Jerseyville’s Downtown Country Christmas and Bright Nights bring holiday activities and lights
JERSEYVILLE - The City of Jerseyville will once again host their annual Downtown Country Christmas Festival and Bright Nights Celebration.
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From 1–5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, community members can stop by City Center Plaza in Jerseyville for free family-friendly activities, from inflatables and games to hayrides, Highland cows, and more. The day will conclude with the lighting of Jerseyville’s official Christmas tree, which will kick off the Bright Nights Celebration with drive-thru light displays every night through Dec. 31.
“It’s just a lot of fun in Jerseyville at Christmastime,” said Beth McGlasson, president of the Downtown Country Christmas Festival organization.
The fun begins at 9 a.m. with craft fairs at The Bell Haus, Dax’s Joint, and Holy Ghost Catholic Church. Stadium Theater will offer a free showing of “Klaus” at 11 a.m.
Santa Claus arrives by helicopter at Jersey Community High School at 1 p.m., which officially kicks off the festival. Families can enjoy all of the fun for free, though they must sign a waiver to check out the inflatables.
Face painters and balloon artists will be available in addition to the games, inflatables, hayrides and more. Toddler Town is a fenced-in area specifically for the youngest guests. Nearby at Koen Counseling, kids can write a letter to Santa, and Santa will respond.
The fun continues until around 4:45 p.m., when the Kringle Award is presented to a Jerseyville community member who embodies the spirit of Christmas. This will be followed by the lighting of the official Christmas tree at 5 p.m. and Rudolph’s Red-Nosed Parade at 5:15 p.m.
The Downtown Country Christmas Festival kicks off the Bright Nights Celebration. There are light displays at Dolan Park, Rotary Centennial Park, Wittman/Lions’ Club Park, the Jersey County Courthouse and throughout Jerseyville’s business district.
These displays are lit at dusk every night from Nov. 28 through Dec. 31. McGlasson encourages people to visit Jerseyville to check out the lights.
She hopes many people also come out to the Downtown Country Christmas Festival. She noted that Jerseyville is a great place to be any time of year, but it’s especially special during the holiday season.
“It’s hopping that day. We have a lot going on,” she said. “If you’ve never been to Jerseyville, it’s an adorable town. It’s just a fun place to spend a day, and what better day to come up?”
McGlasson added that the festival and Bright Nights Celebration are all about spreading “that absolute Christmas joy.” As Jerseyville prepares for its 12th annual festival, the Downtown Country Christmas Festival team is eager to share that experience with the community. They are proud that they can bring the community together for this event.
“What can we do to capture this feeling, the magic of Christmas, and share it, for free, with kids throughout the community? That’s how it started and grew from there,” McGlasson added. “It just truly is a community event, which just makes it all that much more special.”
For more information about the Downtown Country Christmas Festival and Bright Nights Celebration, visit their official website or their official Facebook page.
