Prelude to Christmas

a weekend of christmas celebration

Thank you all for a wonderful Prelude to Christmas! We’ll see you again next year on December 3-5, 2021 for our next Prelude to Christmas!

Below, find information on Prelude 2020:

December 4-6, 2020

A magical weekend with special events and food/beverage sampling in the shops, carolers on the street, and the town decked out in Christmas finery that’s Prelude to Christmas in the Amana Colonies.  The streets of Amana come alive with old world charm at no time more than Prelude to Christmas.  The fences and store fronts sport pine boughs, there’s red ribbons fluttering in the breeze, and an occasional melody from beloved Christmas Caroles in the air.

Join us for a weekend of special shopping, activities, and much more. While you shop, eat, and sample, bundle up and join us at the Tannenbaum Forest to see over 40 unique Christmas trees decorated by local businesses and families. Throughout the Amana Colonies you’ll find gifts for the whole family to enjoy. You’ll find the Prelude to Christmas brochure at the Amana Colonies Visitors Center as well as in businesses throughout the Amanas. Don’t forget to dress warm and bring your Christmas shopping and gift wish lists!

All weekend long you’ll find many events and activities, along with shopping specials and other unique deals. Saturday, December 5th, will be filled with events and activities for all! You’ll find gift wrapping, a meet & greet with a local author, a Vintner’s Dinner, Socially Distant Santa Stories, Holiday Wine and Paint Night, samples and scavenger hunts, photo opportunities, holiday shopping specials, and of course our annual German Christmas Pickle Hunt. Details can be found in our Prelude to Christmas Brochure.

Khristmasmarkt, Amana Arts Guild: We’re glowing about the news! The Amana Arts Guild is excited to announce the opening of a new location in Amana. A formal opening will take place in the spring, but we want to introduce our new site at 4502-220th Trail to the community on the weekend of Prelude to Christmas. Shop our Khristmasmarkt this weekend during Amana’s Prelude to Christmas celebration. We’ll be open for business Friday & Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 11-4 at 4502 220th Trail, Main Street Amana, formerly the Michelle Maring Miller Art Gallery between the Ox Yoke and Prosit Wines.

Cookie Walk: The Amana Church Cookie walk will be a little different this year. Instead of the regular Cookie Walk and Bazaar, the Amana Church has set up a Cookie Fundraiser! See the message from the Amana Church here:

“Donate for Good, Donate for Cookies, Donate for a chance to win the Golden Ticket: Help support Amana Church Summer Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, and Church Youth Group.

Donate $25 to receive 2 dozen assorted candies/cookies carefully boxed, ready for pick up, 10 am – noon on Saturday, December 5th at the Amana Church. That is Prelude Saturday, 2020 (in lieu of our cookie walk/bazaar.)

Donate $50 to receive 4 dozen cookies.

Donate $100 to receive 4 dozen cookies and 1 chance to win a Golden Ticket admitting you to the 2021 Cookie Walk to pick out 2 free boxes of your own selection before anyone else enters the cookie walk.

Donate $250 to receive 4 dozen cookies and 3 chances to win a Golden Ticket!

Go to amanachurch.com and look for our “Cookie Walk Store” to donate. Orders must be in by Thanksgiving (November 26th)! Go sugar free and ask to have your cookies donated to our local food pantry!”

As we plan, we will release more information on activities and specials for Prelude to Christmas. Keep an eye here and on Facebook for updates!

For more information on Tannenbaum Forest, click this link.

Masks that cover both mouth and nose are required for all over 2 years of age in the Tannenbaum Forest. If you forget or misplace your mask, we will be offering disposable masks. When possible, please keep a distance of 6 feet or more between you and other visitors in the Forest. We appreciate your help to keep our community and visitors as safe and healthy as possible.

2020 Prelude to Christmas Brochure

Brochure updates:

*Cancelled: Socially Distant Santa Stories, Marino Loft

*Cancelled: Wine & Paint Night, Hotel Millwright

*Cancelled: Gift Wrapping Fundraiser

To stay safe and healthy, Santa is staying at the North Pole this year and will not be joining us in the Tannenbaum Forest. If you have any questions about Tannenbaum Forest or Prelude to Christmas, please contact Amana Colonies Festivals Inc. at:

319-622-7010 (Weekdays 9am-4pm)

or 319-622-7622 (Weekends 10am-5pm, Weekdays 10am-5pm),

events@amanacolonies.com, or on Facebook Messenger.

To help keep our community and visitors safe, masks are required in the Tannenbaum Forest for 2020.