250 of Ohio’s Favorites: Holiday Edition
We are now in the season when the darkness of evening comes earlier. That makes us want to surround ourselves with the festive lights of the holidays. Whether you celebrate your holiday with a brightly lit tree, a beautiful menorah or the kinara candle holder – each one references light and an opportunity to spend time with family and friends.
The winter holidays also give us an opportunity to explore many of the charming small towns as well as the bright lights of the larger cities with holiday events for every kind.
Share your favorite Ohio holiday lights and more…
For this edition of Ohio Favorites – we’re going to ask for Ohioans to share their favorite places in Ohio to celebrate the winter holidays. Holiday light displays, parades, festivals, and places to visit and places to shop local. Just go to our social media sites to nominate your favorite holiday locale – share with us the “3 W’s” – what, where, and why you think it is special.
Here are some holiday celebration location ideas to get you started!
Experience the joy of the season and explore the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail! Find Christmas trees all aglow, see illuminated historic buildings, and downtowns decked out with holiday cheer. This 70-stop self-guided trail showcases the best and brightest light shows in Ohio.
Did you know there is a holiday all-horse parade in Lebanon, Ohio? There sure is! It’s the Lebanon Horse Drawn Carriage Parade & Christmas Festival held on December 2, 2023. The festival is from 10am-8pm and the horse-drawn carriage parade is held two times 1pm and a candlelit version at 7pm – sounds amazing!
Travel to Guernsey County to the quaint city of Cambridge and stroll down their charming downtown to experience the Dickens Victorian Village where you can see 92 scenes of 180 lifelike figures from the Victorian era. Perfect for a ye olde holiday photo op!
Go north from Cambridge to Dennison, Ohio to the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum and take the Polar Express Train Ride – decorated vintage coaches, with festive elves to entertain you and a reading of the Polar ExpressTM story and much more! You can wear your jammies for this slice of holiday fun.
Speaking of trains, the Cincinnati Museum Center, located in the historic and recently renovated Union Terminal is celebrating their 77th anniversary of their Holiday Junction – it is a whole extravaganza of model railroad fun for the whole family.
Many communities feature public Menorah Lighting events including one planned at Easton Towne Center in Columbus, Ohio on December 9th. It will be a special celebration and family party complete with music, food, dancing, and games.
Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Ohio History Connection December 29-30 in Columbus – A celebration of family, community, & culture. Events will also be held at the Lincoln Theater, King Arts Complex, Ohio History Connection, and the MLK branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library between December 26-30.
Here are a few more you’ll want to check out from the Ohio History Connection’s many sites:
A holiday light display that could be called “out of this world” at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum.
Ohio History Connection’s Dickens of a Christmas in the Ohio Village.
Zoar Historic Village’s Christmas in Zoar.
We can’t wait to hear your ideas and help us build out Ohio’s Favorite Holiday Celebration Locations!