Holiday Happenings & Upcoming Events in Greater Cincinnati - November 19-26

During the holiday season, Greater Cincinnati is jam packed with family fun. Since there is so much to see and do, we're going to break down the upcoming events into weekly installments. Hopefully, this will help you with your planning. We'll also have a listing of ongoing events at the end of the post which will get longer as more recurring events are added. You can also find these events on our monthly top picks calendar and many will be posted in our FREE weekly e-newsletter (click here to join). It's also a good idea to check with the venue before heading out in case of inclement weather or possible date/time changes.

Thursday Nov. 19

Thursday Art Play - Contemporary Arts Center - Holiday Decorating - 10:30 a.m. 44 East 6th St.

"A great way to schedule creative play time with your little ones. This program uses storytelling, performance and hands-on artmaking activities to excite and educate our youngest visitors. It is designed especially for children ages 3 to 5 years old, and their parents and caregivers." (from contemporaryartscenter.org)

Turkeys in the Garden - Highfield Discovery Garden - 10:45 a.m. , 1p.m. & 4 p.m.

"Join us to learn all about turkeys. From their parts to their behavior, we’ll have you talkin' turkey in no time! Glenwood Gardens/Highfield Discovery Garden (Program included in Highfield admission: $2/person)." (from GreatParks.org)"

Felted Ornaments - Glenwood Gardens/Cotswold Visitor Center

"Learn to make felted ornaments using natural materials. Various materials will be available for you to try, and participants will leave with two completed ornaments. Use them to decorate for the holidays or give them as gifts. For ages 16 and up. Glenwood Gardens/Cotswold Visitor Centre ($15/person, register by 11/15)."

Miami Township's Holiday Parade - Nov. 19, 7 p.m.

"Bring your lawn chair and join us on the parade route that starts at Miami Plaza to Meijer proceeds along Business 28 to enjoy the sights & sounds of the holiday. High School marching bands, lighted floats, businesses, Miami Township Fire, Police, Service & Recreation Departments, churches, school groups & civic organizations participate to make this a fun community event." (from Miami Township).

Main Street Thanksgiving Progressive Dinner - Nov. 19, 6-9 p.m. Advanced ticket purchase required.

"Prepare your palate for Main Street Thanksgiving Progressive Dinner 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 starting at Park + Vine, with other stops at Iris Book Cafe, MOTR, Hen of the Woods, and Macaron Bar, and treats from Chocolats Latour, Grateful Grahams, and Happy Chicks Bakery. Get inspiration for a Thanksgiving meal centered around festive plant-based foods, while sampling a progressive-style menu composed of appetizers, soups and salads, main dishes, dessert and drinks. Menu is vegan from start to finish. Proceeds are split among participating businesses and Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati, which provides grassroots, progressive organizations with a source of unrestricted, operating funds through workplace payroll deduction campaigns and direct donations. Tickets ($30 per person) are transferable, but not refundable." (from Facebook events)

Friday, Nov. 20

Turkeys in the Garden - Highfield Discovery Garden - 10:45 a.m. , 1p.m. & 4 p.m.

Holiday in Lights & Santaland - Nov. 20-22 - Opening Weekend- Sharon Woods - FREE.

$1 Hot Dogs Night - Cincinnati Cyclones - US Bank Arena - Gates open 6:30 p.m. & puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

Calico Children's Theatre - Zak Morgan concert - 7 p.m. - $5/ticket.

"With a background in children’s literature plus a GRAMMY® nomination for his kids’ songs, Zak Morgan brings all of his life experiences and a simple delight in words and music to his live performances. His interactive concerts are warm, full of humorous wordplay, and fun for all ages." (from www.ucclermont.edu).

Christmas in Springboro - Nov. 20 - 6-10 p.m. FREE.

"Welcome to the annual Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival, the largest 3 day Holiday festival in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana – attracting over 70,000 visitors annually. For 29 years, the festival has developed and grown into a can’t miss holiday event."(from springborofestivals.org).

Saturday, Nov. 21

Christmas in Springboro - Nov. 21 - 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. FREE.

The Gingerbread Shoppe - College Hill Presbyterian Church - 5742 Hamilton Ave - 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. - $1/admission. Craft items, baked goods, gourmet luncheon. Proceeds benefit Three Cs Nursery School Scholarship Fund.

Magic Show - Behringer- Crawford Museum -1600 Montauge Rd., Covington - 2 p.m.

"Enjoy a mystifying magic show by Tim Williams, included with museum admission. Tim will amaze you with fun and exciting illusions using rope, newspaper and many other ordinary objects." (from bcmuseum.org).

Art in the Making - Cincinnati Art Museum - 1-3 p.m. - Rosenthal Education Center

Visit a world of pure imagination as you tour Sublime Beauty: Raphael’s Portrait of a Lady with a Unicorn as well as other strange creatures and myths in the collection. Then create your own outrageous fantasy art with the help of a professional artist. Art Museum Family Level Members: $5 per person, Non-members: $10 per person; Reservations required. Reserve online or by calling 721.ARTS " (from CincinnatiArtMuseum.org).

Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Clifton Cultural Arts Center - Madcap Puppets - 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. - Tickets are $8.

Superhero Night - Cincinnati Cyclones - US Bank Arena - Gates open 6:30 p.m. & puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

Holiday in Lights & Santaland - Nov. 20-22 - Opening Weekend- Sharon Woods - FREE.

Sunday, Nov. 22

Christmas in Springboro - Nov. 22 - Noon- 5 p.m. FREE.

Holiday in Lights & Santaland - Nov. 20-22 - Opening Weekend- Sharon Woods - FREE.

Taft Museum of Art - FREE admission on Sunday!

Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite & Holiday Concert - CCM's Musical Theatre Dance Company - Corbett Auditorium - 4 p.m. $15/general admission and $10/students, Free for UC Students.

Monday, November 23

Tuesday, November 24

Light up the Levee Grand Illumination - Opening Night - Nov. 24 - 6:00 p.m. - Newport on the Levee. 50 ft. tree lights up at 6:50 p.m. - FREE. Holiday music, ice sculptures.

Wednesday, November 25

Thursday, November 26 - Happy Thanksgiving!

10K on Turkey Day - Lifetime Fitness - Deerfield Township

"If you are looking for low-cost, low key Thanksgiving Day alternative, this is it! We will start early so you can get the race in and get on with your day. The 10K race, 5K race, and 5K walk will begin and end at Lifetime Fitness. Come join us for the Deerfield Township Lifetime Fitness Thanksgiving Day Race!" (from www.choosedeerfield.com).

Thanksgiving Day Race - Paul Brown Stadium - 9 a.m. Proceeds benefit many local charities.

Ongoing Holiday Events:

Brickmas - Newport on the Levee - Nov. 24 - Jan. 1, 2016. $10/ticket, FREE for ages 3 and under.

"BRICKmas is a fun holiday attraction that provides a place for LEGO lovers of all sizes to come celebrate one of the world's favorite toys and see some awesome LEGO displays. BRICKmas will feature large-scale LEGO displays – including a 32 ft. long model of the iconic Roebling Bridge – as well as an interactive children’s area where kids can build their own “brick” masterpieces; creative LEGO Duplo displays; and even an area for writing letters to Santa!" (from newportonthelevee.com).

Holiday Lights on the Hill - Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park - Nov. 20 - Jan. 3, 2016. Open Daily Including Holidays, Monday – Thursday 6 – 9 PM, $20 Per Carload, Friday – Sunday 6 – 10 PM, $25 Per Carload, Members Always $15. 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road, State Route 128Hamilton, Ohio 45013513-868-1234.

PNC Festival of Lights - Nov. 21 - Jan. 2 - closed on Thanksgiving, Dec. 24 (open during the day and closed at night & Dec. 25). Open Sunday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m. and Friday & Saturday, 5-10 p.m.

Holiday Toy Trains - Behringer Crawford Museum - Nov. 21-Jan. 17, 2016. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. $9/adults, $8/seniors, $5/kids 3-17 years. Grandparents Day is on Wednesdays, one free child admission with a grandparent admission. RSVP for their Polar Express readings.

Holiday in Lights - Sharon Woods - Nov. 20 - Jan. 2, 2016

"Sun-Thu, 6-9 p.m. & Fri-Sat, 5:30-10 p.m.: Come out for a Cincinnati holiday tradition! Enjoy more than a mile of fantastic seasonal lights all from the warmth of your car. See more than 120 moving and standing holiday-themed figures depicting everything from Santa to the 12 Days of Christmas. For more information, call 513-769-0393 or visit holidayinlights.com. Sharon Woods ($13/car, $45/buses & 15-passenger vans)." (from GreatParks.org). Get $2 off coupon.

Santaland - Nov. 20-22 & Nov. 27-Dec. 23 - Sharon Woods - FREE.

"Visitors can venture out of their cars and warm up with a cup of their favorite holiday beverage inside Santaland and enjoy entertainment provided throughout the week. The Dickens Carolers stroll throughout Santaland on the weekend nights singing traditional holiday melodies. Santa's Confectionaries have holiday baked goods and candies available, and the Nature's Niche Gift Shop is open for holiday shopping. Also featured is a holiday train display and photos with Santa starting at $6.75. Santaland at Sharon Centre will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. There is no additional admission fee to visit Santaland." (from holidayinlights.com).

The Poinsettia Express - Krohn Conservatory - Nov. 14 - Jan. 3. Get $1 off coupon by visiting CincinnatiParks website.

Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction - November 14, 2015 - January 02, 2016

"Create a holiday tradition for your family! See the magic of Christmas at the home of the World's Largest Indoor Train Display. Take a "Journey to the North Pole", where you can can meet Mrs. Claus and Santa himself. See our "Main Street Holiday Trains" displays which offers some beautiful winter train displays that are FREE to the public. Extended Hours! From December 12th through December 23rd and December 26th through December 30th we will remain open until 9pm. The Junction is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day and closes at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Santa goes on vacation after Christmas." (from EnterTRAINment Junction).

Ice Skating - Fountain Square - Pre-Holiday Hours (through Dec. 18)

Monday – Thursday: Noon to 10:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 9:00am to 11:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am to 9:00pm
Exceptions:
Friday, October 30: 5:00pm to 11:00pm
Wednesday, November 25: 9:00am to 11:00pm
Thursday, November 26: 9:00am to 11:00pm
Cost: $6.00 admission and $4.00 skate rental. Payable by cash or credit card (Visa/MasterCard/AmEx).

Holiday Junction Featuring the Duke Energy Trains - Cincinnati Museum Center - Nov. 6 - Jan. 3, 2016.

"Holiday Junction is back and it’s going to be one of the best years yet! With more lights, new trains and lots of family-friendly activities, you’ll have plenty of reasons to be a part of the magic all season long. Duke Energy customers can get FREE vouchers to see Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains from Nov. 6 through Dec. 24, 2015!" (from Cincinnati Museum Center).

Antique Christmas at the Taft - Nov. 6 - Jan. 3, 2016 (FREE admission on Sunday).

"Get into the holiday mood by visiting the Taft’s annual display of antique ornaments, decorations, and toys. Thanks to generous lenders from Cincinnati and beyond, you can escape to a winter wonderland of Christmas past." (from www.taftmuseum.org).

The Art of the Brick - Cincinnati Museum Center - through May 1, 2016.

"The Art of the Brick presents LEGO® bricks in a whole new light, demonstrating the potential of creativity and the power of imagination. The Art of the Brick features over 100 works of art by contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya. But rather than paint and canvas, these masterpieces are made entirely of LEGO bricks. Millions and millions of little LEGO bricks." (from Cincinnati Museum Center)

A Christmas Story, The Musical

- La Comedia Dinner Theatre - Nov. 4 - Dec. 31.