Find festive cheer in Lima with our holiday guide. From Lima old-timers to new arrivals, our guide is your key to a magical holiday season.
Popular Events include the Columbus Christmas Market, where you can explore handcrafted gifts and seasonal delicacies set against a charming backdrop. The Dayton Winter Festival offers a dazzling display of lights and family-friendly activities, creating lasting memories in the heart of the city. And the Cincinnati Yuletide Village is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring traditional holiday stalls and live entertainment. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Lima
- Columbus Christmas Market (Columbus)
- Cincinnati Yuletide Village (Cincinnati)
- Dayton Winter Festival (Dayton)
- Wildlights at Columbus Zoo (Powell)
- PNC Festival of Lights (Cincinnati)
- Holiday in Lights (Lebanon)
- Magic of Lights (Middleburg Heights)
- Pyramid Hill Lights (Hamilton)
- Mercy Health Bright Lights
- Holiday Lights at Carlisle Reservation (LaGrange)
See these and even more events listed below!
Lima Holiday Light Displays
Dayton Winter Festival
What to Expect:
Traditional tree lighting and children's parade with over 100,000 lights.
Description:
The Dayton Holiday Festival is a family-friendly event in downtown Dayton, featuring the Grande Illumination tree lighting, Dayton Children's Parade, live entertainment, live reindeer, and various holiday activities.
Where: Dayton | More Info: Dayton Winter Festival
Cincinnati Yuletide Village
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with themed lit areas and costumed carolers.
Description:
Cincinnati Yuletide Village is a holiday event featuring holiday lights, festive shows, and a variety of unique gifts at the Yuletide Market. Enjoy themed lit areas, costumed carolers, and meet Woodland Santa and Krampus. The event offers a range of activities including a petting zoo, Yuletide Express train rides, and interactive entertainment.
Where: Cincinnati | More Info: Cincinnati Yuletide Village
Wildlights at Columbus Zoo
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo features millions of LED lights, animated musical light shows, and various holiday festivities, making it one of Ohio's favorite holiday traditions. Admission is included with zoo admission or membership.
Where: Powell | More Info: Wildlights at Columbus Zoo
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 illuminated by over one million lights and unique installations by local artists, creating a family-friendly holiday experience.
Where: Hamilton | More Info: Pyramid Hill Lights
Magic of Lights
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light display with animated characters and scenes.
Description:
Magic of Lights is a drive-through holiday lights display featuring over two million sparkling lights, including animated displays of Barbie, dinosaurs, and a Bigfoot Monster Truck. Guests can enjoy classic holiday scenes and interactive elements while staying in the comfort of their own vehicles.
Where: Middleburg Heights | More Info: Magic of Lights
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 in Warren County, featuring over 1 million lights and 250 displays, showcasing Santa Claus, his elves, and every animal on the ark.
Where: Lebanon | More Info: Holiday in Lights
PNC Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Immersive light displays and interactive activities in a zoo setting.
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's Village.
Where: Cincinnati | More Info: PNC Festival of Lights
Christmas at the Castle: A Kingdom of Lights
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light display with Santa appearances.
Description:
Stroll through the grounds of Landoll's Mohican Castle, adorned with over 150,000 lights and outdoor Christmas trees, accompanied by festive tunes. Meet Jolly Old Saint Nick every Friday and Saturday evening, and enjoy a hearty winter meal at the Copper Mug Grille.
Where: Loudonville | More Info: Christmas at the Castle: A Kingdom of Lights
Holiday Lights at Carlisle Reservation
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday light display with festive activities.
Description:
The Holiday Lights at Carlisle Reservation features a mile-long drive-through with classic lighted displays, including Santa's Castle and the Carousel, along with festively decorated trails and activities like Little Green Choo rides and balloon twisting.
Where: LaGrange | More Info: Holiday Lights at Carlisle Reservation
Mercy Health Bright Lights
What to Expect:
Extensive LED light displays and live orchestral music.
Description:
Over 200 LED Christmas light displays illuminate the Allen County Fairgrounds, featuring a light tunnel and illuminated trees and buildings. The event includes a 20-25 minute drive-thru Christmas tradition and live music from the Lima Symphony Orchestra performing The Nutcracker.
Where: Lima | More Info: Mercy Health Bright Lights
Foxtail Holiday Lights
What to Expect:
Dynamic light display with changing themes and music sequences.
Description:
Foxtail Holiday Lights in Copley, Ohio, features a dynamic light display with changing themes and music sequences every year, showcasing holiday and various genres of music.
Where: Copley | More Info: Foxtail Holiday Lights
Elegant Illusions Christmas Drive Through Park
What to Expect:
Inaugural holiday light drive through with new LED displays and animatronics.
Description:
Elegant Illusions Christmas Drive Through Park features all-new LED displays, the latest animatronics, and over 50 holiday scenes at the Portage County Randolph Fairgrounds. Visitors can stop by the Santa Shack for a visit with Santa or Mr. Grinch and take pictures on Photo Op benches. This event is designed to entertain families and guests from Northern Ohio and Pennsylvania with professional display designs.
Where: Atwater | More Info: Elegant Illusions Christmas Drive Through Park
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland: Dayton
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and sound show with a 300-foot RGB tunnel.
Description:
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland in Dayton, Ohio, features synchronized light displays and traditional Christmas scenes, including a 300-foot RGB tunnel and multiple 50-foot-tall Christmas trees.
Where: Dayton | More Info: Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland: Dayton
Toledo Zoo Lights Before Christmas
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with extensive light displays and interactive activities.
Description:
The Toledo Zoo Lights Before Christmas features over one million lights, 200 illuminated animal images, and festive activities like ice slides and holiday train rides.
Where: Toledo | More Info: Toledo Zoo Lights Before Christmas
Lake Metroparks Country Lights Drive Thru
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday lights display in a farm setting.
Description:
Drive through Lake Metroparks Farmpark to experience an illuminated winter wonderland with twinkling lights and festive decorations.
Where: Kirtland | More Info: Lake Metroparks Country Lights Drive Thru
Lima Holiday Markets and Shopping
Columbus Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Unique handcrafted items from local artisans.
Description:
The Columbus ChristmasFair is a holiday market featuring 150 artisans from Ohio and surrounding states. It showcases unique handcrafted items including paintings, pottery, woodworking, jewelry, and glass.
Where: Columbus | More Info: Columbus Christmas Market
Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival
What to Expect:
Largest 3-day holiday festival in the tri-state area with a variety of activities and vendors.
Description:
The Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival is a 3-day holiday celebration featuring 76+ craft vendors, 29+ food vendors, a children's tent, entertainment tent, and local shops in downtown Springboro. Enjoy holiday foods, unique gifts, a Saturday parade, Christmas music, children's activities, carriage rides, and more.
Where: Springboro | More Info: Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival
Holiday Sip and Shop
What to Expect:
Supporting local small businesses and makers.
Description:
The Holiday Sip and Shop event at the Richland County Fairgrounds features a variety of small businesses and handmade makers offering unique gifts and seasonal items.