Christmas at the Crescent Hotel: Holiday Events & Experiences in 2026
Christmas at the Crescent Hotel is one of the most festive ways to experience the holiday season in Eureka Springs. The historic hotel transforms for Christmas with thousands of lights, decorated trees, holiday dining, family activities, and special events throughout the season.
You do not have to stay at the hotel to enjoy everything the Crescent has to offer at Christmas. Some events and dining experiences are open to the public, while other activities are designed specifically for overnight guests.
If you are planning a Christmas trip to Eureka Springs in 2026, here are the holiday events and experiences worth knowing about at the Crescent Hotel.
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Planning a Christmas stay at the Crescent? Holiday events, festive dining, and the hotel’s historic atmosphere make it a memorable place to spend a December getaway. Check room rates and availability before planning your visit.
Brashear’s Christmas Tree Forest & Holiday Lights
The Christmas Tree Forest is one of the Crescent Hotel’s signature holiday traditions and a great place to start if you are visiting during December.
The 2026 Christmas Tree Forest Lighting Ceremony takes place on November 27 at 6 PM. After the lighting ceremony, the decorated trees remain on display throughout December.
What makes this Christmas tree display a little different is its connection to the local community. The trees represent local charities, and visitors can donate digitally to support their favorites.
The Christmas decorations extend beyond the tree forest, too. Thousands of lights illuminate the Crescent Hotel grounds, with lighted pathways winding through the gardens and toward the Christmas Tree Forest behind the hotel.
You can also follow the Crescent Trail from the front of the hotel down into Glenwood Hollow for another view of the holiday lights.
Top of the Crest Holiday Hangout
If you want to add festive food and drinks to your visit, head upstairs to the Top of the Crest Holiday Hangout.
The Holiday Hangout opens November 27 and is scheduled to be open daily from 4 PM to 8 PM throughout the Christmas season.
Located on the fourth floor of the Crescent, the Holiday Hangout combines the historic hotel atmosphere with festive food and holiday themed drinks.
It is an easy addition to an evening spent exploring the Christmas lights, especially if you are visiting the Crescent without staying overnight.
Santa’s Mountain Village
For families with younger children, Santa’s Mountain Village is one of the biggest Christmas events at the Crescent.
In 2026, Santa’s Mountain Village takes place on December 12 and December 19 from noon to 5 PM.
The Christmas Tree Forest becomes part of a larger holiday village filled with activities for kids. Families can warm up with hot cocoa, roast s’mores, visit Santa’s Toy Village, decorate cookies and gingerbread, and head to the sledding hill.
Reindeer rides are scheduled from noon to 3 PM, with Santa available for photos from 2 PM to 4 PM.
There is also a Candy Cane Café with festive treats and holiday inspired beverages for adults.
Ozzy’s Ice Pond
Younger children can also try Ozzy’s Ice Pond during Santa’s Mountain Village.
This small frozen pond is designed specifically for children under age five. Skating is free, and a limited number of skates are available on a first come, first served basis.
Parents will need to complete a waiver before their child skates.
This is different from the Crescent’s full winter ice skating rink, which typically opens later in the season.
Green Eggs & Grinch Breakfast Feast
The Grinch takes over breakfast at the Crescent on Saturday, December 12 from 9 AM to 11 AM.
The Green Eggs & Grinch Breakfast Feast includes the Crescent’s breakfast buffet along with green eggs and ham and an appearance by the Grinch.
Because Santa’s Mountain Village opens at noon that same day, families can make a full Christmas day out of the two experiences.
Reservations are available directly through the Crescent Hotel.
Christmas Breakfast Feast
A second holiday breakfast is planned for Saturday, December 19 from 9 AM to 11 AM in the Crystal Dining Room.
The Christmas Breakfast Feast features a mix of sweet and savory breakfast favorites in the decorated historic hotel.
Santa’s Mountain Village also takes place later that day from noon to 5 PM, making December 19 another especially good date for families planning a Christmas visit.
Reservations are available through the Crescent Hotel.
Gingerbread House Making
The Crescent has another holiday tradition planned for December 3 from 10 AM to 11 AM.
Participants meet the hotel baker in the lobby and can decorate holiday gingerbread cookies or help complete the hotel’s lobby gingerbread house.
The Crescent describes this activity as one where participants take a gingerbread snack back to their room. If you are not staying overnight, check with the hotel before planning your visit around this activity.
Thinking about staying overnight? The Crescent’s Christmas events are spread throughout December, so choosing your dates around the activities you most want to experience can make your holiday getaway even more memorable.
Ice Skating at the Crescent Hotel
There are actually two different skating experiences at the Crescent, and the timing matters if you are planning a Christmas trip.
Ozzy’s Ice Pond is the small skating area for children under five that is part of Santa’s Mountain Village.
The Crescent’s full real ice skating rink is weather dependent and is not expected to open until the last week of December or first week of January.
That means I would not plan an early or mid December Christmas trip around ice skating.
If your visit falls around New Year’s, check the Crescent’s current conditions before assuming the rink will be open.
Sleigh Rides & Stories by the Fireplace
Take a 20 minute sleigh ride through the lights of Glenwood Hollow on select Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 PM to 7 PM. Rides leave from the front of the Crescent and are available on a first come, first served basis.
The Crescent’s current 2026 calendar has conflicting information about when sleigh rides begin, so check the hotel’s Christmas calendar for the latest schedule before your visit.
If you are staying overnight, Sundays bring another cozy Christmas tradition. At 7 PM, families can gather around the lobby fireplace for a Christmas story with Mrs. Claus. This activity is offered through the hotel’s Resort Pass and requires sign up.
❄️ Heading to Eureka Springs This Winter?
December evenings in the Ozarks can get chilly, especially when you are walking through Christmas lights and spending time outdoors.
Warm layers, gloves, comfortable walking shoes, and hand warmers can make a big difference.
🧳 Packing for a winter getaway? December evenings in the Ozarks can get chilly, especially when you are walking through Christmas lights and spending time outdoors. Warm layers, gloves, comfortable walking shoes, and hand warmers can make a big difference. Shop our Winter Getaway Essentials.
Christmas at the Crescent Hotel: Staying Overnight
Staying overnight gives you more time to enjoy the Crescent beyond its scheduled Christmas events.
Hotel guests can take advantage of seasonal resort activities, the New Moon Spa, ghost tours, and the Crescent’s outdoor pool, which stays heated throughout the winter.
And this is the Crescent, so Christmas does not mean the ghost stories disappear. You can still add one of the hotel’s famous ghost tours to your holiday getaway.
Check Rates at the Crescent Hotel →
Explore Crescent Hotel Ghost Tours →
🧳 Packing for a Christmas getaway? Add festive pajamas for cozy hotel nights and Christmas morning photos. Shop our favorite family Christmas pajamas.
Other Places to Stay in Eureka Springs at Christmas
The Crescent Hotel is a popular choice for a Christmas getaway, but you don’t have to stay there to enjoy the holiday atmosphere in Eureka Springs.
If the Crescent is booked for your dates or you’d prefer a different style of accommodation, compare other hotels and vacation rentals around Eureka Springs.
Christmas Eve Dinner & Christmas Day Buffet
Spending Christmas itself in Eureka Springs? The Crescent is planning special dining experiences for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Christmas Eve will feature a chef prepared holiday dinner, while Christmas Day will include a holiday buffet.
As of October 2026, final menus, pricing, and reservation details have not yet been announced. Check the Crescent Hotel’s official Christmas calendar for updates before planning your holiday dining.
💙 One Last Thought
The Crescent is already one of my favorite places in Eureka Springs, and Christmas gives me another reason to love it.
You can stop by to see the lights and Christmas Tree Forest or make an entire getaway out of it with holiday events, a ghost tour, and a night at the hotel.
For families, December 12 and December 19 offer the biggest concentration of Christmas activities. But even if you visit on another date, I would still make time to see the Crescent decorated for the holidays.
🧭 Continue Planning Your Eureka Springs Trip
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