Experience holiday magic in the Cincy Region
Get into the spirit with these local events
You can’t experience Cincy Culture without checking out a few of our region’s signature events. Luckily, you can choose from a full calendar of holiday celebrations, concert series, art fairs, and markets, and beyond that exemplify our region’s indescribable culture. From the iconic PNC Festival of Lights and Kings Island Winterfest to an authentic Christkindlmarkt and Scuba Santa, check out some of our favorite Christmas events and activities in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Must-Do Holiday Events!
Join Cincinnati Ballet for the magic of "The Nutcracker" this holiday season. No holiday is complete without a trip to the Land of Sweets! When a curious young girl named Clara receives a magical Nutcracker for Christmas, her dreams come to life. Joined by her Nutcracker Prince…
Get ready for a magical evening at the Cincinnati Zoo's 43rd annual PNC Festival of Lights, where the zoo transforms into a dazzling “Wild Wonderland”! Arrive early to meet the animals and enjoy a magical evening filled with the glow of 4 million LED lights. Explore Fairyland and…
The holiday story you love unfolds in spectacular fashion in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre. In Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy curmudgeon who finds his heart changing when three spirits and the ghost of a long-lost friend show him the…
Elm Street Plaza is set to open as downtown Cincinnati’s newest city escape. The 2½-acre outdoor park transforms a long-underutilized space into a destination for recreation, celebration and cultural experiences. Part of the reimagined Convention District, the modern park…
Celebrate the holiday season at the German-American Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt in downtown Cincy! This festive, family-friendly market, located beside the Moerlein Lager House on the Schmidlapp Event Lawn and Stage in Smale Riverfront Park, next to The Banks, brings a magical…
- Newport Aquarium
- Recurring daily
Celebrate one of the Cincy Region's one-of-a-kind holiday traditions during Scuba Santa's Water Wonderland at Newport Aquarium! It’s a Water Wonderland full of playful penguins, colorful holiday lights and a flurry of magical bubbles. Through holiday magic, kids can tell Scuba…
- Fountain Square
- Recurring weekly on Saturday
Downtown Dazzle is back to put a holiday twinkle in your eye! Head to Fountain Square every Saturday through December for one of the biggest highlights of the holiday season. See Santa rappel from a Cincinnati skyrise and wait with anticipation for the sky to fill with a festive…
Experience Kings Island as it transforms into an enchanting holiday wonderland at one of Cincinnati’s premier seasonal events, WinterFest! Wander through more than seven million lights, glide across the Royal Fountain ice-skating rink, enjoy dazzling entertainment, festive…
Step into a holiday wonderland at the Ark Encounter. Bring your family and friends for an evening filled with festive lights, live music, holiday shows and animal encounters at the life-size Noah’s Ark. Watch the ark and surrounding gardens come alive in a dazzling sea of…
You’re invited to celebrate the magic of the holiday season! Enjoy an evening of festive fun, including live music, fireworks and a visit from Santa Claus as Newport on the Levee lights its magnificent 50-foot tree! Schedule of Events: The Plaza: 3 p.m. | The Groove Crew is…
Other Christmas and Holiday Events in Cincinnati
5 Things We Love About the PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens
- 4 minute read
The annual PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the most festive and magical ways to celebrate the holidays in the Cincy Region. Every year you can marvel at (literally) millions of glittering…
Cool Winter Experiences in Cincy Region
- 5 minute read
When the cold wind blows these cool winter experiences will warm your spirits! PNC Festival of Lights November 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026 The annual PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is a beloved holiday…
🏒 The Cincy Region's Best Kept-Sports Secret: The Cincinnati Cyclones! 🥅
- 7 minute read
Cincinnati is a sports city through and through. While attending a Bengals , Reds or FC game is an obvious must-do on a visit here, we also suggest trying something totally unique: catching a Cincinnati Cyclones hockey match! That's…
Find the perfect gift at one of Cincinnati’s holiday markets
- 6 minute read
*This guide is updated annually. Looking for that one-of-a-kind, local gift for the holidays? Check out one of Cincinnati’s festive markets this year to make your holiday shopping a breeze. Cincy is home to a wide variety of holiday…