Siouxland Families

Christmas is coming and the Sioux City area has so many fun and festive events and activities to celebrate. As we head into the Christmas season, I'm excited to share all of the local festive events and activities in Siouxland with you.  This post features the best Christmas   events   in Siouxland, the   best places in Siouxland to see Christmas lights , and some of the   best places in Siouxland to see Santa ! 2026 update in progress!  This post was originally written in 2018 and is updated each year with the newest Christmassy fun in Siouxland. I'll keep updating it with 2026 info throughout November and December 2026 as new details become available. Please email me at SiouxlandFamiliesBlog [at] gmail anytime if you have updates that I should add! Jump To: 🎄 Siouxland Christmas Events • November Events • December Week 1 • December Week 2 ...

I received a free copy of this book from Penguin for review purposes. This post contains affiliate links. Caitlin Clark is one of the most famous Iowans ever, a basketball legend, and now a published author! Her new picture book for kids is EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams , which came out on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026, and I got to check it out with my kids. My kids really enjoyed this book   and I think other kids 4-9ish, especially Caitlin Clark fans, will really enjoy it. Here's my full review:  Who wrote  EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams ? EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams is written by two-time WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark. Clark is from Des Moines, Iowa and played basketball for Dowling Catholic and the University of Iowa before being drafted into the  the Indiana Fever  as the first pick of that draft (and going on to win Rookie of the Year for the 2024 season.)  During ...

Siouxland is full of University of Iowa fans, alumni, and friends who love watching University of Iowa Hawkeye basketball. But driving 4 hours each way to catch a home game in Iowa City can be tough. So, it's super exciting that they've launched a new series of "home games" in other Iowa cities! Here's the info families need on these Hawkeye basketball games right here in Sioux City in November of 2026:  What are the Iowa Basketball Games in Sioux City? The University of Iowa basketball teams are playing two special games in Sioux City as part of a series of home games at venues across Iowa. The Hawkeye men will be playing Virginia Tech, while the women will take on Vanderbilt.  graphic courtesy of the Tyson Events Center graphic courtesy of the Tyson Events Center Where are the Hawkeyes playing in Sioux City? The Hawkeye men and women will each play a game at Sioux City's Tyson Events Center. The official stre...

Have you ever seen the meme about it being customary for Midwesterners to explain, upon being complimented on an article of clothing, that they acquired it at a significant discount? Well, it's funny because it's true! Here in Siouxland, we know the value of hand-me-downs and how buying used items can save money and reduce waste. And Rhea Lana's plays into that perfectly! Read on to find out how. This post is sponsored by Rhea Lana's of Siouxland **Now updated with Fall/Winter 2026 event details*** What is Rhea Lana's? Rhea Lana is a children's consignment chain known for their high standards and guided by the saying "Moms helping Moms". Community members can resell their used items through the local Sioux City Rhea Lana sales events, run by a really kind local mom named Katy, and then Rhea Lana's pays the person who brought in the items (about 65% if you label, price, and dropoff your items yourself, or 35% if you u...

It's apple season! Whether you like them sweet or tart, baked into a pie or freshly sliced, apples are one of the quintessential fall flavors. And there's just something extra special about picking your own apples. Luckily, there are several lovely places near Sioux City and Siouxland where you can do just that. So, here's my guide to where to pick apples within 2 hours of Sioux City, freshly updated with autumn 2026 details:  Apple Orchards in Sioux City Autumn Grove Apple Orchard 1658 180th Street, Sioux City, IA Currently Autumn Grove Apple Orchard is the only you-pick apple orchard I am aware of within Sioux City itself. There is no admission charge to Autumn Grove Apple Orchard, and the apples are sold by volume, so just buy your bag and pick what you want as long as it fits! For 2026, Autumn Grove has unfortunately announced that they had extensive tree damage this year, so the apple crop this fall will be small and opening day will be later than expected. Watch their...

The Durham Museum in Omaha's historic Union Station is a Midwest treasure trove, with a spectacular permanent collection but also home to can't-miss temporary exhibitions, and the summer 2026 visiting exhibits are SO good! I went with my family in summer 2026 and amongst other things, got to check out the Disney Archives: Heroes & Villains costume exhibit and the Nebraskaland 100 exhibit exploring the iconic local magazine. Both were well worth the visit, and big hits with my family. Here are some things families should know about the summer 2026 fun at the Durham: Nebraskaland: Celebrating 100 Years Outdoors In 1926, the first issues of Outdoor Nebraska magazine were published, kicking off a century of stunning photography and inspiring writing about the natural beauty of Nebraska. The magazine was renamed Nebraskaland in 1964 and continues its mission of encouraging conservation and appreciation of Nebraskan nature into the 2020s.  The ...

The Sioux City Art Center is a must-see for anyone living in or visiting Siouxland who likes art, and their new exhibit Pasture to Present elevates it even further. The short version is that it's a really nicely done exhibit that you should go see. The long version is: in conjunction with the re-installation of the newly restored Grant Wood Corn Room, the Sioux City Art Center is displaying a variety of other works of American Regionalism by the 20th century masters of that movement, plus more modern works that touch on rural themes. The resulting exhibit exceeded my expectations and was just really pretty and fun to see. Here's what you should know about this great exhibit: When and where to see the Pasture to Present exhibit The Pasture to Present exhibit is on display at the Sioux City Art Center from June 13th through December 6th, 2026. Admission to the Sioux City Art Center, including the Pasture to Present exhibit, is free for all ages.  The Sioux City Art Ce...