Cincinnati · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Cincinnati
58 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Cincinnati, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 5 are free.
Don’t miss
- Nov15SunTrain rides
Through Jan 1
Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
With admissionAll ages
- Nov19ThuLight displays
Through Jan 1
PNC Festival of Lights
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
With admissionAll ages
- Nov20FriLight displays
Through Jan 1
Pyramid Hill Lights
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
PaidAll ages
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nov19ThuCrafts and cookies
Thu, Nov 19 · 6:00 PM
Gingerbread Construction
Scheben Branch
- Nov20FriChristmas
Fri, Nov 20
Tumble Bees Preschool Gymnastics Open Play (Fourth Fridays & holiday dates)
Kids First Sports Center
Paid
- Nov21SatSanta visits
Sat, Nov 21 · 1:00 PM
Sensory-Friendly Santa at the Cincinnati Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
With admission
- Nov21SatSanta visits
Sat, Nov 21 · 3:00 PM
Light Up the Levee — Tree Lighting, Santa and Fireworks
Newport on the Levee
- Nov21SatLight displays
Sat, Nov 21 · 5:00 PM
8th Annual Fairfield Parade of Lights
Village Green Park & Fairfield Community Arts Center (parade steps off from Waterworks Park)
Free
- Nov22SunChristmas
Sun, Nov 22 · 1:00 PM
Holiday Gift to the Community: Free Holiday Tours of Hillforest
Hillforest Victorian House Museum
Free
- Nov27FriChristmas
Fri, Nov 27 · 10:00 AM
Turkey Trace Holiday Hike
Clingman Park
- Nov27FriTree lightings
Fri, Nov 27 · 7:00 PM
Milford Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Five Points Landing Park
- Nov28SatSanta visits
Sat, Nov 28 · 6:00 PM
Bellevue Tree Lighting & Santa
St. John United Church of Christ
- Nov28SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Nov 28 · 7:30 PM
Disney's The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert with the Cincinnati Pops
Music Hall
PaidAll ages
- Nov29SunTree lightings
Sun, Nov 29 · 5:30 PM
Edgewood Annual Tree Lighting
Liberty Hall (Freedom Park)
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Dec1TueTree lightings
Tue, Dec 1 · 7:00 PM
Covington Tree Lighting at the Kenton County Public Library
Covington Branch
All ages
- Dec3ThuCrafts and cookies
Thu, Dec 3 · 4:00 PM
Gingerbread House Decorating
Cold Spring Branch
- Dec3ThuChristmas
Thu, Dec 3 · 4:00 PM
Holidays on the Farm at Winton Woods
Winton Woods Farm & Equestrian Center
PaidAll ages
- Dec3ThuCrafts and cookies
Thu, Dec 3 · 5:30 PM
Melted Snowman Ornaments
Newport Branch
- Dec4FriCrafts and cookies
Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM
Gingerbread Houses & Movie
Event location at 3907 Central Ave. (venue name not published)
- Dec4FriTree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM
Mason Tree Lighting Ceremony
Downtown Plaza
- Dec4FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 4 · 7:00 PM
Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical JR. (The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati)
Emery Theater
From $12Ages 4+
- Dec4FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 4 · 7:00 PM
Holiday Drive-In Movie Night at Rivershore Sports Complex
Rivershore Sports Park (Rivershore Sports Complex)
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 8:00 AM
Saturday with Santa (Liberty Township)
Center Point Christian Church
- Dec5SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Jingle Babies (Ages Newborn-2)
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
- Dec5SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 11:00 AM
Jolabokaflod: A Holiday Open House
Newport Branch
All ages
- Dec5SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
Christmas in the Country at Dinsmore Homestead
Dinsmore Homestead
From $3
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Holiday in the Village (Montgomery Tree Lighting)
Downtown Montgomery Heritage District (Neuilly Plaisance Fountain; Historic Universalist Church)
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
Light Up College Hill (Explore Nature table and tree lighting)
Patrick's Park
- Dec5SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
Wyoming Holiday Celebration
Wyoming Avenue & Village Green
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5
6th Annual Loveland Christmas Tree Lighting Festival
Historic Downtown Loveland (tree on the Little Miami Scenic Trail near West Loveland Avenue)
- Dec6SunMarkets and festivals
Sun, Dec 6 · 10:00 AM
Holiday Family Festival at the Taft
Taft Museum of Art
Free
- Dec6SunSanta visits
Sun, Dec 6 · 2:00 PM
Deaf Day with Santa at Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
All ages
- Dec6SunChristmas
Sun, Dec 6 · 4:00 PM
Fort Thomas Holiday Walk
City Building
- Dec6SunHanukkah
Sun, Dec 6 · 5:00 PM
Light Up the Night: Hanukkah at the Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
- Dec6SunTree lightings
Sun, Dec 6 · 5:30 PM
Fa-La-La in the Fort (Christmas Tree Lighting)
Iris Road Park
- Dec7MonChristmas
Mon, Dec 7 · 4:00 PM
Wrap Up the Holidays (family gift-wrapping party)
Alexandria Branch
- Dec11FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 11 · 11:00 AM
Holiday Pops 2026 with the Cincinnati Pops
Music Hall
Paid
- Dec11FriHanukkah
Fri, Dec 11 · 5:00 PM
Hanukkah Friday Night Shabbat
Mayerson JCC
Free
- Dec11FriMarkets and festivals
Fri, Dec 11
Winter Wonderland at the Erlanger Branch Library
Erlanger Branch
All ages
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 8:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa (Montgomery)
Terwilliger Lodge
- Dec12SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Holiday Crafts Workshop at LaBoiteaux Woods
LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center
From $12
- Dec12SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 2:00 PM
Christmas at Hogwarts!
Madeira Branch Library
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 4:05 PM
Cincinnati Cyclones Elf Matinee
Heritage Bank Center
Paid
- Dec12SatTrain rides
Sat, Dec 12 · 5:30 PM
Family Movie: Polar Express 3D
Independence Branch
All ages
- Dec14MonChristmas
Mon, Dec 14 · 4:30 PM
Holiday I Spy Bottles
Alexandria Branch
- Dec16WedNutcracker and shows
Wed, Dec 16 · 12:00 PM
Holiday Skies – Planetarium Show
Wolff Planetarium – Trailside Nature Center, Burnet Woods
From $6Ages 5+
- Dec17ThuNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 27
The Nutcracker (Cincinnati Ballet)
Cincinnati Music Hall
Paid
- Dec18FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 18
Camp-a-Palooza Holiday Camps at Kids First
Kids First Sports Center
From $118Ages 5–12
- Dec18FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 18 · 6:00 PM
The Day Before Christmas by The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati
Erlanger Branch
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Dec23WedChristmas
Wed, Dec 23 · 7:00 PM
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas Pajama Storytime — Madeira
Madeira Branch Library
Ages 3–8
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:00 AM
Family Fun: NOON Year's Eve Party!
Sharonville Branch Library
All ages
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:00 AM
Noon Year's Eve Wish Celebration
Mariemont Branch Library
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:30 AM
Noon Year's Eve Balloon Drop and Party
Erlanger Branch
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 1:05 PM
Cincinnati Cyclones New Year's Eve Matinee with Indoor Fireworks
Heritage Bank Center
Paid
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
- Nov15SunNutcracker and shows
Through Jan 1
A Spider's Gift – Krohn Conservatory Holiday Show
Krohn Conservatory
From $8
- Nov15SunTrain rides
Through Jan 1
Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
With admissionAll ages
- Nov19ThuLight displays
Through Jan 1
PNC Festival of Lights
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
With admissionAll ages
- Nov20FriNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 27
A Christmas Carol (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park)
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park – Moe and Jack's Place, The Rouse Theatre
PaidAges 5+
- Nov20FriLight displays
Through Jan 1
Pyramid Hill Lights
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
PaidAll ages
- Nov27FriSanta visits
Through Dec 24
Scuba Santa's Water Wonderland at Newport Aquarium
Newport Aquarium
Paid
- Nov27FriMarkets and festivals
Through Dec 31
WinterFest at Kings Island
Kings Island
PaidAll ages
Nothing matches that filter in Cincinnati. Try another one.
For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Cincinnati?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Cincinnati listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 58 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Eastern Time.