Experience the magic of the holidays in Hamilton with our comprehensive guide. Whether you're a local or a tourist, our guide helps you enjoy the festive fun in Hamilton.
One highlight of the season is the PNC Festival of Lights, featuring dazzling light displays and animated scenes that capture the holiday spirit. Another notable event is the Pyramid Hill Lights, where visitors can stroll through a stunning outdoor display that beautifully illuminates the park's natural landscapes. And don't forget that Kings Island’s WinterFest transforms the amusement park into a winter wonderland filled with rides, shows, and seasonal treats. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Please contact us if you have suggestions or corrections!
Join the Hamilton Discussion!
Top Holiday Events In and Around Hamilton
- PNC Festival of Lights (Cincinnati)
- Pyramid Hill Lights
- Kings Island’s WinterFest (Mason)
- Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt (Cincinnati)
- Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival (Springboro)
- Hamilton Welcomes the Holidays – Annual Tree Lighting Event
- Holiday in Lights (Lebanon)
- WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio (Hartford)
- Magic of Lights (Middleburg Heights)
- Gallipolis in Lights (Gallipolis)
See these and even more events listed below!
Hamilton Holiday Light Displays
PNC Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with synchronized lights and animal exhibits.
Description:
The PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden features 4 million LED lights, 5 Fiona fairies in Fairyland, a blacklight puppet show, and the Wild Lights Show on Swan Lake. Visitors can also enjoy seasonal concessions, meet ambassador animals, and visit Santa in Santa’s Village.
Where: Cincinnati | More Info: PNC Festival of Lights
Pyramid Hill Lights
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday light show with local artist installations.
Description:
Pyramid Hill Lights features a 2-mile drive-through route lit by over one million lights, showcasing local artists' installations amidst nature.
Where: Hamilton | More Info: Pyramid Hill Lights
Hamilton Welcomes the Holidays – Annual Tree Lighting Event
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with live performances and festive activities.
Description:
Join Hamilton Welcomes the Holidays for an annual tree lighting event at Marcum Park, featuring live reindeer, face painters, balloon artists, and holiday performances by local choirs. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, a special holiday beer tapping, and meet Santa Claus.
Where: Hamilton | More Info: Hamilton Welcomes the Holidays – Annual Tree Lighting Event
Holiday in Lights
What to Expect:
Over 1 million lights and 250 displays.
Description:
Holiday in Lights is an outdoor light display at Armco Park, featuring over 1 million lights and 250 displays, showcasing Santa Claus, his elves, and every animal on the ark. Guests can enjoy the holiday-themed displays from the comfort of their own vehicle.
Where: Lebanon | More Info: Holiday in Lights
WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio
What to Expect:
Synchronized LED light display with traditional and modern Christmas music.
Description:
Over 1 million LED lights synchronized to traditional and newer, rocking Christmas music played through your car stereo. The event features shooting stars, floating snowflakes, dancing candy canes, and three drive-through tunnels of lights.
Where: Hartford | More Info: WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio
Magic of Lights
What to Expect:
Interactive augmented reality feature and life-sized dinosaur displays.
Description:
A drive-through holiday lights experience featuring over two million sparkling lights, including animated displays and festive scenes.
Where: Middleburg Heights | More Info: Magic of Lights
Gallipolis in Lights
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday light display with live music and reindeer.
Description:
Gallipolis in Lights is a spectacular holiday light display in Gallipolis City Park, featuring thousands of lights and festive decorations. The event includes live music, free hot chocolate and cookies, and live reindeer. It is a community-driven effort to create a beautiful and joyful atmosphere for visitors of all ages.
Where: Gallipolis | More Info: Gallipolis in Lights
Land of Illusion Christmas Glow
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday lights and activities for the whole family.
Description:
Land of Illusion Christmas Glow features over 3.8 million lights in a 2-mile drive-thru experience, a Christmas Village with Santa's Workshop, and a 45-foot Christmas Tree surrounded by gas fire pits.
Where: Middletown | More Info: Land of Illusion Christmas Glow
Light Up Middletown
What to Expect:
Unique animated light displays in a 100-acre park.
Description:
Light Up Middletown is a drive-through fantasy light display featuring a variety of themed light figures, including Santa's workshop, a penguin village, and a floating sea serpent. The event is open every night from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve, with admission by cash donation.
Where: Middletown | More Info: Light Up Middletown
The Christmas Ranch
What to Expect:
1 million dancing Christmas lights synchronized to holiday music.
Description:
The Christmas Ranch in Morrow, Ohio, offers a whimsical holiday experience with 1 million dancing Christmas lights synchronized to holiday music, seven Christmas shops, Santa's Bakery & Cafe, and train and wagon rides.
Where: Morrow | More Info: The Christmas Ranch
Christmas Cruise Thru
What to Expect:
Over 3 million LED and RGB lights in a 2.5-mile display.
Description:
The Christmas Cruise Thru in Hicksville, Ohio, transforms the fairgrounds into a spectacular display of over 3 million brilliant LED and RGB lights, spanning over 2.5 miles with exciting surprises around every corner. Enjoy this family-friendly event from the comfort of your vehicle, featuring Christmas music and ice skating on select nights.
Where: Hicksville | More Info: Christmas Cruise Thru
Gift of Lights
What to Expect:
Holiday lights display in a festive setting.
Description:
The Gift of Lights at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds features a beautiful holiday lights display, creating an evening of holiday joy.
Where: Wapakoneta | More Info: Gift of Lights
Holiday Lights at Carlisle Reservation
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday light display with new features.
Description:
The Holiday Lights at Carlisle Reservation features a mile-long drive-through display with classic lighted features like Santa's Castle and the Carousel, along with new additions. The event also includes festively decorated trails and activities like Little Green Choo rides and Santa Nights.
Where: LaGrange | More Info: Holiday Lights at Carlisle Reservation
ChristmasTown at Creation Museum
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays and biblical history exhibits.
Description:
ChristmasTown at the Creation Museum features a dazzling garden of lights, indoor dramas, a live nativity, and unique gift shopping. The event includes a 4K planetarium show and a special family-friendly program tracing the promise of Christmas through Scripture. Guests can also explore the Creation Zoo and enjoy seasonal food and festive treats.
Where: Petersburg | More Info: ChristmasTown at Creation Museum
Hamilton Holiday Markets and Shopping
Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt
What to Expect:
German-American holiday market with an ice rink and Igloo boardwalk.
Description:
The Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt at Moerlein Lager House is an all-ages German-American holiday celebration featuring food, beverages, merchandise, holiday lights, choral performances, themed character visits, an ice rink, and an Igloo boardwalk with musical entertainment.
Where: Cincinnati | More Info: Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt
Hamilton Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Kings Island’s WinterFest
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with extensive light displays and live entertainment.
Description:
Kings Island’s WinterFest features over seven million lights, ice skating on the Royal Fountain, and a variety of rides including Mystic Timbers and Kings Mills Antique Autos. The event includes live entertainment, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, and the WinterFest Wonderland Parade.
Where: Mason | More Info: Kings Island’s WinterFest
Hamilton Other Holiday Activities
Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival
What to Expect:
Largest 3-day holiday festival in the tri-state area with unique vendor placement and historical reenactments.
Description:
The Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival is a three-day holiday event featuring 76+ craft vendors, 29+ food vendors, a children's tent, entertainment tent, and beer tent. It includes a parade, live Nativity, camel rides, and family fun activities.
Where: Springboro | More Info: Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival
Santa’s Workshop
What to Expect:
Free, socially distanced Santa photos with family and pets.
Description:
Meet Santa Claus at Washington Park, a free event where you can bring your family, dog, and friends for socially distanced photos. Bring your own camera for photos.
Where: Cincinnati | More Info: Santa’s Workshop
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Fairfield (4 miles)
- Middletown (12 miles)
- Oxford (12 miles)
- Mason (14 miles)
- Cincinnati (19 miles)
- Lebanon (19 miles)
- Covington (22 miles)
- Miamisburg (22 miles)
- Centerville (27 miles)
- Florence (28 miles)
- Kettering (29 miles)
- Trotwood (31 miles)
- Independence (32 miles)
- Dayton (32 miles)
- Beavercreek (34 miles)
- Richmond (34 miles)
- Riverside (35 miles)
- Huber Heights (39 miles)
- Xenia (39 miles)
- Fairborn (41 miles)