Valley Junction named the best Christmas town in Iowa by Reader's Digest

Valley Junction is the best Christmas town in Iowa and a town everyone "should visit at least once," according to Reader's Digest.

"Is this holiday heaven? No, it’s Iowa! One of the best of the state’s many small-town Christmas celebrations happens in the thriving, quaint village of Valley Junction."

Valley Junction's position on the list owes no small thanks the city's holiday-themed annual event series Jingle in the Junction, according to the article.

From 5-9 p.m. each Thursday of the holiday season, businesses in the 100 to 300 Blocks of 5th Street in Historic Valley Junction extend their hours for shoppers looking for that perfect holiday gift. Along these streets, visitors can enjoy three blocks of entertainment including caroling, Santa and horse-drawn carriage rides, all underneath 125,000 Christmas lights.

Jingle in the Junction will take place from 5-9 p.m. on Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15.

Nina Baker is a news reporter at the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at NBaker@gannett.com or on Twitter@Nina_Baker0.