Holiday Events

Tis’ the season for family, hot chocolate, twinkling lights, and tradition.

Is your favorite holiday event on our list? If not, let us know!

Friday & Saturday 11a-8p; Sunday 12p-5p

Hosted by the Waynesville Merchants Association, the Hearth Warming Holidays is held on the 1st weekend of November. Kick off the holidays with a preview of holiday decor, treats, and sweets.

9a-3p

Browse the amazing crafts & goodies at the 50th Angel Works Bazaar! You can find handcrafted needlework, wreaths, floral delights, Christmas crafts, homemade candies, baked goods, and gourmet specialties such as soup and Peg’s Cajun Pickles. Relax with family and friends and enjoy lunch. Plus bring the kids and take Selfies with Santa!

6-8p

This family-friendly event will kick off the holiday season with a ceremonial wreath lighting! The whole family can enjoy free horse-drawn carriage rides, a reindeer petting zoo, live music, desserts and so much more!

9a-4p

This popular annual event showcases over 80 vendors throughout Kettering Recreation Complex and Charles I Lathrem Senior Center. Vendors will display their festive holiday decorations and handmade gift items for you to get a start on your shopping.

Admission is free to this one-day show!

Saturday, 10a-8p & Sunday 12p-6p

Join the Tipp City shopkeepers as they invite you to kick off the winter shopping season with their annual open house, a Tipp City tradition for more than 25 years! The historic district offers more than 35 locally owned boutiques and restaurants with specialties including toys, games, vintage finds and antiques, collectibles, fashions, handmade soaps, home decor, art, jewelry, and books. Round out your day with coffee, tea, dessert and full-service dining at one of the award-winning eateries. Bonuses include free pictures with Santa and horse-drawn carriage rides through the four quaint blocks of Main Street.

9a-2p

Shop from amazing local vendors, grab some yummy lunch and let your kiddos get their own holiday shopping done in our kid’s shoppe. Make sure to stop by and see Santa also!

5-9p

Join your neighbors for the annual Kettering Health Network Christmas Tree Lighting featuring the big man himself Santa SKYDIVING in with his elves and a first ever special effect fireworks show to light up the tree!

Weekdays 5-9p; Weekends 5-10p

Join Carillon for a month of seasonal programming as Carillon Historical Park is turned into a winter wonderland of lights, music, food, and family fun!

Cost: General Admission

Friday 6p-10p; Saturday 10a-9p; Sunday 12p-5p

The Springboro Christmas Festival still features shopping opportunities, with heated tents full of craftsmen and vendors selling unusual gift items, as well as the gift inventory to be found in all the local shops. We still have a parade, with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, at noon on Saturday, and there is plenty of good festival food all along the street. We still have music and special activities in the Entertainment Tent and strolling musicians and entertainers on the street. Horse-drawn wagons still transport festival-goers from one end of the street to the other.

Weekends until the 6th, then 6p-9p, nightly

Woodland Lights offers a fantasyland of holiday lights and displays along a half-mile wooded path. The month-long festival enters its 25th season with more lights, more vignettes, and the same winter whimsy that enchants thousands of visitors every year.

Cost: $9; 2 and under is free

9a-3p Sat & 9a-1p Sun

The Sugarplum Festival of Trees is an annual holiday extravaganza that kicks off the holiday season for the Miami Valley. Browse and bid on the fabulously decorated Christmas trees and pick up some homemade Christmas gifts and decorations including wreaths, ornaments and more!

10a-12p

Santa welcomes all ages & abilities! This sensory friendly event allows families with all spectrums of special needs to experience a visit with Santa, in a comforting environment, prior to public hours.

4-9p

Watch the holidays light up during Dayton’s traditional tree lighting on Courthouse Square, followed immediately by a nighttime parade for children, sparkling with more than 100,000 lights! Enjoy decorative seasonal floats, horses, drill teams and bands, and some special holiday treats.

For a fun and special added touch, grab a pair of free “magic glasses” on Courthouse Square before watching the tree lighting and parade to see the holiday lights in a whole new way! The tree lighting and parade aren’t the only highlights that night, a full evening of fun holiday entertainment and activities is planned!

Friday 11a-5p; Saturday & Sunday 9a-5p

Choose and cut your tree from the 30 acre farm or select a freshly cut tree. The gift shop has tree stands, ornaments and gifts along with wreaths, handmade grave blankets and crosses. Located just south Young’s Jersey Dairy — look for the little red tree barn next to Route 68.

Sunday 1-5pm; Monday-Wednesday 2:30-8pm; Thursday 2:30-5pm; Friday 2:30-10pm; Saturday 11am-10pm

Spend your days creating lasting memories with friends and family at MetroParks Ice Rink! Warm up with hot chocolate from the food concessions.

Cost: Admission $6; Skate Rental $2; Children 3 and under free.

5p-9p, nightly

Every hour, on the hour, all 3.5 million lights at Clifton Mill go out leaving guests in total darkness. As a hush falls over the spectators, orchestral music softly begins to play a medley of traditional songs and some of the lights on the covered bridge begin to twinkle on and off again. As the music builds, more and more lights on the bridge blink on and off in time to the music, lights on the pseudo trees swirl around and change color in a way that seems impossible. By the end of the song, the music is booming through Clifton Gorge, the lights on the covered bridge have become mesmerizing. Then the music ends and the bridge lights go out, once again leaving guests in total darkness. Then, all 3.5 million lights come on again all at once.

Cost: $10; Children 3 and under are free.

1-5p

Walk the Heart of Centerville with family and friends and experience the beginning of the Holidays with a visit to see Santa, a live nativity and more!

6-8p

8pm

The world-class Celtic Tenors join the DPO to perform holiday traditions, Irish favorites, classical arias, and popular songs that bring audiences to tears, to laughter, and to their feet.

Cost: Tickets prices vary, see website for details

Friday 6p-9p; Saturday 12p-9p; Sunday 12p-5p

Step back in time and visit Waynesville this weekend for our holiday celebration.  We will have 1300 luminaries, horse drawn carriage rides, costume characters, strolling choirs and barbershop quartets, heated entertainment tent and more.  Don’t forget the delightful dining and shopping to complete your experience!  With over 70+ retail and dining establishments you will quickly cross off your shopping list with unique and wonderful gifts.

11a-3p

Featuring artists, demonstrations, art activities, theater and dance performances and art exhibitions, there is something for everyone. Shop for handmade gifts or create your own. All ages are welcome, and admission is free with refreshments and artwork for purchase. A Rosewood Holiday takes place every December throughout the entire Rosewood facility.

10a-12p

Each year The Learning Tree Farm harvests evergreens from their property and gather together to create something unique. You can make a wreath, swag, or something new! Each person wanting to create something should register separately to cover the cost of supplies. Some people find that bringing work or gardening gloves help them with the evergreen needles and sap.

Cost: $10

10a-8p

Join Lebanon and the surrounding communities for two horse-drawn carriage parades: a daylight parade at 1:00pm and the traditional evening parade at 7:00pm.  Every year this parade gets bigger and more exciting! Festivities include gift and food vendors stationed along E. Mulberry Street; shopping in downtown Historic Lebanon with extended business hours for our 80-plus specialty stores; Christmas carolers, carriage rides; visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus; musical entertainment, and train rides to the North Pole on the North Pole Express with LM&M Railroad. This is a free family event! The festival begins at 10:00am and ends after the evening parade.

Breakfast 9am; Brunch 11am

Fun for the whole family! Santa will join us for this very special breakfast. After eating you will have some individual one on one time with Santa and enjoy a craft. Seating is very limited so register early.

Cost: $8 Kettering residents; $11 non-residents. Everyone must register and pay to attend, including adults and child(ren).

Saturday, December 7, 6 – 7 p.m. (Exclusive hunt for little ones ages 1 – 6); Saturday, December 8, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Open to all ages); Sunday, December 8, 6 – 7 p.m. (Open to all ages).

Someone has left candy canes all over the fields at Polen Farm! Decorate a bag for hunting and collecting candy canes and enjoy cookies and hot cocoa. Santa may even join in on the fun! Parents must go with children. Event is rain, snow or shine.

Cost is $4 Kettering residents; $6 non-residents. Must register and pay in advance to attend, space is limited.

A knowledgeable guide will escort you as you tour beautifully decorated historic homes. The last home on the tour will offer delicious pastries, champagne punch and coffee.

Cost is $25

9:30pm

This LIVE-SUNG drag show will be a sensational evening of beautiful voices filled with holiday spirit like you’ve never seen.

Tickets start at $15

See website for show times and ticket information.

Sugarplum fairies and dancing mice… this is one Christmas classic your family is sure to enjoy building into your annual traditions!

Cost: Ticket prices vary.

Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, 12p to 4 pm

Visit the Dayton Liederkranz Turner for the annual celebration of the centuries old Christmas market tradition that originated in Nuernburg, Germany. Quality vendors will offer hand crafted ornaments, hand made bath soaps and accessories, beer steins, amber jewelry from the Baltic, German collectible items, antiques, stained glass items, handcrafted pottery, unique jewelry, note cards & gifts, paper cut outs, etc. The annual Liederkranz Christmas Raffle will also feature many wonderful items.

12:30-2pm, prior to the 2:30pm matinee performance

A festive children’s holiday tea party and a wonderful way to celebrate the Dayton Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” Sunday matinee. Yummy snacks, sandwiches, desserts and hot beverages provided – plus children’s activities that will provide treasured holiday memories!

Cost: Tickets are $20 per person (children or adults)  

10am or 12:30pm

The jolly old elf himself is coming to the Rec Center and he is bringing some of his Woodland Light friends. Bring your little ones to play in our playland of toys in the gym. Santa and friends will be happy to visit and pose with your child. Festive food will be served for all to enjoy.

Cost: $10 per child; children 12 months and under are free

8pm

Take your kids to see the classic of your childhood!

Cost: Ticket prices vary, see website for details.