ChristmasTown at the Creation Museum — Check out a reenactment of the birth of Christ at the Creation Museum’s holiday nativity. In addition to watching the arrival of Jesus, get a 360-degree view of the Garden of Lights multicolored display as you take a zip line through the park or visit the Eden Animal Experience petting zoo. Family dining is available, with hot chocolate and wandering costumed bible characters. Through Dec. 30. Free admission. The Creation Museum, 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, creationmuseum.org.
WinterFest at Kings Island — Kings Island’s nostalgic winter wonderland is back, complete with festive food and drinks, special holiday shows and ice skating underneath a Christmas tree-bedecked Eiffel Tower. There will be an artisan village selling holiday crafts, booze-infused hot beverages, ice carvers, carriage rides and even blue hot chocolate. Through Dec. 31. Tickets start at $27.99. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, visitkingsisland.com.
Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland at the Newport Aquarium — Scuba Santa trades in his reindeer for a herd of seahorses at the Newport Aquarium. The man in red will be underwater in the 385,000-gallon Surrounded By Sharks exhibit to give kids a chance to interact with him and tell him their holiday wishes. See magic bubbles and costumed elves and drop a letter in Scuba Santa’s post office. Through Dec. 31. $25.99 adults; $17.99 children online. Newport Aquarium, 1 Aquarium Way, Newport, newportaquarium.com.
Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction — EnterTRAINment junction invites all of Santa’s little helpers to journey to the North Pole with a magical indoor train display. Watch as Santa’s elves pack gifts and Mrs. Claus bakes cookies. Through Jan. 1. $9.95-$17.95. EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester, entertrainmentjunction.com.
A Franciscan Christmas in Over-the-Rhine —This Christmas creche display features nativities from around the world, a Dickens village, a decorated tree, model trains, a collection of Santa Claus figurines and more at the Moerlein event center. At Saint Francis Seraph nearby, there is also a live nativity featuring goats, sheep and donkeys. Through Dec. 29. Free admission. Christian Moerlein Brewery Event Center, 1621 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/sfschurch.
Antique Christmas at the Taft Museum of Art — The historic home-museum will be decked with a whimsical collection of vintage ornaments, including Disney and German fairy tale pieces; trees decorated with pre-World War II miniature glass ornaments from Germany, Poland and Japan; Art Deco gift boxes; various iterations of Santa Claus figurines; a dining room set with china, crystal and silver; and an exterior swept with evergreen garlands and wreaths. There will also be, according to a description, “A whimsical display of the types of transportation Santa Claus uses to make his special deliveries, as well as a feather tree hung with brightly colored Russian ornaments watched over by figures of Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden.” Through Jan. 5. $12 adults; $10 seniors; free for members and 18 and under; free admission for all on Sunday; discounts online. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org.
A Zinzinnati Holiday at the Krohn Conservatory —The Krohn’s annual holiday display’s theme is A Zinzinnati Holiday and the conservatory’s cache of tropical and lush green plants will be complemented by “representations of Cincinnati’s historical architecture,” fragrant holiday floral displays, model trains and mini Cincinnati buildings constructed out of whimsical natural materials. Through Jan. 5. $10 adults; $7 youth; free ages 4 and under. Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiparks.com/krohn.
Holiday Junction at the Cincinnati Museum Center — The 73rd-annual Holiday Junction transforms the museum into a whimsical winter wonderland with toy trains zooming around a mini city, faux snow, custom wintery LEGO creations and a view of the Union Terminal rail yard. The Duke Energy Holiday Trains display includes more than 300 toy rail cars and 60 locomotives that run on 1,000 feet of track. In addition to a whole lot of locomotives, the event also features a special “interactive winter wonderland” where guests can build snowmen, leave footprints and even take a ride on a train. You’ll also get a chance to see Thomas the Tank Engine and friends. You can also pay a visit to Brickopolis, where you’ll find plenty of Disney and comic book character portrayed in fun scenes. Through Jan. 5. $14.50 adults; $13.50 seniors; $10.50 ages 3-12; $5.50 ages 1-2. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.
Holiday Traditions at the Behringer-Crawford Museum — The Behringer-Crawford Museum’s Holiday Toy Trains display is back for the 28th year with over 250 feet of model train tracks and more than 30 “guest-activated” displays. There’s also a Charles Dickens village, holidays concerts, a visit from Santa, live readings of The Polar Express from local librarians and more. Through Jan. 5. $9 adults; $8 seniors; $5 kids; free members. Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Road, Covington, bcmuseum.org.
Victorian Holiday Village — The 18th-annual Victorian Holiday Village features miniature decorated Victorian homes with thousands of sparkling lights plus cocoa and cookies. Please bring a nonperishable food item, which will be donated to the Freestore Foodbank. 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13. Free admission. Ohio National Financial Services, 1 Financial Way, Montgomery, ohionational.com.
Holly Days at Heritage Village Museum — Be transported to the 19th century for a simple holiday celebration. Heritage Village’s historical buildings will be traditionally decorated and costumed villagers will offer 1800s-style storytelling, craft making, train displays and holiday treats. Visit Mother Christmas and watch a reenactment of the first Christmas dinner in Cincinnati in 1788. Noon-4 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15. $10; $5 children; free 4 and under; free for members. Heritage Village Museum, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, heritagevillagecincinnati.org.
A Christmas Nightmare at Dent Schoolhouse — The ghouls of favorite horror attraction the Dent Schoolhouse get in the holiday spirit with A Christmas Nightmare, a freaky yuletide take on the classic haunt. Dent’s classrooms and hallways will be illuminated with lights, garlands and Christmas trees, while willing participants wander through scenes staffed with evil Christmas creatures. Krampus and his twisted cohorts will be deciding if you’ve been naughty or nice, and Charlie the janitor will be Santa Charlie; admission tickets include a photo op. 6:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14. $25-$55. The Dent Schoolhouse, 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent, frightsite.com.
This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 10, 2019.
