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Welcome to

The DeSoto Dispatch

December 2025

From

The DeSoto House Hotel

"Illinois' Oldest Operating Hotel"

Since 1855

Stay with us at The DeSoto House Hotel and enjoy all the fun of winter in Galena!


What Our Guests are Saying:

"The hotel was a wonderful experience. We will tell our friends and family. Thank you for providing a wonderful place to stay."

Check out this video Travel the Tri-State put together about the DeSoto House Hotel!

Luminaria Dinner

Breakfast With Santa

New Year's Eve

November Packages:

Midweek Dinner Package

Sunday - Thursday

One-night stay

$50.00 Dinner coupon

$194.00


Generals' Restaurant Dinner Menu


Subject to availability

Prices good through December 23, 2025

Midweek Breakfast Package

Sunday - Thursday

One-night stay

Breakfast for two

$174.00


Courtyard Restaurant Breakfast Menu


Subject to availability

Prices good through December 23, 2025

Midweek Breakfast & Dinner Package

Sunday - Thursday

One-night stay

Breakfast for two

$50.00 Dinner coupon

$219.00


Courtyard Restaurant Breakfast Menu

Generals' Restaurant Dinner Menu


Subject to availability

Prices good through December 23, 2025

History Museum Package

Sunday - Thursday

One-night stay

Breakfast for two

Tickets to the Galena Grant History Museum

$194.00


Courtyard Restaurant Breakfast Menu


Subject to availability

Prices good through December 23, 2025

Best Available Rate

Sunday - Thursday

One-night stay

Starting at $119.00


Subject to availability

Everyone loves a cocktail or two...

Stay with us Sundays through Thursdays and

enjoy a cocktail in one of our fabulous restaurants.


Then join us for dinner!

Upcoming Events:

Celebrate!

Holiday Exhibit Artist Sunday

11-30-2025 through 1-10-2026

1:00-4:00 Sundays


Check off your holiday shopping this season at the Galena Center for the Arts! 

The galleries will be filled with festive seasonal art and home decor, which are available for purchase and can be brought home the same day.

We’re also celebrating Artists Sunday, a nationwide movement that encourages shopping with favorite local artists, creators, and makers during the holiday season. Stop in and meet our studio artists and show your support!


John Erickson Trio

December 4

7:00-9:00 p.m.


Chicago-based pianist John Erickson, bassist Dave Hiltebrand, and drummer Tim Mulvenna return for a jazz-infused holiday program: a favorite among many of Galena’s music lovers and a wonderful way to celebrate the season!  

Hat & Honey Bar

DeSoto House Hotel

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Cost: $80

Date: December 5


Gather your friends and family for a one-of-a-kind experience at Dry Creek Beekeeping's Hat Bar & Honey Bar Event held at the DeSoto House Hotel in Galena!


Create Your Custom Hat: Choose from Western, Fedora, or Flat-Brimmed hats and try your hand at burning a gorgeous bee and sunflower design onto your hat using specialized tools. Your hat will be pre-stenciled with a custom-made bee and sunflower design, so you can easily burn in the design with the help from expert instructor, Marie McDonough from Marie’s Wood Carvings. Plus, you’ll add your personal touch by choosing a hat band, feathers, and other accessories to make your hat truly unique!


Honey Bar Tasting: Sip, savor, and sample up to 20 varieties of delicious honey from around the world! Learn about the distinct flavor notes of each variety and discover where they come from. Once you've found your favorite, you can purchase your top picks to take home!


All-Inclusive Fun: Your registration fee of $80 covers everything: instruction, tools, hat, band, accessories, and honey tasting. By the end of the event, you’ll be rocking a stylish, custom-burned hat that’s all your own—and you’ll be buzzing about your honey finds!

Don't miss out on this creative and sweet event. Space is limited—reserve your spot in advance! 


Food and drinks are available to purchase through the DeSoto House Hotel. Maybe you'd like to order a charcuterie board or try a glass of honey mead wine as you enjoy this workshop.


Children ages 8+ are welcome. The felt burning of the hat requires the use of a hot tool, so please consider this when booking for children. 


For tickets and more information, please click here!

Christmas at the Fort

11:00-3:00 PM

December 6

Celebrate Christmas the 1832 way at Apple River Fort in charming Elizabeth, IL!

Step back in time to enjoy a typical German Christmas, complete with a decorated fir tree and hand molded marzipan. Kids and adults alike will enjoy playing with period toys and games, as well as bartering at our fur trading post for the best goods on this side of the Mississippi!

And be sure to check out the Fort’s gift shop inside the Interpretive Center, just off Route 20, for unique items for everyone on your shopping list.


Holidaze

10:00 am - 6:00 pm

December 6

The Galena Holidaze Festival is bringing the magic of Christmastime to Galena, Illinois.

This come and go, family-friendly event will feature traveling local artisans with holiday items and local food vendors, Christmas music including live Christmas caroling, kids’ activities, a Galena business raffle, petting zoo, ice skating rink and skate rental, and more! All activities are free thanks to all sponsors. The event will work together with the mission of the Galena ARC which is partially to “develop community cooperation in programs and activities which further arts/crafts, sports, and recreation for all ages.”

 




Fire in the Sky

December 6

6:30-7:00 pm


Spectacular fireworks display to kick off the holiday season!

Enjoy the evening sky as it comes alive with fireworks to kick off the holiday season in downtown Galena. See the impressive display from just about anywhere in downtown Galena and surrounding areas.

Classical’s Blast Dark Side of the Yule Holiday Yule Holiday Concert

December 12

7:00-9:00 pm



Classical Blast melds classic rock & Christmas in this exhilarating holiday concert experience that’s become an annual tradition in Galena.

Combining rock hits from Metallica to Pink Floyd with their unique take on traditional carols, holiday pop & classical favorites, Classical Blast has created one of the most unique and enjoyable holiday shows around. It’s eye and ear candy the Sugarplum Fairy herself would love! With guest musicians, storytelling and unforgettable music, it’s a holiday experience you'll remember long after the holiday lights have dimmed.

Adults: $30 advance/$35 door; Students 13-19: $10 at door; Kids under 13:

Holiday Cookie Walk

Saturday, December 13

9:00-11:00 am


Experience a unique holiday tradition at the historic DeSoto House Ballroom's annual cookie walk, benefiting the Galena Arts & Recreation Center. For a small fee, shoppers receive a box and gloves to handpick from hundreds of homemade holiday baked goods, making it a quick, easy, and delicious way to complete your holiday baking.

Don't miss this festive event held until the cookies run out, typically around 11 am.

Proceeds to benefit the Galena ARC. Cookies are $10.00 per pound. 


Night of Luminaria and Living Windows

December 13

4:00-9:00 pm


Don't miss one of the most beautiful and romantic nights of the year when Galena presents their living windows and luminary.

From Main Street to the hills overlooking Grant Park, all of Galena will be glowing. Enter a land of enchantment on this magical night with more than 5,000 candlelit luminaries on streets, steps, and sidewalks.

Luminaries are typically lit from 5pm - 9pm. From 4pm - 7pm store windows on Main Street come alive with holiday-inspired animated Living Windows. Many of the businesses offer extended hours, so take advantage of the magic and do some holiday shopping!



Snowflake and Sweets Stroll

December 20

12:00-4:00 pm


Enjoy sweet treats from local bakeries, chocolatiers, and some great drink options from a few locations, all while strolling down magical Main Street. Hopefully you'll enjoy some snowflakes as well as you stroll, though we leave that detail up to Mother Nature. You will find the sweet treats sprinkled along Main Street in unique collection of shops!

Tickets are $35 per person.

Tickets are limited and often sell out prior to the event weekend. You can share a ticket as well. Tickets Must be Purchased Prior to Event.

Other great places to visit in addition to our local historic attractions and museums are:

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium


The Shenandoah Riding Center


Dubuque Symphony Orchestra


Dubuque Museum of Art


Diamond Jo Casino

Take a break and stop by our Quiet Room on the Main Street level of the hotel to view these videos:


The DeSoto House Hotel

"The Largest Hotel in the West"

~~~

Galena: Steamboat Capital of the Old Northwest


Both videos are about 15-20 minutes in length and run continuously.

You can learn more about the history of the DeSoto House Hotel here.

There's always plenty to do in scenic, historic Galena!

Create your dream wedding...

Call to make your dreams come true!


815.777.6818

Sales Department

Reserve your getaway now!


Make your reservations by calling

815.777.0090 or 800.343.6562


Check out our website . . . DeSotoHouse.com

Consider us your home away from home!

Keep more informed by following us on Facebook and Instagram!

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DeSoto House Hotel Gift Certificates

make perfect gifts!

Michael Steinhoff

General Manager

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230 South Main Street

Galena, IL 61036

815.777.0090 or 800.343.6562