Top 5 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: Dec. 3-5
1. East Row Victorian Christmas Tour
Kentucky's second-largest historic district is right across the river in Newport, and you'll see a wide variety of distinct architectural styles – including Queen Anne, Italianate and American Four Square – on this self-guided walking tour through the tree-lined streets of the East Row neighborhood. The tour features six private residences decorated for the season and open to the public, plus dozens of other home exteriors lit up with holiday displays, as well as beautifully illuminated stained glass windows. Luminaries will line the sidewalks throughout the neighborhood, and visitors can enjoy a holiday block party on Saturday along Seventh Street with food trucks and live music.
Tickets for the tour are $10, free for ages 12-under. You can pick up tickets on the day of the event at Roebling Books (601 Overton St.) or order in advance via the website. The East Row Victorian Christmas Tour runs from 3-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. eastrow.org/victorian-christmas-tour-and-tea.
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2. Light in the Forest
Families and friends can create a new winter tradition by exploring the enchanting display of lights and illuminated trees in the beautifully lit forest at Rowe Woods at Cincinnati Nature Center (4949 Tealtown Road, Milford). This is not your typical holiday lights show. Light in the Forest produces original works of moving art using the natural environment as a canvas. You'll enjoy installations by Brave Berlin – the creative team behind Luminosity and Blink – as well as warm bonfires, live music, a historic home with nature-inspired decorations, and holiday shopping. You'll also have the opportunity to view the Winter Wonders Holiday Art Show, featuring more than 100 works by Charley Harper and artists who pay homage to his iconic style.
Light in the Forest is open from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday through Jan. 2, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Due to space restrictions, tickets are sold by timed entry in half-hour blocks. Scan the QR code onsite to access the route map, which is a circular, one-way walking path approximately 1 mile long. Tickets are $12, $7 children. cincynature.org.
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3. Lebanon Horse Drawn Carriage Parade & Festival
The pandemic halted the Horse Drawn Carriage Parade & Festival in 2020, but the clippity-clop of horses will once again echo throughout downtown Lebanon when this time-honored family tradition returns for its 32nd year Saturday. Holiday festivities run from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., beginning with live entertainment and a visit from Santa, followed by a daytime parade at 1 p.m. and the traditional candlelight parade kicking off at 7 p.m. The parade route encompasses Broadway, Main, Cherry and Warren streets and Oakwood Ave. and includes food and craft vendors set up along Mulberry Street.
Kids can get their photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus in Bicentennial Park (corner of Mulberry and Cherry) from 10:30 a.m.-noon and again from 4-6 p.m., and there are plenty of charming shops to browse. You'll find the official 2021 Carriage Parade keepsake ornament for purchase at BrickHouse on Broadway (15 N. Broadway). lebanonchamber.org.
4. Holiday Pops
Cincinnati’s beloved holiday concert returns to in-person performances at majestic Music Hall this year with music, warmth, laughter and seasonal inspiration for the entire family. John Morris Russell leads the Cincinnati Pops, the Holiday Pops Chorale – which includes members of Classical Roots Community Mass Choir, the May Festival Chorus and the May Festival Youth Chorus – and vocalists Aubrey Logan and Michael Preacely through a holiday program filled with traditional, classical and popular music sure to get you into the holiday spirit, while students with the Cincinnati Studio for Dance add an exciting visual dimension.
For those unable to attend in person, the concert will also be livestreamed on the CSO website, the Pops' YouTube channel and the Pops' Facebook page at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11. Tickets for Holiday Pops start at $25. Shows run 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday this and next weekend. Music Hall is located at 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. cincinnatisymphony.org.
5. Pincinnati: Greater Cincinnati Pinball Show
Leave your quarters at home, because you can play over 150 pinball machines as many times as you like at Pincinnati, a pinball expo and tournament heading to Holiday Inn Eastgate this weekend. You'll find vintage machines dating from the 1930s, classic favorites from the '60s and '70s, and plenty of current gems awaiting your test of skill. Pinball fans throughout Greater Cincinnati will have the chance to compete with other players in daily tournaments for cash prizes, and there are also opportunities to try out some super rare tables, several custom-built machines, and even a prototype or two. Wondering if your favorite will be there? A list can be found on the website.
Admission is $25 per day or $60 for the whole weekend. Ages 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. Pincinnati runs from 2 p.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Holiday Inn Eastgate, 4501 Eastgate Blvd., Union Township. pincinnati.com.
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Honorable mention: Queen City Visual Narrative: An Exploration of Cincinnati's Iconography
What comes to mind when you hear the word "Cincinnati"? Eighteen local and regional artists would tell you that we are much more than just sports teams and chili. The city's spirit lies within its people, within the hidden gems scattered throughout the city and within its rich history. This new exhibition shines a light on both the highly recognizable landmarks and the lesser-known iconography throughout the city, all of which combine to paint a picture of what makes Cincinnati the "Queen City."
The exhibition's opening reception runs from noon-3 p.m. Saturday at 1628 Ltd. (11 Garfield Place, Downtown). The reception is free to attend, but reservations are required because there's a maximum of 40 people allowed per viewing session (noon, 1 p.m. or 2 p.m.). Each session runs approximately 45 minutes. The exhibition is on view through Feb. 25. eventbrite.com.
Honorable mention: "Elf The Musical"
Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy, a would-be elf who's unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to find his true identity.
Two area theater companies are bringing this magical Christmas play to life for the holidays. You can catch "Elf The Musical" at Covedale Center for the Performing Arts (4990 Glenway Ave., West Price Hill) through Dec. 26 (no performances on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day). Tickets are $31, $28 for seniors, students and children. For tickets, call 513-241-6550 or visit cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.
Geared toward grades K-8, the Children's Theatre of Cincinnati's "Elf The Musical Jr." takes to the Taft Theatre stage through Dec. 12, with shows this weekend at 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Masks are required of all ticketholders ages 2-up, regardless of vaccination status. Taft Theatre is located at 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. Tickets are $10-$40. tafttheatre.org.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 5 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: December 3-5
