The Most Festive Things To Do in Cincinnati This Holiday Season

Zapf's Christmas Display in North College Hill

Every Christmas, a slice of suburban North College Hill becomes awash in a glorious twinkling, festive glow. Zapf’s Christmas Display has been lighting up the neighborhood since 1970, originally created by Bill "Santa Z" Zapf. After Bill died in 2008, his son — who has the same name — kept the tradition alive. Roll up to 2032 Galbraith Road and you’ll be greeted by an an array of illuminated figures: reindeer, cheery snowmen, suited-up Santas and candy canes. Twinkling lights pepper trees and line the house’s borders; even an iteration of A Christmas Story’s infamous leg lamp glows in a window. 2032 Galbraith Road, North College Hill
Photo via Facebook.com/ZapfsChristmasDisplay

Zapf's Christmas Display in North College Hill

Every Christmas, a slice of suburban North College Hill becomes awash in a glorious twinkling, festive glow. Zapf’s Christmas Display has been lighting up the neighborhood since 1970, originally created by Bill "Santa Z" Zapf. After Bill died in 2008, his son — who has the same name — kept the tradition alive. Roll up to 2032 Galbraith Road and you’ll be greeted by an an array of illuminated figures: reindeer, cheery snowmen, suited-up Santas and candy canes. Twinkling lights pepper trees and line the house’s borders; even an iteration of A Christmas Story’s infamous leg lamp glows in a window. 2032 Galbraith Road, North College Hill
Photo via Facebook.com/ZapfsChristmasDisplay

Kings Island WinterFest

WinterFest is back! Kings Island’s nostalgic winter wonderland returns this year, complete with festive food and drinks, special holiday shows and ice skating underneath a Christmas tree-bedecked Eiffel Tower. There will be an artisan village selling holiday crafts, booze-infused hot beverages, ice carvers, carriage rides and even blue hot chocolate. Through Jan. 1. Tickets start at $27.99. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason.
Photo: Megan Waddel

Elf Trivia Night at Sam Adams

Head to the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom for some Elf trivia. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams of six or less. 8 p.m. Dec. 17. Free admission. Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom, 1727 Logan St., Over-the-Rhine.
Photo via Facebook/EventPage

Ice Rink at Fountain Square

Whether you’re a professional skater or someone who can barely stand on skates, this slice of winter wonderland on Fountain Square is open to everyone. Skate rental is available and concessions include snacks, hot chocolate and alcohol. Santa skates select weekends in December.Through Feb. 2. $6 admission; $4 skate rental. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown.
Photo via myfountainsquare.com

Gremlins and Gremlins 2 at the Esquire Theatre

Catch a double-feature of Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch at the Esquire. A kid gets a new fuzzy pet and breaks some important rules, unleashing a bunch of mischievous monsters on an unsuspecting small town. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 2 p.m. Dec. 21; Gremlins 2: The New Batch 10 p.m. Dec. 20 and 4:20 p.m. Dec. 21. $10.25 adults; $7.75 seniors and kids. Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton.
Photo: Emerson Swoger

OTR A-Glow

Presented by LM&M Railroad, this hour-long train to the North Pole features cookies, hot chocolate and an appearance from Santa and his elves.Through Dec. 31. Free. Over-the-Rhine.
Photo via Facebook/OTRaglow

The Pedal Wagon Polar Bear Express

While the weather outside is frightful, pedaling on the Polar Bear Express is a cheerful way to warm up your body temp. The 15-passenger pedal-powered wagon stops at local bars in downtown and OTR for drink specials. An electrically assisted wagon is available upon request. BYOB onboard. Through February 2020. $29 adults weekends; $25 adults weekdays; $255 private ride. Pedal Wagon, 1114 Bunker Alley, Over-the-Rhine.
Photo via Facebook/PedalWagonCincinnati

Light Up the Levee

Newport on the Levee will transform into a whimsical holiday haven during this year's season-long Winter Wonder event, bringing local vendors, holiday lights, a 500-foot Christmas tree, entertainment and Santa himself to the plaza. Through Dec. 28. Village on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport.
Photo via Facebook.com/LightUpTheLevee

A Zinzinnati Holiday at the Krohn Conservatory

The Krohn’s annual holiday display’s theme is A Zinzinnati Holiday and the conservatory’s cache of tropical and lush green plants will be complemented by “representations of Cincinnati’s historical architecture,” fragrant holiday floral displays, model trains and mini Cincinnati buildings constructed out of whimsical natural materials. Through Jan. 5. $10 adults; $7 youth; free ages 4 and under. Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams
Photo: Provided by Cincinnati Parks

Christmas Night of Lights

Coney Island transforms into a drive-thru Christmas show during the 10-week-long Christmas Nights of Lights. Enjoy the warmth of your car while lights manipulated to resemble dancing candy canes, glowing snowmen, colorful tunnels and giant holiday trees are synchronized to Christmas tunes both classic and new available via your car radio. The two-and-a-half-mile long display features more than one million lights. Through Jan. 5. $6. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., California.
Photo: Provided by Coney Island

The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill

Prepare to be amazed by the dazzling lights of Clifton Mill — 4 million of them. The mill, trees, riverbank and more will all be illuminated from bottom-to-top in colorful lights. Nov. 29-Dec. 30. $10. Clifton Mill, 75 Water St., Yellow Springs.
Photo via Wright-Patterson AFB CGOC/Facebook

PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo

The Festival of Lights is back for its 37th year of wintery amazement. Voted the No. 1 zoo light show in the country by readers of USA Today, 3 million LED lights (that’s 284 miles of lights) transform the zoo into a dazzling display of color and festive cheer. New this year is an immersive Northern Lights experience and Fiona’s Fairyland, where five fairy hippopotamuses will be hidden for visitors to find. Ride the Toyland Express train past the Wild Lights show on Swan Lake, snack at the two S’mores-n-More stations, meet the “royal sisters” at the Frozen Wonderland, catch a Madcap black light puppet show and snap a pic with Santa, who will start taking visitors an hour before the festival begins. Whatever you do, make sure to do it with a cup of hot cocoa (spiked or not) in hand. Through Jan. 4. Free with zoo admission. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Streetside Santa Paws 2

Head to Streetside Brewery for dog photos with Santa, doggie giftables and dog-friendly drinking. One dollar from every pint will benefit the League for Animal Welfare. 2-4 p.m. Dec. 15. $10 suggested donation. Streetside Brewery, 4003 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum.
Photo via Facebook/EventPage

Santa’s Workshop at Washington Park

Two Santas will be visiting Washington Park this holiday season. Santa Galen and the elves from Happen, Inc. and Gabby Claus and a merry band of elves will be at the gazebo at Washington Park with a letter-writing station and fun activities while kids wait for their free photo with Santa. Photos are free, but you must bring your own camera. Gabby Claus 1 p.m. Dec. 14; Santa Galen 1 p.m. Dec. 21. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Photo via Facebook/EventPage

Miracle at Overlook Lodge

Miracle, a national nostalgic holiday bar pop-up experience, returns to transform Pleasant Ridge’s Overlook Lodge into a winter wonderland full of themed cocktails and ugly sweaters. The Overlook will be decked out with a ton of classic Christmasy decor and feature a Miracle cocktail list with drinks like the Christmapolitan, Run Run Rudolph and SanTaRex.Through Dec. 26. Free admission. Overlook Lodge, 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge.
Photo: Provided by Miracle

The North Pole Express

Presented by LM&M Railroad, this hour-long train to the North Pole features cookies, hot chocolate and an appearance from Santa and his elves.Through Dec. 28. Coach class: $26 adults; $22 kids/seniors. Deluxe class: $39 adults; $35 children/seniors. LM&M Railroad, 16 E. South St., Lebanon.
Photo via lebanonrr.com

ODD Presents: Holiday Hysteria!

ODD Presents alternative drag troupe is committed to bringing “queer-centric entertainment in all its forms.” Dress in holiday theme and be ready to get weird. 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Dec. 19. Free admission. The Mockbee, 2260 Central Parkway, Brighton.
Photo via Facebook/ODDPresents

Holiday Lights on the Hill

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum will light up for the 20th year this November. The Holiday Lights on the Hill drive-thru light display features two-and-a-half miles of creative, glowing scenes and an additional new projection-mapped sculptural installation overseen by Brave Berlin, part of the team behind the BLINK art and light festival. This is the park’s second year collaborating with Brave Berlin and this year’s display is a stepping-stone to the park’s Journey BOREALIS, a “top-tier art and holiday destination,” arriving in November 2020. Through Jan. 5. $20 per car load Monday-Thursday; $25 per car load Friday-Sunday. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Hamilton.
Photo via Facebook.com/pyramidhillsculpturepark

Victorian Holiday Village

The 18th-annual Victorian Holiday Village features miniature decorated Victorian homes with thousands of sparkling lights plus cocoa and cookies. Please bring a nonperishable food item, which will be donated to the Freestore Foodbank. 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13. Free admission. Ohio National Financial Services, 1 Financial Way, Montgomery.
Photo via Facebook/EventPage