If you’re looking for a list of Christmas and Holiday things to do in Cincinnati this holiday season, look no further! From ice skating to parades, and train rides to lights displays, we’ve got you covered!
Ongoing Holiday Events
Ice Skating on Fountain Square – Ice rink open October 27th – February 19th.
Skate with Santa – Every weekend from Thanksgiving until Christmas, Santa will lace up his skates and join families out on the ice for an hour of holiday-filled fun.
North Pole Express – Take a magical train ride with Santa Claus and his elves!
Water Wonderland with Scuba Santa – Meet Scuba Santa and his elves, visit Santa’s post office, enjoy holiday music, and more!
Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction – Take a journey to the North Pole, where you can can meet Mrs. Claus and Santa himself, and check out their special holiday train displays.
Krohn Conservatory Holiday Show – Cincinnati Choo Choo – Features an interactive train display, beautiful poinsettias, and seasonal plants.
Tree Lighting Ceremonies and Festivals
Olde West Chester Christmas Walk – Saturday, November 18th; 2:00 – 9:00 PM. Shopping, yummy treats, live music, crafts, games, visits with Santa, and more.
Liberty Center’s Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting – Saturday, November 18th; 6:00 – 9:30 PM. Enjoy live music, a holiday parade, a lights show, and visits with Santa.
Macy’s Light up the Square – Friday, November 24th; 6:00 – 11:00 PM. Live music, appearance by Santa Claus, ice skating, fireworks, holiday market, and the official tree lighting.
Lebanon Christmas Parade and Festival – Saturday, December 2nd; 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Two parades, gift and food vendors, Christmas carolers and other live music, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and much more!
Light Up Fairfield – Saturday, December 2nd; 1:00 – 6:00 PM. Holiday market, Santa visits, live music and carols, and tree lighting ceremony.
Light up OTR – 2017 event TBD. Enjoy this community-based holiday party held annually in Washington Park.
Christmas in Loveland – Saturday, December 16th; 4:00 – 9:00 PM. Live music and performances, a special showing of Frozen, visits with Santa, carriage rides, food trucks, ice carving, and much more!
Pioneer Christmas – Sunday, December 10th; 1:00 – 4:00 PM at Keehner Park in West Chester.
Santa-bration – December 22nd – 24th; 11 AM – 5 PM. Santa’s coming to Carol Anne’s Carousel! Enjoy winter crafts, photos with Santa, and carousel rides.
Breakfast with Santa
Breakfast with Santa at Maggiano’s – November 26th, December 2nd & 3rd, and December 9th & 10th. Enjoy a breakfast buffet, visits and pictures with Santa, and games and activity stations.
Santa’s Brunch at Voice of America Park – December 16th, 12:30pm – 3:00pm. A delicious buffet, live piano music and caroling, visits with Santa, and more. Registration is required before December 2nd.
Lights Displays
Holiday Lights on the Hill – November 17th – December 31st. A drive-thru holiday lights display.
Sharon Woods Holiday in Lights – November 17th – December 31st. Enjoy a mile long drive with beautiful lights displays. You can also get out of your car to enjoy Santaland with hot cocoa, carolers, visits with Santa, a holiday train display, and more.
Neiderman Family Farm – November 24th – December 30th. A free, walking display, featuring live music.
The Christmas Ranch – November 17th – December 23rd. Located on 110 acres, it features a walk-thru Christmas lights park with a Christmas village full of shops. There are also train rides, wagon rides, and much more!
Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights – November 18th – January 1st. Beautiful lights displays throughout the zoo, lights and music shows at Swan Lake, hot cocoa, snacks, and more.
Christmas Nights of Lights at Coney Island – November 10th – January 1st. This family event features a 2-mile car ride through Christmas displays and light shows which are synced to your favorite holiday songs.
Christmas Shows
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Sunday, December 3rd at the Aronoff Center.
A Christmas Carol – November 22nd – December 30th at Playhouse in the Park.
The Nutcracker – December 14th – 24th at the Aronoff Center.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Holiday Show – December 21st at the U.S. Bank Arena.
Polar Express Pajama Party – December 16th and 17th at Newport on the Levee.
A Christmas Story the Musical – December 5th – 10th at the Aronoff Center.
Holiday Pops – December 8th – 10th at Music Hall.
98 Degrees at Christmas – December 15th at the Aronoff Center.
Holiday Shopping / Markets
Cincideutsch Christkindlmarkt on Fountain Square – Every weekend from November 24th – December 9th.
City Flea’s Holiday Market – December 16th at Washington Park.
Findlay Market’s Holiday Market – December 2nd & 3rd, 9 AM – 3 PM.
Art on Vine Holiday Gift Show – December 17th, Noon – 7 PM at Rhinegeist.
Miscellaneous
Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl – Saturday, December 2nd, 12PM – 8PM.
Cincinnati Santacon – The 10th Annual Cincinnati Santacon will be held on Saturday, December 9th.
Hopefully this list of Christmas and holiday things to do in Cincinnati has helped fill your calendar with lots of fun! We here at The Lowry Team wish you a happy, safe, and fun Christmas and holiday season!
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