Top 12 things to do this weekend in Cincinnati: Dec. 15-17

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·7 min read
Cincinnati Ballet brings Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" to the Music Hall stage for the holidays. It runs Dec. 14-24.
Cincinnati Ballet brings Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" to the Music Hall stage for the holidays. It runs Dec. 14-24.

The holiday spirit is really ramping up this weekend, with beloved Cincinnati traditions taking center stage. The Cincinnati Ballet's "The Nutcracker" pirouettes into action at Music Hall, folk favorites Over the Rhine perform next door at Memorial Hall, and over the river and through the woods the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra goes old school with selections from The Carpenters' "A Christmas Portrait" album.

1. Cincinnati Ballet: 'The Nutcracker'

With Tchaikovsky's iconic score, spectacular choreography by Victoria Morgan, dazzling sets, grand costumes and a remarkable cast of characters, the holiday season in Cincinnati gets even more magical with Cincinnati Ballet's "The Nutcracker." The beloved story follows Clara, who receives a nutcracker on Christmas Eve as her dreams take her on a great adventure to the amazing Land of Sweets, meeting colorful and exciting characters along the way.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Runs Dec. 14-24. $59-up. Cincinnatiarts.org.

2. Christmas in Loveland

Enjoy horse carriage rides, a children’s train ride, a trolley ride around town, live entertainment, a holiday market with local vendors, live nativity, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a pet costume contest, pictures of your pet with Rudolph, pet adoptions and a petting zoo. A shuttle bus will be running between Shopper’s Haven and the Veteran’s Memorial in downtown. Takes place rain or shine.

Details: 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Downtown Loveland. Free; carriage rides are $2 per person. Lmrchamberalliance.org.

"Hollapalooza" is a new musical revue celebrating the joyous holiday season with music and dance.
"Hollapalooza" is a new musical revue celebrating the joyous holiday season with music and dance.

3. 'Hollapalooza'

This original musical revue, directed and choreographed by Missy and Andrew Hubbard and performed by Exhale Dance Tribe, celebrates the holidays with all styles of dance from hip-hop to Broadway jazz. It includes live music, vocalists and a narrator.

Details: 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Exhaledancetribe.com.

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, with vocalist Denise Parroco, will perform selections from The Carpenters' 1978 classic holiday album "A Christmas Portrait" this weekend at Greaves Hall on the campus of Northern Kentucky University.
The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, with vocalist Denise Parroco, will perform selections from The Carpenters' 1978 classic holiday album "A Christmas Portrait" this weekend at Greaves Hall on the campus of Northern Kentucky University.

4. Kentucky Symphony Orchestra: Merry Christmas, Darling

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, along with vocalist Denise Parroco, performs music inspired by The Carpenters’ "A Christmas Portrait" album this weekend. It's the first KSO Christmas performance since 1999. You'll hear a mix of sacred, secular, classical and pop yuletide favorites. For those unable to attend in person, the KSO offers the option to purchase a virtual pass to stream online anytime within 60 days.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Greaves Concert Hall, Northern Kentucky University, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights. $19-$35. 859-431-6216; kyso.org.

5. OTR Raildog Parade

Dress up your furry friends in their finest holiday attire and promenade through the streets of OTR. If you don't have a dog but still want to join in the fun, take part in the kazoo/noisemaker parade. Stop by at 3 p.m. to choose from an array of instruments.

Details: 4 p.m. Saturday, Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. Information: Casey 513-546-1214; facebook.com.

Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass opens Dec. 15 at Cincinnati Art Museum. Pictured: Incubators, 2016, Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo, b. 1969), high-fire clay, underglazes, acrylic paint, glass tendrils.
Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass opens Dec. 15 at Cincinnati Art Museum. Pictured: Incubators, 2016, Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo, b. 1969), high-fire clay, underglazes, acrylic paint, glass tendrils.

6. Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass

This traveling exhibition features 120 works that illuminate artists’ interpretations of Indigenous basket, textile and pottery traditions, ancestral stories and animals of the land, sea and air. Among the 33 artists included are Dan Friday (Lummi), "Haila" Ho Wan Ut Old Peter (Skokomish/Chehalis), Preston Singletary (Tlingit), Tony Jojola (Isleta Pueblo), Carol Lujan (Diné), Priscilla Cowie (Māori) and Djambawa Marawili (Aboriginal Australian).

Details: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Cincinnati Art Museum, 963 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Runs Dec. 15-April 7. $12. Cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

7. Tapped 14, Illustrated, Disquiet, 14th Annual Manifest Prize

These four exhibitions include a celebration of works by artists and their professors (Tapped), an examination of visual communication (Illustrated), art that is unsettling (Disquiet), and the recognition of the Manifest Prize. The galleries feature 51 works by 36 artists from 18 states, Canada and Germany.

Details: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Manifest Gallery, 2727 Woodburn Ave., Walnut Hills. Runs Dec. 15-Jan. 12. Free. Manifestgallery.org.

Folk band Over the Rhine bring their An Acoustic Christmas tour to Memorial Hall for three shows this weekend.
Folk band Over the Rhine bring their An Acoustic Christmas tour to Memorial Hall for three shows this weekend.

8. An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine

This beloved local folk-rock band formed in 1991 and took its name from the neighborhood where the members lived. Comprised of husband-and-wife team Linford Detweiler (piano, guitar, bass) and vocalist/guitarist Karin Bergquist, and accompanied by complementary musicians, the band will perform a mix of original holiday songs and seasonal classics. This annual concert is always a magical experience.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday, Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $44-$74. memorialhallotr.com.

9. Fas & Las

Enjoy music from Young Professionals Choral Collective and the Cincinnati Boychoir at historic St. Francis Seraph church in the heart of Over-the-Rhine. The family-friendly concert features carols old and new from different holiday traditions, plus crafts, holiday treats and photos with Santa.

Details: 3-5:30 p.m. Saturday, St. Francis Seraph, 1615 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. $20, free ages under 12. simpletix.com.

10. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are in town this weekend to take on our Cincinnati Bengals. Before the game, there are plenty of tailgating opportunities around the stadium, and if you don't have a ticket and want to watch with other fans, head to Fountain Square (520 Vine St., Downtown) to watch on the big screen LED board.

Details: 1 p.m. Saturday, Paycor Stadium, 1 Paul Brown Way, Downtown. bengals.com.

11. Comboni Missionaries Nativity Experience

A Cincinnati tradition for 76 years, the birth of Christ is retold in a room-sized animated diorama. The animated nativity display features narration in both English and Spanish. Afterward, tour the mission museum, enjoy holiday shopping and view dozens of nativity scenes from around the world.

Details: 6-8 p.m. Friday through Dec. 30, Comboni Missionaries, 1318 Nagel Road, Anderson Township. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Free. combonimissionaries.org.

12. Find the perfect gift

  • Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt: Magical German-American market features food, beverages, merchandise, holiday lights and entertainment.

    • Details: 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-7 p.m. Sunday, Schmidlapp Event Lawn, Smale Riverfront Park, 124 E. Mehring Way, Downtown. cincinnatichristkindlmarkt.com.

  • Final Friday: Over 250 artists open their studios to the public to browse and buy. Artist of the month: Tara Sasser, studio 102.

    • Details: 5-9 p.m. Friday, Pendleton Art Center, 1310 Pendleton St., Pendleton. Valet parking available for $10, free admission. 513-421-4339; pendletonartcenter.com.

  • Meowy Christmas Market: Shop pawsome local vendors, meet adorable kittehs and get photos with Santa at this holiday market.

    • Details: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, The Roost, 3616 Decoursey Ave., Latonia. Free admission. Eventbrite.com.

  • Christmas Wonderland: Crafts and vendors, games and activities for kids, raffles, pictures with Santa, visit from the Grinch and more.

    • Details: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Markets at Pleasant Treasures, 4020 Pleasant Ave., Hamilton. facebook.com.

  • Holiday Makers Market: Shop local small businesses and creatives.

    • Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Benken Garden Center, 6000 Plainfield Road, Silverton. Free.

  • Winter Mini Market: Shop nine local artists and small businesses for clothing, paintings, vintage goods and more. Accepting donations of coats, hats, socks and gloves for the needy, and $1 of every Rhinegeist beer sold benefits Triiibe Foundation.

    • Details: 2 p.m. Saturday, Queen City Radio, 222 W. Twelfth St., Over-the-Rhine.

  • City Flea Winter Market: This urban, curated market features a magical night market on Saturday.

    • Details: 3-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free admission. thecityflea.com.

  • Art on Vine Holiday Gift Sale: This monthly local art show features find art and handmade goods from more than 80 artists.

    • Details: noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Rhinegeist Brewery, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free admission. Artonvinecincy.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 12 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: Dec. 15-17