Cincinnati knows how to celebrate the holiday season, with so many festive and exciting activities for families over the next several weeks. A few new ones pop up each year, which are always fun to check out, but there are also those holiday traditions that keep us coming back year after year.
Holiday in Lights at Sharon Woods is definitely one of them, and our little ones couldn’t wait to kick off the holidays with a drive through their stunning light display.
If you’ve never visited Holidays in Lights, it is located inside Sharon Woods and you don’t even have to leave the comfort (and warmth) of your own car to view the lights! You pull into the park, pay admission ($13 per car, $45 for buses and 15 passenger vans), tune into Warm 98 and enjoy delightful Christmas music and thousands of twinkling lights.
The display is broken into sections and themes, making it enjoyable for all ages. Our little ones loved the trains and animals, and I enjoyed the tribute to classic Christmas movies. We also really loved the celebration of Christmas around the world, with displays representing many other countries.
After you’ve driven through the lights, make sure you leave time to park and head into Santaland, located inside the Sharon Centre. It is free to enter and inside you’ll find a charming train display, Everett the Talking Christmas Tree, a Puppet Show, and beautiful performances from the Dickens Carolers. You can also purchase a sweet treat or pay a visit to the big man in red, himself, and buy a memorable keepsake photo with Santa.
Holiday in Lights, along with Santaland, make for the perfect winter evening in Cincinnati. The drive-thru light display is open nightly through December 31st. The hours are Sunday-Thursday 6 to 9 pm and Friday-Saturday 5:30 to 10 pm. Santaland will be open nightly from November 24th-December 23rd, the same hours as Holiday in Lights.
For all of the details and information for Holiday in Lights, visit the website here and to learn more about Santaland, visit the website here.
About Andrea:
A native Cincinnatian, Andrea has experienced life in all four corners of this city. After growing up on the west side, she headed north to attend Miami University, then moved east to Hyde Park and now lives in Northern Kentucky with her family.
When she’s not playing trains and doing the “hot dog dance” as a stay-at-home mom to her two toddlers, Andrea is busy writing for Cincinnati (and, ahem, Kentucky!) publications and brainstorming ideas for her next children’s book! With a newfound passion for fitness and overall health, she spends a lot of time at her family gym and loves to play outside.
Andrea worked in education for several years and has a special love for children’s literature. She loves showing her children all our city has to offer and enjoys sharing her finds with other parents. Her favorite spots include the Cincinnati Zoo (although she steers clear of the bird house), her local library and any playground.