What's Up This Weekend (Dec. 24-26, 2010)

We know many Cincinnati families will be spending lots of time with loved ones this weekend while they celebrate Christmas. Just because it’s a major holiday doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do, though. In fact, some popular events and activities are open on Friday and even Saturday, with lots more re-opening on Sunday.

If you’re looking for places to go this weekend (or even later in the week, after that new-toys excitement wears off), here’s our roundup:

Holiday Light Displays

Our own Kristin did a fabulous job on her post Holiday Light Displays in the Tri-State, so take a look for the lowdown on each one. Here, I’ll share the days and times these displays are open during the holiday weekend.

Pyramid Hill’s Holiday Lights on the Hill in Hamilton is open every night (even on the holidays) through Jan. 2,  6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Light Up Middletown has a great drive-through holiday light display at Smith Park.  It’s also open every day (holidays, too) through Dec. 31 from 6 to 10 p.m.

Holiday in Lights at Sharon Woods is open through Jan. 1 (including all holidays) 6 to 1o p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday.

The Niederman Family Farm Christmas Walk is open 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily.

The Christmas Ranch’s The Gift of Lights in Morrow, Ohio, is a walk-through light display that features 350,000 lights. This display is open on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., closed on Saturday, and open on Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Holiday Train Displays

Christmas At EnterTRAINment Junction continues before and after Christmas, with its Journey to the North Pole, A Christmas Carol walk-through and year-round train displays. The Junction is open Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Saturday, and open  Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

At the Behringer-Crawford Museum‘s Holiday Toy Trains exhibit, kids can really take control with more than 25 accessories to operate the Lionel trains on 250 feet of tracks. Read our own Katie’s post about this holiday toy train display for more information. The museum is open Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Saturday, and open Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

The Holiday Train Display at Duke Energy downtown will be open Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., closed on Saturday, and open Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Holiday Junction at Cincinnati Museum Center is open Friday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., closed on Saturday, and open on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Live Theater & Arts

Movies are great, but how about some live theater to give your kiddos a cool experience? These local productions have been getting rave reviews from our contributors and readers this holiday season.

The Ensemble Theatre‘s annual holiday show takes a modern twist on Cinderella. As our own Amy put it, “This ain’t your Grandma’s fairy tale,” in her post about the musical. This weekend’s shows are on Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Be sure to use our discount code CBLOG to get $10 off the purchase of 2 adult tickets!

Your last chance this year to see the Cincinnati Ballet’s Nutcracker is Sunday. Shows are at 1 and 5:30 p.m. Same thing with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s holiday tradition A Christmas Carol. Last show is Sunday at 7 p.m. There’s also one more showing of A Wrinkle in Time at Know Theatre of Cincinnati on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Holidays plus art divided by history equals Antique Christmas at The Taft Museum. The museum is open Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Saturday, and open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Hint: The Taft is FREE on Sundays!)

Ice Skating

On Sunday at 5 p.m., hit The Beach on Ice in Mason for a train display, live nativity scene, ice skating, horse-drawn carriage ride, petting zoo and Cool Running Toboggan Slide. Read our own Valerie’s post about The Beach on Ice for more details.

Burn off those cookies and eggnog with some brisk outdoor Ice Skating at Fountain Square. The rink is open Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Flora & Fauna

Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy a little flora and fauna when the weather outside is frightful. And when they have a holiday twist, so much the better!

“Ho, ho, ho” sounds more like “glug, glug, glug” at Newport Aquarium’s Scuba Santa show. The aquarium is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Krohn Conservatory (open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, even holidays) has a beautiful holiday floral exhibit going on, plus on Friday at 5 p.m. they’ll have a fun family activity.

Walk through a winter wonderland at PNC’s Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo, Sunday from 5  to 9 p.m. (It’s closed Friday and Saturday, but usually is open daily.) Here’s a hint: Get there a little early to avoid bad traffic. You can buy tickets for the 4D Polar Express or Happy Feet shows, and then warm up in the nearby Manatee Springs exhibit until your movie starts. Also, the carousel and train rides open at 4 p.m.

From our FFC family to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday weekend and new year!