December? Where has this year gone?!
2025 may be coming to a close but there’s still a lot to celebrate in Cincinnati for the month of December! From historic tours to sing along movies to outdoor markets, this curated list of things to do should keep you busy this month!
The list below is date specific for Cincinnati in December, 2025.
You might also want to check out these seasonal guides:
Drive Through Christmas Light Shows (plus walk thru too!)
Christmas Craft Shows
December 3-5: The Heritage Village Museum hosts 19th Century Holiday Guided Tours (advanced ticket purchase required). Celebrate the season with a holiday guided tour of the Village! Go inside seven historic houses and learn how Christmas celebrations changed and evolved over the course of the 19th century in Southwestern Ohio. See glimpses of the earliest Christmases of Cincinnati, the elegance of a Victorian Christmas, and the newly renovated Myers Schoolhouse. Tickets required.
December 4?: Light Up College Hill is an avenue-wide event with the annual tree lighting in Patrick’s Park (7:30pm), a Winter Market (located in the lot behind Brink Brewery), a train ride for kids, Santa, live reindeer and more! As part of Light Up College Hill festivities, several businesses throughout the district will be hosting special (free!) activities for families and then offering some adult options as well.
December 5: Enjoy the Holiday Wonderland Laser Show at the Haile Planetarium at NKU. Enjoy the warmth and nostalgia of timeless classics, brought to life with dazzling laser displays. Whether you’re revisiting cherished songs or introducing new generations to holiday favorites, this experience will fill your heart with joy and wonder. Perfect for families, friends, or anyone looking to celebrate the season in a unique way! Tickets required (just $10-ish).
December 5-7: Head to Waynesville for Christmas in the Village. Stroll in and out of retail and dining storefronts, while listening to carolers, choirs, and musicians. Santa arrives daily, 1300+ luminaries along Main Street, 40+ shops, and much more.
December 5: Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer returns at Music Hall for a 7pm show. Celebrate the joys of the season with their annual “Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer” concert in Music Hall’s beautiful and historic Ballroom. This year’s concert will dazzle with the sights and sounds of the season, including a whimsical gingerbread and candy theme and a visit from Santa himself, which is sure to delight guests of all ages.
December 6-7: It’s time for the annual Newport’s historic East Row Victorian Christmas Tours. Residents will be opening their spectacular historic homes to the public, just in time for the Christmas season. They will have 7 distinct homes scattered around the Historic District, each with a unique character sure to delight visitors. Tour hours each day will be from 12pm to 6pm this year. Tickets required.
December 6-7: It’s Findlay Market’s annual Holiday Market Weekend! They will have dozens of local artisans alongside the normal lineup of merchants selling holiday gifts, food and decor.
December 6: Lebanon’s 36th Annual Horse Drawn Carriage Parade and Christmas Festival returns. There will be two horse-drawn carriage parades this year: a daylight parade at 1 pm and their traditional candlelight parade at 7 pm. Enjoy a Christmas Festival (starting at 10am), visits with Santa, shopping, food, lights, and more.
December 6: Christmas Tree Lighting in Loveland
December 7: Liberty Center will host a Sensory Santa event from 10-11:30am. Sensory Santa is a sensory-friendly opportunity for children with special needs and their families to enjoy a private photo session and visit with Santa Claus in a calming environment before the mall opens to the public.
December 7: Art on Vine – The Holiday Gift Sale at Rhinegeist. 12-6pm
December 10-12: The Heritage Village Museum hosts 19th Century Holiday Guided Tours (advanced ticket purchase required). Celebrate the season with a holiday guided tour of the Village! Go inside seven historic houses and learn how Christmas celebrations changed and evolved over the course of the 19th century in Southwestern Ohio. See glimpses of the earliest Christmases of Cincinnati, the elegance of a Victorian Christmas, and the newly renovated Myers Schoolhouse. Tickets required.
December 12-13: If 2025 hasn’t been scary enough for you, take a look at The Dent Schoolhouse’s “A Christmas Nightmare”, a Christmas haunted attraction. They’ll be bringing some of their Halloween haunted house characters in for a grizzly twist on the holiday. This 1 weekend special event, 6:00pm – 10:00pm.
December 12: Enjoy the Holiday Wonderland Laser Show at the Haile Planetarium at NKU. Enjoy the warmth and nostalgia of timeless classics, brought to life with dazzling laser displays. Whether you’re revisiting cherished songs or introducing new generations to holiday favorites, this experience will fill your heart with joy and wonder. Perfect for families, friends, or anyone looking to celebrate the season in a unique way! Tickets required (just $10-ish).
December 13: The Comboni Mission Center invites you to Breakfast in Bethlehem, 9-11am. Visitors will get an There will be games and crafts for the kids and an opportunity to view the animated Nativity Scene. For $5 per person ($20 per family) guests will also enjoy: a pancake breakfast and fun activities for the kids. RSVP required (see link above).
December 13: The Reindog Parade will be brightening up the streets of Mt. Adams starting at 2pm. Santa will lead the parade of dogs in their holiday best accompanied by their two legged friends.
December 13: The jolliest bunch of Santas will be singing some tunes as SantaCon takes on Downtown Cincinnati (The Banks, OTR, CBD), Covington, and Mt. Adams. The Cure Starts Now is their official charity and they will be supporting them again.
December 13: Head to Hocking Hills for Christmas in Ash Cave, 5-7pm. This holiday program begins with an unguided lantern walk along the paved trail to Ash Cave. Once in the cave, families can visit with Santa, sit around the campfire, listen to carolers or music, sip hot chocolate, and munch on cookies.
December 13: Be swept back in time while visiting Old Historic Loveland during Christmas in Loveland. Everything from Jolly Ole’ St. Nick and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole, to a live Nativity scene, to a Winter Wonderland! 3-8pm.
You might also like: Drive Through Christmas Light Shows in Cincinnati
December 13 is National Wreaths Across America Day. Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 3,400 locations across the United States, at sea, and abroad. The wreaths are placed on the headstones of fallen soldiers. You can volunteer to lay wreaths at Spring Grove Cemetery that day.
December 13: Head to Sharonville for Christmas on the Loop, 11am-3pm. Fun for all ages with horse-drawn carriage rides, their downtown business open house with annual Sharonville ornament, music, food trucks, iceless ice rink, and more!
December 21: Art on Vine – The Holiday Gift Sale at Rhinegeist. 12-6pm
Check out our long list of Things to Do for Christmas Break for lots of great ideas (coming soon!)
All events were accurate at the time of this posting but things do happen and events do occasionally get canceled or postponed. You should always double check with the event source before you head out the door. Links for each event are provided so that you can be sure the date is still accurate before you head out.
