Can't-miss holiday light shows in Cincinnati – from Festival of Lights to Pyramid Hill
It's hard to top the magic of twinkling, sparkling lights during the holidays, and Greater Cincinnati boasts a number of high-quality, state-of-the-art displays. Here's a look at the biggest and best walk-through and drive-through immersive experiences this season.
Light Up the Fair, Boone County Fairgrounds: Nov. 10-Dec. 30
Northern Kentucky's only drive-thru light show features two miles of immersive lights synced to holiday music conveniently broadcast through your car radio. No tour buses or school buses.
Details: dusk, Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington. $25 per carload, $7 per person. lightupthefair.com.
Nights of Lights, Coney Island: Nov. 10-Dec. 31
Drive through the region's largest synchronized holiday light show, featuring more than two million lights synced to holiday music played through your car radio.
Details: dusk-10 p.m. nightly, Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. $30 per carload (up to 8 passengers). Vehicles with 9-15 passengers are $50 weekdays and $100 Friday-Saturday. Vehicles with 16-up passengers are $75 weekdays, $150 Friday-Saturday. No RVs, tour buses or limos with more than 35 passenger capacity. No vehicles over 24 feet long. coneyislandpark.com.
PNC Festival of Lights, Cincinnati Zoo: Nov. 17-Jan. 7
Visit early to see the animals, then stay for the beauty of 4 million lights as the zoo transforms into a wild wonderland for the 41st annual PNC Festival of Lights. You'll have fun tracking down the five Fiona fairies in Fairyland, watching a blacklight puppet show and, new this year, a free app that lets you become part of the show by syncing your phone's flashlight to the zoo's Wild Lights show.
Details: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. Festival of Lights begins daily at 4 p.m. Runs Nov. 17-Jan. 7. Cincinnatizoo.org.
Winter Nights & River Lights, Purple People Bridge: Nov. 17-Jan. 7
Annual holiday light show features 50-ft. Christmas wish tree and the Purple People Bridge bedecked with over 100,000 lights and decorations.
Details: nightly, Purple People Bridge, Newport. Runs Nov. 17-Jan. 7. Free.
The Christmas Ranch: Nov. 17-Dec. 23
Enjoy lighted displays, six Christmas shops, train and wagon rides, Santa's bakery and cafe, pictures with Santa and more. Closed Thanksgiving Day. A portion of the proceeds benefits Shriners Hospital for Children, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Neediest Kids of All and Little Miami Food Pantry.
Details: 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 3205 S. Waynesville Road, Morrow. $37 per carload, $47 per oversized van (10+ passengers), free parking. thechristmasranch.com.
Pyramid Hill Lights: Nov. 17-Dec. 31
Over the past 25 years, this light show has become a family tradition. You'll find new and nostalgic favorites throughout the show, which highlights the unique art and a decorated landscape featuring over a million lights, scenic displays and installations by local artists, experienced from the comfort of your car. There's even a fun, interactive game to keep the kiddos engaged.
Details: 6-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday, 6-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton. Runs Nov. 17-Dec. 31. Pyramidhill.org.
Christmas Glow, Land of Illusion: Nov. 23-Dec. 30
Enjoy more than 3.8 million lights in this 2-mile Christmas Around the World drive-thru experience. You can also exit your vehicle to meet and get photos with Santa at his workshop in Christmas Village and shop gifts from around the world. Enjoy a 45-foot Christmas tree, petting zoo and warm yourself by the fire pits.
Details: 6-10 p.m. nightly, Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. Note: Event is drive-thru only Dec. 26-30. landofillusion.com.
Light Up Middletown: Nov. 23-Dec. 31
Visitors can drive through 96 acres of lighted holiday wonderland.
Details: 6-10 p.m. nightly, Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave., Middletown. Admission by cash donation. lightupmiddletown.org.
Yuletide Village Season of Lights, Renaissance Park: Nov. 24-Dec. 16
Renaissance Park transforms into Yuletide Village for the holiday, filled with twinkling lights and winter magic. Visitors can enjoy light shows, live entertainment, photos with Santa and/or Krampus, a petting zoo, mini train ride, pony rides, food, drinks, and more than 60 unique craft and merchandise vendors.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Friday, 3-9 p.m. Saturday, Renaissance Park, 10542 E. State Route 73, Harveysburg. Closed Sunday-Thursday. Runs Nov. 24-Dec. 16. $15. yuletidevillage.com.
ChristmasTime, Ark Encounter: Nov. 24-Dec. 30
ChristmasTime features a sea of lights, illuminations, live family-friendly programming, carousel rides, camel rides, zip line experiences and more at a life-size Noah's Ark.
Details: 5-8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Ark Encounter, 1 Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown. Free, $10 parking. Some experiences cost extra. arkencounter.com.
ChristmasTown, Creation Museum: Nov. 24-Dec. 30
Enjoy Garden of Lights, indoor Nativity and dramas, Eden animal experience, kids playground and special effects show.
Details: 5-8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Creation Museum, 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg. Free, $10 parking. Christmas Star planetarium show is $9, $6 ages 5-10. creationmuseum.org.
Holidays on the Farm, Parky's Farm: Nov. 24-Dec. 31
Families can learn about winter life at Parky's Farm under the glow of twinkling lights while enjoying hayrides, pony rides, carolers, farm animals (including Santa's reindeer), an interactive train display, beer garden, food trucks, the sport of curling, and holiday movies. Santa and other friends from the North Pole will be available for photos and Mrs. Claus will hold storytime.
Details: 5-9 p.m., Parky’s Farm, 10073 Daly Road, Springfield Township. Runs Friday-Sunday Nov. 24-Dec. 17, plus Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 26-31. $15-$17, free for ages 18-months and younger. Greatparks.org.
Winterfest, Kings Island: Nov. 24-Dec. 31
The amusement park transforms into an enchanting winter wonderland for the season. Enjoy millions of twinkling lights, ice skating on the Royal Fountain, the nightly Wonderland Parade, live entertainment and 20 rides – including Mystic Timbers – open.
Details: 5-10 p.m. Friday, 4-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. $29.99-up. visitkingsisland.com.
Deck the Y'alls Lightfest, Thomas More Stadium: Nov. 24-Jan. 1
Enjoy an interactive, walk-through light show with over 2 million lights, themed areas and photo opportunities inside the ballpark, plus ice skating. Santa visits on Fridays and Saturdays. Special hours: Closed Nov. 27, Dec. 4; 5:30-9 p.m. Dec. 24-25, 5:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Dec. 31, 5:30-9 p.m. Jan. 1.
Details: 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. Admission: Sunday-Thursday $13, $9 ages 12-under; Friday-Saturday $16, $12 ages 12-under. Couples package includes admission and two s'mores pack vouchers $44; family package includes 4 entry tickets, 4 ice skating tickets and 4 s'mores pack vouchers $72. Ice skating costs extra and includes skate rental: $5 weekdays, $7 Friday-Saturday. decktheyalls.com.
Downtown Dazzle, Fountain Square: Nov. 25-Dec. 16
Details: 6-10 p.m. Saturdays, Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. See Santa Claus rappel from a Cincinnati skyrise, followed by fireworks. Enjoy Winter Wonderlights, which occur at the top of every hour starting at 5 p.m. Free. myfountainsquare.com.
Light in the Forest, Rowe Woods: Dec. 1-30
Enjoy light displays and interactives through the illuminated woods. There's also live music, food trucks, drinks and holiday shopping. The trail takes approximately an hour to complete, and guests need to reserve a start time.
Details: 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, Rowe Woods, Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford. $12-$15, $8-$10 children. cincynature.org.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati's best holiday light shows, when and where
