Things to do in Cincinnati this week: Dec. 26-Jan. 1

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·8 min read

Monday, December 26

FINAL WEEK: Christkindlmarkt, 4-10 p.m. daily, Schmidlapp Lawn adjacent to Moerlein Lager House, 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Special New Years Eve celebration. Features food, drinks and seasonal items from open-air stalls. Traditional choral music, lighted decorations and more. Free admission. cincinnatichristkindlmarkt.com.

FINAL WEEK: The Shillito Elves, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., The Foundry, Fifth Street, Downtown. The elves made their debut in the 1950s in the windows of Shillito's department store. See the mechanized figures that depict various Christmas scenes, including Santa's workshop. Runs Nov. 25-Jan. 3. Free.

MUSIC: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. cincinnatiarts.org.

Mannheim Steamroller comes to the Aronoff Center for the Arts on Monday evening.
Mannheim Steamroller comes to the Aronoff Center for the Arts on Monday evening.

RECREATION: Skiing and Snowboarding, daily, Perfect North Slopes, 19074 Perfect Lane, Lawrenceburg. perfectnorth.com.

Tuesday, December 27

ART: Candace Black: Accoutrements, Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Exhibition features series of body extensions subjected to pressures illustrated through afflictions and protective barriers such as fire and silver mirroring. Runs Nov. 18-Jan. 15. Free.

ART: Steven Thurston: Lost in Translation, Deception and Desire, Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Artist explores notions of authenticity and translation through ongoing series of iconic porcelain busts depicting the founding fathers of the United States, examining translational misunderstanding and conflicting mythologies surrounding the subjects. Runs Nov. 18-Jan. 15. Free.

ART: Mary Jo Bole: Family White Elephants, Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Artist explores her family's industrial history and the lineage of women who preserved it. Her experiences are filtered through counter-culture and the punk scene from her youth and Lake Erie. Runs Nov. 18-Jan. 15. Free.

MUSEUM: Natural World, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Explores collaboration between artists John Edmonds and David Hartt, and poet/scholar Jason Allen-Paisant. Runs Sept. 30-Jan. 15. cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

MUSEUM: Beyond Bollywood, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Through more than 100 artworks drawn from US museums and private collections, you can explore the representation of dance in the arts from South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Himalayan region from the first to the 21st centuries. Runs Nov. 11-Feb. 5. cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

MUSIC: WEBN's FU 2022 Show featuring Sevendust, Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington. With Enmy, Life After This, Asayda.

SPORTS: Holiday Hardwood Classic, 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Cintas Center, 1624 Musketeer Drive, Evanston. This high school hoops showcase features 16 local teams from Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Columbus. Four games each day. $10.

"The Dancing Princesses" runs through Dec. 30 at Ensemble Theatre.
"The Dancing Princesses" runs through Dec. 30 at Ensemble Theatre.

THEATER ENDING: The Dancing Princesses, 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 7 p.m. Thursday, 2 and 7 p.m. Friday, Ensemble Theatre, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. This family-friendly musical is suitable for all ages. Runs Nov. 30-Dec. 30. ensemblecincinnati.org.

THEATER ENDING: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. This annual tradition sends up everything from Dickens to Dr. Seuss. Not recommended for anyone who still believes in Santa. Runs Dec. 8-31. cincyshakes.com.

TOURS: Ultimate Queen City Underground Tour, 11 a.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, American Legacy Tours, 1332 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. americanlegacytours.com.

Wednesday, December 28

MUSEUM: Craft and Camera: the Art of Nancy Ford Cones, Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown. First major presentation of work by internationally renowned photographer from Loveland who created photographs during a time female artists struggled for recognition. Runs Oct. 1-Jan. 15. $15, $10 seniors and children. Admission is free every Sunday. taftmuseum.org.

MUSEUM: Fakes, Forgeries and Followers, Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown. This small exhibition reveals fascinating histories of selected paintings and works of decorative art normally kept in storage. Runs Oct. 1-Feb. 5. $12, $10 advance. taftmuseum.org.

MUSEUM: Free As They Want To Be: Artists Committed to Memory, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Exhibit considers the historic and contemporary role photography and film have played in remembering legacies of slavery and its aftermath. Runs Sept. 30-March 5. Included with admission. $15, $10.50 ages 3-12. freedomcenter.org.

MUSIC: Tropidelic, Riverfront Live, 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End.

SPORTS: Cyclones vs Wings, Heritage Bank Center, 100 Broadway, Downtown. $2 Beer Night. cycloneshockey.com.

Thursday, December 29

COMEDY: Dave Waite, Go Bananas Comedy Club, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery. Runs Dec. 29-31. gobananascomedy.com.

FILM: Dinosaurs of Antarctica, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Dinosaurs have never been cooler. See these prehistoric beasts in action in this new Omnimax film. Runs Oct. 14-Jan.15. $9.50, $7.50 ages 3-12. cincymuseum.org.

MUSEUM: Dinosaurs of Antarctica, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Exhibition uncovers never-before-seen dinosaur fossils buried beneath the snow and ice and dials back the hands of time to 200 million years ago, when Antarctica was a lush woodland teeming with prehistoric beasts. Runs Oct. 14-Jan.15. Included with museum admission. $16.50, $12.50 ages 3-12. cincymuseum.org.

MUSIC: Cincinnati Pops Orchestra: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Enjoy the full force of the Cincinnati Pops performing John Williams' Oscar-nominated score live to the complete, acclaimed film. Limited seats remain. cincinnatisymphony.org.

MUSIC: Old Crow Medicine Show, Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. With Molly Tuttle.

MUSIC: Chris Comer Trio, Hearth Lounge, 125 W. Fourth St., Downtown.

NYE: Surf & Turf with Bubbles Dinner, 5 and 7:30 p.m., Piccolo Wine Room. Enjoy 6 oz. filet mignon, 6 oz. lobster tail and bottle of bubbles for this early NYE dinner. $150 couple, $90 single. Reservations required. Email kyle@piccolowineroom.com.

Friday, December 30

COMEDY: Jason Banks, Funny Bone Comedy Club, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township. Runs Dec. 30-31. liberty.funnybone.com.

Jason Banks brings his stand-up comedy to Funny Bone Comedy Club in Liberty Township Dec. 30-31.
Jason Banks brings his stand-up comedy to Funny Bone Comedy Club in Liberty Township Dec. 30-31.

HOLIDAY ENDING: Holiday in Lights, Armco Park, 1223 Ohio 741, Lebanon. New location. Outdoor, drive-thru holiday lights display with over 1 million lights and more than 250 light displays. No cash accepted. $20 per carload, $60 per busload. Special effects glasses $2 each or 3 for $5. Holidayinlights.com.

HOLIDAY ENDING: ChristmasTown, 5 p.m., Creation Museum, Petersburg. Live nativity. Garden of lights, live animals, Encounter the Wonder 4D show inside the Special Effects Theater. Runs Wednesday-Sunday Nov. 25-Dec. 13, then daily through Dec. 30. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Free. Parking is $15. Creationmuseum.org.

HOLIDAY ENDING: ChristmasTime, 5 p.m., Ark Encounter, Petersburg. Runs daily through Dec. 30. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Features bright, multi-color lights, music, short dramas, live animal encounters. Free. Parking is $15. Arkencounter.com.

HOLIDAY ENDING: Drive Thru Christmas Glow, 6-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. Enjoy lights, Christmas Village, petting zoo and Santa's workshop. Runs Nov. 23-Dec. 30. landofillusion.com.

MUSIC: Afroman's Merry Spliff-mas, Riverfront Live, 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End.

MUSIC: Jeremy Pinnell and Justin Wells, Southgate House Revival, Sanctuary, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. With Adam Lee.

SPORTS: Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour, Heritage Bank Center, 100 Broadway, Downtown.

The Harlem Globetrotters visit Heritage Bank Center on Dec. 30.
The Harlem Globetrotters visit Heritage Bank Center on Dec. 30.

Saturday, December 31

COMEDY: Alphas on Christmas Vacation, 8 p.m., Clifton Comedy Theatre, 404 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. Improv Cincinnati parodies National Lampoon holiday classics. $15.

HOLIDAY: Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival, 5-7 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. Fourth St., Downtown. Costume-filled pageant of the Christmas story. Free, but tickets required. Cincinnaticathedral.com/boars-head. All performances sold out.

HOLIDAY ENDING: WinterFest, Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. Park transforms into 11 enchanting winter wonderlands. Enjoy ice skating, parade, entertainment and more than five million lights. Runs Nov. 25-Dec. 31, closed Dec. 23-25. visitkingsisland.com.

HOLIDAY ENDING: Light Up the Fair, Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington. Northern Kentucky's only drive-thru light show. Now over two miles long. lightupthefair.com.

HOLIDAY ENDING: Light in the Forest, 5:30-9 p.m., Rowe Woods, Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford. Enjoy beautifully lit forest, new installations by five regional light artists, children's activities, live music, bonfire, historic home with nature-inspired decorations, and holiday shopping. Runs Dec. 1-31. Closed Dec. 24-25. $12, $7 ages 3-17. cincynature.org.

SPORTS: Cyclones vs Walleye, Heritage Bank Center, 100 Broadway, Downtown. New Year's Eve indoor fireworks. cycloneshockey.com.

TOURS: New Winter Tour: Cincinnati Brewing & Distilling Tasting Tour, noon, Brewing Heritage Trail, 1939 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Two-hour, mostly indoor tour with short walk between each location. $49. brewingheritagetrail.org.

Sunday, January 1

HOLIDAY ENDING: Journey Borealis, 6-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 6-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday, closed Mondays, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton. Drive through a festive tradition of over 1 million holiday lights and independent artist displays. Runs Nov. 18-Jan. 1. Journeyborealis.com.

HOLIDAY ENDING: Deck the Y’alls Lightfest, 5:30-10 p.m., Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. Interactive sparkling wonderland features 10 immersive themed displays, outdoor ice rink and millions of twinkling lights. Runs Nov. 25-Jan. 1. Ticketreturn.com/prod2new/Learn.asp.

HOLIDAY ENDING: Christmas at the Junction, EnterTrainment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester. World’s largest indoor train display is decorated for the holidays. Take a journey to the North Pole and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Runs Nov. 12-Jan. 1. Entertrainmentjunction.com.

Have an event you’d like us to know about? Send all the details to calendar@cincinnati.com with “Things To Do” in the subject line.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Things to do this week in Cincinnati: Dec. 26-Jan. 1