Admission to A Winter’s Yuletide Gathering in Tipp City is free.
- When: November 11 & 12, 2023 (Always the second Sat & Sun in November) from 10am to 8pm on Saturday and Noon to 6pm on Sunday)
- Location: (Map It) Downtown Tipp City, Ohio
- Phone: 937-667-0883 or 8631
- Web: click here
A Winter’s Yuletide Gathering in Tipp City, Ohio: Holiday shopping begins early in downtown Tipp City with the annual Winter’s Gathering. Dozens of shopkeepers introduce new merchandise, and costumed carolers and horse-drawn carriages fill the streets to create an early holiday feel. Downtown Tipp City has a wide selection of shopping opportunities, including art, and crafts, clothing and antiques, and collectibles.
Admission to Warther’s Christmas Tree Festival is $5 per person.
- When: November 11 – 19, 2023
- Location: (Map It) Warther Museum 331 Karl Ave in Dover, Ohio
- Phone: 330-505-6003
Warther’s Christmas Tree Festival in Dover, Ohio: A forest of beautifully decorated Christmas trees will be set amid Warther’s famous train carvings, handmade of ebony, ivory, and walnut. Each tree, with its own unique theme, will be for sale. Proceeds from the festival benefit the Union Hospital Auxiliary.
Presented by Friends of Portsmouth
An All-day Ice skating pass is $5 (includes skate rental)
Open skating will be from Thursday to Sunday. Private Parties on Monday to Wednesday (click here to email for more info on party bookings). Ice hockey school is from Monday to Wednesday. Vendor booths and food trucks on weekends. FOP Christmas Store. Merchant Saturdays featuring 20 to 30 booths leading up to Christmas setup on National Church Residences Square. Choirs and bands on Sunday afternoons. Vehicle props and Manger Scene. Downtown lights on 2nd and Market Streets. Old-time trucks at 2nd and Courts streets. Grinch hut with hot chocolate, coffee, sweets, and s’mores. Jingle Bell 5k run/walk. Character Saturdays in December at the ice rink. Visit Winterfest and create memories. Click the links above for more information.
Admission to Wooster Window Wonderland is free.
- When: November 17, 2023, from 7pm – 9:30pm
- Location: (Map It) downtown Wooster, Ohio
- Phone: 330-262-6222
Window Wonderland in downtown Wooster, Ohio: Reflections of the past are seen in all the storefront glass in a town where everything old is new again. Welcome to Wooster, Ohio’s wonderful Window Wonderland! The nostalgic evening transcends the historic northeast Ohio town into Christmas scenes from yesteryear. It all begins with the lighting of The Children’s Christmas Tree at 7:00 p.m. in Wooster’s public square, along with a petting zoo featuring Reindeer. Hot cocoa fills the brisk evening air and is free, along with coffee and cookies at several locations. Once the sky is illuminated, Santa arrives from the rooftops and comes down a firefighter’s ladder, where he is met by elves and is escorted to a gazebo where kids gather nearby to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. The air fills with the sound of music, caroling in the streets, and strolling musicians. Horse and carriage rides add to the allure of the night, warming everyone up for the featured event – unveiling Window Wonderland.
The diverse cross-section of downtown merchants provides more shopping variety than any mall could in a much more authentic winter wonderland where storefronts transcend into art. Until the unveiling, every storefront along every streetscape is covered in secrecy. Bring your family and enjoy the sights as this event brings new meaning to window-shopping.
Admission to the Medina Candlelight Walk is free.
- When: November 2023 date to be confirmed
- Location: (Map It) Downtown Medina, Ohio
- Phone: 330-722-6186
- Web: click here
The Medina Candlelight Walk, Parade & Fireworks: Throughout the weekend, the shops and restaurants of the 9-block Medina historic district will be open later into the evening to welcome up to 50,000 people. The event features over 1,500 luminaries, 5,000 votive candles, 15,000 Christmas lights, a truckload of sand, a 13’ Christmas tree, a 60 unit parade, 62-holiday flags, and more. Friday sparks the much-anticipated lighting of the district. Saturday brings an amazing Holiday Parade of Lights at around 5:30pm with over 60 parade floats, cars, trucks, and even people covered in lights. Santa will be available for photographs on Saturday evening and throughout Sunday. The pyrotechnic spectacular, Light Up The Night Fireworks, will be launched from the top deck of the County parking deck behind the County courthouse at the conclusion of the parade. The show is best viewed from Public Square or from the surrounding blocks. On Sunday, shops and restaurants will be open for holiday shopping and dining.
Admission to the Bowling Green Holiday Parade is free.
- When: November 18, 2023
- Location: (Map It) Begins at Ridge and Main Streets in Bowling Green, Ohio
- Phone: 419-353-7945
- Web: click here
The Bowling Green Community Holiday Parade hosted by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy the exciting floats, performances, and holiday wishes from this creative community.
Admission to Greenville Hometown Holiday Horse Parade is free.
- When: Normally the Saturday before Thanksgiving (parade at 7pm but festivities begin at 5pm)
- Location: (Map It) Downtown Greenville, Ohio
- Phone: 937-548-4998
- Web: www.downtowngreenville.org
Greenville Hometown Holiday Horse Parade in Greenville, Ohio: It’s the most wonderful time of the year! More than 50 lighted horse-drawn carriages, hitches, and riders illuminate the historic downtown for a grand holiday tradition. The parade travels down S. Broadway, around the Circle, and back up S. Broadway.
Admission for Memories of Christmas Past in Youngstown is approx. $10/adult, $9/senior, and $8/child ages 3-18.
- When: Usually the week before Thanksgiving to The first week of January Tuesday – Sunday (closed on all Mondays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve) from 12 – 4pm and Twilight Thursdays open until 7pm.
- Location: (Map It) The Arms Family Museum at 648 Wick Ave. in Youngstown, Ohio
- Phone: 330-743-2589
- Web: click here
Memories of Christmas Past in Youngstown revisits the best holiday memories from your childhood. This annual holiday spectacular at the Arms Family Museum features breath-taking vignettes and vintage Christmas decor from the 1800s through the 1960s. It fills seven rooms of the 1095 Arts & Crafts mansion of Olive and Wilford Arms.
This one-of-a-kind winter wonderland rivals the best of the professional holiday displays as seen in New York City, Chicago, and Atlanta. Exquisitely arranged, the vintage decor on display includes toys, trains, ornaments, lights, trees, and more. Every year visitors say how much the vignettes bring back their best nostalgic childhood memories.
Visitors on the self-guided tour are welcome to make multiple passes through the period rooms. The Christmas Hands-On History Room will feel like walking into Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, with elves, reindeer games and even a naughty and nice list. Special events are scheduled throughout the run of the exhibit which will include a model train display, behind the ropes tours and author visits.
Why not make it a weekend? There are so many special holiday events happening in the Youngstown area! To see a complete list, please visit www.youngstownlive.com, or call the Mahoning County CVB at 800-447-8201 for more information.
Admission to Dayton Holiday Festival is free.
- When: Always the day after Thanksgiving from 4-9pm with tree lighting at 7:45pm (Grande Illumination & Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights)
- Location: (Map It) downtown Dayton, Ohio
- Phone: 937-224-1518
- Web: Click here
Dayton Holiday Festival in Dayton, Ohio: The holiday season is everyone’s favorite time of year! With family, food, and entertainment, what’s not to love? Throw in some gingerbread homes, carriage rides, a holiday village, and one of the largest tree lighting ceremonies in the region and that’s only a taste of what the Dayton Holiday Festival has to offer! The Dayton Holiday Festival was started by Mrs. Virginia Kettering so that everyone in the community, regardless of their economic means, could enjoy the holiday season. And today, it still offers most activities to all for free. The festival has since expanded to include carnival and horse drawn carriage rides, holiday crafts in the Holiday Village and Gingerbread homes on display in the Old Courthouse! The fun doesn’t end there! The tree lighting will occur on Courthouse Square at 7:45pm and the Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular and Lights will immediately follow. All this and much more at the Holiday Festival in downtown Dayton. Other activities are featured throughout December.
Admission to Holidazzle Illuminated Parade & Festival in Wilmington is free.
- When: Always the Saturday before Thanksgiving from 4-9pm (parade begins at 7pm)
- Location: (Map It) Main Street in historic downtown Wilmington, Ohio
- Phone: 937-527-3806
- Web: click here
Holidazzle Illuminated Parade & Festival in Wilmington, Ohio:
There’s magic in holiday lights, and its magic that the Hometown Holidazzle Parade and Festival holds annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, in historic downtown Wilmington.
Thousands of people gather to be delighted by thousands of lights, hundreds of entertainers, and over 100 entries in the illuminated parade. In fact, every parade entry will be lit up for the holidays, so expect to be wowed, as creativity is the name of the game.
Music will play a big part in the festivities. Entertainment for the day includes an array of acts on the main stage located on Main Street. Come early to get a good seat and enjoy this Holiday spectacle.
Street vendors will serve up delicious food and specialty shopping will be plentiful in downtown venues. And what kind of festival would it be without clowns for the kids and lots of activities for the children?
The day’s featured celebrity will be none other than Santa Claus who will arrive in grand style aboard one of the illuminated floats. Photo ops with Santa will also be available.
Admission to USAF Band Veterans Day Concert in Dayton is free.
- When: Call for current November dates or cancellations (from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm)
- Location: (Map It) National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio
- Phone: 937-255-3286
- Web: click here
Veterans Day Concert by USAF Band: Join the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force as they honor veterans during the annual Veterans Day Concert. Museum doors open at 6:30 p.m., and performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
Here are over a dozen Ohio Veteran’s Day destinations that truly symbolize the holiday and our remembrance of those who served.
Champaign Aviation Museum
Fallen Timbers Battlefield
Fort Jefferson
Fort Meigs
Fort Recovery
Fort Steuben
Mansfield Soldiers & Sailors Memorial
MAPS Air Museum
McCook House Civil War Museum
Motts Military Museum
Ohio Veterans Museum & Hall of Fame
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Spirit of ’76 Museum
Stengel True Museum
USS Cod Submarine Tour
WACO Museum
These are just some of the places out of many others with military collections at various historical museums, events, and sites. Visit www.OhioTraveler.com to see these sections of the website for more ideas of where to go for Veteran’s Day in Ohio or discover other places for long weekend getaways.
Many events listed in December actually
start the day after Thanksgiving.
Click here to see more events that start in November.
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