Things to do on Christmas weekend in Cincinnati. What's open, closed
1. Last chance for the kids to chat with Santa
There's still time for your little one to visit with Santa Claus before he heads back to the North Pole and loads up his sleigh. Here are some holiday experiences the whole family can enjoy, with the added bonus of a visit with Santa.
Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Santa will be by the fireplace on the Mezzanine level through Saturday. He's busy preparing for the big day, but is happy to speak to kids from a safe distance. A visit with Santa is included with museum admission. Additional admission is required for Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains. Santa's hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Cincymuseum.org.
Scuba Santa's Water Wonderland, Newport Aquarium, 1 Levee Way, Newport. Kids can tell Santa what they want for Christmas while he swims underwater with three new Sand Tiger Sharks, rays, fish and Denver the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Newport Aquarium has variable admission dependent on the day: $22.99-$39.99 for ages 13-up and $14.99-$31.99 for ages 2-12. Santa's hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday. newportaquarium.com.
Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport. Santa's hours: noon-6 p.m. Friday. He takes a break from 3-3:20 p.m. to feed his reindeer. Visits are free you do not need an appointment. Don't forget to bring your camera. newportonthelevee.com.
Holidays on the Farm, 10073 Daly Road, Springfield Township. The whole family will enjoy the festive atmosphere at Parky's Farm, featuring lighted trails, hayrides, carolers, an indoor interactive train display, meet and greets with Great Parks animal ambassadors and Santa. There are plenty of warming stations throughout the park with fire pits and propane heaters, plus food trucks and a beer garden, live entertainment, pony rides, a kids' scavenger hunt and more. Tickets are $15 for ages 13-up, $10 ages 2-12. Food and drinks are sold separately. Discounted admission by booking online. Santa's hours: 5-9 p.m. Friday. greatparks.org.
Festival of Lights, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. Zoo transforms into a “wild wonderland” with more than four million LED lights. See Fiona fairies, enjoy a blacklight puppet show and more. Santa's hours: 4-10 p.m. Friday. Cincinnaizoo.org.
2. Last chance light display
Friday is your last chance this season to experience the Christmas Ranch, a 110-acre Christmas theme park in Morrow where you can enjoy light displays with more than one million lights, bonfires, a train ride on the Reindeer Express, wagon rides, get photos taken with Santa, visit six different Christmas shops and maybe pick up something delicious from Santa's bakery and cafe.
Find one near you:Looking for Christmas light shows in Cincinnati? Check out this map
The Christmas Ranch is a walking experience with both indoor and outdoor areas. It's also a real ranch, so wear sensible shoes, as you may encounter areas that are uneven. There are seven heated buildings in the village area, each connected for the most part by gravel walkways. Entry is $22 per carload, and $33 per oversized van with 10 or more passengers. No buses or RVs are allowed, and parking is free. Proceeds benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children, Neediest Kids of All, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Little Miami Food Pantry.
The Christmas Ranch is located at 3205 S. Waynesville Road, Morrow. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday. thechristmasranch.com.
3. Holiday attractions open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
The Christmas Ranch's final night is Friday, but here are some light displays that are open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Holiday in Lights has a new home at Armco Park (1223 Ohio 741, Lebanon). This outdoor, drive-thru holiday lights display boasts over 1 million lights and more than 250 light displays. No cash is accepted. Admission is $20 per carload, $60 per busload. Special effects glasses are $2. Hours this weekend: 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Sunday. Holidayinlights.com.
Coney Island's Nights of Lights (6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township) is the region's largest synchronized holiday light show. As you drive through the park you'll see larger-than-life Christmas trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes, tunnels of lights and more. Admission is $30 for vehicles with 1-8 persons, $50 for 9-15 person vehicles, and $75 for vehicles with 16 or more passengers. No limos or vehicles over 25 feet long are admitted, as those vehicles will be unable to drive safely through the show. Hours this weekend: 6-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. coneyislandpark.com.
Light Up the Fair at the Boone County Fairgrounds (5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington) is Northern Kentucky's only drive-through light show, and it's over two miles long. Admission is $7 per person 1-3 people, $25 per carload of 4-8 people. Active military and first responders get in free. Call ahead for group rate of nine or more passengers. Hours this weekend: 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday. lightupthefair.com.
Journey Borealis is a drive-through experience at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum (1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton) featuring over one million holiday lights and independent artist displays. Admission is $25 per carload, $55 per van. No limos or buses. Hours this weekend: 6-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Journeyborealis.com.
Deck the Y’alls Lightfest is an interactive walk-through light experience at Thomas More Stadium (7950 Freedom Way, Florence) that offers millions of twinkling lights, 10 immersive themed displays, carnival rides, and an outdoor ice rink. There's even a holiday-themed fireworks display on Friday night. Admission ranges from $16-$25. Hours this weekend: 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Ticketreturn.com/prod2new/Learn.asp.
A Celestial Holiday at Krohn Conservatory (1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams) offers a stroll through a world of white poinsettias. You can enjoy watching trains chug past Cincinnati landmarks, including a brand new building – Music Hall. Admission is $10, $7 ages 5-17, free ages 4-under. Hours this weekend: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. cincinnati-oh-gov.
4. Jonathan Butler's "O Holy Night" with Grace Kelly
Jazz icon Jonathan Butler broke barriers in his native South Africa. Born and raised during The Apartheid, he was the first non-white artist to be played on white radio stations and the first to appear on television. Nelson Mandela, the country's first president, credited Butler's music as having inspired him during his imprisonment. The two-time Grammy-nominated artist has released a number of gospel and Christmas recordings over his storied career, and you can catch him live with saxophonist Grace Kelly at Ludlow Garage (342 Ludlow Ave., Clifton) when he brings his "O Holy Night" tour to town. The all-ages show takes place at 8:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets range from $35-$65. ludlowgaragecincinnati.com.
5. Eat pancakes, keep fit
Kick off Christmas Eve with the Community Pancake Run & Walk, where you can choose between a two-, four- or six-mile route around Blue Ash and Montgomery that ends with homemade pancakes, fresh egg bakes, coffee from Rooted Grounds and other breakfast yummies. For more than 20 years Fleet Feet Cincinnati has been hosting this delicious and non-competitive event, which begins and ends at the store (9525 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash). If you're feeling extra merry, bring a dish or holiday treat to share. It starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. Participation is free, but reservations are required. fleetfeet.com.
Honorable mention: Have a good laugh
We know that a comedy club isn't the first place you'd think of heading out to on Christmas night, but if you're getting a little sick of the fam, this just might be the perfect prescription: Ranta Claus and His Helpers.
Ranta Claus doesn't know if you've been bad or good. He also doesn't care. He and his merry band of misfits will be naughtier than ever when they take over Go Bananas Comedy Club for this ages 18-up show. Doors open at 7 p.m., with showtime at 8 p.m. Seating is first come, first serve, and all tickets are $10. Go Bananas is located at 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery. gobananascomedy.com.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Things to do Christmas weekend in Cincinnati
