December is a month full of holiday events happening on both sides of the Ohio River. You can celebrate the holidays with your family by visiting Santa Claus, doing crafts, hanging out at museums and much more! We’ve put together a huge list of family friendly events to share with you so that you can plan all sorts of fun with your family. Fill up your weekends and winter break with events and activities and make this holiday season a memorable one for the whole family!
Family Friendly Things to Do in Cincinnati & NKY {December 2015}
December 1 – 6
Etiquette Class for Kids Dec. 1, 1-1:145 Kenton County Public Library Erlanger Branch, 401 Kenton Lands Road, Students will learn manners to help them to navigate holiday parties and everyday life.
Holiday Sewing with Coder & Maker Club December 3, 5-6 pm Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch ~ Make homemade gifts and decorations for Chirstmas. We will have sewing machines, fabric and helpers to help you make a simple sewing project or use the machine for the first time.
International Fair Trade Sale December 3, 2015 (4-9pm), December 4 (4-9pm), December 5 (10am-4pm) Agner Hall (Dearborn County Fairgrounds), Lawrenceburg, IN Free entry Shop thousands of items handmade by individuals from around the world who are struggling to break the cycle of poverty, to keep their children from human traffickers, to overcome marginalization from disability, and to find life after being rescued from the sex trade by earning a fair and living wage for their craft. Handcrafted jewelry, purses, leather handbags, baskets, scarves, Christmas ornaments, kitchen items, instruments, bookends, and more make unique Christmas gifts for your friends and family (and yourself)! Shop with a purpose!
Christmas Saengerfest Music Festival ~ December 4 & 5 in historic Over the Rhine. See award winning choirs from the World Choir Games and visit four great venues in Over-The-Rhine. Tour the Churches and Brewery. Help support numerous organizations with one ticket. Shuttle buses will be available to take patrons from venue to venue.
Covington Night Bazaar December 4 and 5, 2015, 6pm-10pm Renaissance Covington Park Avenue between E. 3rd Street and Court Street, Covington, KY Free To make your holiday shopping a thrill without the chill a giant tent will be erected at Roebling Point in Covington, KY on December 4th and 5th from 6 pm to 10 pm and will house craftspeople, and artisans selling everything.
Christmas in the Village, Waynesville OH December 4 & 5, 12-9 pm and December 6, 12-5 pm. www.waynesvilleohio.com Downtown Waynesville, Looking to find the Christmas spirit, visit Waynesville Ohio for a step back in time. You will be able to take a carriage ride down Main Street, while listening to the clip clopping of horses hooves and jingle bells. Listen to choirs and barbershop quartets, strolling costume characters, strolling entertainment and more. We also have 1300 luminaries in the downtown area, on Friday and Saturday evening. Don’t forget the 60+ retail stores to find that something special for everyone on your list. You will be able to treat someone to one of the great restaurants in the downtown too. We promise you will leave with the holiday spirit!
Hamilton Christmas Gift Show Dec.4 & Dec. 5, 2015 Butler County Fairgrounds ~ The first annual Hamilton Christmas Gift Show taking place on Friday, Dec. 4 & Saturday, Dec.5, 2015 both days 11:00am- 7:00pm.
This is a brand new event in Hamilton, Ohio at the great newer facilities at the Butler Co. Fairgrounds. This event is being held indoors. Along with crafters, direct sellers and local businesses, there also will be live musical entertainment, pictures with Santa, food for purchase, door prizes, free gift wrapping and more.
This will be advertised on star 93.3 Christmas Music Station (including a promotion where they will be giving away a shopping spree to the show), newspaper, yard signs, postcards, social media and more. We understand the importance of advertising. We have kept the booth spaces at a very reasonable price of $75 for a 12×8 space. Larger spaces are available at special rates. You are required to be open both days from 11-7.
A Charlie Brown Christmas December 4, 5, 6,2 015 The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati www.thechildrenstheatre.com The Taft Theatre Tickets start at $7 Bring your family and celebrate Christmas with our live rendition of your favorite holiday special! Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holidays get you down – Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang are here to remind us all about what’s most important during this Yuletide season. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the animated television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Model Trains Dec. 5 & 6 10-5 Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch Tri-State NTRAK fills the room with their model train display, specially designed scenery and model train layouts.
City of Independence Christmas Walk ~ Holiday Market & Craft Fair Saturday December 5th, 2015 5-10pm Independence, Kentucky at the Kenton County Courthouse, Madison Pike The annual Christmas walk begins at the courthouse at 6pm and ends at the Senior Center. Festivities include a lighted parade, Santa & Mrs. Claus, Carolers, dancers, live Nativity, camel rides, and much, much more!! Family events at all businesses along Madison Pike. This year, L&M’s Busy Hands Crafts and Gifts Shoppe has added an outdoor Holiday Market and Craft Fair. Come shop the wide variety of homemade, hand spun crafts, gifts, decor and more ~ More than forty crafters, artisans and vendors will be offering sweet treats to satisfy all the senses!!! Secure package check will be available while you walk the town. HO.HO.HOPE to see you there!!!
Storytime with Santa December 5, 1-3 Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch Kick off the holidays with Santa at the Library! Join us for storytime with Santa, a special Christmas craft and a photo ops.
Enchanted Holiday Party Saturday Dec 5th 1pm-4pm Girls World Boutique Join us for a party with yummy treats, face painting, princess visits, fashion show, photo booth, fun crafts, shopping, and more! $5 admission donated to the Aubrey Rose Foundation. Spots are limited! Face painting, Runway show, DJ, Food and drinks, Crafts, Princess characters and Games
Hopeful Marketplace December 5 2015 Hopeful Lutheran Church Florence Kentucky Crafter/vendor Fair Over 30 booths will be set up. Come get your Christmas Shoppong done. 859-525-6171
Arrival of Saint Nicholas December 6, 2015/ 6:00 pm to 7:00 www.mainstrasse.org MainStrasse Village, Covington KY Free Saint Nicholas arrives at the Goose Girl Fountain at 6 pm with a special treat for all of he boys and girls. Hot chocolate and cookies will also be served.
December 7 – 13
DIY Ornament Making Party Dec 8, 4:30-6 pm Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch Teens are invited to create several beautiful holiday ornaments and enjoy holiday treats!
Kids $3.00 Cooking Class December 9th, 4:45-6:00pm Northside Farmers Market 4222 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223 $3.00 Kids ages 7-11 learn to cook with local foods right at the market! Your child will learn kitchen skills, how to follow recipes, and about eating seasonally. Fee waivers are available.
Date Night Idea: Let’s Get Cooking Dec. 10, 1-3 pm Kenton County Public Library William E. Durr Branch Have an adult night out and learn to make delicious hors d’oeuvres for any season! Make bacon wrapped dates, prosciutto and melon and deviled eggs with a smoky twist.
Star Wars Bash: The Force Awakens at the Library Dec. 12, 1-5 pm Kenton County Public Library Erlanger Branch, 401 Kenton Lands Road Celebrate the upcoming new Star Wars film at the Library with your favorite characters, crafts, a costume contest, food and special showing of Return of the Jedi to prepare you for the next chapter in the film series.
The City Flea December 12 / Washington Park 5p-10p The City Flea is one of the most interesting and unique markets around. Check out the works of awesome crafters and vendors while chowing at the food trucks and listening to fine tunes by the DJ. Take the whole family! Read more in this post on Family Friendly Cincinnati: The City Flea.
Cincinnati Cyclones: Star Wars Night – Saturday, December 12 Celebrate the release of Episode VII and meet some of your favorite Star Wars characters. The team will once again wear specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game and kids will be given a Cyclones lightsaber. Visit the Cincinnati Cyclones Website to find ticket information.
Candy Cane Hunt December 12, 2015/ 1pm – 3 pm www.mainstrasse.org Goebel Park, MainStrasse Village, Covingto KY Free Candy cane hunt for age groups 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years with a special Reindeer Patch for children under 3. Hot chocolate, a petting zoo and Wiley Wahoo’s Winter Wonderland will be a part of the fun, free event.
Kenner Toys Symposium Saturday, Dec. 12 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Main Library Free The public is invited to a special symposium with former Kenner employees from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Main Library. This event includes a screening of the documentary Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys which examines the history and pop-culture impact of Kenner’s Star Wars toy line. Event-goers will learn about the history of Kenner, participate in panel sessions and watch video interviews. For details, visit CincinnatiLibrary.org/KennerToys
Toys for Tots at Beach Mountain December 12, 2015 The Beach Waterpark thebeachmountain.com The Beach Waterpark Free Tis the season to give and receive! Beach Mountain is hosting a Toys for Tots event on Saturday, December 12th to make a difference in the lives of less fortunate children in our community. The first 100 Beach Mountain guests to bring an unwrapped toy to donate will receive a free two-hour admission pass!
Holiday Concert Dec. 12, 1-2 pm Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch The Cincinnati Harpers’ Robin performs holiday tunes, traditional, Celtic and contemporary.
MVCA Christmas Craft Show December 12 Miami Valley Christian Academy 6830 School Street Cincinnati Looking for that special gift? Come shop at our Christmas Craft Show!
A Charlie Brown Christmas December 12 & 13, 2015 The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati www.thechildrenstheatre.com The Taft Theatre Tickets start at $7 Bring your family and celebrate Christmas with our live rendition of your favorite holiday special! Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holidays get you down – Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang are here to remind us all about what’s most important during this Yuletide season. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the animated television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas.
2nd Sunday Family Showtime: The Elves and The Shoemaker December 13, 2015 2:00PM-4:00PM ArtReach 3711 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati OH, 45220 Free for kids and 5$ for adults When a kindly shoemaker gives his only remaining pair of shoes to a cold and hungry beggar woman, he finds his good deed rewarded in very unexpected ways. The shoemaker is shocked by the appearance of magic elves who turn his simple shoe shop into a great success, thrilling customers with their special creations. Soon the Queen hears of this unique shoe shop, but can the Shoemaker impress her without the elves? Based on the tale by the Brothers Grimm, this beloved, warm-hearted story reminds us that where we find goodness, generosity and hope, anything is possible.
Pipsqueak Theater Presents “An American Christmas In Oakley” December 13 2015 9:30 doors, 10 show Pipsqueak Theater The 20th Century Theater $8 under 2 free “Santa Is Coming To Oakley! The Madcap Puppets preform “”once upon a clock””;Introducing T3/triple the trouble; and Visit Pipsqueak Theater’s Santa’s work shop for cookie decorating,crafts and more. Box Office 513-731-8000
December 14 – 20
Frozen Party Dec. 18, 6-6:630 Kenton County Public Library Erlanger Branch, 401 Kenton Lands Road Kids of all ages come dressed as your favorite character from Frozen to attend a party with activities, crafts, games and a special treat. Afterwards join us for a showing of the movie “Frozen.” One lucky family will win a Blu-ray copy of the movie at the end of the show.
Circus Mojo’s Christmas Show Benefitting The Social Circus Foundation December 19, 2015 7:30pm Circus Mojo https://www.facebook.com/events/759215994184954/ Sts. Boniface and James Recreation Hall 318 Oak Street Ludlow, KY 41016 Suggested Donation $5 – $10 Join us for an evening of Christmas-themed circus performances, including juggling, acrobatics, tight wire, German Wheel, poi, and more! We will also have live music and holiday refreshments available.
Candy Shop Dec. 20, 2-4 pm Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch Teens are invited to learn to make several holiday candy treats to give as presents or share with friends.
December 21 – 31
Frozen Sing-Along Dec. 29, 10-11 a.m Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch Let it Go and sing along with Elsa and her friends while watching the movie on the big screen. Snacks provided and costumes welcome.
Ongoing Events in December ~
Scuba Santa at the Newport Aquarium – Go see one of the most unique holiday displays in town! Scuba Santa is sure to entertain the whole family! Visit the Newport Aquarium website for all the details! He will be there from November 27th until December 31st.
Just in Time for the Holidays: Kenner Toys’ Exhibit Nov. 20–Jan. 16, 2016 Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Main Library Free The Just in Time for the Holidays: Kenner Toy exhibit is on display Nov. 20–Jan. 16, 2016 at the Main Library. It features Kenner toys and brands from the 1940s-1990s. The two companion displays are Beloved Toys, which takes a look at childhood memories of favorite Kenner toys, and Brought to You by Maker Toys, which showcases toys made from the 3D printer and the laser engraver. For details, visit CincinnatiLibrary.org/KennerToys.
Holiday Toy Trains – Behringer Crawford Museum – Nov. 21 – Jan. 17, 2016. Open Tuesday-Saturday (10am-5pm) and Sunday (1-5 pm). Register for Polar Express readings (Nov. 29 is the first one). 1600 Montague Road – Devou Park, Covington, Kentucky 41011.
The Poinsettia Express – Nov. 14 – Jan. 3, 2016, 10am-5pm – Annual holiday show at the Krohn Conservatory. Visit CincinnatiParks.com for discount admission coupon.
Jingle Books December 1-31 Kenton County Public Library Children ages 2-12 can pick up a Jingle Books booklog at any location. Read or listen to five books and return your log tot he Library for a prize and raffle entry. Complete as many book logs as you like for more chances to win. Logs are due by 5 pm on December 31.
The Art of the Brick at the Cincinnati Museum Center is the world’s largest display of LEGO® art. This captivating exhibition features artwork made exclusively from one of the most recognizable toys in the world, the LEGO brick. The critically acclaimed collection of creative and inspiring pieces constructed using only LEGO bricks is created by renowned contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya.
Designed to inspire ingenuity and creativity, The Art of the Brick is the world’s largest and most elaborate display of LEGO art featuring more than 100 works of art. The collection features Sawaya’s original pieces, as well as reimagined versions of some of the world’s most famous art masterpieces such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The exhibit concludes with a spectacular and innovative multimedia collection of LEGO brick-infused, hyper-realistic photography produced in collaboration with award-winning photographer Dean West. Visitors will have the opportunity to get an up-close view of the iconic, pop culture fan favorite Yellow, a life-size sculpture of a man ripping his chest open with thousands of yellow LEGO bricks cascading from the cavity. In addition, visitors will come face-to-face with a 20-foot long T-Rex dinosaur skeleton made out of bricks.
Frisch’s Presents The Nutcracker December 18 – 27 Cincinnati Ballet Procter & Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center Tickets start at $32 “Clara receives the gift of a lifetime when her beloved Nutcracker doll comes to life! Follow Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on a journey to a wondrous world full of fantastic characters.
The Snow Queen and her King will help you find your way to the Land of Sweets where the Sugar Plum and Cavalier are waiting to welcome you with sweet treats and exotic celebrations! Indulge yourself in Tchaikovsky’s most popular work, with live instrumentation by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and revel in the magic and wonder that is Cincinnati’s favorite holiday tradition.
Wahoo’s Winter Wonderland Weekends – Thursday-Sunday Nov. 27-Dec 23 – Special Hours Week of Christmas Goebel Park – MainStrasse, Covington, KY FREE! The Holiday Adventures of Wiley Wahoo and Me, a holiday book locally written and illustrated, chronicles two dogs adventures visiting Greater Cincinnati landmarks as they partake in holiday traditions. This season, the book comes to LIFE in Wahoo’s Winter Wonderland! It’s a whimsical, animated holiday attraction featuring a Candy Cane Forest, animated Ice Skating dogs, visits with Santa, and so much more!
Holiday Craft Corner Tuesdays in December, 4-5 pm Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch Children in K-6 are invited to make a different holiday themed craft each week. This is a perfect time to make handmade gifts for friends and family.
Light Up Middletown ~ In 2015, Light Up Middletown will run from Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Eve. 11/26 – 12/31/2015. Admission is by donation – guests set their own entrance fee. The drive-thru fantasy light display grows each year and features thousands of sparkling LED lights in dozens of animated displays. Hours are 6-10 pm every night, including holidays, rain, snow or moonshine. Contact 513-423-1877, 513-267-2789, orwww.lightupmiddletown.org. Location: Smith Park, 500 Tytus Avenue, Middletown, OH 45042. I-75, exit 32, follow the signs to downtown Middletown.
Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction – Nov. 14 – Jan. 16, 2016 – “Create a holiday tradition for your family! See the magic of Christmas at the home of the World’s Largest Indoor Train Display. Take a “Journey to the North Pole”, where you can can meet Mrs. Claus and Santa himself. See our “Main Street Holiday Trains” displays which offers some beautiful winter train displays that are FREE to the public. Extended Hours! From December 12th through December 23rd and December 26th through December 30th we will remain open until 9pm. The Junction is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day and closes at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Santa goes on vacation after Christmas.” (from EnterTRAINment Junction).
Holiday in Lights – Sharon Woods – Nov. 20 – Jan. 2, 2016 – “Built over a mile of wooded roadway, the holiday themed displays of fantastic seasonal color adorns the woods, depicting everything from Santa Claus and his elves to every animal on the ark. There’s no need to bundle up to enjoy Holiday in Lights; simply warm up the car, turn your radio dial to Warm 98, round up your friends, family, or a special date, and head to Sharon Woods. It’s that easy. Admission is $13 per vehicle ($45 for buses and 15 passenger vans). Sunday – Thursday 6:00pm-9:00pm & Friday – Saturday 5:30pm-10:00pm.” (from holidayinlights.com).
More Holiday Posts on Family Friendly Cincinnati:
Christmas Tree Farms in Greater Cincinnati
Family Friendly Holiday Events in NKY
Holiday Events at Local Libraries
Holiday Season Theatre in Cincinnati & NKY
