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Cincinnati Ranks as One of the Best Cities for Christmas, According to New Study

From bars with holiday traditions to dazzling light displays, Cincinnati knows how to do Christmas.

Dec 22, 2022 at 4:02 pm

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Photo: Vincent DiFrancesco

Christmas tree at Fountain Square

Cincinnati knows how to do Christmas, according to a new study from WalletHub.

The study says out of 100 U.S. cities, Cincinnati ranks eighth, making it one of the most Christmas-friendly cities in the country. Neighboring city Indianapolis ranked 32; Columbus came in 44th; Louisville was in 56th and Lexington ranked 71st.

To discover where each city ranked, WalletHub broke 32 metrics down into five categories: Traditions & Fun, Observance, Generosity, Shopping and Costs. Each category was worth 20 points at the most for a total of 100 points. Out of 100 points, Cincinnati earned 55.48.

Traditions & Fun looked at metrics like Christmas events per capita, Google search interest in “Christmas celebration” and the number of bakeries, restaurants and ice skating rinks per capita. Cincinnati ranked 28th in this category.

Cincinnati ranked 12th in Observance, which looked at the city’s Christian population and the number of churches per capita. For Generosity, the city came in 50th. Metrics in this category included online giving, the number of food banks per capita and the share of income donated to charities.

Cincinnati came in eighth for both Shopping and Costs, pointing to our number of Christmas markets, prices at local restaurants and the average price of two theater tickets, among other metrics.

And we know firsthand how well Cincinnati celebrates the holidays. The Queen City is home to numerous bars that broke out the tinsel, holly and Santa hat pasties for the season. We’ve also got ice rinks to bring you holiday cheer and heated igloos where you can share a meal and have a drink with friends and family, or you can bask in the glow of millions of Christmas lights. Heck, you can even create a day here that’s straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie.

Cincinnati also has plenty to do if you just want a silent night this holiday season:

Slideshow

An Introvert's Guide to Greater Cincinnati Spots Where You Can be Alone for the Holidays

Roebling Point Books & Coffee306 Greenup St., CovingtonBooks are good for the soul – especially the soul that wants to be alone. And with multiple rooms of books, you can get lost for hours inside Roebling Point Books & Coffee, oblivious to anyone else around you. Grab a cup of their fair-trade coffee and get to browsing for your next favorite read.

Bromwell's Hearth Room125 W. Fourth St., DowntownWith its dark walls and floors and fiery lighting, Bromwell’s recently renovated Hearth Room is a warm, welcoming place to grab a seat, drink a cocktail or craft beer, listen to some live jazz music and revel in not having to speak to anyone other than your friendly bartender.

Coney Island’s Nights of Lights6201 Kellogg Ave., CaliforniaDrive-thru holiday light displays are king because you don’t have to leave the warmth of your car and you don’t have to feel weird about being alone. At Coney Island’s dazzling Nights of Lights, see “more than 2 million lights synchronized to a mix of traditional and rocking holiday music,” per Coney Island. There is also a giant Christmas tree, illuminated snowflakes, light tunnels and other glowing thematic displays. The display runs every night until Jan. 2. You’ll have to pay the $25-$30 entrance fee by yourself, but sometimes you can’t put a price on alone time.

American Sign Museum1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp WashingtonThis one-of-a-kind museum is “dedicated to the art and history of commercial signs and sign making,” says its website. You can wander through the American Sign Museum’s collection and learn more about its collection and what goes into preserving and restoring an old sign and how they show a not-often-told story of the United States’ history. The ever-present neon glow throughout the museum is also a great way to pretend you’re inside a Christmas tree light bulb.

Ohio Bookstore726 Main St., DowntownOhio Bookstore is a book lover’s paradise: This shop features FIVE floors full of books and magazines – over 300,000 items in stock at any given time. And as a rare and used book store, you never know what literary gems you’ll discover. And if you need a book that needs repairing or a custom binding, Ohio Bookstore can do that as you explore.

The Echo3510 Edwards Road, Hyde ParkEating alone doesn’t have to feel weird, especially at The Echo. This diner has plenty of bar seating and cozy booths for those who want a quick, delicious meal while reading a book, scrolling their Facebook feed or flipping through the latest issue of CityBeat. The menu offers "Hangover Helpers" for those who imbibed too much over the holidays, like the Belgian Bird Sandwich, which comes with chicken tenders, a fried egg and cheddar on a waffle with powdered sugar and syrup. They also serve salads, sandwiches, soups and more for lunch, as well as cocktails like their Irish coffee and mimosas.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...

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Cincinnati Ranks as One of the Best Cities for Christmas, According to New Study