December? Where has this year gone?!
2022 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, 2022.
You might also want to check out these seasonal guides:
50+ Christmas and Holiday Things to Do
Drive Through Christmas Light Shows (plus walk thru too!)
Christmas Craft Shows
Where to Find a Live Nativity Scene
Breakfast with Santa
December 1-3: 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! Visit Kemper House, Fetter General Store, Schram Print Shop, Vorhes House, Chester Park Train Station, Elk Lick House, and Hayner House 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 impact of the Civil War on celebrations, and the new traditions introduced by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert an ocean away. Discover popular 19th century gifts and how they would have been purchased, the early history of Christmas cards, and how the holidays impacted transportation during the 1800s. Guests will be treated to the beauty and simplicity of historic decorations and see some G-scale model trains in their historic train station.
December 2-3: The annual Dark Charge Winter Block Party is happening in and around Braxton Brewing in Covington, Ky. Celebrate community, rich history, and the 2022 Dark Charge release.
You might also like: Ultimate Christmas and Holiday Fun Guide
December 2-4: Head to Waynesville for Christmas in the Village. Stroll in and out of retail and dining storefronts, while listening to charolers, choirs, and musicians.
December 3-4: Winter Market at Washington Park returns with regional artisans and crafters in cozily designed huts! You’re sure to find something special for everyone on your list. Vendors will vary from weekend to weekend so visit often!
December 3-4: Findlay Market’s annual Holiday Market is happening too! They will have dozens of farmers and outdoor vendors plus over 50 full-time merchants selling holiday gifts, food and decor. Jane’s will be open, serving beers and festive cocktails. They will also be selling beautiful Christmas trees, wreaths and garland. Shoppers will receive a FREE commemorative 2022 Findlay Market ornament locally produced by Lucca with every tree purchase. Bundle up, grab your friends and support small businesses this holiday season!
December 3-4: It’s time for the annual Newport’s historic East Row Victorian Christmas Tours and Tea. Tour homes decorated for Christmas, explore the outside light displays and stained glass windows, enjoy a Christmas Victorian Tea, and visit the local establishments for a drink or a meal.
December 3: The 2022 Holiday Light Contest and Light Up St. Bernard is happening from 6 to 9pm. Participating homes will be officially judged on Saturday, December 3rd, from 6 -8:30 PM, by spectators who are asked to place a canned good(s) in the container located outside of their favorite decorated home. Who are these spectators? YOU ARE!!! Whether you are traveling by foot (strongly encouraged), or in a vehicle, please plan to get out with your family and enjoy this event and support the hard work of your neighbors. First place will be awarded to the home that has the most canned goods in their container at 8:30 on Saturday evening. All canned goods will then be donated to St. Clement’s Food Pantry.
Map available (see site above).
December 3: Lebanon’s 32nd 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 3: It’s “Dad Day” at Rhinegeist! Their hoppy holiday ale returns and they’re celebrating all things Dad! In addition to the classic plaid photo backdrop for the annual photo op, this year’s Dad Day features a diverse shopping & art experience curated by Nigel Agboh (Small World Market)! Holiday-themed cocktails, FIND THE PICKLE (if you know, you know), and more Dad Day fun for the whole famdamily!
December 3: The Comboni Mission Center invites you to Breakfast in Bethlehem, 8:30am-11am. Visitors will get an early viewing of the animated Nativity before it’s open for the its 75th season. For $5 per person ($20 per family) guests will also enjoy: a pancake breakfast, games, crafts, facepainting, shopping in the Christmas Boutique, and museum tours. RSVP required (see link above).
December 3: Head to Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village for a Candlelight Walk. Go back to a time when Christmas time was celebrated in the most basic of ways. All of their buildings will be open for the public to go through and once it gets dark the whole village will be lit up by candle light along the paths between the buildings and within the buildings themselves. $5 per person
December 3: Head to Fountain Square for Downtown Dazzle. See Santa rappel from a Cincinnati skyrise and wait with anticipation for the sky to fill with a fabulous fireworks display! 6pm = music and festivities; 7pm = Downtown Dazzle show begins. Be sure to make reservations if you want to ice skate.
December 3: Strap on your walking shoes for the Hamilton German Village Christmas Walk. This quaint village has been decked out, cheered up, dressed beautifully for your visit. Although homes will not be open, they have added many vendors, extra outdoor music, and food to the event! Stroll through the streets to be enchanted with the Holiday Spirit.
December 7-9: 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! Visit Kemper House, Fetter General Store, Schram Print Shop, Vorhes House, Chester Park Train Station, Elk Lick House, and Hayner House 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 impact of the Civil War on celebrations, and the new traditions introduced by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert an ocean away. Discover popular 19th century gifts and how they would have been purchased, the early history of Christmas cards, and how the holidays impacted transportation during the 1800s. Guests will be treated to the beauty and simplicity of historic decorations and see some G-scale model trains in their historic train station.
December 8: Light Up College Hill is coming on December 8th, 6-8pm! This will be an avenue-wide event with the 3rd annual tree lighting in Patrick’s Park, 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 9-10: If 2022 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 9: 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 holiday program will be hosted by Local 12 News Anchor, Kyle Inskeep, and will feature renowned theater organist Mark Herman as he fills the Wurlitzer organ with spirit of the season! Vocal performances by The Cincinnati May Festival Chorus singers will ring in their 150th season and dancers from the Otto M. Budig Cincinnati Ballet Academy will delight! Tickets required.
December 9: It’s Christmas Movie Night at Crossroads Oakley. Everyone’s welcome on December 9 for a festive movie about a boy who takes an adventurous train ride! This evening will be full of holiday cheer with popcorn and hot chocolate. You can even come in your best Christmas jammies! Get to know your Crossroads Oakley community and make this big place feel smaller. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and the movie begins at 6:30 pm.
December 10-11: Winter Market at Washington Park returns with regional artisans and crafters in cozily designed huts! You’re sure to find something special for everyone on your list. Vendors will vary from weekend to weekend so visit often!
December 10-11: Print Like Charley Harper at the Cincinnati Nature Center. Enjoy your hand at screen printing as you pull your own Charley Harper print. Sessions begin every hour; all supplies are provided and include one print. Registration required.
December 10: 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 10: The jolliest bunch of Santas will be singing some tunes as SantaCon takes on Downtown Cincinnati, OTR, the Banks, PLUS Covington, Newport, and Mt. Adams. The Cure Starts Now is their official charity and they will be supporting them again.
December 10: Head to Fountain Square for Downtown Dazzle. See Santa rappel from a Cincinnati skyrise and wait with anticipation for the sky to fill with a fabulous fireworks display! 6pm = music and festivities; 7pm = Downtown Dazzle show begins. Be sure to make reservations if you want to ice skate.
December 10: Head to Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village for a Candlelight Walk. Go back to a time when Christmas time was celebrated in the most basic of ways. All of their buildings will be open for the public to go through and once it gets dark the whole village will be lit up by candle light along the paths between the buildings and within the buildings themselves. $5 per person
December 10: Or head to Hocking Hills for a candlelight stroll to Ash Cave on Saturday (Dec. 10), 5-7pm. They will have warm refreshments and activities such as candle dipping, making ornaments, and a visit with Santa himself. Meet up at the Ash Cave parking lot and dress for the winter weather. This is an outdoor event.
December 11: The Cincinnati Observatory has their Holiday Open House, 1-4pm. They’ll be open for tours of the historic buildings and telescopes, they’ll have safe solar viewing (weather permitting), plus holiday refreshments. Admission is free, no reservations needed.
December 11: Balloon Glow is scheduled for this Sunday, Dec. 11. Area hot air balloonists will be at Smith Park (Middletown) and their balloons will be set up to “glow” for about a half hour. A fan favorite, the night balloon glow is a magical display that families look forward to every year. This event is weather dependent so be sure to watch the Light Up Middletown page for updates.
December 11: Head to MadTree for the Winter Market. Shop local in the festive, spruced up taproom. They’ll have vendors specializing in categories such as handcrafted jewelry, woodworking, photography, clothing and home goods to sell their products. 10am-3pm
December 11: Signs and Songs, Holiday Edition will be at the American Sign Museum, 2-4pm. Enjoy the festive glow of the signs and seasonal tunes provided by the Steve Schmidt Band.
December 11: Art on Vine – The Holiday Gift Sale at Rhinegeist. 12-7pm
December 17-18: Grab some great gifts at The City Flea‘s Holiday Market, held at Washington Park. Early Birds Mini Market is from 11am-4pm on Saturday, Full Evening Market is 4-9pm on Saturday, and a Daylight Market will be on Sunday, 11am-5pm.
December 17-18: Winter Market at Washington Park returns with regional artisans and crafters in cozily designed huts! You’re sure to find something special for everyone on your list. Vendors will vary from weekend to weekend so visit often!
You might also like: Drive Through Christmas Light Shows in Cincinnati, perfect for 2021
December 17: 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! 4-8pm.
December 17: The 10th Annual Over-the-Rhine Raildog Parade is happening from around 4 pm (event listing says 3-8pm for the entire event). Get your pups all dressed up in their finest Christmas finery and get ready to promenade. Meet in advance on the Queen City Radio patio for libations and hot cider, shots…whatever, and depart at 4 pm for a stroll around the Washington Park Winter Market and OTR, then end back at Queen City Radio for more refreshments and award presentations in the beer garden.
December 17: Head to Fountain Square for Downtown Dazzle. See Santa rappel from a Cincinnati skyrise and wait with anticipation for the sky to fill with a fabulous fireworks display! 6pm = music and festivities; 7pm = Downtown Dazzle show begins. Be sure to make reservations if you want to ice skate.
December 17: Fibonacci Brewing Company is hosting a Winter Solstice Celebration, noon-11pm. El Ritmo Latin Jazz will be playing some holiday-inspired tunes from 7-9pm. They will have a FREE holiday decoration swap from 12-8pm. Bring your items that you no longer need and take come some new ones. They’ll have the firepits going and you can help decorate their yule tree! They’ll also have mulled wine, a holiday sangria, and some awesome beer releases.
December 17: It’s Winter Wonderland at Madcap Education Center, noon to 3pm. Holiday fun for the whole family featuring Carol Karaoke, Story Time with the Cratchit Family, photos with costumed characters, and crafts. There will be snacks, drinks and hot chocolate for purchase. $5 per family (max of 5).
December 17: The Lloyd Library (downtown) will be open for their Holiday Open House, 9am-5pm. Experience peace and calm when visiting one of Cincinnati’s premier research libraries, explore its latest exhibition, Sylvan Roots: A Celebration of Trees, and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and cookies. Holiday cards and unique gifts available in the Lloyd Shop. No admission, open to the public for this event.
December 17 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 18: Art on Vine – The Holiday Gift Sale at Rhinegeist. 12-7pm
December 18: It’s a Rabbit Hash Christmas Parade! It’s back. 8 minutes of fame as the parade traverses the town in Christmas style. Please join in as a parader or a spectator. Jake Speed and the Freddies will be playing music in the General Store immediately following the parade! Starts at 5pm.
December 18: Walk it off at the Christmas Bird Count happening at the Cincinnati Nature Center, 8am – noon. You will be part of a team that counts every bird seen, so the more eyes, the better! No experience necessary, just dress to be outdoors for an extended period.
December 18: The Hyde Park Winter Farmers’ Market is happening in the Barrel Room at Madtree Brewing, 10am-1pm.
December 20: It’s a Holiday Cookie Decorating Class at Taft’s Brewpourium (ticket purchase required). Elle, owner of Baked by Elle, will lead you through decorating 2 cookies in a fun Christmas design! She’ll also have a surprise gift for each person. Each ticket is good for one person. Class will last approximately 1 hour. No experience necessary. Recommended for ages 13 and up.
Dec. 20: Enjoy a holiday themed “Music Live at Lunch” with the Christ Church Cathedral Choir and Elizabeth Motter (harp): Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. Concertgoers are invited to bring their own lunch –– no food can be purchased at the cathedral. See site for full details.
Check out our long list of Things to Do for Christmas Break for lots of great ideas!
December 30: Contemporary Arts Center hosts a Final Friday event.
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.