# Things to do with kids in Lorain County, OH

> 14 upcoming family events and 7 places and ongoing programs in Lorain County, OH, in the Cleveland area. Listings whose address ZIP code is in this county (Census Bureau ZIP-to-county file). Dates and times are Eastern Time. Today is Mon, Nov 2.

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/counties/lorain-county-oh

## Events ahead

- [The Karen P Nakon Turkey Dash (Thanksgiving 5K Run/Walk)](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/the-karen-p-nakon-turkey-dash-thanksgiving-5k-run-walk--listing-e4e5525c258b455a1f420062) — Thu, Nov 26 · 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Avon High School · All ages · From $25 · checked Oct 30. The Nakon Foundation's family-friendly Thanksgiving morning 5K run/walk at Avon High School draws over 1,500 runners, walkers and spectators, with child registration for kids 12…
- [Holiday Lights Drive-Through at Carlisle Equestrian Center](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/holiday-lights-drive-through-at-carlisle-equestrian-center--listing-c8f6ec4f9c34a040b32a7250) — Nov 27 – Dec 23 · 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM · Carlisle Equestrian Center, LaGrange · Free · checked Oct 27. The drive-through half of Holiday Lights is a mile of classic displays at the Carlisle Equestrian Center, seen from the vehicle. A food-donation station for Second Harvest Food…
- [Holiday Lights Walking Trail at Carlisle Visitor Center](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/holiday-lights-walking-trail-at-carlisle-visitor-center--listing-f67219d0cddb8f38b08b7bd4) — Nov 27 – Dec 23 · 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM · Carlisle Visitor Center, LaGrange · Free · checked Oct 27. Families walk a decorated half-mile trail at the Carlisle Visitor Center and can stop at a Wildlife Giving Tree stocked with items used to care for animals at Carlisle and other…
- [Santa Shop at Carlisle Visitor Center](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/santa-shop-at-carlisle-visitor-center--listing-7d0fb14a8f06f5ad717484c5) — Fri, Nov 27 (+10 more dates) · 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM · Carlisle Visitor Center, Carlisle Reservation, LaGrange · checked Oct 30. During Holiday Lights, the Friends of the Metro Parks run a Santa Shop where young shoppers make a simple craft and get help shopping for and wrapping gifts.
- [Santa Nights at Lakeview Park](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/santa-nights-at-lakeview-park--listing-420f917ea9713556d2866506) — Sat, Nov 28 (+4 more dates) · 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Sunset Terrace, Lakeview Park, Lorain · Free · checked Oct 27. Families drive the lighted displays at Lakeview Park and then visit Santa inside Sunset Terrace. The parks page calls these Santa nights free and lists hot chocolate, cookie…
- [Little Green Choo Rides at Carlisle Visitor Center](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/little-green-choo-rides-at-carlisle-visitor-center--listing-d4e18c5f2f0b385d2bd4a299) — Sun, Nov 29 (+3 more dates) · 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM · Carlisle Visitor Center, LaGrange · Free · checked Oct 27. On four Sunday evenings of Holiday Lights, the Little Green Choo runs at the Carlisle Visitor Center. The parks page lists the rides with the free light display and does not…
- [Santa Nights at Carlisle Visitor Center](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/santa-nights-at-carlisle-visitor-center--listing-3b8c548408ed0bc85b9b902a) — Thu, Dec 3 (+2 more dates) · 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM · Carlisle Visitor Center, LaGrange · Free · checked Oct 27. On three Thursday evenings during Holiday Lights, Santa is at the Carlisle Visitor Center while the walking trail and the rest of the light display are open. The parks page lists…
- [The Nutcracker — North Pointe Ballet at Lorain Palace Theatre](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/the-nutcracker-north-pointe-ballet-at-lorain-palace-theatre--listing-b2de31ae59fb44c67f0e45a0) — Fri, Dec 4 (+2 more dates) · Lorain Palace Theatre · From $22 · checked Oct 27. North Pointe Ballet’s The Nutcracker follows Clara and the Nutcracker Prince from the battle scenes to the Land of the Sweets. Professional dancers, large sets, and theatrical…
- [Sensory-Friendly Nutcracker — Lorain Palace Theatre](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/sensory-friendly-nutcracker-lorain-palace-theatre--listing-42e911d53150a82bda7555a5) — Sat, Dec 5 · 2:00 PM · Lorain Palace Theatre · From $10 · sensory-friendly · checked Oct 27. This is the sensory-friendly performance of North Pointe Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Lorain Palace, on its own Saturday afternoon and at its own $10 ticket price. The page…
- [Night Tree Story Time at Henry's Barn](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/night-tree-story-time-at-henry-s-barn--listing-479369e3e5c7ae9e7ead5415) — Wed, Dec 9 · 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM · Henry's Barn, The North Star Preserve, Oberlin · From $3 · checked Oct 27. Families hear Eve Bunting's Night Tree, build ornaments made of food for wildlife, and hike out from Henry's Barn to decorate a tree. After the hike they come back for hot cocoa…
- [Santa's Blue Christmas Holiday Party at Miller Nature Preserve](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/santa-s-blue-christmas-holiday-party-at-miller-nature-preserve--listing-66e3ea9fd324acf605a17850) — Thu, Dec 10 · 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM · Miller Nature Preserve, Avon · All ages · From $8 · checked Oct 27. Children play Santa's holiday games inside the Miller Nature Preserve conservatory and orchid room, see the Blue Christmas display, take home treats, and decorate a cookie with…
- [Santa Lunch at Lakeview Park](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/santa-lunch-at-lakeview-park--listing-7b82ff1b1145e75bcfad7656) — Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Lakeview Park, Lorain · From $18 · checked Oct 28. Children eat a pasta-bar lunch with Santa at Lakeview Park, decorate a cupcake, make crafts, and sit for one family photo with Santa. Tickets are required for everyone who…
- [Crafts with Mrs. Claus at Wellington Reservation](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/crafts-with-mrs-claus-at-wellington-reservation--listing-b30a9e4e91d2d5c3576918ed) — Sun, Dec 13 · 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM · Wellington Reservation Visitor Center · From $10 · checked Oct 27. Children make several holiday crafts with Mrs. Claus inside the Wellington Reservation Visitor Center and write a letter to Santa to be taken to the North Pole. Cookies and cocoa…
- [Santa Scavenger Hunt at French Creek Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/santa-scavenger-hunt-at-french-creek-nature-center--listing-ef708e34b8763955745218e3) — Sun, Dec 20 · 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · French Creek Nature Center, Sheffield Village · Free · checked Oct 27. Children drop in at French Creek Nature Center and search the building for Santa and other figures. Finding the listed items wins a prize from Santa's gift bag. After the hunt…

## Places and ongoing programs

- [Balloon Twisting Nights at Carlisle Visitor Center](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/balloon-twisting-nights-at-carlisle-visitor-center--listing-0cd10a92332bfcc43e749a93) — Wednesdays in December 2026: December 2, 9, 16 and 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m. · Carlisle Visitor Center, Carlisle Reservation, LaGrange · Free · checked Oct 27. On Wednesday evenings in December a balloon twister works inside the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center as part of Lorain County Metro Parks' Holiday Lights season. Children…
- [Carlisle Visitor Center Children's Play Space and Discovery Den](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/carlisle-visitor-center-children-s-play-space-and-discovery-den--listing-f7c1c64c55671d0c7ab8f031) — Visitor Center 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily; park 8 a.m.-sunset daily. · Carlisle Visitor Center, Carlisle Reservation, LaGrange · All ages · checked Oct 24. Carlisle Reservation in LaGrange is the largest of the Lorain County Metro Parks, with more than 11 miles of asphalt, gravel, dirt and grass trails through flood plain, meadow…
- [French Creek Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/french-creek-nature-center--listing-fb7edb007e28be90590c206e) — Nature Center 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily; park 8 a.m.-sunset. · French Creek Nature Center, French Creek Reservation, Sheffield Village · All ages · checked Oct 24. French Creek Reservation in Sheffield Village protects 450 acres of forest, high cliffs and deep ravines along Sugar, Fish and French creeks, with more than 4.5 miles of the most…
- [Lakeview Park and Rose Garden](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/lakeview-park-and-rose-garden--listing-588545d1e42b00800e93a678) — Daily 8 a.m.-sunset; beach and café are summer-season. · Lakeview Park, Lorain · All ages · checked Oct 24. Lakeview Park was Lorain County Metro Parks' first lakeside park: 20 acres on West Erie Avenue in Lorain with a swimming beach, lawn bowling, sunsets over Lake Erie and views of…
- [Miller Nature Preserve Conservatory and Butterfly House](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/miller-nature-preserve-conservatory-and-butterfly-house--listing-a28f0fd7bf8d6ef3d05119d4) — Building and Conservatory 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; park 8 a.m.-sunset. Butterfly House open… · Miller Nature Preserve, Avon · All ages · From $4 · checked Oct 24. Miller Nature Preserve covers 145 wooded acres in the middle of Avon. Its centerpiece is a 5,000-square-foot conservatory, the first in Lorain County, inside a visitor center…
- [Open Skate at North Park Ice Arena — Elyria](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/open-skate-at-north-park-ice-arena-elyria--listing-a6f617031c06a508fc0b989b) — Friday 7:00-10:00 p.m.; Saturday 1:00-3:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m.; Sunday 1:00-3:00… · North Park Ice Arena, Elyria · All ages · From $3 · checked Oct 24. The City of Elyria's North Park Ice Arena runs low-cost public ice skating through the 2026-27 season. Family-friendly sessions include Friday evening skates, Saturday afternoon…
- [Splash Zone Aquatic and Fitness Center](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/splash-zone-aquatic-and-fitness-center--listing-347aa94a4c94160a15133afe) — Facility: Mon-Thu 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri 6 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-5… · Splash Zone, Oberlin · All ages · From $10 · checked Oct 24. Splash Zone in Oberlin is Lorain County Metro Parks' year-round aquatic and fitness center, open to members and non-members. Indoors there is an eight-lane competition pool used…

## Nearby

- Towns in Lorain County, OH: [LaGrange, OH](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/towns/lagrange-oh) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/towns/lagrange-oh.md), [Lorain, OH](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/towns/lorain-oh) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/towns/lorain-oh.md), [Avon, OH](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/towns/avon-oh) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/towns/avon-oh.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Cleveland](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/cleveland.md)
- [This weekend in Cleveland](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/this-weekend.md)

Town pages are listed once a town has 3 current listings, county pages at 10.