The Mansion in lights. The parade down Grand. A small-town Christmas done right.
Christmas in Ponca City is intentionally old-fashioned — the lighted parade rolls down Grand Avenue, the Marland Mansion fills with thousands of lights and candlelight tours, downtown windows compete for the best decoration, and there's hot chocolate at almost every corner. If you've ever wanted a Hallmark movie kind of Christmas, this is your place.
The mansion's Christmas tradition is the biggest holiday event in northern Oklahoma. Reserve early.
The 1928 Florentine-style mansion is decorated room by room throughout December — themed trees, costumed docents, candlelight tours after dark. Tickets sell out.
The Marlands' first mansion — built in 1914 — gets its own period decorations. A quieter, more intimate version of the experience.
Grand Avenue and the surrounding blocks light up the first weekend in December and stay that way through New Year's.
First Saturday in December. Floats covered in lights roll east on Grand Avenue — bring a chair and a thermos.
Local businesses compete for best-decorated window. Stroll Grand Avenue between 2nd and 5th — bonus points for a stop at The Doodle Academy.
December brings concert series, holiday films, and special performances to the 1927 theatre. Always check what's on.
Make a weekend of it — most hotels offer holiday packages.
Walking distance to the parade, the lights, and the patios. Cozy is a word that earns its keep here.
Several local kitchens do special menus the last week of December. The Rusty Barrel Supper Club and Cross J Steakhouse are reliable picks.
The Mansion lights + parade + a downtown dinner = a perfect Saturday. Book early — December rooms go fast.
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