Celebrate the best of the holidays in Toledo with our ultimate guide. Whether you're rediscovering your city or seeing it anew, our guide reveals the best of Toledo's holidays.
In the heart of the season, the Lights Before Christmas transforms the Toledo Zoo into a dazzling spectacle with over a million lights illuminating the winter nights. With the Columbus Zoo's Wildlights, visitors can experience enchanting displays while enjoying the unique atmosphere of the zoo after dark. And the Hensville Lights is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it brings the urban spirit of Toledo alive with festive decor and special activities. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Toledo
- Lights Before Christmas
- Wildlights at Columbus Zoo (Powell)
- PNC Festival of Lights (Cincinnati)
- Magic of Lights (Middleburg Heights)
- Hensville Lights
- A Carillon Christmas (Dayton)
- Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights (Delaware)
- Holidays at the Manor House
- Holiday in Lights (Lebanon)
- Christmas at the Junction (West Chester)
See these and even more events listed below!
Toledo Holiday Light Displays
Lights Before Christmas
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
The Toledo Zoo's Lights Before Christmas features over one million lights, an award-winning Big Tree, and 200+ illuminated animal images. Enjoy ice slides, carousels, and holiday train rides amidst a festive atmosphere.
Where: Toledo | More Info: Lights Before Christmas
Hensville Lights
What to Expect:
Live music and character appearances.
Description:
Hensville Lights features a 45-foot tall Christmas tree, live music, food, character appearances, and holiday ice carving in Hensville Park.
Where: Toledo | More Info: Hensville Lights
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, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere for visitors.
Where: Powell | More Info: Wildlights at Columbus Zoo
Magic of Lights
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday lights with digital animations and giant displays.
Description:
A drive-through holiday lights experience featuring over two million sparkling lights, including giant displays of Holiday Barbie, Bigfoot, and life-sized dinosaurs, set to festive music and digital animations.
Where: Middleburg Heights | More Info: Magic of Lights
Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights
What to Expect:
Unique holiday light display with festive decorations.
Description:
Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is a locally owned and family-operated holiday drive-thru light show featuring a spectacular display of lights and festive decorations. The event is open from November 22nd to January 1st, 2025.
Where: Delaware | More Info: Butch Bando’s Fantasy 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 holiday themes like Santa Claus and animals on the ark.
Where: Lebanon | More Info: Holiday in Lights
The Joy of Christmas Light Show
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday event with Santa's Ice Castle and gingerbread house displays.
Description:
The Joy of Christmas Light Show in Columbiana features sparkling displays, Christmas cookies, hot cocoa, and activities like photos with Santa, gingerbread house displays, and a petting zoo.
Where: Columbiana | More Info: The Joy of Christmas Light Show
Parklights at Caesar Ford
What to Expect:
Dazzling holiday light display with various themed exhibits.
Description:
Drive through a dazzling display of lights at Caesar Ford Park, featuring a Winter Wonderland, North Pole Car Show, Winter Farm, and Festive Festival.
Where: Xenia | More Info: Parklights at Caesar Ford
Whispering Christmas Holiday Lights
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday light display with Santa waving from a gazebo.
Description:
Fort St. Clair Park is decorated with millions of holiday lights each year, creating a spectacular display for visitors. The event operates as a drive-through only, with Santa waving from a gazebo as visitors pass through. There is no admission charge, but a $5 donation per vehicle is welcomed.
Where: Eaton | More Info: Whispering Christmas Holiday Lights
Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights
What to Expect:
Unique drive-through light display with volunteer efforts.
Description:
Upper's Winter Fantasy of Lights is a spectacular holiday light display at Harrison Smith Park in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. The event features 33 acres of park ablaze with millions of lights and unique light displays along a drive-through route. A donation per car is requested, with proceeds benefiting a local charitable organization selected yearly.
Where: Upper Sandusky | More Info: Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights
Foxtail Holiday Lights
What to Expect:
Annual holiday light show with diverse themes and music sequences.
Description:
Foxtail Holiday Lights is a dynamic holiday light display in Copley, Ohio, featuring changing themes and sequences each year, incorporating holiday and music elements from all genres.
Where: Copley | More Info: Foxtail Holiday Lights
Woodland Lights
What to Expect:
Whimsical holiday light displays with animated exhibits.
Description:
Woodland Lights is a festive holiday event featuring sparkling light displays, animated exhibits, and various nightly activities.
Where: Washington Township | More Info: Woodland Lights
Ashtabula County’s Lights on the Lake
What to Expect:
Spectacular holiday light displays with a scenic Lake Erie backdrop.
Description:
Ashtabula County’s Lights on the Lake features over 70 holiday light displays on 54 acres of rolling hills and majestic Lake Erie backdrop.
Where: Ashtabula | More Info: Ashtabula County’s Lights on the Lake
PNC Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with synchronized lights and animal encounters.
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 meet ambassador animals and enjoy seasonal concessions.
Where: Cincinnati | More Info: PNC Festival of Lights
A Carillon Christmas
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with historical exhibits and activities.
Description:
Carillon Historical Park transforms into a holiday destination with thousands of lights, live music, historical craft demonstrations, and festive activities like visiting Santa, riding the Carillon Park Railroad, and enjoying holiday treats.
Where: Dayton | More Info: A Carillon Christmas
Toledo Other Holiday Activities
Holidays at the Manor House
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday transformation of a historic mansion.
Description:
The 50th annual Holidays at the Manor House features over 30 areas of the 30,000-square-foot Manor House transformed into a holiday celebration by community volunteers. Admission is free, and no reservations are required. The event includes a model train exhibit at Metroparks Hall and offers accessible tours for visitors with wheelchairs.
Where: Toledo | More Info: Holidays at the Manor House
Memories of Christmas Past Exhibit
What to Expect:
Historical display of vintage Christmas decorations.
Description:
The Memories of Christmas Past exhibit at the Arms Family Museum showcases rare and antique decorations, offering a nostalgic look at holiday traditions.
Where: Youngstown | More Info: Memories of Christmas Past Exhibit
Christmas at the Junction
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday train display with festive decorations and attractions.
Description:
Create a holiday tradition with your family at EnterTRAINment Junction, featuring the World's Largest Indoor Train Display and special holiday trains in the Expo Center.
Where: West Chester | More Info: Christmas at the Junction
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Oregon (4 miles)
- Perrysburg (8 miles)
- Monroe (19 miles)
- Bowling Green (21 miles)
- Adrian (30 miles)
- Romulus (39 miles)
- Southgate (42 miles)
- Taylor (42 miles)
- Findlay (43 miles)
- Wyandotte (43 miles)
- Ann Arbor (43 miles)
- Allen Park (45 miles)
- Canton (45 miles)
- Lincoln Park (45 miles)