The snowflakes were fat, fluffy and falling fast! My cousin’s nine-year-old son had never seen anything like it. Dallas, TX was buried under nine inches of white magic! I watched from the window as he tried to catch snowflakes on his tongue, dodge snowballs and build a snowman.
I was there shopping for Christmas inventory in January (yes, that’s how far ahead Christmas at the Barn planning starts!), but suddenly I wasn’t thinking about products or vendors. I was thinking about how that little boy would remember this moment for the rest of his life. Snow in Dallas. Hot chocolate that tasted better than it ever had. A snowman built with a real carrot for a nose!
That’s when it hit me: Christmas isn’t really about the shopping at all. It’s about moments like these—memories that surprise us, connect us, and become the stories we tell decades later.
From Tradition to Transformation
For years, Christmas at the Barn has been exactly what its name suggests—a wonderful opportunity to shop for unique gifts and holiday treasures in our historic barn. And while that’s not changing, this year we’re adding something special: a journey through seven decades of Christmas magic, from the 1940s through the 2000s.
Hosted by R7 (yes, seven decades at R7—we couldn’t have planned that better if we tried!), this experience is designed to do more than help you check off your shopping list. It’s designed to connect generations, spark conversations, and remind us all that while Christmas traditions evolve, the magic stays the same.
I hope this creates space for connection in a season that can feel rushed and overwhelming. Sometimes slowing down to remember where we’ve been helps us appreciate where we are.
What to Expect: Your Guide to the Experience
The Journey Through the Decades (Every Saturday)
R7 Barn is authentically old and reclaimed for a destination storefront. You’ll find two stories and some uneven steps up into stalls on the lower level. When you head upstairs to the hayloft, you’ll step into a timeline of Christmas history walking from the wartime simplicity of the 1940s all the way through to the 2000s—seven decades under one roof.
**Sadly although we have steps rather than the old ladder – we do not have an elevator or chairlift – so if you have a loved one who needs assistance to get upstairs we would love to setup an appointment with you for personalized shopping and help getting up to the 2nd level**
Practical Details
When: Every Saturday in November (Nov 1, 8, 15, 22, 29)
Hours: 9 AM – 3 PM
Where: 337 Cemetery Lane, Grandview IA
Cost: Free
Food/Drink: The Downtown Drinkery (located just a couple blocks away) will feature “Drinks through the Decades” plus breakfast sandwiches, baked goods and a ful selection of coffee and energy drinks. The Downtown Drinkery: 201 S Main St, Grandview
What Makes Each Saturday Special
While the decades journey remains the same each week and we will be restocking all through the month – we often field the question of when is the best time to come. So here’s a little breakdown.
November 1st – Experience the full journey for the first time! Travelin’ Sips Mobile Bar, The Beaded Lab and a charm bar at the barn!
Personalized vintage inspired magnets and a Splash of Vintage vendors at The Downtown Plus, LIVE music in the afternoon at The Downtown Drinkery.
November 8th – Often our most popular weekend! Travelin’ Sips Mobile Bar is back and the new favorite: Currently Booked mobile bookstore!
Farmhouse Wonders will join us at The Downtown Drinkery and Rachel Roeth will bring the LIVE tunes from 10:30-12:30.
November 15th – You’ll likely find more room to roam this weekend! The charm bar will join us again at the barn and Farmhouse Wonders will be at The Drinkery.
There are two big events nearby this weekend if you want to add on to your #R7RoadTrip.
Corridor Market – a fabulous vendor market in Coralville, IA and also nearby the Rural Road Trip that includes some of our favorite nearby shops.
November 22nd – This weekend you will find over 50 local vendors gathered nearby at The LM Honor Society Vendor Market.
What a great Saturday to shop the barn, the market, plust stop by The Drinkery and enjoy LIVE music by Ellie Powers too!!
November 29th – Small Business Saturday! We will have special gifts with purchase, drawings for prizes and gifts and so many special ways to celebrate!
This will be the first ever Small Business Saturday for The Downtown Drinkery too!!
An Invitation
Whether you’ve been coming to Christmas at the Barn for years or this is your first visit, I invite you to experience something different this year. Come for the shopping, stay for the memories, and leave with both gifts and stories to share.
– Tenneil, Jesse and the R7 family
