Christmas in Cincinnati: Your Ultimate Guide to Holiday Fun

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!

Click the links for full details; we are currently updating for the 2024 holiday season.

Christmas and Holiday Fun for 2024:

  • Local Experience Gifts
  • Tree Farms
  • Where to Find Santa
  • Live Nativities
  • and more!

More Christmas and Holiday Fun:

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.

Looking for experience gift ideas? We have a GREAT list of the city’s best experience gifts! Best of all? You can browse and shop from the comfort of home!

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 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.

One of our favorite things to do each year is to visit Brother Tim and see all his nativity sets at St. Francis Seraph Church in Over-the-Rhine. In addition to all the nativity sets he’s collected from all over the world, they have a live nativity set up in the church’s courtyard. Find out more about this Live Nativity (and more live nativities set up around town) here.

I don’t know about you buy we are always looking for that snowy experience around Christmas time! Check out our local Ice Skating Rinks for some fun on the ice!

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:
🎄 Christmas Events
🎄 Things to do in December
🎄 Things to Do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
🎄 Things to Do Over Winter Break

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About the Author
Bridgett Raffenberg
My name is Bridgett Raffenberg and I am the creator of 365Cincinnati. I've been uncovering and sharing all of the best things to do in Cincinnati since 2010. I enjoy exploring new spots, discovering local events, and meeting the people who call Cincinnati home!

27 thoughts on “Christmas in Cincinnati: Your Ultimate Guide to Holiday Fun”

  1. 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!

  2. 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!

  3. 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

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. 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.

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