Decked halls and twinkling lights make their debut in a few short weeks. If you’re ready to get into the holiday spirit, get your calendar out to make sure you don’t miss all the holiday-oriented activities and events in the Mansfield area! From running one last 5K to booking theatre tickets and strolling through light and Christmas tree displays, November and December capture the season.
Thankful for the Season
November kicks off the season with the holiday parade. Get ready to catch candy canes and see Santa on November 19, starting at 10 a.m. on the corner of 5th and Main in downtown Mansfield. The day also marks the opening of the Tiny Tim Shoppe , a place where kids under 12 can shop for gifts on their own (with a volunteer escort) for special people in their lives. In the evening, head to the Festival of Thanks Dinner and Bingo at Charles Mill Lake Park. Bring the gang and enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner and a lively game of Bingo, pre-registration required.
Cheers to the Season
If you’re still pondering your beverage offerings for your big feast or holiday entertaining, let The Phoenix Brewing Company help at their Holiday Wine and Beer tasting on December 2. Many of the area’s Wine & Ale Trail locations offer tastings and events to enhance your holiday table. Check the Calendar of Events for ongoing additions.
Plays, Musicals, and Art
Relish in the traditions of the season at the Renaissance Theatre and the production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical. Different from the original play, this production adds Broadway-style songs to put you in the Christmas mood on November 12, 13, 19, and 20. If you prefer the traditional version, A Christmas Carol hits the stage at the Mansfield Playhouse on December 2, 3, 9, 10, and 11. Come and enjoy this timeless classic by Charles Dickens.
The Renaissance Theatre continues the tradition of a night at the theatre with Neos Dance Theatre’s production of A 1940’s Nutcracker. This story takes a twist from the original tale by paying homage to an iconic age of film, fashion, American Christmas traditions, the industrial age, and WWII. Performances are December 10 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Join the Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra for their Holiday Prelude concert at The Renaissance Theatre on December 4. Then, on December 17 and 18, the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra treats the audience to the Holiday Pops Concert full of your holiday classics.
Trees, Lights, and Tours
Looking at Christmas lights tops the list of holiday memories. Christmas at the Kingwood Center Gardens is showcasing live music, dozens of uniquely trimmed Christmas trees, and outdoor light displays from November 26 through December 30. Oak Hill Cottage invites you to the Ghost of Christmas Past on December 10, combining architecture and theatre on a creative house tour of Oak Hill Cottage with characters portraying past residents of Oak Hill Cottage. If you’re not able to make it to the Ghost of Christmas Past, Oak Hill Cottage showcases their Victorian Christmas Tours on November 20, 27, and December 4, 11, and 18. This is the 32nd annual Victorian Christmas Tour that transports your back in time to experience a true Victorian Christmas.
Continue your historic holiday adventures at Malabar Farm State Park for the Candlelight Holiday Tours of author Louis Bromfield’s Big House. The house is all decked out for the holidays in 1940’s-style décor, including freshly baked cookies and hot cider, on December 2, 3, 4 and 10, 11.
Want to see some reindeer? Head to Kleerview Farm in Bellville to pick out your home’s Christmas tree, take a wagon ride to the Christmas house, and pet the real reindeer.
Head to Shelby, Ohio on November 20 for the 4th visit from the Polar Xpress and Moments of Christmas Magic tour. The parade starts at 1:30 and the Polar Xpress Train rolls in around 4:00. Spend the afternoon with family activities and shopping leading up to the train’s arrival.
With family and friends in town, show them some of the area’s most popular spots, including the Ohio State Reformatory, filming site of the movie The Shawshank Redemption. The famous attraction opens their doors for self-guided tours on select dates including weekends from November 25 through December 17. Bundle up; the facility gets a bit chilly during the winter season.
Stay Fit for the Feast
Need a new goal for your fitness plan as the colder months set in? Stay active and register for the Lifesaver 5k/10k Run & Walk, held December 10 at Charles Mill Lake Park. Santa and other favorites round out the day after the run. This could be your last run of the year!
Gifts with Local Flair
The Mansfield Art Center presents the Holiday Fair from November 19 through December 30. Come see the exhibit full of local art and shop local for those one-of-a kind gifts featuring handmade jewelry, ceramics, functional wood work, original paintings, fused & blown glass, wearable fiber art, and so much more. And don’t forget to “Shop Local” on Small Business Saturday on November 26 and find shopping treasures in downtown Mansfield at the First Friday Shop Hop on December 2. Later in the evening, celebrate Christmas Time in the City with a tree lighting, carriage rides, historic church tour, and other activities.
Want to make something special instead of buying a gift? The Ohio Bird Sanctuary invites you to Christmas for the Birds on December 10. Here you will create bird-edible ornaments and crafts and meet some birds up close!
For more events in November and December, visit the Calendar of Events on MansfieldTourism.com and watch our social media posts for the hashtags #RichlandHappenings every Tuesday and #RichlandLIVE every Thursday for the list of local live music.
Do you want your event to be featured on the Calendar? Be sure to submit your events.
Written by CVB Intern Cody Henderson