The 2025 Christmas season in Eureka Springs once again proved why the historic mountain town is one of the most beloved holiday destinations in the Ozarks — culminating in a New Year’s Eve celebration that quite literally ended with a splash.
A Season Filled With Signature Events From the moment holiday lights illuminated downtown, the city delivered a packed calendar of events that drew visitors from across the region. Among the most popular were the Chamber Tour of Inns, offering rare access inside historic lodging properties, and the beloved Christmas Parade, which filled Spring Street with families, music and classic holiday cheer.
Crowds also turned out in force for Living Windows, as downtown storefronts transformed into live holiday scenes featuring performers, musicians, and artists throughout the Historic District. The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa once again served as a centerpiece of the season, welcoming thousands of visitors to experience its elaborate Christmas decorations and the family-favorite Santa’s Mountain Village.
Other highlights included festive rides aboard the Eureka Express Christmas Train, the moving holiday performance Gifts from the Heart at Opera in the Ozarks, and the seasonal favorite Home for the Holidays. Together, these events created steady energy throughout December, keeping shops busy, restaurants full, and the streets alive with holiday spirit.
A Holiday Season That Delivered
The strong schedule of events translated directly into a successful tourism season. Hotels reported high occupancy throughout December, with weekends frequently selling out. Restaurants and cafés operated at full pace, retailers enjoyed robust holiday shopping traffic, and entertainment venues benefited from a continuous flow of visitors enjoying the town’s festive atmosphere.
New Year’s Eve: An Overall Success As Christmas transitioned into New Year’s Eve, the city shifted seamlessly into celebration mode. Lodging across the community sold out, restaurants filled reservation books days in advance, and bars and venues hosted packed New Year’s Eve parties featuring live music, themed events and late-night dancing.
“We have heard from our members that this was the busiest period between Christmas and New Year’s that Eureka Springs has ever enjoyed,” said Devin Henderson of the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce. “From lodging and dining to retail and entertainment, businesses across the city saw exceptional traffic and energy throughout the entire holiday week.”
The evening’s centerpiece — the annual Water Drop at Basin Park — brought locals and visitors together for a shared countdown and a moment that has become a signature Eureka Springs tradition. From elegant dinners to high-energy parties, the night delivered something for everyone and capped off the holiday season in unforgettable fashion.
Ending the Season: Bash With a Splash The holiday season reached its peak with the Bash With a Splash, drawing crowd estimates exceeding 5,000 people into downtown for one of the largest New Year’s Eve celebrations in the city’s history. The expanded footprint of the event was immediately apparent, with the addition of food trucks and vendors, more shops and galleries staying open late, and restaurants and bars operating at full capacity as revelers filled the entertainment district.
The evening’s program began with a fun, high-energy mini-parade led by the Eureka Springs Drum Corps, setting the tone for a night built on spectacle and celebration. The crowd was entertained throughout the evening by a diverse and dynamic lineup, including Jenna and the Soul Shakers, performances by Melonlight Dance, aerial and circus artistry from Ozark Circus, and the imaginative, crowd-pleasing visuals of Fossils of Ancient Robots.
Guiding the celebration from start to finish was master of ceremonies Sean Paul of Intrigue Theater, whose expert hosting kept the program moving seamlessly while maintaining high energy across the park.
“It was such a team effort to produce this, and so gratifying to see it come together so successfully,” said Mary Howze of Eureka Springs Productions. “From the incredible team at the CAPC, to our vendors, performers, city support, and the Basin Park Hotel, we all appreciate what an honor it was to bring this celebration to the community.”
As midnight approached, anticipation built across Basin Park. The countdown struck gold as 2026 lit up the night — illuminating the side of the Basin Park Hotel with a towering 60foot Christmas tree, glowing sparklers, and a brilliant burst of light marking the moment. As the final seconds ticked away, the massive crowd joined together in a spontaneous, heartfelt chorus of Auld Lang Syne, closing out not only the night, but one of the most successful Christmas seasons the community has ever seen.
