If those dark fall nights and the time change have you feeling down, we have 13 holiday events to pick you up and put you in a more festive mood. Calendars are getting tighter, but you’ll definitely want to squeeze in these free family festivals, musical performances, and one last trip to your favorite attraction when they’ve decked the halls for the Christmas season.
Watch the arrival of the Ashland Railway’s Polar Xpress 2019 (Nov 24) in Downtown Shelby, Ohio. This FREE holiday event is brought to you by the Shelby Area Business Group’s Moments of Christmas Magic and includes ice sculpting, live reindeer, free kids activities, and more. Make sure to bring a camera for pictures with Santa, Scooby-Doo, The Grinch, and more familiar characters. In December, you can also have Breakfast with the Snow Sisters (Dec 21) at Lexington Event Center.
Celebrate Christmas in historic downtown Mansfield at Christmas Time in the City (Dec 6). Don’t miss the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Richland Carrousel Park at 6 PM, live reindeer, Christmas caroling, photos with Santa, carriage rides and more! The Ontario, Ohio Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on December 5 at 5:30 PM at the Marshall Park Pavilion #2 and Band Shelter. The evening’s activities will include special performances, an appearance from Santa Claus, hot chocolate, cookies, and a coloring contest.
To help children shop for their parents, the volunteer-assisted Tiny Tim Shoppe for children ages 12 and under will open November 23 at 128 N. Main St. The shop will be open every Saturday from 10 AM – 4 PM through December 21. Gifts are $10 and under and are wrapped onsite.
Holiday performances at The Renaissance Theatre include The Lettermen (Nov 30), the Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra: Holiday Prelude (Dec 8), and the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra & Chorus: Holiday Pops (Dec 14). Bring the whole family to watch the Christmas classic Family Film: Home Alone (Dec 15). Celebrate Advent and the Christmas season with St. Peter’s Music Series: Advent Lessons & Carols (Dec 15) at St Peter’s Catholic Church.
A holiday season favorite, don’t miss the Candlelight Holiday Tours (Dec 6-8, 13-15) at Malabar Farm State Park. Tour Louis Bromfield’s Big House while its halls are decked for the holiday season. Your tour will include freshly baked cookies, hot cider, and you may even enjoy an appearance by Santa Claus himself.
Kingwood Center Gardens will open for Christmas at Kingwood Thursdays through Sundays, November 30 – January 5 from 4 – 9 PM. See Kingwood Hall decked for the holidays, walk the outdoor trail of lights, visit the Community Tree Walk and a special greenhouse display. Each week will bring new Christmas magic with special events and workshops. General admission is $5 per person. Members and children 12 and under are free.
Check the full schedule of events to see what’s happening each weekend. Christmas at Kingwood events will include performances from the Mid-Ohio Jazz Orchestra and the Mid-Ohio opera. The Hampstead Stage will present a production of A Christmas Carol at Kingwood Center Gardens on December 5 from 6-7 PM. There will be a free children’s activity at 5:30 PM before the show, and your ticket includes admission to Christmas at Kingwood. Non-members: $8, members and children ages 6-12: $3. Children age 5 and under are free! You also won’t want to miss a Christmas market, model railroad display, and appearances from Santa, Mrs. Claus, Buddy the Elf, and live Reindeer from Kleerview farms. Please note, due to the construction of the Garden Gateway, only the Trimble Road gate and parking lot will be open.
But wait! There’s even more happening in Richland County this holiday season! You’ll find recurring events, festive painting parties, family crafts, live music and more on the Destination Mansfield – Richland County Calendar of Events!