Goodnight, Monday.

Welcome to our Home for the Holidays Newsletter!

For the next several weeks you can expect to find local Christmas and holiday happenings delivered straight to your inbox each evening (Sunday through Thursday). Get ready for some fun!

In addition to all of the great tips and events we always share, we will also be featuring info from our Home for the Holidays partners. They’ve all been included by invite only and you will love them, I promise!

ESSENTIALS FOR TUESDAY (11-28-23):

Weather: It’s another cold one! Mostly sunny with a high of 31° | 1% chance of precipitation

Tuesday’s Do: Benken Garden Center has some spots open for Tuesday night’s “Holiday Wreath Workshop”, 5:30-6:30pm. Sip complimentary wine while learning how to make your very own holiday wreath - perfect to adorn your door for the entire winter season! Tickets required.

SIGN UP:

McHarper Manor is hosting a “Farmhouse Christmas” Cookie Decorating Class on Thurs., Dec. 14 starting at 6:30pm. In this class you’ll learn the ins and outs of royal icing and how to decorate five perfectly sweet sugar cookie designs. No prior decorating experience is necessary. Sign up for this one now if you’re interested. Other dates have already sold out.

Any gingerbread house makers in the crowd? There’s a Gingerbread House Contest happening in Glendale on December 9. Get yourself registered to participate if you’d like. Or go to see all the creations for yourself and vote for your favorites on Dec. 9.

Here’s your chance to Visit Tower A at Union Terminal as part of a Heritage Program on December 29 and 30. Tower A, not typically open to the public, was the command center for the daily 216 trains that brought thousands of travelers safely in and out of Union Terminal. Today, the room overlooks the active intermodal yard which brings cargo containers to our region. Children 10 years of age and older are permitted with an adult. There are approximately 35 steep steps to Tower A. Tickets required.

GOOD TO KNOW:

One of our favorite holiday events is to see the lights at Coney Island’s Nights of Lights. Here are a few of our best tips for when you go:

We’ve found that the best time to go is early in the evening AND on a night when the it’s raining just a bit (the show goes on, rain or shine). We could still see everything just fine and we almost drove straight up to the admissions gate when we pulled in (not sure if that works every time though).

Plan ahead and print out the Coney Island’s Nights of Lights Scavenger Hunt and Activities for the kids. Take some crayons – this will be something fun for them to do if you have to wait in line at the gate.

Here’s a tip that might make you laugh … be sure you know how to turn off your headlights and dial in your radio. We bought a new car this year and I will admit the headlights thing will have to be something I look into before we go!

They have a portable potty at the entrance gate. We hop out with the kiddo (every single year!) while we’re in line at the gate and run in and out. You can not get out of your car once you’re into the light show so plan ahead!

COMING SOON 📅

12-1: Cincinnati Nature Center’s Light in the Forest opens for the season.

12-2: Downtown Dazzle is happening at Fountain Square, 6-10pm. This is a free event that includes Santa rappelling from a high rise building and a fireworks display. (Santa program starts at 7pm)

12-2: The 34th Annual Lebanon Horse Drawn Carriage Parade is happening at both 1pm and 7pm.

12-3: MadTree’s Winter Market will feature locally crafted and sourced goods to make your Christmas shopping one little bit easier!

12/5-12/17: Mrs. Doubtfire is coming to the Aronoff Center, presented by Broadway in Cincinnati.

12-8: Crib of the Nativity, the live nativity scene that’s out in the lawn of the Krohn Conservatory, will be open and ready for visitors, 9am-9pm. Free.

12/9-12/10: City Flea will be at Factory 52 (Norwood) for their Holiday Market, 12-4pm both days. They’ll have 50+ vendors and will have new vendors each day. Shop local at this outdoors event.

12-9: Holiday Open House at the Cincinnati Observatory, noon to 3pm. Free.

12-12: A Balloon Glow will be happening in Middletown starting at 7pm. Come out and watch some of Southwast Ohio's balloon pilots light up the night sky. Weather dependent.

PIC OF THE DAY:

PSA: For all you chocolate lovers out there, Maverick Chocolate Co. has a chocolate Advent Calendar and seasonal chocolates. You’re welcome. :)