The Good Buy / Savings guide

Council Bluffs holiday weekends, Nov 17 to Dec 14

From a free Tuesday talk at Barley's to Glow Nights at The Hub and a $20 historic-homes tour, Council Bluffs has a stretch of holiday weekends with terms posted on the organizers' own pages.

Council Bluffs holiday weekends, Nov 17 to Dec 14. Information graphic, not a photograph.
Original editorial information graphic, not a photograph. Aksarben Media.

Last checked November 13, 2026, 8:40 a.m. CST.

This week: a free talk, and The Hub's own deals

  • Sip and Learn at Barley's, Tue Nov 17, 7 p.m.: the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County presents Brian Mainwaring on local athletes named to a new Council Bluffs Professional Sports Roster. No admission charge and no purchase required. 114 West Broadway. Society events page.
  • The Hub, yearly membership: $50 off a yearly Launch membership with code member50, $250 instead of $300, on the park's own memberships page. Includes an hour of jump time Tuesday through Sunday, a free Thursday buddy, and $5 parent jumps. Listing.
  • The Hub, Retro Wednesdays: $20 for a one-hour jump pass, an arcade card and a drink, every Wednesday, on the park's home page. The start time of that package is not posted. Listing.
  • Hours, read both pages: The Hub's home page and its Hours page still disagree on weekday open times (noon versus 10 a.m. Tuesday through Friday). Saturday (10 a.m.-9 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) match. This guide does not pick one weekday schedule. Confirm hours before you go.

Friday Glow Nights

  • Glow Night at The Hub, Fridays Nov 20, Nov 27, Dec 4 and Dec 11, 8-10 p.m.: dated Council Bluffs CVB event pages say all ages are welcome, parents get in free, and a chaperoning parent saves $5 off the child's Glow Night admission. The child's admission price is not stated on those pages. The Hub's own site confirms Glow Nights every Wednesday and Friday but does not restate the parent-free or $5-off terms. The park's events calendar still shows February and March 2026 parties. Confirm terms and the child's price with The Hub before you go. 7 S 4th St. CVB event page.

Saturday, Nov 28

  • 13th Annual Avoca Holidays on Main, 1-8 p.m.: Small Business Saturday downtown, with a 3K Ugly Sweater Race, a vendor fair, Santa photos, a live nativity, supper, live music and family activities, per the Council Bluffs CVB event page. Admission and individual activity prices are not stated. CVB event page.
  • Walnut Christmas Walk, Fri Nov 27 and Sat Nov 28: antique shops, local vendors and food along Antique City Drive. Hours and admission are not stated on the event page. Walnut is in Pottawattamie County, at the edge of the usual 50-mile coverage radius. CVB event page.
  • Pictures with Santa at Honey's Yummies Pet Treats, $10: includes a digital photo and a free frame (your pet, you and your pet, or a family picture). Saturday, Nov 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, Nov 29, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Self-serve pet washes will not be available during those hours. CVB event page.
  • Little Bit More Band at Sugar's Lounge: Sat Nov 28, 8 p.m. to midnight, classic rock and outlaw country, per the Council Bluffs CVB event page. Cover or ticket price is not stated. CVB event page.

Dec 5 and 6, and the weeks around them

  • Historic Homes for the Holidays Tour, Sun Dec 6, noon-4:30 p.m.: $20 tickets. Six homes and the Broadway Methodist church, at your own pace, starting at the Bregant House, 517 South Fourth Street. Society events page.
  • A Council Bluffs Christmas, Mon Dec 14, 6:30 p.m.: Richard Warner at the Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave. No admission charge. Society events page.
  • FMCB OFF-Season Market with Santa, Sun Dec 13, noon-4 p.m.: Farmers Market Council Bluffs at Omni Centre, 300 West Broadway. The CVB event page lists holiday vendors, handmade gifts, treats, holiday music and decorations, and a visit with Santa. Admission is not stated. CVB event page.
  • Minden Merry and Bright, Sat Dec 5, 5-8:30 p.m.: a lights parade, caroling, a tree-lighting countdown, Santa, and a free-will soup dinner whose proceeds go toward a new community center, per the Council Bluffs CVB event page. A street address and parade route are not stated. A usable public phone number was not confirmed on the source, so none is printed here. CVB event page.
  • Mistletoe and Martinis at Judge Richard Distillery, Carson, Sat Dec 5, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.: cocktails and local vendors, on the CVB event page. Admission is not stated. CVB event page.
  • Holiday Open House at Rustic Door Boutique, Avoca, Dec 4-6: rotating pop-up vendors and light refreshments. Daily hours and admission are not stated on the event page. CVB event page.

This guide is a Council Bluffs-weighted holiday calendar. For posted restaurant and museum deals across the river and in La Vista, see Council Bluffs and La Vista.

Dates, prices and terms come from each organizer's or merchant's own page, or from a dated Council Bluffs CVB event page where noted, as of the check date.