The zoo, a sculpture park, a theme park, a farm and a ballpark. Three have posted 2026 dates. If you only do one, we'd pick the zoo on a weeknight.
The one everyone means. Five million LEDs across the zoo, 65 oversized animal lanterns, the Wild Lights show on Swan Lake and Santa's Village. It's the 44th year. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
A two-mile drive-thru through the sculpture park with over a million lights, and the park's own installations lit up along the route. It's the closest drive-thru on this list, and the only one where the art is the point.
Kings Island stays open on select nights after Thanksgiving with millions of lights through the park, live shows and select attractions running. It's the theme park, so plan on a theme-park evening, not a drive past.
The Winton Woods farm lit up nightly, with hayrides, pony rides, caroling, farm animals, Santa and his reindeer, a beer garden and dancing horses. It closes December 23, earlier than most.
Over 2.5 million lights and eight themed sections in a walk-through around the ballpark, with an ice rink on the field. Parking is free.
Two downtown walks and a free evening at the Creation Museum, where you pay for parking and nothing else.
A garden of lights and a live nativity on the museum grounds, 5 to 8:30 each evening. The Christmas event itself is free; parking is $15. The exhibits are closed during the evening event, so it's one or the other unless you come for the day. Their page lists hours but not season dates yet.
Lights through the park plus a Nutcracker story walk, six scenes made by Art Academy students, put on by Cincinnati Ballet. Free, all of December. Last year's launch night on December 1 had dancers, characters and free Santa photos.
Holiday lights along the streets of the downtown core, free, best after dark. Downtown Cincinnati's site posts the schedule and any featured installations, and their Park & Ride page covers getting there.
Under an hour out, mostly toward Dayton. Four have posted 2026 dates already, and the Ark's evening event is free.
Over a million lights dancing to music, seven themed shops, train and wagon rides, a bonfire and a nativity. It's a walking event on gravel, and it closes December 23, earlier than most. Closed Thanksgiving.
Millions of lights, a drive-thru, a Christmas village and Santa's workshop on the Land of Illusion grounds. After Christmas it's drive-thru only, December 26 to 30, 6 to 9.
Lights across the Ark Encounter grounds, a laser show called Light in the Darkness projected onto the Ark itself, live music and animal encounters. The evening event is free; you pay for parking. Daytime Ark admission is separate and the exhibits close at 5. Their page lists hours but not season dates yet.
A half-mile paved path through Countryside Park with lights and displays, the Rieck Express train and Santa. Pet Nights let you bring a leashed dog. Their page only says to watch for updates, so 2026 dates aren't posted yet.
Downtown Dayton streets lit and choreographed to music on 95.1 FM, free and drive-thru. Rike's Holiday Windows are nearby, so do both. Weeknights are quieter.
A free drive-thru through a county park, split into four themed sections including a North Pole car show and a farm, with Santa waving at the exit. Free means weekend traffic. Go on a weeknight.
A drive-through through Smith Park with over a million lights, nightly from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. The Balloon Glow, hot air balloons lit up at night, is the thing it's known for. Weekends back up; go early or on a weeknight.
Thousands of lights across the 65-acre history park, with Santa, live music and the exhibits open. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It's a walk, so wear real shoes.
A walk-thru at the ballpark with over 1.1 million lights, light shows set to music, Santa, s'mores and a market. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
One-night events. None have posted 2026 dates yet, so we list last year's to plan around the same weekend.
First Saturday evening of December, every year. Parade down Main Street, then the tree lighting, Santa and a holiday bazaar. Free.
Last year Fri Nov 28, 3–8pm at Courthouse Square. Tree lighting, the Children's Parade in Lights, reindeer and the Rike's windows. Free.
Last year Sat Nov 22, from 3pm. 50-foot tree lighting, Rozzi fireworks, Santa, silent disco after. Free; the garage is free for the first hour.
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