>> 7 of our favorite holiday traditions
Here are some of our favorite places still open through the weekend where you can see Christmas light displays:
🎄🚶LEGENDARY LIGHTS AT CLIFTON MILL
Unlike other lighting festivals where the lights are already on when you arrive, Clifton Mill stages a dramatic opening where people who arrive at 6 p.m. get to see all four million lights turn on at once, producing a Fourth of July-like "ooh and aah" moment. Throughout the evening, either on the hour or every half hour, the lights will be turned off and then turned on again so the later-comers can experience it as well. Don't miss the Santa Claus Museum on site. Refreshments for sale.
>> Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill wins $50,000 prize on national TV special
>> What makes the Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill different from the rest
When: Through Dec. 30, 2019
Times: 5-9 p.m. Lights go on at 6 p.m. Closed on New Year's Eve.
Location: 75 Water St., Clifton
Cost: $10. Kids 3 and under are free. Parking is free.
More info: 937-767-5501 | Facebook | Website
🎄🚶PNC FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO
The Cincinnati Zoo will once again be transformed into a "Wild Wonderland" for the 37th annual PNC Festival of Lights. The display voted the best holiday zoo lights by USA TODAY for two consecutive years features 3 million LED lights and giant animal lanterns. Visitors can search for Fiona fairies in Fiona's Fairyland, watch a Madcap black-light puppet show, ride the BB&T Toyland Express or see the spectacular Wild Lights show on Swan Lake.
>> WORTH THE DRIVE: Cincinnati Zoo’s Festival of Lights is back and this year there’s a new Fiona Fairyland
When: Through Jan. 4
Times: Sundays to Thursdays from 5-9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5-10 p.m.
Location: 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati
Cost: Packages start at: Adults: Online $15, Child/Senior: Online $9.
Ticket deals: Plan-ahead pricing allows guests to save by purchasing tickets for select dates online in advance. Prices for traditionally lower traffic nights, such as Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, will be as much as half less than those purchased for the most popular nights. Prices will go up based on demand for certain nights, so buy early to get the best rate. Discount tickets are available at Kroger.
More info: Website | Facebook | Buy tickets online here
🎄 KETTERING’S LINCOLN PARK CIVIC COMMONS
Lincoln Park Civic Commons in Kettering has been lit up for the holiday season.
The Mayor’s Christmas tree lighting was held a few weeks ago but the entire park and fountain area is still elaborately illuminated.
The spot is perfect for a night-time drive or a leisurely evening walk.
When: Through Jan. 2
Location: 675 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
More info: Website
Credit: Jordan Sternberg
Credit: Jordan Sternberg
🎄🚶KINGS ISLAND WINTERFEST
WinterFest, one of the Cincinnati area’s most beloved annual traditions, returned in 2017 after a 12-year hiatus. Visitors throughout Southwest Ohio and beyond can experience Snowflake Lake Ice Skating on International Street, take in Charlie Brown’s Christmas Town, and enjoy Rivertown Wonderland as part of Kings Island’s WinterFest celebration. The park is transformed into 10 enchanting winter wonderlands featuring ice skating on the Royal Fountain, the Eiffel Tower transformed into a magical 314-foot tall Christmas tree and a number of rides to enjoy including Mystic Timbers. Carriage rides will allow you to take in the lights and sights of WinterFest atop a horse-drawn carriage. Overall, the experience features more than 5 million lights.
>> Kings Island to transform into winter wonderland
When: Through Dec. 31.
Hours: WinterFest operating hours are 5-10 p.m. each night except for Saturdays (4-10 p.m.) and New Year's Eve (5 p.m. – 1 a.m.).
Where: Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason
Cost: Ticket packages start at $27.99 per person
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
🎄🚶A CARILLON CHRISTMAS
See Carillon Historical Park’s 65-acre campus transformed into a winter wonderland of sparkle, magic and holiday cheer. The Carillon Tree of Light, decorated with thousands of lights, stands at 200 feet, affixed to the top of 151-foot tall Deeds Carillon that was dedicated in 1942 by Col. Edward A. and Mrs. Edith Walton Deeds as a gift to the Dayton community. The first concert played on the Carillon took place on Christmas Eve, 1941, just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The tree consists of over 20,000 light bulbs on nearly 100 separate strands that come to life each night at dusk and blaze through until dawn for the entire month of December. Special activities include photos with Santa, carolers, model train displays, train rides and scavenger hunts for extra fee.
>> The Carillon Tree of Light and 8 more ways to find your Christmas spirit at Carillon Park
When: Through Dec. 30
Times: Sunday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m.
Location: Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton
Cost: $12 per adult (18-59), $10 seniors (60 and older), $8 children (3-17), free for children under 3 and Dayton History members.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
🎄🚗LIGHT UP MIDDLETOWN
With over a million sparkling lights, themed displays and Santa, Light Up Middletown has been a part of the holiday tradition for two decades. This drive-through light display offers themed displays, such as a floating sea serpent in the reflecting lake, whales giving Santa’s reindeer a ride, Santa’s Workshop, an American flag, a penguin village and more. Admission by donation. Open nightly, 6-10 p.m through New Year’s Eve, including holidays and regardless of the weather.
When: Through Dec. 31
Hours: 6–10 p.m.
Location: Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave. in Middletown
Cost: Donations accepted.
🎄🚗HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON THE HILL
For the second year in a row, the creators of Lumenocity and BLINK Cincinnati will have an art installation in the pavilion as part of Holiday Lights on the Hill at Pyramid Hill. This popular drive-through display will offer guests a holiday light experience that brings art and nature together in the 300-acre sculpture park. A few of the traditional features will include decorated ponds with swans, a skating pond with a sequence of skaters that light up and doves overhead.
>> Holiday Lights on the Hill at Pyramid Hill: What to know about this year’s plans
When: Through Jan. 5. Open holidays
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 6-10 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton
Cost: Monday through Thursday $20; Friday through Sunday $25 (Per carload). Admission for Pyramid Hill members presenting a current membership card is $15 every day.
More info: (513) 863-8336 | Facebook | Website
🎄🚗CHRISTMAS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AT CONEY ISLAND
This two-and-a-half-mile, drive-through light display features more than one million LED lights synchronized to festive holiday music. Features include larger than life trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes and tunnels of lights.
When: Through Jan. 5, including holidays
Hours: Dusk until 10 p.m.
Location: Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave. in Cincinnati
Cost: $6 per person. Children 3 and under free. Tickets are available online or at the gate. Local charities who will benefit from Christmas Nights of Lights: Salvation Army, The Ruth Lyons Children's Fund, St. Vincent DePaul, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Starshine Hospice and Toys for Tots.
🎄🚗🚶LAND OF ILLUSION CHRISTMAS GLOW
Celebrate the season at The Christmas Glow, a mile of 3 million lights at the Christmas Around the World drive-thru experience. If you’re willing to get out of your car, you can visit Santa at the Christmas Village Santa Workshop and warm up by the fire pit. There are also shops and a petting zoo.
When: Through Dec. 30
Hours: Monday-Wednesday drive-through only, 6-10 p.m. Thursday to Sunday drive-through and Christmas Village open, 6-10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday 6-11 p.m.
Where: Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Road in Middletown
Cost: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday drive-through only $18 per carload. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday drive through and village tickets $22 per carload. Bring a canned good for $2 off park admission and it will be donated to The Hope House Mission of Middletown. Additionally, there will be a Toys for Tots drop-off location at the venue. Group tickets by bus load (eight or more people) are $35 Monday to Wednesday drive-through only and $45 per bus load Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (drive-through and village).
🎄🚗HOLIDAY IN LIGHTS AT SHARON WOODS
This drive-through lights display is built over a mile of wooded roadway and has been a Cincinnati family tradition for nearly three decades. Holiday-themed displays depict everything from Santa Claus and his elves to every animal on the ark.
When: Through Dec. 31
Hours: 6-9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Location: 11450 Lebanon Road, Route 42, Sharonville
Cost: $15 per vehicle ($45 for buses/large passenger vans). A portion of the proceeds will go to A Child's Hope International.
Credit: DAVID MOODIE
Credit: DAVID MOODIE
🎄🚗HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT LOST CREEK RESERVE — NEW IN 2019!
The first season of the Holiday Lights at Lost Creek Reserve in Troy runs through Dec. 29. Located on a scenic 456-acre reserve, the mile-long drive-through tour will feature 80 light displays that work to enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings. The tour will end with a special glimpse of the historic homestead and barns decorated for the season.
>> New drive-through Christmas lights coming to woods and historic farm
When: Open on weekends through Dec. 29
Hours: Fridays and Saturdays from 6-10 p.m., Sundays from 6-9 p.m.
Location: Lost Creek Reserve: 2385 E. St. Rt. 41 in Troy
Cost: $10 per car and $15 for groups of 15+. Cash only.
More info: (937) 335-6273 | Facebook | Website
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
🎄🚗WHISPERING CHRISTMAS IN EATON
Since 1987, the Whispering Christmas lights display has been a holiday favorite in the city of Eaton. The display features over two million lights in total, casting a jolly glow over Fort St. Clair State Park. Throughout the end of December, the lights display will be open every night from 6-10 p.m.
>> Eaton's Whispering Christmas lights display has become a decades-old tradition
When: Open every night until Dec. 31.
Hours: 6-10 p.m., every night of the week
Location: Fort St. Clair State Park, 135 Camden Road, Eaton
Cost: $5 per car
More info: Facebook