Christmas in Cincinnati is definitely one of our favorite times of year! It’s a time to see the lights, take pictures with Santa, enjoy all the holiday train displays, see the live nativities, and so much more.
Ring in this holiday season with these fun Cincinnati Christmas and Holiday Events and Happenings!
Get into the holiday spirit with our lineup of festive Christmas events. Click the links for full details
Christmas and Holiday Fun for 2025:
Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains
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Experience a Cincinnati holiday tradition at Cincinnati Museum Center when you visit Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains.
Enjoy track-level views of the trains and displays which feature more than 300 rail cars and 50 locomotives. Watch from your track-level spot as they steam past anxious passengers waiting to board while cars sit with snow to their hubcaps and the perfect trees strapped to their roofs.
Plus, experience a blizzard of LEGO bricks in Brickopolis, featuring a custom built village and bustling neighborhood of minifig hijinks. And no holiday season is complete without a visit to Santa!
Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains is at Cincinnati Museum Center from November 14, 2025 through January 5, 2026. Tickets required.
Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt
Step into Cincinnati’s beloved Christkindlmarkt, a German-American holiday experience filled with festive lights, seasonal delights, and cozy winter activities.
Located at the Schmidlapp Event Lawn adjacent to the Moerlein Lager House, this event features cozy heated igloos (rental required), live entertainment and a huge LED screen inside the expanded Fest Tent, themed character days, Santa’s Big Red Mailbox, the Holiday Beer Extravaganza, karaoke nights, festive food and beverage offerings, charming vendor chalets, and the carousel + Holiday Train on select weekends — all creating a European-inspired holiday village with a Cincinnati twist.
Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt offers free admission and runs November 22, 2025 until December 28, 2025.
Holidays on the Farm
Step back from the holiday hustle into your new tradition of winter wonder at Holidays on the Farm!
From lighted wagon rides to meet-and-greets with Santa and his reindeer, this magical escape is sure to create lasting memories for the whole family.
Under the glow of glimmering lights, enjoy pony rides, carolers, farm animals, Santa’s reindeer, a holiday beer garden, firepits and so much more! Grab a hot cocoa and shop for gifts at Vendor Village, stroll through the twinkling tunnel, be dazzled by dancing horses, and remind Scrooge it’s all BAAAA and no humbug at Holidays on the Farm!
Holidays on the Farm is at Parky’s Farm / Winton Woods, December 4-23, 2025. Tickets required.
Festival of Ferns at Krohn Conservatory
Experience classic trains and iconic landmarks as you make your way through Krohn Conservatory’s holiday show. This year’s show allows you to surround yourself with ferns, familiar and unexpected from towering tree to delicate maidenhairs complemented by the crimson hues of seasonal poinsettias.
Lots of great photo opportunities so plan ahead.! And be sure to explore the entire place to see the indoor waterfall, orchids, and more!
Festival of Ferns is at the Krohn Conservatory from November 1, 2025 through January 4, 2026. Admission charged.
More Christmas and Holiday Fun:
Seasonal outdoor Ice Rinks are popping all over town!
- Summit Park has an ice rink (Nov. 15, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026), the observation tower is open, walk the park, and enjoy the new MadTree Brewing location (Parks & Rec).
- 50 West Brewing offers Curling Leagues so they do have an ice rink. Is it open to the public? More info to come as I receive it.
- District at Deerfield is supposed to have ice skating as well. More info to come.
- Elm Street Plaza is the new home for the downtown Cincinnati ice rink
Christmas Light Shows are abundant in Cincinnati this year! Stay warm and toasty with a drive-through light show that features music synchronized with the light displays. Or go at a slower pace and walk amongst the trails of lights. Check out our list – there are enough options to visit one each week!
Cutting down your own Christmas Tree is a wonderful way to start the season! Here’s our list of local Christmas Tree Farms in Cincinnati and surrounding areas.
If you love to shop handmade from local makers, our list of Christmas and Holiday Craft Shows is a must see!
Looking for some ways to see Santa this year? Whether it’s having breakfast with the big guy or getting some holiday pictures, we’ve got your list! We’ve gathered up all the spots, made a list, and checked it twice! Pictures with Santa and Breakfast with Santa.
Want to take it easy this Christmas? Check out our list of Christmas Dinner to Go (updates coming soon) options and find a great spot that will cook Christmas dinner for you!
Or maybe you’d rather go out to dinner for Christmas Eve or Christmas day? You can order your Christmas dinner from one of these wonderful local restaurants (updates coming soon).
There’s nothing better than stumbling upon a list of Free and Cheap Winter Things to Do, especially at Christmas time! Check out the list for some “easy on the wallet” options for fun.
Find More Christmas Things to Do Here:
🎄 Things to do in December
🎄 Things to Do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
🎄 Things to Do Over Winter Break
Awaited Christmas Show at Crossroads Church in Oakley. Broadway quality show! There will be 29 shows this year! You can get FREE tickets beginning Nov 25.
Love to see a show! TY
Yet again, an amazing resource! Thank you so much for all the amazing information you provide!
PS: This will also make our work a bit easier as we prep more holiday activities for the Geocaching community. 🙂
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and a Very Merry Christmas!
Is it broadcast at the Florence campus?
what a great list!! Thanks so much Bridgette
I definitely recommend checking out Awaited. This is not your ordinary Nativity play. Free cookies, hot cocoa and more before the show. Then a broadway quality spectacular that is easily on par with anything you would see at the Aronoff. And it’s all free. There’s no “big ask” for money and no “hard sell” to try to convince you to change churches or anything like that. Just an unforgettable retelling of the Christmas story from the perspective of the angels. Great music, great effects and an inner warmth that puts you in just-the-right spirit for Christmas. Over 50,000 people saw the show last year. Because of such high demand, the number of shows is being doubled so over 100,000 can see it this year. I’d still make sure to order tickets early to be sure you get some. Sorry for the long commentary, I’ve just never met anyone who doesn’t love this show after seeing it!
This weekend, November 14, 15, 15
You could also list the Victorian Home Tour & Tea in Newport’s East Row Historic District… so fun! Details at http://www.eastrow.org
Forgot to mention the dates: Dec. 6 & 7
How do you get tickets for Awaited? Will they be available on their website on 25th?
Heather, Here is the link for the show: https://www.awaitedshow.com/ Tickets don’t appear to be out yet (it says Nov. 25).
Don’t forget the Barn Quilt Trail right across the river all over Boone County. We have 80 up now. They can be viewed 365 days a year any time during the day. Free. Go to website BooneBarnQuilts.com for locations. These are quilt blocks painted on boards on barns. All can be seen from the road.
Love your site. Thanks!!!
Joyce Foley
Neusole Glassworks has their pumpkin/ornament blows scheduled for November and December on their website.
November 14 please join the Salvation Army Toy Shop Auxiliary for their 59th annual fundraiser and doll auction at the Armstrong Chapel United Church in Indian Hill for a.silent auction, live auction, doll accessories and hand made items. Music and refreshments with homemade cookies will be served.
Event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 11:00. Silent auction 11:00 to 12:30. Live auction begins at 12:45.
50 yd line tickets to the St.Louis, Baltimore & Houston games available in the auctions. See 700 dressed dolls on display to be given to needy children this Christmas. It’s a fun event, come with friends.
Great list! Thank you! Don’t forget the Krohn by Candlelight where they stay open late & turn the lights off for visitors to view the Christmas setup with only Christmas lights. My fav thing to do every year! It’s magical 😉 12/9 & 12/16
https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/programs-and-events/seasonal-krohn-conservatory-show/
Please also don’t forget the Cinideutsch Christkindlmarkt on Fountain Square! We are there for 4 weekends starting after Thanksgiving!
https://www.facebook.com/events/570543063098123/
The West Chester event listed for Dec 4 is not for West Chester, Ohio.
Yikes! Thank you, Donna! I removed it.
Could you please publish a list of Christmas concerts at area churches? THANKS!
Victorian Holidays at William Howard Taft National Historic Site are free! On Saturday December 19th, everyone is invited to join us from 11 a.m. to 3: 30 p.m. for our special Father Christmas event. During this time children and adults will be delighted to learn about the traditions of Christmas and will make holiday crafts to take home with them. Father Christmas will be here taking photos with everyone and all children will receive a free photograph. Free carriage rides starting at 1:00 pm.
Our Victorian Holiday Celebration will culminate on Sunday, January 3rd, when the annual New Year’s Open House will be hosted by The Friends of the William Howard Taft Birthplace. Everyone is invited to visit the Taft House from 1 to 4 p.m. to enjoy holiday refreshments with The Friends — just as guests would have during the 1850’s. All events are entirely free and open to the public!
William Howard Taft National Historic Site is located at 2038 Auburn Avenue and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. year round. Visit the Directions page for instructions on how to get to the park.
Can you add in Cincy is HOME information? http://Www.CincyisHOME.com has all of the information and includes Ale to the Queen City beer fest and a fun Passport to Cincinnati with the chance to win great prizes.
Can you add our new exhibit of children’s books?
Once Upon A Time: The Mysterious World of Children’s Stories is on display in the Joseph S. Stern, Jr. Cincinnati Room at the Main Library from Nov. 18 to Jan. 8, 2017. Covering four centuries and featuring traditional fables, chapbooks, nursery rhymes and fairy tales from the Public Library’s rich book collection, this exhibition is sure to delight the whole family.
The Cincinnati Room’s special hours are: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information call 513-369-6900. Visit http://www.CincinnatiLibrary.org/programs/exhibits.html.
There is also a Live Nativity, at Loveland United Methodist Church. This event is free to the public, and hot chocolate and cookies are provided. It is a rebuilt town of Bethlehem where visitors are guided through the scenes by Luke in the retelling of the Birth of Jesus.
https://www.lovelandumc.org/
Friday December 2nd 6pm-9pm
Saturday December 3rd 6pm-9pm
Sunday December 4th 4pm-7pm
Heard an interview from someone from Crossroads. Said there are always seats available because people order more tickets than they need. He said to just show up and you will get a seat. Didn’t say they would be great, but you would have a seat.
When will you update this site to include 2022?
Hi Darla, We will start to update Christmas content as soon as dates begin to be announced.