Guide to Cincinnati Christmas Events and Holiday Festivals

Cincinnati, Ohio kicks off the holiday season with the longtime tradition of lighting a tree on Fountain Square. Historic Cincinnati landmarks boast Christmas events such as Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo or a holiday themed flower show at Eden Park's Krohn Conservatory. Diverse, fun holiday activities and events cater to all ages throughout November and December in the Cincinnati tri-state area.

The over 100 year old tradition of lighting a holiday tree in Cincinnati carries on in 2007 with Light Up the Square at Fountain Square. Light Up the Square is a free event presented by Cincinnati based Procter and Gamble on Friday November 23, 2007. The newly renovated Fountain Square is still located on Fifth and Vine Streets. The holiday festivities begin at 5pm and include skating shows on the new ice skating rink and musical performances, followed by the Light Up events from 6:30 to 7pm. Cincinnati's traditional holiday event on Thanksgiving Friday is capped off by a display of Rozzi fireworks.

Festival of Lights is another popular holiday tradition at a Cincinnati landmark, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden located at 3400 Vine Street. The 25th annual Festival of Lights is sponsored by PNC Bank. The historic zoo's holiday festival showcases 2.5 million lights and over 100 lighted holiday displays. Holiday activities include holiday food and entertainment, train rides, reindeer Christmas carolers, children's activities and more. Festival of Lights is free with Zoo admission. The holiday event runs nightly between 5pm to 9pm from November 16, 2007 through New Year's Day.

Eden Park in the picturesque Mount Adams neighborhood boasts yet another Cincinnati historic landmark, a beautiful glass enclosed garden, the Krohn Conservatory. Let it Snow is the Krohn Conservatory's holiday themed flower show running from November 17, 2007 through January 1, 2008. The Krohn Conservatory is open year round from 10am to 5pm daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is free and donations are appreciated.

Another year-round attraction sits across the Ohio River in Northern Kentucky, the Newport Aquarium. The Newport Aquarium decorates for the holidays and Santa's Water Wonderland is their holiday event highlighted by Santa scuba-diving with sharks. The Newport Aquarium at Newport on the Levee is open year round and Santa's Water Wonderland runs from 10am to 6pm, November 23, 2007 through New Year's Day. The holiday event is free with admission to the tri-state's aquarium which features over 11,000 creatures amongst 60 exhibits.

North of Cincinnati the quaint town of historic Lebanon offers Christmas events catered towards children and families. The Historic Lebanon Christmas Festival is an all day event beginning at 10am on Saturday December 1, 2007. The Christmas Festival will feature strolling characters, pictures with Santa, horse-drawn carriages, holiday food and crafts, and more. A parade will begin at 1pm and 7pm on Mulberry Street in downtown Lebanon.

Also in Lebanon, the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, at 127 South Mechanic Street, offers their annual North Pole Express train ride to a holiday village. The old fashioned train ride is two hours long and children sip hot chocolate and meet and take photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves. The North Pole Express train rides are at 10am, 12:30pm, 3pm, and 5:30pm on Saturdays and 10am, 12:30pm, and 3pm on Sundays from November 24 through December 23, 2007. Tickets cost $17 for adults and $12 for ages 12 and younger.

For the ninth year running The Beach Waterpark in Warren County celebrates with a family friendly Christmas Festival, Holiday Fest. The 35 acre water park sparkles with holiday lights and offers over two dozen holiday activities including a 7,500 square foot ice skating rink, Winterset Carriage rides, the Cool Runnings Toboggan Slide, a North Pole Petting Corral, a live nativity, Santa Claus, and more. Tickets for Holiday Fest cost $15 for general admission and $12 if purchased in advance and are free for season pass holders and children age 2 and younger.

Holiday Fest kicks off on Friday November 23 with fireworks. Holiday Fest is open through Sunday November 25, then is open November 30 through December 3, and then daily from Friday December 7 through January 6, 2008, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Holiday Fest hours are 5pm to 10pm Mondays through Fridays and 3pm to 10pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and on News Year's Eve. The Beach Waterpark is located at 2590 Waterpark Drive in Mason Ohio, 20 minutes north of Cincinnati.