern
