Top 15 things to do this weekend: Holiday events officially take over

1. Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market

With more than 400 local vendors and boutiques, this fan-favorite is one of the largest holiday shows in the Midwest. You'll find handmade gifts, decor, clothing, toys, gourmet treats, wine and more, all in one place. This year, the Holiday Market expands to four days and includes VIP and early bird admission. Note that strollers and wagons are not allowed during VIP and early bird entry.

Details: noon-7 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. $30 VIP 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, $20 early bird 9-11 a.m. Friday-Saturday, $7 girls’ night out 4-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, $14 general, free ages 12-under. Cincinnatiholidaymarket.com.

2. Nights of Lights

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. The whole family will enjoy the tunnels of lights, larger-than-life Christmas trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes and both traditional and rocking holiday music.

Details: dusk-10 p.m. nightly, Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. Runs Nov. 10-Dec. 31. coneyislandpark.com.

3. Holiday Junction featuring Duke Energy Holiday Trains

This holiday tradition began in 1946 and continues to bring joy and wonder to generations of Cincinnatians. The layout features more than a thousand feet of track and more than 50 locomotives that travel over a whimsical wonderland.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Runs Nov. 10-Jan. 8. Museum is closed Tuesday-Wednesday. $10, $5 with purchase of any other museum experience. Cincymuseum.org.

4. The Polar Express Train Ride

This train journey recreates the classic children's book and is the only officially licensed Polar Express Train Ride event in the area. During the 2-hour train ride, enjoy hot chocolate, dancing chefs, a reading of the book and a visit from Santa and his elves. Passengers receive a silver sleigh bell.

Details: varying times, Whitewater Valley Rail Road, 455 Market St., Connersville, Ind. Runs Nov. 10-Dec. 16. $45 per person, free ages under 2 on lap. 765-825-2054; whitewatervalleyrr.org.

5. Light Up the Fair

Northern Kentucky's only drive-thru light show features two miles of immersive lights and music, transforming the fairgrounds into a magical winter wonderland. Over a million individually controlled LED twinkling lights synched to holiday music conveniently broadcast via your car radio.

Details: dusk, Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington. Runs Nov. 10-Dec. 30. 859-568-4046; lightupthefair.com.

6. Golden Days of Yule

The conservatory is filled with a warm glow as illuminated stars shine over colorful poinsettias, lush tropical foliage and holiday trees. You'll find the traditional garden railways and miniature Cincinnati landmarks, including the newest addition this year, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Live nativity begins Dec. 8.

Details: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, Krohn Conservatory, Mount Adams. Runs Nov. 11-Jan. 7. $10, $7 ages 5-17, free ages 4-under. cincinnati-oh.gov.

7. Holly Jolly Days

Step back through time and see antique Christmas decorations dating back to the 1800s, see the sparkling lights of the NaturePlay area and enjoy more than 30 moving, guest-operated accessories on the holiday toy train layout.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Behringer-Crawford Museum, Devou Park, 1600 Montague Road, Covington. Runs Nov. 11-Jan. 7. $9, $5 ages 3-17. bcmuseum.org.

8. Warm 98.5 Ice Rink

The Warm 98.5 Ice Rink opens for the season Saturday, located underneath the glass canopy at Summit Park. Those learning to skate can use skate aids for free, while supplies last. No advance sales; walk-up purchases only.

Details: noon-2 p.m., 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 5-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash. Runs Nov. 11-Jan. 7. $7 per person, includes skate rental. Free for ages 3-under. summitparkblueash.com.

9. 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream'

Fairies dancing in a winter wonderland. Athenians caught in icy love tales. Shakespeare's comedy takes on a frozen twist as two young lovers flee to the forest in hopes of finding solace from the laws of the city, but feuding fairies have other ideas. The production features a collaboration with the youth dance organization Q-Kidz.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Cincinnati Shakespeare Co., 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Runs Nov. 10-Dec. 2. Cincyshakes.com.

10. Jungle Jim’s International Wine Festival

Sample hundreds of wines from around the world, enjoy light appetizers and have the option to order bottles of your favorite wines while you taste and sample. The Grand Tasting ticket includes tastings, commemorative glass, buyer's club and monorail ride to Oscar Station to experience more wineries. The Connoisseur ticket offers everything in the Grand Tasting plus an exclusive area double the size, exclusive rare and singular wines, and gourmet by-the-bite meal. There is also a bus travel option from the Eastgate store.

Details: 6:30-10 p.m. Saturday, Oscar Event Center, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield. $35-$160. Eventbrite.com.

11. Beer, Booze & Bonks

This festival, presented by The Gnarly Gnome, is a celebration of handpicked brews and cocktails with over 50 unique selections. Your ticket includes 20 sampling vouchers, 1 mystery beer ticket and open play on fowling lanes. VIP ticket includes early access, 25 sampling vouchers, 1 mystery beer machine ticket, open play on fowling lanes and access to buffet. The festival benefits Cincinnati Animal CARE, and Raising Rogue Food Pantry.

Details: 3-9 p.m. Saturday, Fowling Warehouse, 2940 Highland Ave., Oakley. $85 VIP, $45 general. Cincyticket.com.

12. Charles White: A Little Higher

Over the course of a 40-year career, Charles White created powerful, evocative interpretations of the Black experience with a confidence and technical skill that defined his mastery as a draftsman, printmaker and painter. This exhibition of works by the Chicago-born artist and educator, who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential figures in 20th-century art, features nearly 50 drawings, prints and paintings.

Details: Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Runs Nov. 10-Feb. 25. Free. Cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

13. Inter/Intra

Exhibition curated by Rebecca Copper explores the dependencies between human and non-human living beings. The exhibition features the works of artists Lucia Monge, Ruth Burke and Rachael Anderson.

Details: 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Wave Pool Gallery, 2940 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington. Free. wavepoolgallery.org.

14. Momentum, Self, Horizon

Manifest Gallery hosts a public reception for its new exhibitions, which feature 46 works by 32 artists from 17 states and Spain. Momentum features works about, depicting, mapping, describing or using movement. Self features works of self-portraiture and self-image. Horizon is a solo exhibition of prints and drawings by Kasey Ramirez.

Details: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Manifest Gallery, 2727 Woodburn Ave., Walnut Hills. Runs Nov. 10-Dec. 8. Free. Manifestgallery.org.

15. Cincinnati's Premier Sports Card & Autograph Show

Sports card vendors from around the region and country can buy, sell and trade at this expo, which also includes autograph sessions with more than 25 athletes, including former and current players with the Reds, Bengals, FC Cincinnati and UC Bearcats.

Details: 3-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. $50 VIP weekend, $10 general. wildersideofsports.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 15 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: Nov. 10-12