January Ohio Winter Events and Activities

Top Winter Activities in Ohio

There are plentiful winter activities right here in Ohio! We picked our Top-12 outdoor things to do in January and February, but others can easily be on this list.

Dare to plunge Ohio’s tallest and fastest toboggan chutes at the Chalet in Cleveland Metropark’s Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville.

Skate The Ribbon in Toledo! The 1,000-foot loop trail has some rolling hills and soft curves. It connects to a 5,000-square-foot rink at Toledo’s Glass City Metropark. Ice skates may be rented on-site.

Enjoy more outdoor ice skating in Dayton at the MetroParks Ice Rink. It’s a family-friendly experience for skaters of all ages and the region’s largest outdoor ice skating rink. The rink offers beautiful views of the scenic Great Miami River and downtown.

How does “Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh” sound? Ma & Pa’s old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage rides in Northeast Ohio traverse the woods and fields and even stop for some stargazing. Hot chocolate awaits back at the 1820 log cabin.

Mohican Winterfest in Loudonville ice carvings and free family entertainment. Bring the family down to check out all the ice sculptures that line the street and watch the live carving demos.

The annual Winter Hike at Hocking Hills will treat you to amazing ice formations! From giant icicle fields to frozen waterfalls, dress warm, wear sturdy shoes, and freezeframe stunning crystalized shots.

Light fire to winter and burn a giant snowman at the Burning Snowman Fest in Port Clinton. It comes complete with ice sculptures, fire dancers, hot tubs, hobo fires, and plenty of s’mores and hot chocolate. Of course, the climax is the burning of a giant paper snowman to call for spring.

There’s only one sled dog event in Ohio, so of course, it’s called The Great Sled Dog Race! This is a Greater Cleveland classic. Snowpack permitting, this rare event attracts mushers from all around. Teams cover one to six miles through woods and across open fields.

Ohio has several ice festivals, all of which are delightful. Two longtime favorites are in the lovely towns of Medina and Vermilion. There, you’ll enjoy the Medina Ice Fest and the Vermilion Ice A Fair.

When the powdery snow is the perfect mix, you can’t miss tubing, skiing, and snowboarding fun at Snow Trails and Boston Mills Brandywine Ski Resort in Northeast Ohio.

The list of enjoyable winter pastimes in Ohio could go on and on (Did you know Ohio has an Ice Wine Fest?). But we’ll stop here …for now. 😉

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Skate The Ribbon in Toledo

Roller Skate or Ice Skate The Ribbon in Toledo.

Open: Usually open daily from dawn to dusk, but seasons and holidays may vary
Location: (Map It) 1505 Front St in Toledo, Ohio
Phone: 419-407-9717
Web: click here

The Ribbon at Toledo’s Glass City Metropark features seasonal roller skating or ice skating along a loop trail. It has some rolling hills and soft curves. Ice skate rentals are available. During warm weather it’s normally free to rollerblade, kick scoot, and balance bike The Ribon.

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Snow Trails

Admission to Snow Trails varies.

Open: Call below for the snow report
Location: (Map It) 3100 Possum Run Road in Mansfield, Ohio
Phone: 419-774-9818
Web: click here

Snow Trails in Mansfield offers winter Ohio skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing fun.

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Tobogganing in Ohio

Tobogganing in Ohio at Cleveland Metroparks at Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, Ohio

Tickets are required for the Tobogganing at the Mill Stream Run Chalet.

When: Winter, weather-permitting, through late February
Phone: 440-572-9990
Where: (Map It) The Chalet at Mill Stream Run Reservation at 16200 Valley Pkwy. in Strongsville, Ohio.
Web: click here

Ohio’s tallest and fastest toboggan chutes are at the Chalet in Cleveland Metropark’s Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, Ohio.

Adventure-goers can experience the icy thrill of tobogganing. The twin toboggan chutes plunge down a 70-foot vertical drop and travel along 700 feet of ice, reaching up to 50 miles per hour. The refrigerated ice chutes can operate with or without snow below 50 degrees.

The chutes are fun for all ages as the toboggans are transported effortlessly by the Chalet’s lift system. Gloves are required to ride the chutes; all riders must be 42″ or taller. Guests can warm up by one of the Chalet fireplaces between toboggan runs while enjoying a hot chocolate from the snack bar. The Chalet also features a loft with a view of the chutes.

Tobogganing is available annually through late March, on Fridays from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

The Toboggan Chutes are located in the Cleveland Metroparks Chalet Recreation Area, 16200 Valley Parkway, Mill Stream Run Reservation, between routes 42 and 82 in Strongsville. Guests can call the Chalet at 440-572-9990, option #6, for operations updates in case of warm or inclement weather. Click here for more information on holiday hours, admission, and season passes.

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House from A Christmas Story

Tickets are required for the House From A Christmas Story.

When: Usually open Thursday – Monday, but days and hours extended during holiday season
Where: (Map It) 3159 W. 11th Street in Cleveland, Ohio
Phone: 216-298-4919
Web: click here

The House from A Christmas Story in Cleveland, Ohio, is the house used in the popular holiday classic “A Christmas Story,” which has been restored to its original 1983 movie appearance. Purchased and renovated by Brian Jones, a true fan of the movie who sells leg lamps for a living, the house takes visitors on a nostalgic journey through the scenes and sights where Ralphie Parker dreams of nothing but receiving a genuine Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Air Rifle for Christmas. In addition to A Christmas Story House, visitors can explore the museum where items from the movie are on display, more than 100 behind-the-scenes photos are featured, and movie-related memorabilia can be purchased.

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Ma & Pa’s Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides

Tickets are required for the Ma & Pa’s Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides in Northeast Ohio.

When: Annually from December 1 through the end of February
Where: (Map It) Main Market Road, (State Route 422), Troy Township, Ohio
Phone: 440-548-5521
Web: click here

Ma & Pa’s Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides in Northeast Ohio: How does “Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh” sound? The excursion begins at Ma and Pa’s 1820 log cabin, where you will find various rustic items, such as chainsaw-carved bears, log furniture, and hunting and fishing gear, as well as everything for the rustic home. Then, out into the woods, one of their draft horses will pull one of two old-fashioned sleighs, wandering out into an open field where the horses often stop during the evening rides so that guests can gaze up into the star-filled sky. When the trip has ended, visitors are welcomed back to the cabin for hot chocolate or maple coffee and cookies baked by Ma herself!

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Outdoor Ice Skating

At RiverScape Metropark

Admission to ice skate at the Metroparks Ice Rink is approx. $7/person (plus approx. $3/skate rental)

When: Winter, weather-permitting, through February (click link below for the schedule)
Phone: 937-274-0126
Where: (Map It) 237 E. Monument Ave. in Dayton, Ohio
Web: click here

Offering season-long, family-friendly experiences for skaters of all ages, the MetroParks Ice Rink has beautiful views of downtown Dayton’s scenic Great Miami River. It is the region’s largest outdoor ice-skating rink.

Season passes are available: passes include season-long admission and skate rentals for up to five people, and individual passes cover the same costs for one person. Season pass holders may also receive discounts at the RiverScape Café.

Visitors can stay warm while purchasing admission under the MSD Warming Zone. The Kettering Health Network Comfort Tent, presented by Butler Heating and Air Conditioning, is adjacent to the rink and provides skaters and observers a warm place to take a break from the winter weather. Additionally, warm snacks and beverages will be available at the RiverScape Café.

Recreation activities at the rink include curling and broomball. To learn more about these programs, visit metroparks.org/icerink.

Skating lessons for children, teens, and adults are held at the rink throughout the season and cover basic skills that will have participants moving comfortably on the ice. Access to Nature Scholarships are available to qualifying families who wish to participate in skating programs. Provided by the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation, these scholarships are for those of all ages and pay for part of the cost of fee-based programs. Visit metroparks.org/scholarships to learn more and apply. To register or view a list of available lessons, visit metroparks.org/skating.

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Valentine Re-Mailing Program From Loveland

The Valentine Re-Mailing Program From Loveland, Ohio, is a special stamping for free, but proper postage to envelopes must be applied.

When: January 1st through February 14th
Location: (Map It) Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce in Loveland, Ohio
Phone: 513-683-1544
Web: click here

Valentine Re-Mailing Program From Loveland: Send your Valentine’s stamped with a romantic cachet and postmark from Loveland, Ohio. Prepare your Valentines, affixing proper postage, address, and return address, and include them in a larger envelope addressed to The Valentine Lady, 514 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland, OH 45140.

All of the Valentine Ladies, past and present, members of the sweetheart court, and Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce staff members will affix the special cachet bearing our signature slogan, “There is nothing in this world so sweet as love.” After the special cachet is stamped upon the Valentine envelopes, they are taken to the Loveland Post Office, where they are hand-canceled bearing the passionate postmark from Loveland, OH. Please don’t wait until February to send your Valentine’s!

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A Bi-Cycling Dandy Excuse For Getting Hibernated

New Year’s Day Bike Ride in Medina, Ohio.

When: January 1 (Ride begins at Noon, so come early for the map)
Location: (Map It) In front of the Courthouse at Medina Square in Medina, Ohio
Web: click here

Medina, Ohio’s A Bi-Cycling Dandy Excuse For Getting Hibernated In January! (ABCDEFGHIJ!) This free bike ride is 3, 24, or 12 miles on New Year’s Day – despite the weather. A map is provided, but NO other services are provided. NO sag wagon, NO snack stops, NO closed course, NO first aid cars, NO food. Get the idea? Then come prepared! The route goes through a couple of cities where food may be purchased if needed.

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The Great Sled Dog Race Classic of Northeast Ohio

Admission to The Great Sled Dog Race Classic of Northeast Ohio is free.

When: Usually early to mid-January, weather permitting, but due to lack of winter snow, it has been seldom run in recent years.
Location: (Map It) Punderson State Park, in Newbury, Ohio
Phone: Mary Groth – Siberian Husky Club of Greater Cleveland – 330-659-7330
Web: click here

The Great Sled Dog Race Classic of Greater Cleveland is the only sled dog event in Ohio that attracts mushers from across Ohio and other states. Teams cover one to six miles through woods and across open fields. Park Accommodations: Punderson State Park offers a beautiful lodge (Manor House) for overnight stays or many rustic cottages that can sleep 8-10 people. Call the lodge for rates at 440-564-9144 or 1-800-282-7275. Camper hookups are also available.

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Mohican Winterfest

Mohican Winterfest in Loudonville is free.

When: January 10, 2026
Location: (Map It) Downtown Loudonville, Ohio
Phone: 419-994-4789 or 419-994-2519
Web: click here

Mohican Winterfest is a winter festival in Loudonville, Ohio. Centering on Olympic Ice Carvings, this event offers much free family entertainment. Bring the family down to check out all the ice sculptures that line the street and watch the live carving demos, Model Train Expo, and many other activities! For a complete list of events, visit DiscoverMohican.com.

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Cleveland Boat Show

The Cleveland Boat Show tickets are available through the link below.

When: January 15 – 18, 2026
Where: (Map It) International Exposition (I-X) Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Phone: 440-899-5009
Web: click here

The Cleveland Boat Show at the Cleveland I-X Center is one of the largest indoor boat shows in the country. The event will feature the best prices in years on powerboats, sailboats, fishing boats, personal watercraft, trailers, and accessories. It will be the best place to shop, with more than 50 exhibitors from across the state, and a perfect winter rendezvous point for all your boating buddies!

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Winter Hike At Hocking Hills

Winter Hike at Hocking Hills is free.

When: January 17, 2026. The hike begins with continuous starts between 9am and 11am.
Location: (Map It) Start at Old Man’s Cave Visitor’s Center.
Phone: 740-385-6841 or 740-385-6842
Web: click here

Winter Hike at Hocking Hills: Over 5,000 outdoor enthusiasts will participate in the Annual Hocking Hills Winter Hike. Hikers should assemble at the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center from 9am to 11am. The Winter Hike and all pre-hike and post-hike activities are free. Donations are encouraged for the refreshments and the return ride to Old Man’s Cave. Commemorative patches and hiking stick medallions are available for purchase. Hikers should come dressed in layered clothing and sturdy shoes. Hocking Hills State Park is about 55 miles southeast of downtown Columbus on State Route 664 in Hocking County.

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More Things to do This Month in Ohio

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