CINCINNATI — The holiday season could be a challenge amid the ongoing pandemic, but there are still activities and events in and around Cincinnati you and your family can safely take part in if you want to celebrate.

From music, to lights, the Nutcracker, hot cocoa and s’mores with the ones you love, there are events that will surely get you into the holiday spirit safely.

Here’s a list of fun family-friendly outings you can do into the New Year with your masks on, safety precautions in mind and the holiday spirit by your side.

Fountain Square ice skating and bumper cars

The ice skating rink at Fountain Square is open. They offer bumper cars and ice skating, as well as a snack bar with hot and cold drinks. It is open seven days a week and hours vary based on the day. You can rent skates and cubbies for your personal items and thaw out inside the warming tent. Masks are required at all times in and around the ice rink.
COST: Skating for one hour: $10; bumper and skating for 90 minutes: $15
WHEN: Through Feb. 15, 2021
WHERE: Fountain Square at 520 Vine St., in downtown Cincinnati
RESERVATIONS: By online reservation only 
PHONE: 513-445-8546
For reservations, parking, weather policy and discount information: https://myfountainsquare.com.

Winter Wonder Lights at Fountain Square

If you want to skate amid the magic of holiday lights, Winter Wonder Lights will tickle your fancy. It is an eight-minute light show that dances across Fountain Square’s rink every hour Thursday through Saturday. Your online skating reservation for one hour will give you the magical lights once while you take to the ice.
COST: Skating for one hour: $10
WHEN: Through Jan. 3, 2021
WHERE: Fountain Square at 520 Vine St., in downtown Cincinnati
RESERVATIONS: By online reservation only 
PHONE: 513-445-8546

For reservations, parking, weather policy and discount information: https://myfountainsquare.com.

Santa’s Workshop at Washington Park

While you won’t be able to sit on Santa’s lap this year, you can meet him. And if you want photos with Santa, bring your camera. Face masks are required for ages 2 and older. Santa, as well as all staff, will be wearing face masks — as well as sanitizing the area after each group who meets with Santa. Each Sunday in December, through the 20th, will feature a Black Santa.
COST: Free
WHEN: Every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 20 from 12-4 p.m.
WHERE: Washington Park at 1230 Elm St., in Cincinnati
For more information: https://washingtonpark.org/series/santas-workshop-3/.

Memorial Hall Virtual Concert

If music is what gets you into the holiday spirit, Memorial Hall will feature We Banjo 3: A Winter Wonderful Livestream and will feature special guests, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Skerryvore, The Whileaways, BackWest and Ajeet. It will stream live for one night only but will be available on demand through Dec. 26.
COST: $20
WHEN: Dec. 18 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Online only
For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.

Calls with Claus

Do you or your little one want to visit with Santa but from a safe distance? Call the North Pole this year with Sharon Woods’ Calls with Claus for a 10-minute conversation about what’s on your wish list and how you have been naughty or nice this year during the pandemic. Each call includes a recorded video and photo of you and Santa.
COST: $30 per family (up to four children per call)
WHEN: Every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Your home
RESERVATIONS: Registration online is required.
PHONE: 513-521-7275
For more information: https://holidayinlights.com/santaland.

The Cincinnati Zoo’s PNC Festival of Lights

A long-time Cincinnati tradition is the 38th Annual PNC Festival of Lights. Walk through the Cincinnati Zoo amid 4 million LED holiday lights and socially-distance visit with Santa. They will feature s’more stations, as well as roasted nuts and warm drinks, an immersive Northern Lights experience, the tunnel of lights, rides on the North Polar Express train, Fiona’s Fairyland, a Wild Lights show across Swan Lake, several giant animal lanterns throughout the zoo, and a scavenger hunt. Masks are required to visit. And if you want to visit with the animals, reserve your time slot between 1-5 p.m., online. The carousel and Safari Train are open daily 2:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

Your cost of admission into the zoo, includes the Festival of Lights. While the zoo will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, they will be open on New Year’s Eve for a Happy Zoo Year celebration. And the Festival of Lights will continue through Jan. 17, 2021. For safety precautions, there are hand sanitizer stations throughout the zoo, touch-less entry, masks are required, social distancing markers on the ground and announcements are made throughout your visit to remind you how to stay safe.  
COST: Tickets: $12-$26, Parking: $10
WHEN: 1 p.m.-9 p.m., through Jan. 17, 2021
WHERE: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden at 3400 Vine St., in Cincinnati
RESERVATIONS: Reservations are required.
For more information, group discounts, a lights map and parking: http://cincinnatizoo.org/prepare-for-your-zoo-visit/.

Coney Island Christmas Nights of Lights

If you want to experience holiday lights but you don’t want to get out of your vehicle, then load up your family and head over to Coney Island's Christmas Nights of Lights. From the safety and warmth of your car, you can drive two and a half miles through over a million light displays set up throughout the water park, that glow and dance to holiday music you can listen to from your car radio. Your ticket may be purchased at the gate and children 3 and under are free. And your ticket benefits the Salvation Army, The Ruth Lyons Children’s Fund, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Starshine Hospice and Toys for Tots.
COST: $7 per person; children 3 and under are free
WHEN: Nightly through Jan. 9, from dusk to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Coney Island at 6201 Kellogg Ave., in Cincinnati
RESERVATIONS: No reservations are needed, but show up before dark for shorter lines.
PHONE: 513-232-8230

For more information: https://coneyislandpark.com/event/christmas-light-show/.

Holiday in Lights at Sharon Woods

Truly a Cincinnati tradition… If you want to keep with the holiday spirit inside your car and experience lights like no other, try out the Holiday in Lights at Sharon Woods in one of the Great Parks of Hamilton County. With more than 1 million lights and over 250 displays, you will feel the holiday cheer that light-seekers have experienced for more than 31 years. A car load is $15 and you can also purchase and wear special holiday glasses for your drive through the winter wonderland, that will give you a magical effect. You may also choose to walk through the park on special “Walk the Park” dates. You can book your tickets online or at the gate, however, no cash will be accepted due to COVID-19. If you order online, you will receive a QR code for the gate for touch-less entry.
COST: Admission is $15 per car, walking tickets are $5, buses are $45 and special effects glasses are $2 or 3 for $5.
WHEN: Open nightly through Jan. 2, including Christmas Eve and Christmas night. They will be closed on New Year’s Eve. Hours include: Sunday-Thursday hours: 6-9 p.m., and Friday-Saturday hours: 5:30-10 p.m. *Note: Traffic will not be allowed inside the park during special “Walk the Lights" date: Dec. 30.
WHERE: Sharon Woods Park at 11450 Lebanon Road in Sharonville, Ohio
RESERVATIONS: Online ticket purchase
PHONE: 513-769-0393
For more information: https://holidayinlights.com.

Holiday Junction at Cincinnati Museum Center

Your ticket into the Cincinnati Museum Center and Union Terminal also gets you into its holiday display, featuring Duke Energy Holiday Trains during the Holiday Junction through Jan. 3, 2021. The Duke Holiday Trains, a 300+ rail car display and 60 locomotives, have been a Cincinnati tradition for more than 70 years, when they made their debut in 1964. In addition to the historic holiday train display, the museum is hosting a scavenger hunt, featuring hidden objects within the railway and inside the snow-covered hills.
COST: Free to $14.50 — Prices vary on age and seniors receive a discounted rate.
WHEN: Every Friday-Sunday thorough Jan. 3, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Union Terminal, Cincinnati Museum Center at 1301 Western Ave., in Cincinnati
RESERVATIONS: Online ticket sales for timed entry are required.
PHONE: 513-287-7000
For more information and full list of ticket prices: https://www.cincymuseum.org/holiday-junction/.

Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland at Newport Aquarium

If you want to tell Santa what you want for Christmas this year, there may be no safer way than through glass at the Newport Aquarium. Scuba Santa is back and diving deep inside his Water Wonderland at the Aquarium. Swimming among a 385,000-gallon tank full of sharks, Santa will be in full scuba gear and ready to hear what you want for Christmas for his 16th year at the aquarium. Elves will be on hand at Shark Ray Bay amid the holiday music and festive lights through Christmas Eve. Masks are required.
COST: Tickets online: $25.99
WHEN: Through Dec. 24 — Check website for full schedule of dates and times: https://www.newportaquarium.com/Things-To-Do/Aquarium-Events/Scuba-Santa-Water-Wonderland
WHERE: Newport Aquarium at 1 Aquarium Way in Newport, Kentucky
RESERVATIONS: Online ticket or pass purchases required in advance.
PHONE: 800-406-FISH (3474)
For more information: https://www.newportaquarium.com/Things-To-Do/Aquarium-Events/Scuba-Santa-Water-Wonderland.

Cincinnati Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Home

You will have six opportunities to enjoy the beloved Cincinnati Ballet tradition from the Land of Sweets from the comfort and safety of your home and at no charge. Between Dec. 22 and Dec. 25, there will be six showings of The Nutcracker at Home presented by Frisch’s, including three opportunities to watch on Christmas Day. Dancers will be wearing masks, however, the Ballet promises for an immersive and unique experience for the audience.
COST: Free
WHEN:
Dec. 22 at 8 p.m., on WLWT
Dec. 24 at 7 p.m., on WLWT and at 8 p.m., on METV Channel 5.2
Dec. 25 at 5 a.m. and noon on WLWT and at 10 p.m., on METV Channel 5.2
WHERE: Your home
RESERVATIONS: None required.
For more information: https://cballet.org/nutcracker-2021/.

A Christmas Journey at EnterTrainment Junction

Take a Christmas Journey at EnterTrainment Junction this holiday season. Take a walk through the world of trains, including a 1950’s nostalgic street scene and department store window displays, and on through a winter wonderland. Kids can stop by the reindeer stables at the North Pole, where elves are busy making toys inside the workshop. And Mrs. Claus will be in her kitchen but not too busy for a “Hello!” and where you can also have a video chat with Santa himself. Masks are required.
COST: Tickets are $17.95; kids under 2 years old are free. Tickets may be purchased online for a discounted rate or at the ticket window on-site.
WHEN: Through Jan. 3, 2021, closed Christmas Day. Call for special Christmas Journey hours.
WHERE: EnterTrainment Junction at 7379 Squire Court in West Chester
RESERVATIONS: Save $2 when you purchase tickets online.
PHONE: 513-898-8000
For more information: https://entertrainmentjunction.com/funhouse/christmas-journey/.

ChristmasTime at Ark Encounter

An animated light display, live musical program and the Ararat Ridge Zoo full of animals are all free this year at ChristmasTime at Ark Encounter. The event will feature an illuminated life-sized ark, Christmas carols, food and drinks and a Christmas market.
COST: Free admission to lights and concert. Parking is $10. And upgrades are available, like tours of the Creation Museum, a zip line and camel rides.
WHEN: Through Dec. 30 from 5-8:30 p.m. They are closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
WHERE: Ark Encounter at 1 Ark Encounter Dr., Williamstown, Kentucky
RESERVATIONS: No reservation are required but tickets for tours can be purchased online or on-site.
PHONE: 855-284-3275
For more information: https://arkencounter.com/christmas/.

As a safety reminder, be sure to check these and any other events' websites for any information and precautions pertaining to COVID-19. Take your mask and be prepared to social distance from Santa and others.