Top 5 Things To Do In Cincinnati This Holiday Season
It’s officially November, the Queen City is starting to gear up for the Holidays. If you’re looking for things to do in Cincinnati this Holiday season, you’ve come to the right place.
One of the reasons I have loved growing up in Cincinnati is how beautiful the city gets during this time of year.
There are so many things to do in Cincinnati when it comes to the Holidays.
Our city is family friendly, you will be able to find a lot of activities that your entire family can enjoy.
I know the holidays can be a stressful time but sometimes taking a step back and remembering what they’re truly about can help you look forward to this time of the year.
The holidays are about spending time with your family.
Whether you’re new parents that are spending their first holiday together as a family or a parent of college students that are coming home for the first time, it’s important to cherish the moments you get to spend together.
I am confident when I say that our beautiful city will provide you with memories to last a lifetime.
By the time you’re done completing all the things in this post, you’ll never dread this time of year.
Let’s talk about things to do in Cincinnati during the Holidays.
Top 5 Things To Do In Cincinnati This Holiday Season
1. Visit Santa
Visiting Santa at the mall is likely a tradition that you remember when you were growing up.
I know I have countless pictures of my sister and I at the mall meeting Santa.
Lucky for you, Cincinnati has so many places where you can meet Santa.
Kenwood Mall is one of our biggest shopping centers with over 150 stores.
Don’t worry about the mall being busy though. This year you can reserve a time to meet with Santa so you don’t have to wait in the long line.
It gets better. You can predetermine a picture package you would like to purchase when you go to meet Santa with your kids.
Another mall you could meet Santa at is the Florence Mall in Northern Kentucky.
This mall takes the Santa fastpass one step further by allowing you to reserve times for your pets to meet with santa. We all know pets are important members of the family, so including them in your trips to the mall to meet Santa will guarantee to create lifelong memories.
Florence Mall also has options to reserve a time with Santa for your children if you decide to shop there over Kenwood.
One final place where you can get picturesque Santa pictures is at the Hotel Covington.
Every year, for one day only, they have Santa in his sleigh stationed in their lobby for families to come and take pictures with.
Make sure to stay up to date with their calendar so you don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet Santa at the historic Hotel Covington.
2. Festival of Lights
One of my favorite Cincinnati traditions during the holidays is the Festival of Lights.
Now entering its 37th year, the Cincinnati Zoo hosts the Festival of Lights every year.
The zoo completely transforms during this time of year to a magical wonderland.
Usually, you can expect to see spectacular light shows and various light related events throughout the zoo.
This year, however, families can partake in a Fiona scavenger hunt and take pictures in front of a festive backdrop in the Hippo Hut.
If you’re in the city during this time, the Festival of Lights is an absolute must see.
Besides seeing the lights, you get to see the zoo and all of its amenities.
Some of my fondest memories are at the Festival of Lights.
If you don’t have time to see Santa at one of the locations mentioned above, Santa will also be at the zoo during this time.
Opening day is on November 16th and will operate until January 4th.
3. Christkindlmarkt
One of the aspects of our city that I think makes us so unique is our deep German heritage.
From Oktoberfest to Christkindlmarkt, Cincinnati does not shy away from embracing our German roots.
Christkindlmarkt is “the oldest and most authentic German Christmas market in the Cincinnati Region”.
Don’t worry if you don’t know what a German Christmas market is, I didn’t know at first either.
At Christkindlmarkt, you can enjoy:
- German music
- A lantern parade
- A petting zoo
- Caroling
- Carriage Rides
Besides that, you can also indulge in authentic German food including bratwurst, sauerkraut balls and cream puffs.
If you’re worried about getting your holiday shopping done, don’t worry. Christkindlmarkt has vendors that sell authentic German gifts like nutcrackers and advent calendars.
Finally, they have a raffle where you can win one of three amazing gifts.
Christkindlmarkt will be a unique holiday experience that can become a new tradition for your family.
4. Family Photo Session
One of the stressful parts of this time of year is getting together a Christmas card to send to all of your loved ones.
You have to decide what picture to include, what design to choose and what to say on it.
Have no fear, I will take care of all your family photo needs.
Carrie Lynne Photography offers a number of different services that will be perfect for your family to get the perfect photo for that Christmas card.
When you book your session, you can choose from a few different family photo packages that fit your holiday schedule.
Here is an example of a heart warming family photo that you would feel excited to share with all of your friends.
I truly believe that winter is one of the best times to photograph newborns, because newborns take the best pictures when they’re warm and cozy.
I’m not kidding and my pictures prove it!
5. Ice Skating on Fountain Square
A great way to finish your holiday trip to Cincinnati is to go ice skating in Fountain Square.
From November to February, the square is taken over by an Ice Rink. The rink opened on November 2nd so it’s ready now for your family to enjoy.
You don’t have to worry about owning ice skates because you can rent a pair for $4 before you go on the ice.
I know I used to be hesitant about ice skating because I wasn’t very good at it but at Fountain Square you don’t have to worry about that. You can rent special skates and aids that will assist you on the ice.
If you get cold and thirsty, there is a full concession stand that has Hot Cocoa and alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages.
If you really want to make an evening out of it, you can rent a warming tent to sit in when you get tired from skating.
Ice skating on Fountain Square will be the perfect end to your holiday adventure.
Holiday Wrap Up
The holidays can be a magical time, especially when you spend them in Cincinnati.
It doesn’t always have to be about who gives the best present or how long you wait in line to see Santa.
What really matters is spending time with the people you love and building memories that will last forever.
Some of my fondest memories come from around this time and I’m sure you can relate.
Cincinnati really does become a magical place around this time of year. It can really be a surreal experience to see the city lit up.
You will find multiple unique adventures to embark on while you’re in the city.
I can guarantee that you’ll want to come back next year to explore some more.
It’s only November so there’s still plenty of time to plan your family trip to Cincinnati this holiday season.
There are so many fun things to do in Cincinnati around this time, these are just some of our favorites.
What are some of your favorite Holiday traditions?
