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The Wiz Jr Review | The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Final MainStage Performance of the Year

This weekend, we saw THE WIZ JR, the LAST TCT MainStage show of the 21-22 season. It is packed with Broadway influence in artistry with both the Director and the Choreographer bringing Broadway experience.

Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner

The costumes were showstoppers! Dr. Daryl Harris from NKU School of the Arts absolutely knocked it out of the park. The Emerald City scene really came to life with the costumes and the set design. It was electric!

But there is not doubt that the mean old cowardly lion absolutely stole the show. He came out fabulously fierce and we all erupted with laughter. That is one cool cat who found his courage within and made us all smile along the way.

Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner

New To The Children’s Theatre

This was not your typical Children’s Theatre production. My kids noticed that the cast is predominately adults which I’m guessing is due to the technical skills required for vocals of the songs. And there were live backup singers in the Orchestra box which offered a very cool element, making it feel very authentic. It truly is The Wiz, packed into the a 60 minute show and it goes by FAST!

The storm where Dorothy is swept away is creatively set as Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. That was a bit of a scary moment for my 5 year old, but as she saw the ‘storm’ people dancing, she felt more at ease.

Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner

There’s a slow build at the beginning as Dorothy picks up her friends to travel to Oz. First we meet the Scarecrow, then the Tin Man and then BAM, things really picked up when the Lion came on stage.

Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner

“Ease On Down The Road” to grab your tickets to the show before they sell out! THE WIZ JR., is performed in the historic Taft Theatre, at 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $10. Visit https://thechildrenstheatre.com/shows/the-wiz-jr/ for tickets.   

See THE WIZ JR at The Taft Theatre

WHEN: Now thru April 11, 2022
WHERE: The Taft Theatre, 317 E 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
RUN TIME: 60-minute
AGE 4+, K-8
TICKETS: $10 – $50 each

The sensory-friendly performance of THE WIZ JR. on Wednesday, April 6 at 1 PM is intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as children (and adults) with other special needs who may benefit. To create a sensory-friendly performance, the show is performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges. Slight adjustments to lighting and sound are made, and effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience are minimized.  

Regular subscriptions for the 22-23 MainStage Season are on sale now and start at just $43. All subscriptions and single tickets remain refundable during the pandemic if you are unable to attend due to COVID-19. Find out more about subscribing at https://thechildrenstheatre.com/subscribe/.  

Haven’t been to a performance yet? Check out my blog: 6 Reasons to Take Your Family to See a Show from The Childrenā€™s Theatre of Cincinnati.

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Staycation Cincinnati | Things to Do With Kids in Downtown Cincinnati

Downtown Cincinnati Kids activities

Staying in Downtown Cincinnati or NKY with kids? Whether you’re vacationing in Cincinnati or doing a Cincinnati staycation downtown, here are some fun things to do with your kids and tweens.
First, it’s important to note there are 3 distinct sections of Downtown Cincinnati:Ā 

  • The Banks which is the Riverfront section and is home to the Reds and Bengals stadiums, The Freedom Center, Smale Park and all things south of 2nd street.
  • Downtown district which is the center of town and home to Fountain Square and many businesses.
  • Over-The-Rhine (OTR) which is home to Washington Park, Findlay Market and many amazing restaurants and shops.Ā 

Getting Around Downtown Cincinnati with Kids

Downtown Cincinnati, The Banks and Over the Rhine (OTR) are walkable, for sure. Especially if you have a stroller. You can always call an uber, but here are a few other options:

Things To Do With Kids in Downtown Cincinnati

For non-walkers to tweens, here are some things to do with kids in Downtown Cincinnati. I note age range, season and location below.Ā 

Go Duckpin Bowling at Pins Mechanical

Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly

šŸ“1124 Main St (OTR) – PINS MECHANICAL WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ Under 21 welcome until 8PM daily. My kid loved playing as young as 3.
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round

Play Duckpin bowling, which is basically the marriage of skeeball and bowling. Small balls, short lanes and the pins are connected. My kids love that you sit on couches while you wait your turn. Kids bowl FREE on Sundays with an adult.
Bring your quarters for pinball & arcade games (they have a change machine too)! You can also play ping pong, foosball and Bocce on the rooftop in the summer! They don’t have food, but you can order food deliver or grab something nearby.

Soak In The Fun at Washington Park

šŸ“1230 Elm St,Ā (OTR)– Washington Park WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ Open Daily. All ages welcome and there truly is something for everyone. Great for littles to adults.
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round

There are tons of things to do here and the options change year round. Be sure to check the calendar of events at Washington Park so you know what’s happening! Otherwise, check out the:
šŸ‘¶ Playground: For the young kids, there is a fenced-in park with a baby swing and a fun saucer swing, a slide and other fun things. There is also a sand area, FYI, if you want to avoid it like me.
šŸ’¦ Splash Pad: During late spring, summer and part of fall, the interactive water fountains are on which are great for kids to run through in their bathing suits, or clothes if you’re daring. There is a bathroom nearby to change clothes.
šŸ• Enclosed dog park: My kids love to watch the dogs play from behind the fence.
šŸ§ŗ Large open field: Bring a picnic lunch with goodies you find at Findlay Market. Or enjoy one of the local food trucks parked on the surrounding streets. There are tables available or bring a blanket. After, bring a soccer ball to play.
šŸŗ The Porch: a great place for parents to grab a drink (local brews, etc) and kids can play giant connect 4 or run and play nearby in parents view.Ā 
**There is an affordable parking garage underneath the park and can serve as a great central point if you’re exploring OTR and downtown.

Game Time Fun at The Play Library

šŸ“1306 Main Street (OTR)- The Play Library website
šŸ§’šŸ½ Something for every age. Thurs – Sat 10am – 5pm & Sun 12 – 5pm
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round

An AWESOME library of games and fun things to PLAY with! You can borrow and return puzzles, games, toys, etc. Stop by here to grab a game to play at Findlay Market or Washington Park as you watch the world go by. And be sure to check out The Play Library Events here!

Travel The World at Findlay Market

šŸ“1801 Race Street (OTR)- Findlay Market WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ Something for every age. Closed Mondays.
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round

Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market. It’s free to look, but come hungry to try unique cuisine, gelato, market shops and of course the OTR candy shop! Book a cooking class, listen to some live local music, or schedule a findlay market tour. Click here –> to check out all the fun Cincinnati Food Tours.Ā 

Make Your Own Candle or Room Spray

šŸ“1325 Vine St, (OTR)– The Candle Lab WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ Open Daily. All ages welcome but best for ages 3+
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round

Reservations are encouraged. Click website to get info. This is a fun project for families to do together. You pick your candle, spray or diffuser and choose from tons of different scents. We had a great time laughing at some of the rather interesting ones, like ‘old books’. They have something for everyone. You can mix scents and create your own label to name your scent. Candles are ready to pick up within a few hours or less.Ā 

Splash, Slide, Ride and Play at Smale Park

šŸ“Smale Park – 166 W Mehring Way, (The Banks)Ā – Smale Park WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ All ages welcome but best for ages non-walkers to @10.
ā„ļøĀ šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ The park is open year-round but the fountains are seasonal.

Carol Ann’s Carousel is a fun indoor carousel. We love starting there in our dry suits and then enjoying the splash pad with a view of the NKY riverfront. There’s a bathroom to change right there. We then head down to the park (down the stairs and across the street) to play on the slides, giant food keyboard and all the other fun stuff. I usually pack a picnic lunch or pick up Jimmy John’s on the banks to enjoy on the open field there under my favorite bridge, The Roebling. There are plenty of other restaurants to eat indoors too.Ā 

The Unmuseum at the Contemporary Art Center

šŸ“44 E 6th St (Downtown)– Contemporary Arts Center WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ Great for non-walkers (lots of visual stimulation) to teens. Open Wednesday – Saturday, but hours may change. Check here.Ā 
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round

We love the UnMuseum as a great option to play and discover interactive art, like the flashlight room, the colored music boxes and the found object fun. During normal times, they host a fun event on Thursday mornings with art, yoga followed by unstructured play. Perfect for kids up to 10. The other exhibits in the museum are great for all ages, including teens. **NOTE: construction efforts underway and the museum is expected to fully open in Aug.

Become the Town Fire Chief at the Cincinnati Fire Museum

šŸ“315 West Court Street (Downtown)– Cincinnati Fire Museum WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ All ages are welcome, kids 6 & under are free.
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round. Closed Sunday & Monday.

The history of fight fighting is explored in this old firehouse. ‘Drive’ a fire engine, slide down a fire pole, try on the uniform, see how they used to use buckets to put out fires and much more. This is perfect for anyone interested in history or loves firetrucks. Learn about my friend Stephanie’s experience on her blog Consistently Curious.Ā Ā 

See The "Queen City" at Fountain Square

šŸ“520 Vine Street (Downtown)– Fountain Square WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ Great for all ages. Probably best for ages 3+.
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round, but activities vary based on weather.Ā 

In the winter, try the ice skating rink and bumper cars with various theme events like DJ skate. See them here –> Fountain Square event calendar.Ā  In the spring, summer and fall, there are events like salsa dancing and live music from the stage. It’s a great place to sit and watch the city go by as you enjoy the famous Graeter’s Ice Cream located there.Ā 

Brunch with The Family at Sleepy Bee Cafe

šŸ“8 East 4th Street (Downtown)– Sleepy Bee WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ All ages welcome, open daily
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round

A local brunch spot that has expanded locations all over the city. The breakfast sandwiches and pancakes are legendary.

See The Sharks at Newport Aquarium

šŸ“1 Aquarium Way (Newport, KY – across the river)– Newport Aquarium WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ All ages welcome, open daily. Admission is $18-$28/person
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļøĀ  šŸ Great year-round

The coolest part is you can walk across the ‘purple people bridge’ from Cincinnati to Kentucky to get here. See sharks, stingrays, turtles and more at this awesome aquarium. If you have littles, check their calendar to make sure strollers are allowed that day. If not, we would bring the hiking backpack for our toddler so she could easily see all the fun and she was ‘contained’ ;). Your daring kids and tweens in your life might enjoy crossing the shark bridge – a rope bridge over the open-water sharks. Santa scuba dives here in December.

Located at Newport on the Levee, there is also a movie theater, shops and restaurants and a candy store that calls your name when leaving the aquarium. They also host tons of seasonal events, so be sure to check it out. If you’re hungry, be sure to try Tom + Chee and their famous s’mores or grilled cheese donut.Ā 

The Reds Hall of Fame Museum

Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly

šŸ“100 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks – Reds Hall of Fame WEBSITE
šŸ§’šŸ½ All ages welcome, open daily, 10a-5p. Kids 12 & under and Military Veterans Free. Adults are $12.
ā„ļø šŸŒ· ā˜€ļø  šŸ Great year-round

The museum has fun interactive exhibits and memorabilia from Reds players and teams throughout the years. Kids can record themselves ‘calling the game’ in the booth and you can email the audio file to yourself. Even my not-so-baseball-loving 9 year old had a good time. It’s worth a visit.  

And of course, go see a Reds Game if they are in town. Checkout the Reds Baseball Schedule to see. 

Other Notable fun in Downtown Cincinnati

Downtown
–Take in the view of all of Downtown and NKY from the Carew Tower Observation Deck.
—National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – an educational experience where the heroes of freedom, from the Underground Railroad to now, are celebrated.Ā 

The Banks
–Rent Red Bikes (see above for details) and explore Sawyer Point, riding around and down along the river to International Friendship Park. The shortest bike they have is 22in, I believe. BUT, exploring The Banks to Sawyer Point (walk east – left if you are facing the river) is totally walkable and great for burning energy on a warm day.Ā 
—The Escape Game is great for ages 13+. They do allow younger kids to participate but the content might be too difficult for them if they don’t have help from other kids.Ā 
—Taft Museum of Art offers a unique art experience with rotating exhibits. This is open to all ages, but if your kids have no interest in art, I wouldn’t explore here. Be sure to check out the family events too, during normal times.Ā 

Nearby but not walkable – car transportation is required.
—Cincinnati Museum Center is home to the Children’s Museum and many other exciting things for families, including an Omnimax theatre and an epic train display during the holidays. Please double check which exhibits are open and that the Children’s Museum is open before you visit.
—Cincinnati Art Museum is in Eden Park, a beautiful Cincinnati Park to enjoy! The museum has an art climb, which offers some great exercise while looking at beautiful outdoor sculptures. Walk the steps to the art museum, taking breaks on a bench when needed to enjoy the surroundings of nature and art. General admission to the museum is FREE for everyone, but specific exhibits have a cost. There is plenty to see and a nice artisan-style cafe (not your average cafeteria lunch) if you want to plan lunch there. We LOVE the Rosenthal Education Center (REC) for the unassisted fun and exploration as well as all the programming. Check out all the event options for tots to tweens on the REC event calendar here.Ā 
—American Sign Museum is a warehouse dedicated to neon lights and storefront signs of old. Check this out for visual stimulation and unique art forms.Ā 

Rosenthal Education Center at the Cincinnati Art Museum
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The Wiz Jr | Presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

THE WIZ JR is the LAST TCT MainStage show of the 21-22 season. And as they say, I think they saved the best for last! šŸ˜‰ Don’t miss this one. “Ease On Down The Road” to grab your tickets before they sell out!

See THE WIZ JR at The Taft Theatre

WHEN: April 2-11, 2022
WHERE: The Taft Theatre, 317 E 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
RUN TIME: 60-minute
AGE 4+, K-8
TICKETS: $10 – $50 each

BUY TICKETS HERE

šŸŒˆ Expect iconic songs like “Ease On Down the Road” and “Brand New Day,” as well as exciting dance numbers which blend traditional movement from African culture with ballet, jazz, and modern dance! 

6 Reasons to Take Your Family to See a Show from The Childrenā€™s Theatre of Cincinnati

Watch THE WIZ JR Promo Video

Broadway and Local Artistic Influence on Stage

THE WIZ JR. features two artistic influencers straight from Broadway, making this a great opportunity to introduce your kids to Broadway quality at a price and show length that’s right for them!

Director Zhailon Levingston comes to Cincinnati straight from Broadway, directing Chicken & Biscuits, as well as Hadestown, and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Choreographer Tislarm Bouie has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, commercials, movies, and live events like SNL and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Local artistic influences come from Seth Howard, Scenic Designer and recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. And Jason Alexander Holmes, renowned music educator, performer, and Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Boychoir, serves as the Music Director. Contributing spectacular costume designs to the show, Dr. Daryl Harris is a professor teaching diverse interdisciplinary theatre courses at the Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts (SOTA). 

THE WIZ JR Showtimes

School performances of THE WIZ JR. will be held April 5-8 and 11, 2022, during the daytime hours.   

The sensory-friendly performance of THE WIZ JR. on Wednesday, April 6 at 1 PM is intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as children (and adults) with other special needs who may benefit. To create a sensory-friendly performance, the show is performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges. Slight adjustments to lighting and sound are made, and effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience are minimized.  

All The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Broadway-style MainStage productions, including THE WIZ JR., are performed in the historic Taft Theatre, at 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $10. Visit https://thechildrenstheatre.com/shows/the-wiz-jr/ for tickets.   

Don’t miss a show! Regular subscriptions for the 22-23 MainStage Season are on sale now and start at just $43. All subscriptions and single tickets remain refundable during the pandemic if you are unable to attend due to COVID-19. Find out more about subscribing at https://thechildrenstheatre.com/subscribe/.  

COVID Safety Protocols at The Taft Theatre

  1. Masks are required for ALL ticketholders age 2+, regardless of vaccination status. 
  2. All patrons ages 12+ must provide proof of *full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result administered within 72 hours of show start time. A negative rapid antigen test administered within 24 hours or proof of natural immunity via antibodies will also be accepted — that test would need to have occurred within six months from the date of the show you are attending. Self-reported negative test results that are not from a test provider, a laboratory, or a health care provider cannot be accepted. This rule applies to teachers and chaperones during our daytime school performances and at all public shows. 
  3. If you are experiencing symptoms (i.e., fever, chills, cough), please stay home and do not attend the event. Instead, contact the Box Office at 513-569-8080 x10 to discuss your ticket options. Read about their refund policy here. 
  4. Public performance seating will not be socially distanced. Please contact the TCT Box Office with any questions at 513-569-8080 x10 or email at tickets@tctcincinnati.com. 
  5. School show capacities will be limited, and school groups will be separated from one another to the best of our ability during daytime school performances. 
  6. No concessions will be sold during any performance. No food or drinks will be allowed in the theater. No merchandise will be sold during any performance. 
  7. Autographs for subscribers and Crown Club members after public performances have been postponed indefinitely. 
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The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati | MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR.

Go see this one, or I’ll send you to the chokey. **said in my most convincing Miss Truchbull voice. šŸ˜‰

Children's Theatre of Cincinnati
Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Running now through February 13 at The Taft Theatre, The Childrenā€™s Theatre of Cincinnatiā€™s Matilda The Musical JR. is a must-see!

Matilda The Musical JR. is creatively produced by the talented team at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. The stage will catch your eye immediately with hints at what’s to come in the show incorporated throughout the set design. The dance numbers are professionally polished and could easily be Broadway bound. Many moments will have you laughing, like the newt in her knickers. (If you know, you know šŸ˜‰.) Miss Trunchbull is cast and costumed to perfection including her signature unibrow and weight belt. Best of all, Matilda’s performance is stunning. That little girl has a BIG lesson to teach all of us. Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.

It’s no secret that we are big fans of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Productions. Have you read my blog 6 Reasons to Take Your Family to See a Show from The Childrenā€™s Theatre of Cincinnati? This performance did not disappoint.

The Childrenā€™s Theatre of Cincinnatiā€™sĀ Matilda The Musical JR. is a BIG hit for ages 4+.

While performances by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati welcome children of all ages, this one is recommended for ages 4+. There were 3 year olds sitting behind me who were a bit squirmy at times but seemed highly engaged, so it really just depends on what you think your kids can handle.

This performance is yet another big win in our book because all 3 kids loved it (5, 8 & 10)! Among our favorite parts were:

  • I loved the shadow play during Matilda’s storytelling. It was brilliantly executed and illustrated her LARGER THAN LIFE imagination in a creative and entertaining way!
  • My 5 year old had her eyes glued to the stage the whole time but particularly loved the choreographed kids dance scenes. I caught her grooving in her seat.
  • My 8 year old loved the scene where the boy was forced to eat the entire chocolate cake – excellent ‘theatre magic’ there.
  • My 10 year old had a hard time choosing her favorite part, but was in awe at the young girl who played Matilda.
Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Haven’t read the book or seen the movie? There’s still so much to love about The Childrenā€™s Theatre of Cincinnatiā€™s Matilda The Musical JR.

We are HUGE fans of the movie with Danny DeVito. If you need a little backstory, Matilda, is a loveably curious and brave little girl with a fantastic imagination. Her parents don’t see her potential and treat her like she’s a bother. Matilda is incredibly smart and absolutely loves to read, yet her mother clearly believes ‘looks are more important than books’.

At school, we meet her sweet teacher, Miss Honey and the rotten old head of school, Miss Trunchbull. She is meaner than a snake and more concerned about her hammer throwing Olympic achievements than the student’s academic achievements. Matilda ultimately displays incredible bravery and shows us ‘you don’t have to take it on the chin’ when she becomes the adult in the room and stands up to Miss Trunchbull’s bullying ways.

Tips for seeing a Childrenā€™s Theatre of Cincinnati show at The Taft Theatre

  1. Affordable parking is available at the Fountain Square garage and it gives you a great opportunity to get a treat after the show. No food is allowed in the theatre at this time.
  2. Get there early! Give yourself time to show your vaccine card or negative Covid test at the entrance (required for ages 12+).
  3. Grab a booster seat as you enter the theatre to help the littles see the stage better.
  4. Don’t miss the pop quiz trivia questions in the show program as you wait for the performance to begin!
  5. After the show, keep the conversation going by listening to this Podcast from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati.

The Childrenā€™s Theatre of Cincinnatiā€™s ROALD DAHLā€™S MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR. runs now through February 13 at the Taft Theatre. Tickets start at $10 and are still available at www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

Be sure to check out the Flex Pass Packages and the 22-23 Season Subscriptions so you don’t miss all the AWESOME performances coming up on the TCT MainStage! The Wiz JR., Disneyā€™s Descendants: The Musical, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer JR., Princess & Frog and Disneyā€™s Moana JR.

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EPIC Christmas Inflatable Displays Around Cincinnati

Are you or your kids on the hunt for EPIC Christmas inflatables and Christmas lights in Cincinnati? Here are some great Christmas light displays with great inflatables!

Bethel & Amelia

ā˜ƒļø3118 State Route 133 (Bethel, OH) ā€“Ā 20ft inflatables not up during high winds
ā˜ƒļøĀ 56 Robin Way
ā˜ƒļøĀ 1736 Starling Rd (Bethel, OH) ā€“Ā 44 blowups
CLICK HERE TO DRIVE THIS ROUTE

Anderson Township & Newtown

Ā 

Ashton Court

šŸ†Ā ā˜ƒļø757 8 Mile RoadĀ 
ā˜ƒļøĀ 1952 Rusticwood Lane
ā˜ƒļøĀ 8006 Meadowcreekā€“Ā 20ftĀ inflatables & the rest of the street is lit
ā˜ƒļø 2423 Ashton Court ā€“Ā 40+ minion inflatables, same neighborhood as above
CLICK HERE TO DRIVE THIS ROUTE

Bridgetown

šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 6778 Taylor Rd-Ā Santa Claus Lane
ā˜ƒļø 6037 Musketeer DriveĀ -lights are minimal

Colerain/Fairfield/Forest Park

šŸ†šŸŽ¶Ā ā˜ƒļøĀ 7209 Austin Woods LaneĀ 
ā˜ƒļø 2751 Overdale Dr
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 906 Linwood AvenueĀ 
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø11198 Lincolnshire Drive
CLICK HERE TO DRIVE THIS ROUTE

Hamilton/Ross

  • Cincinnati Christmas Lights
Webster Ave

šŸ† ā˜ƒļøĀ 2825 Pleasant Avenue
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 6124 Tyler Point Drive
ā˜ƒļø 312 Progress Avenue
ā˜ƒļø 710 Webster AveĀ -Tune to 99.7 to hear Christmas movie snippets & music (720 also decorated)
ā˜ƒļø 1825 Timberman Road
CLICK HERE TO DRIVE THIS ROUTE

Liberty Township/West Chester

Ā 

Sauterne Drive

šŸŽ¶ ā˜ƒļø 6393 Sauterne Dr 45011 ā€“Ā walking path
ā˜ƒļø 4863 Cedar Brook CtĀ 
ā˜ƒļø 7534 Lawndale Dr ā€“Ā walking path in backyard
ā˜ƒļø 7702 Bonnie Dr
ā˜ƒļø 7481 Barrett Rd
CLICK HERE TO DRIVE THIS ROUTE

KENTUCKY

Burlington/Hebron/Villa Hills

šŸŽ¶šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 3251 Millakin Place
šŸ† ā˜ƒļøĀ 1837 Northern Spy Drive
šŸ† ā˜ƒļø 813 Winterberry Court
ā˜ƒļø 2725 Vera Cruz Dr
CLICK HERE TO DRIVE THIS ROUTE

Elsmere/Florence/Independence

Christopher Drive

ā˜ƒļøĀ 1489 Clovernook Dr
šŸ†ā˜ƒļøĀ 1792 Fair Meadow Drive ā€“Ā lots of Disney characters
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 5179 Christopher DriveĀ 
CLICK HERE TO DRIVE THIS ROUTE

ENTER TO WIN 4 Harlem Globetrotters Tickets: December 30th at 7pm

Celebrating all things inflatables! See some epic inflatable displays around town, then hit the Harlem Globetrotters game and see Globie, their inflatable mascot.



The information above is intellectual property of Captain of the Kids and cannot be copied or reproduced in any way without written consent from owner.Ā Contact the owner for permission.

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GIVEAWAY To The Christmas Casino at Rising Star Casino Resort

Want to win aĀ hotel stay at the CHRISTMAS CASINO at Rising Star Casino Resort?

ENTER BELOW! Hotel voucher will be mailed to recipient and must be used within 30 days of issue date, pending availability. Holidays may be excluded. This giveaway is sponsored by Rising Star Casino Resort.

THINGS TO DO AT RISING STAR CASINO RESORT

Getaway with Adults
Gamble
Eat at Wellington’s Steakhouse
Take the ferry across the Ohio river to Rabbit Hash, KY for $5 each way

Getaway with Family:
šŸŽ… See Santa! Santa Don is TRULY the BEST one out there! He used to be at Macyā€™s in downtown Cincinnati, but now you can catch him at Rising Star Casino
— Friday & Saturdayā€™s from 2-8pm & Sundayā€™s from 12-6pm
— Special Santa hours include:Ā 12/20 – 12/23 fromĀ 2 – 8pm & 12/24Ā from 2- 6pm

SPECIAL EVENT THIS SUNDAY ONLY, 12/19:
See Olaf, The Grinch, Cindy Lou Who, and Santaā€™s Elves beginning at 1pm

Visit with Santaā€™s 8 (LIVE) reindeer outside the casino until Christmas
Shop in the Village Market from 12-6pm (open until 9pm on the weekends)

On your way home from the casino, visit The Craven Lights (video from 2020), a residential home display synced to music, in SE Indiana! CLICK HERE for a map from Rising Star Casino to The Craven Lights.

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Experience Gifts from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

With 3 kids at home, the holidays and birthdays can be a bit overwhelming here in the gifting department. SO. MANY. THINGS. I find myself wondering where I’m going to put it all and it becomes overwhelming. That’s why, EXPERIENCE GIFTS are my favorite!

Here are some ideas for experience gifts from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati , PLUS, cute ways to wrap a few of them! Share this with grandparents, aunts & uncles who are asking for gift ideas for your kids – literally, forward this to them! šŸ˜‰

TICKETS TO A CHILDRENS THEATRE PERFORMANCE AT THE TAFT

There are TWO shows left for the 2021-22 Season:
šŸ™ŽšŸ»ā€ā™€ļø Matilda the Musical JR. (February 5 – 14, 2022)
šŸŒˆ The Wiz JR. (April 2 – April 11, 2022)

Buy tickets to the show HERE and make a date out of it with a lunch or dinner before or after the show. It’s so important to take your kids to experience LIVE theatre. Check out my post about 6 reasons why you should take your kids to see The Children’s Theatre at The Taft! And donā€™t worry, theyā€™ve got a very exciting 22-23 season coming up after that!

  • Need some restaurant ideas? Here are my favorite kid-friendly places to eat downtown:
    • Sleepy Bee Cafe – 8 E 4th St (NOTE: it closes at 3pm)
    • Maplewood Kitchen – 525 Race St (NOTE: it closes at 3pm)
    • BRU Burger Bar – 41 E 6th St
    • SUPER CASUAL OPTIONS INCLUDE:
    • Skyline Chili – 254 E 4th St
    • Chipotle, Potbelly or have ice cream for lunch at Graeter’s – on Fountain Square
    • Jimmy Johns – 600 Vine

Going to see šŸŒˆ The Wiz JR. ? Wrap one of these with the tickets!

Going to see šŸ™ŽšŸ»ā€ā™€ļø Matilda the Musical JR. ?
Wrap the book with the tickets so your child can read alone or you can read together!
šŸ“• CLICK HERE to BUY the book Matilda by Roald Dahl

GIFT VOUCHERS TO THE CHILDRENS THEATRE

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati offers gift vouchers that are like gift certificates and can be applied towards any MainStage show. They can be sent via email, and, you can schedule it to send on the date of your choice in any amount you choose. The gift vouchers expire a year from the send date and can be used for any MainStage show, so the recipient can pick from this season or the first half of next season!Ā 

Wrap the voucher in popcorn bins, you can find them at Dollar Tree, with candy and microwave popcorn. Although there is currently no food or drinks allowed in The Taft (Dec 2021), the kids can enjoy the treats now!

GIFT A SEASON SUBSCRIPTION

Consider gifting a Season Subscription for a holiday or birthday gift. It guarantees great seats for each show and you have a built in date 3-4 times a year! GIFT IDEA FOR THE GRANDPARENTS: Gift this experience gift TO a grandparent and then make a personalized picture wall calendar on shutterfly or a similar site. Write the season show dates on the calendar so they have dates to look forward to spending quality time with your kids, the greatest gift EVER!

GIFT ACADEMY CLASSES OR CAMPS YEAR-ROUND

We can’t say enough good things about Angelo! He teaches many of the Academy classes. My kids took his class virtually and they just loved his charisma and wit. It was a Musical Theatre weekly class and the kids learned to dance, sing and add a little jazz and pizzaz to things! The Academy staff is excellent and can teach your child the fundamentals of theatre in a fun and encouraging setting.

Invite friends and family to purchase GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR CAMPS for Spring Break or Summer that can be applied to a camp of your child’s choice! Camps start at age 7 and the themes are always relevant and exciting to kids.

photo cred: The Children’s Theatre

For ages 18 mos to 18 years, The Children’s Theatre offers performing arts classes, introducing children to all elements of live theatre. Your kids learn educational lessons, move and grove and pick up some important life skills along the way.

Bonus, if the gift giver lives in town, they can drive the recipient to the lessons on Red Bank Rd and make it a weekly date! Or, sign up with friends and carpool. The winter session registration closes 1/31 and run about $250 for the session. SIGN UP FOR TCT ACADEMY CLASSES HERE!

  • Classes include:
    • Theatre Tech Crafts – learn to build theatre props
    • Voice Lessons – ages 7-18
    • Musical Theatre Medley – ages 4-12
    • Acting Through Song – ages 10-12
    • Drama Club – ages 7-18
    • TCT TOTS! – for 18mo – 24mo kids and their guardians
    • Audition Prep – work on audition songs & receive feedback, starting at age 10
    • And a TON more!
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Must See Christmas Light Displays in Cincinnati, NKY & SE Indiana

Christmas lights in Cincinnati

Are you looking for the BEST Christmas light displays in Cincinnati & NKY?

The GOLD STAR EXPRESS is a group of routes including the BEST neighborhood Christmas Light Displays in Cincinnati, NKY and SE Indiana with turn-by-turn google map directions.Ā 

šŸ† The routes includeĀ  ā­ļøGOLD STARā­ļø MUST SEE displays.
šŸŒ­ You’re bound to get hungry on your drive, right? Each route includes a Gold Star stop so you can grab a coney, milkshake or burger to enjoy on the drive!

Click here to find a Gold Star Chili location near you.

NOTE: MANY DISPLAYS TURN THEIR LIGHTS OFF AT 10:30 or 11PM OUT OF RESPECT FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS (AND THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS!)Ā Also, inflatables are usually deflated in high winds or dangerous weather.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE for your favorite Gold Star Express Route & Enter to WIN $100 Gift Card to Gold Star
Click here for the FULL list of lights sorted by neighborhood
Cincinnati Christmas Lights

Gold Star Express: NORTH Cincinnati

Best Christmas Light Displays in
NORTH Cincinnati

This route includes:
āœ… 1 šŸŽ¶display
āœ…Ā A Gold Star stop for chili or burgers or milkshakes for dessert
āœ… 5 šŸ† MUST SEE displays
šŸ•¦48 mins drive time + stops. Plan for 1.5-2 hrs of entertainment.

Addresses are:
FAIRFIELDĀ 
šŸ†1050 Gail AvenueĀ 
HAMILTON
šŸ†2825 Pleasant Avenue – tons of inflatables
šŸ†6124 Tyler Point Drive
šŸŒ­ A stop at Gold Star: 470 Nilles Rd
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP & WEST CHESTER
šŸŽ¶šŸ†6656 Devon DriveĀ 
SPRINGDALE
šŸ†638 Cloverdale

CLICK HERE for the GOOGLE MAPS ROUTE navigation on your phone. Click the 3 dots (…) in the upper right, then edit stops to add your starting point. Make sure to move your starting point to the ‘A’ position by clicking on the letter and dragging it to the top.Ā 

**Notable additional stops to add if time permits:
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø11198 Lincolnshire Drive
šŸ† 4161 Leona Ct ā€“Ā 20ft tall snowman and ferris wheel
šŸ†Ā 3118 Sorbus Dr ā€“ lots of figurines
ā˜ƒļø 1825 Timberman Road

Gold Star Express: Eastside Cincinnati

Best Christmas Light Displays in
Eastside Cincinnati

TWO routes to choose from!

Route 1 includes:
āœ… 1 šŸŽ¶display set to music
āœ… A Gold Star stop for chili or burgers or milkshakes for dessert
āœ… 3 šŸ† MUST SEE displays
šŸ•¦32 mins drive time + stops including watching the šŸŽ¶show. Plan for 1.5 hrs of entertainment.

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP
šŸ†757 8 Mile Road
šŸ†932 Watch Creek Drive – walking trail
šŸŽ¶šŸ†2110 Candlemaker Drive – video screen featuring cartoons & more
šŸŒ­ A stop at Gold Star: 7716 Beechmont Ave
NEW RICHMOND
šŸ† 2426 Country Place
šŸ„¤Stop for a shake at Gold Star in New Richmond – 1048 Old US 52

CLICK HERE for the GOOGLE MAPS ROUTE navigation on your phone. Click the 3 dots (…) in the upper right, then edit stops to add your starting point. Make sure to move your starting point to the ‘A’ position by clicking on the letter and dragging it to the top.Ā 

Route 2 includes:
āœ… 1 šŸŽ¶video display
āœ… 4 šŸ† MUST SEE displays
āœ… A Gold Star stop for chili or burgers or milkshakes for dessert
šŸ•¦53 mins drive time + stops. Plan for 1.5 – 2 hrs of entertainment.

Addresses are:
AMELIA/BETHEL
šŸ†49 Fawn Court
BATAVIA
šŸ†2327 Pleasant Meadows Dr
šŸŽ¶4262 Tranquility Court
MILFORD
šŸ†5657 Sugar Camp Road
WITHAMSVILLE
šŸ†3890 Dieckman Lane
šŸŒ­ A stop at Gold Star: 1190 Ohio Pike

CLICK HERE for the GOOGLE MAPS ROUTEnavigation on your phone. Click the 3 dots (…) in the upper right, then edit stops to add your starting point. Make sure to move your starting point to the ‘A’ position by clicking on the letter and dragging it to the top.Ā 

Additional options for a Gold Star stop on this route:
Batavia – 2195 Winemiller Ln, 45103
Milford – 85 Riversedge Dr, 45150 AND 1040 SR 28, 45150

Gold Star Express: Westside Cincinnati

Best Christmas Light Displays in
Westside Cincinnati

This route includes:
āœ… 4 displays set to music
āœ…Ā A Gold Star stop for chili or burgers or milkshakes for dessert
āœ… 4 šŸ† MUST SEE displays
šŸ•¦48 min drive time + stops. Plan for 1.5 hrs – 2.5 of entertainment.

Addresses are:
CARTHAGE
šŸŽ¶šŸ†šŸ†7211 Fairpark Avenue
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP
šŸ†šŸŽ¶7209 Austin Woods Lane
šŸŒ­ A stop at Gold Star: 8253 Colerain Ave, 45239
WHITE OAK
šŸŽ¶šŸ†4036 Ridgedale DriveĀ 
BRIDGETOWN/GREEN TOWNSHIP
šŸ†šŸŽ¶6365 Carley Lane – GIANT nutcracker statues

CLICK HERE for the GOOGLE MAPS ROUTE navigation on your phone. Click the 3 dots (…) in the upper right, then edit stops to add your starting point. Make sure to move your starting point to the ‘A’ position by clicking on the letter and dragging it to the top.Ā 

Additional Gold Star stop:
Western Hills – 6176 Glenway Ave, 45211

Gold Star Express: SE Indiana

Best Christmas Light Displays in
SE Indiana

This route includes:
āœ… 2 displays set to music
āœ… A Gold Star stop for chili or burgers or milkshakes for dessert
āœ… 3 šŸ† MUST SEE displays
āœ… 1 walk-thru display that’s FREE
šŸ•¦51 mins drive time + stops. Plan for 1.5 – 2.5 hrs of entertainment.

Addresses are:
HARRISON
šŸŽ¶šŸ†1526 Abigail Court
LAWRENCEBURG
šŸŽ¶šŸ† 20072 Cravenhurst Drive (Craven Lights ā€“ daily music schedule published on their page)
WEST HARRISON
šŸ† 2006 Snow Hill RoadĀ (Weaver Christmas Lights Walk-Thru)
šŸŒ­ A stop at Gold Star in Cleves: 4175 Hamilton Cleves Rd

CLICK HERE for the GOOGLE MAPS ROUTE navigation on your phone. Click the 3 dots (…) in the upper right, then edit stops to add your starting point. Make sure to move your starting point to the ‘A’ position by clicking on the letter and dragging it to the top.Ā 

Gold Star Express: NKY

Best Christmas Light Displays in
NKY

TWO routes to choose from!ā€‹

Christopher Drive

NKY Route 1 includes:
āœ… 1 šŸŽ¶display
āœ… A Gold Star stop for chili or burgers or milkshakes for dessert
āœ… 5 šŸ† MUST SEE displays
āœ… An award-winning, prime-time TV display
šŸ•¦56 mins drive time + stops. Plan for 2 – 2.5 hrs of entertainment.

Addresses are:
FLORENCE
šŸ†8344 Pleasant Valley RoadĀ ā€“ includes a huge Santaā€™s workship display
šŸ† šŸŽ¶ 7059 Manderlay Dr ā€“Ā Music on 89.3FM
šŸ†ā˜ƒļøĀ 1792 Fair Meadow Drive ā€“Ā lots of Disney characters
šŸŒ­ A stop at Gold Star Chili: 7649 Mall Rd, Florence, KY 41042
INDEPENDENCE
šŸ†5179 Christopher Drive ā€“ walking display also. Featured on The Christmas Light Fight show on ABC.Ā (5122 also decorated)
UNION
šŸ†1031 Aristides Drive

CLICK HERE for the GOOGLE MAPS ROUTE navigation on your phone. Click the 3 dots (…) in the upper right, then edit stops to add your starting point. Make sure to move your starting point to the ‘A’ position by clicking on the letter and dragging it to the top.Ā 

Want to change up your coney stop on this route? You could also stop at one of these locations on the route!
Burlington – 2355 Burlington Pike
Latonia – Gold Star Chili, 4381 Winston Ave

Route 2 includes:
āœ… 2 šŸŽ¶display
āœ… A Gold Star stop for chili or burgers or milkshakes for dessert
āœ… 4 šŸ† MUST SEE displays
āœ… ā˜ƒļø Lot’s of inflatables
šŸ•¦52 mins drive time + stops. Plan for 2 – 2.5 hrs of entertainment.

Addresses are:
BURLINGTON
šŸŽ¶šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 3251 Millakin PlaceĀ (The Kramerā€™s Christmas Lights) ā€“Ā Click HERE to see Millakin Place on WLWT!
šŸŒ­ A stop at Gold Star Chili:Ā Latonia, 4381 Winston Ave
HEBRON
šŸ† ā˜ƒļøĀ 1837 Northern Spy Drive
TAYLOR MILL
šŸŽ¶šŸ†3245 Huntersridge Lane
VILLA HILLS
šŸ† ā˜ƒļø 813 Winterberry Court

CLICK HERE for the GOOGLE MAPS ROUTE navigation on your phone. Click the 3 dots (…) in the upper right, then edit stops to add your starting point. Make sure to move your starting point to the ‘A’ position by clicking on the letter and dragging it to the top.Ā 

This article is in partnership with Gold Star Chili. Bringing chili love and maps of all the best lights to the tristate area!

The information above is intellectual property of Captain of the Kids and cannot be copied or reproduced in any way without written consent from owner. Contact the owner for permission.

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11 Cincinnati Light Drive-Thru’s & Walking Displays

Coney Lights

Holiday drive-thru light shows bring holiday spirit to the whole family! Check out all the options in the Greater Cincinnati area.Ā Ā Listed below as walking (šŸš¶) or driving (šŸš—) display.Ā 

Be sure to check out the comprehensive list of
šŸŽ„residential light displays in the neighborhoods around Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana!

šŸš¶PNC Festival of Lights at the Zoo

The Cincinnati Zoo – 3400 Vine Street, AvondaleĀ 45220
Cincinnati Zoo

The annual Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights, voted BEST Zoo Lights by USA Today, is an annual family-tradition! This walking holiday light display in Cincinnati is fun for all ages. PROtips: Get there EARLY so you can see some animals – the Kangaroo’s are active in the early evening and you can’t see Fiona and her friends once the sun sets. Stay for the lights and the hot chocolate and s’mores by the fire once the sun goes down.

Besides the millions of lights to view, you can admire the sleeping gorillas through the glass window, watch the lights dance to music on Swan Lake.
šŸ”„ Make sā€™mores by the fire and sip hot cocoa or an adult beverage šŸ˜‰
ā„ļøTake pics with The Frozen Sisters
šŸŽ… Take pics with Santa – he and Mrs. Claus are delightful!
šŸŽ­Mad Cap Puppet show
Get ticket to the Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights here.Ā 

šŸš— Journey Borealis at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park

PYRAMID HILL,Ā 1763 HAMILTON CLEVES RD, HAMILTON, OH 45013
Pyramid Hill Lights

Journey Borealis at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park drive-thru light experience is different than the other drive-thru light shows.
Monā€“Thurs 6pmā€“9pm: $20 per carload
Friā€“Sun 6pmā€“10pm: $25 per carload

The experience is paired to music by Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Cincinnati Boy Choir.

You listen as you drive through an app called OTOCAST – *protip* download it before you go so youā€™re ready at the start. Click here and scroll down to scan the QR code.

There are light displays, interactive video screens strung between the trees & festive yarn-bombed trees!Ā 

Make the MOST of your trip to Hamilton by exploring the town first. To celebrate the season, theyā€™ve designed fun for all ages with Holly Jolly Hamilton.

šŸš— Christmas Nights of Lights

Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati OH, 45230
Coney Lights
Coney Drive-Thru

Grab some treats and hot chocolate head to Coney to see the lights! 1 million lights synchronized to music!
*protips*
— head to a Graeter’s location to get discounted tickets at $20/car.
— enter from the Belterra side of Kellogg, not the highway for faster entry.Ā 
–pack snacks or dinner to eat in the car as lines can sometimes be long!
–get in line before dusk for a minimal wait!

See video of the fun in the Captain of the Kids Instagram reel.Ā šŸŒ²

šŸš¶ Lights at Clifton Mill

75 Water St., Clifton, OH 45316 (about 30 miles E of Dayton)
Christmas Lights Around Cincinnati

The Legendary Lights of Historic Clifton Mill has been on my bucket list for AWHILE and I think this might be the year! 4 million lights illuminating the mill, the gorge, the riverbanks, trees and bridges. There’s even a 100 foot ā€œwaterfallā€ of twinkling lights. This is a walking event with a Miniature Village, a Santa Claus Museum, a Toy Collection and a spectacular synchronized lights and music show on the covered bridge. Admission is $10/person, age 4+

Photo cred: Clifton Mill

šŸš— Holiday in Lights at Sharon Woods

Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, OH 45241Ā 

Enjoy a drive-thru light display through a wooded roadway in the Hamilton County park, Sharon Woods! Admission is $17 per vehicle, BUT you can get aĀ $1 off Holiday in Lights coupon here.

šŸš¶Light in the Forest at Cincy Nature Center

4949 Tealtown Rd, Milford, OH 45150
Thursday – Sunday only!

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED – Click here to make them!Ā 

December 1ā€“January 2, Wednesdays through Sundays, 5-9 pm (Closed December 24 & 25)

Hike the Nature Center trails to see light installations from BLINK Cincinnati reflecting a theme of peace, tranquility, and inspiration featuring the forest as a canvas for an artistic display of light. Throughout the walking tour, you will enjoy music, bonfires, holiday shopping, and the historic Krippendorf Lodge and Abner Hollow Cabin adorned in period decorations!

  • Member adult: $10; member child (3-17 years old): $5
  • Nonmember adult: $12; nonmember child (3-17 years old): $7

šŸš¶Lumaze INDOOR Light Festival

Duke Energy Convention Center 525 Elm Street,
Cincinnati, Ohio. 45202

Open through Dec 30th, your family can ‘glow around the world’ at the Lumaze, an INDOOR Christmas light festival! Get tickets to Lumaze Cincinnati here!

šŸ‡«šŸ‡· See 6 different country specific light displays from around the world – don’t forget to get your passport stamped at each location
šŸŽ…šŸ½ Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus
šŸŗ Food and drinks (beer, wine & cocktails too) available for purchase – grab an LED bulb cup
šŸ„¶ The festival is INDOORS, so it’s perfect for rainy or cold evenings
šŸ˜€ The event is geared toward kids 10 and under, in my opinion.

Check out all the fun on the Captain of the Kids Instagram page!

šŸš— šŸš¶The Christmas Ranch

3205 S. Waynesville Rd., MorrowĀ 45152

Reserve tickets ($20/car) online for The Christmas Ranch. Explore the lights – over 1 million – in this walk thru display! Enjoy the Nativity, stroll thru all of the shops, warm up by the bonfire and grab some goodies at Santaā€™s Bakery & CafĆ© – pizza, funnel cake and other goodies. Take a ride on The Reindeer Express.

Santa will be here every night of the week thru 12-23-21

šŸš¶Winterfest at Kings Island

6300 Kings Island Drive, Kings Island, OH 45034

It’s BACK! Grab your tickets to Kings Island’s Winterfest here!Ā 

šŸ‘©ā€šŸ³ Decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus
ā„ļø Snow tubing hills
Treats
šŸŽ„A nightly parade
šŸŽ…Pics with Santa
and more!

See all the details from my friend Nedra at Adventure Mom Blog!

šŸš— šŸš¶Christmas Glow at Land of Illusion

Land of Illusion Adventure Park,Ā 8762 Thomas Rd
MiddletownĀ OhioĀ 45042

A 2-mile long Christmas Around the World drive-thru experience. You can park after the drive-thru and visit Santa at the Christmas Village Santa Workshop, see the petting zoo or warm up by the fire pits. Get tickets online here for The Christmas Glow.

šŸš¶Winter Nights, River Lights

The Purple People bridge in Newport
Newport on the Levee

The Purple People Bridge features 1,000 lights illuminating the bridge’s span with holiday music and lighted projections too! Stop at the Wish Tree, on the Newport side of the bridge, to make someoneā€™s holiday wish come true! Now through January 15.

Friday – Sunday nights, The Exchange Market and Bridgeview Box Park will feature festive, holiday tunes. Weekends in December, The Exchange Market will have a live music performer dressed as Santa and playing Christmas jingles. Get the latest info on the Newport on the Levee Facebook page.

Or, grab some treats around Newport and then drive through some neighborhood light displays nearby. See the full list from Cincy Xmas Lights here.Ā 

šŸš— Light Up The Fair in Boone County

Boone County Fairground, 5819 Idlewild Rd Burlington, KYĀ 

A drive-thru light show set to music at the Boone County Fairground for $7/person runs nightly through Jan 2.

Get your tickets to Light up the Fair here!

Best Christmas lights in NKY
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Neighborhood Christmas Lights in Cincinnati, NKY and SE Indiana

CINCINNATI, NORTHERN KENTUCKY & SOUTHEAST INDIANA Christmas lights organized by neighborhood. Plan your custom route using Google Maps adding multiple stops or choose a route below. FULL LIST of addresses below.šŸ‘‡ Lights will remain up through 12/31. 

Follow along with šŸ“·Captain of the Kids and šŸŽ„Cincy Xmas Lights on social media to see all the pictures and videos! 

NOTE: MANY DISPLAYS TURN THEIR LIGHTS OFF AT 10:30 or 11PM OUT OF RESPECT FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS (AND THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS!) Also, inflatables are usually deflated in high winds or dangerous weather.

Let us do the navigating for you!

CLICK HERE to getšŸ“turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps of the BEST homes in the Tristate on the
šŸ†Gold Star Express!šŸ†

Looking for Christmas inflatables? CLICK HERE for a list of inflatables all over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, including šŸ“turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps!

THANKS to all the families who have created these amazing displays outside their homes for us to enjoy!
NKY Christmas Lights

Cincinnati Christmas Light Displays

HERE’S THE KEY:
ā“= Not confirmed for 2021
āŒ= no display this year
šŸ† = Absolute MUST see
šŸŽ¶= Musical display to radio station
ā˜ƒļø = Lots of inflatables
***Note: Some displays are included because they are close to others in the neighborhood, so it’s helpful if you’re looking for quantity in a close area. Only the šŸ† are truly considered drive-worthy.

AMELIA/BETHEL
šŸŽ¶31 Grouse Drive – The Klanke’s Christmas will be collecting unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots
šŸ†49 Fawn Court – šŸŽ…Santa will be there most weekends
3174 Lindale-Mt. Holly RoadĀ 
šŸŽ¶1202 Twin Gate Run (Bennett Family Lights)Ā (up until Jan 1)
3650 Black Jack Trail
3914 & 3915 Greentree Terrace – šŸŽ… Santa will be there Friday 12/10th and 12/17, weather permitting, from 6pm till 8pm
3753 & 3756 Redthorne Drive-Ā Old fashioned blow molds
ā˜ƒļø3118 State Route 133 (Bethel, OH) – 20ft inflatables not up during high winds
ā˜ƒļøĀ 56 Robinway
ā˜ƒļøĀ 1736 Starling Rd (Bethel, OH) – 44 blowups and a Christmas Shop onsiteĀ 
ā˜ƒļø 29 Arrowhead DrĀ 

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP & NEWTOWN
šŸ†Ā ā˜ƒļø757 8 Mile RoadĀ (up until Jan 1)
šŸ†932 Watch Creek DriveĀ (up until Jan 6)
šŸŽ¶1756 Pinebluff Lane (up until Jan 1)
šŸŽ¶1721 Muskegon Drive (same neighborhood as Pinebluff)Ā 
1189 HawkstoneĀ (up thru Jan)
7884 Stoneleigh Ln
ā˜ƒļøĀ 1952 Rusticwood Lane
šŸŽ¶šŸ†2110 Candlemaker Drive (up until Jan 1)
6145 Woodlark Drive
āŒ6344 Coffey Street – taking the year off
7424 Gungadin DriveĀ 
1425 Apple Hill Rd – thereā€™s a plane in the yard!
šŸŽ¶ 2250 Regis Court – 6-10 S-Th. 6-11 F and SĀ (up until Jan 1)
šŸŽ¶7739 Woodstone Dr
ā˜ƒļøĀ 8006 Meadowcreek– 20ftĀ inflatables & the rest of the street is lit
ā˜ƒļø 2423 Ashton Court – 40+ minion inflatables, in same neighborhood as home above
6748 Pecos Drive

BATAVIA
5242 Stonelick Williams Corner
šŸ†2327 Pleasant Meadows Dr
šŸŽ¶4262 Tranquility Court – 4 Christmas shows @5 mins each that are projected on the front of the house and set to audio.Ā (up until Jan 1)
4595 Water Dance Dr
82 Deer Meadow Dr

BLUE ASH
9491 Wynnecrest DriveĀ 

BRIDGETOWN/GREEN TOWNSHIP
3505 Moonridge Drive (up until 12/30)
3717 Krierview DriveĀ 
5201 Valley Ridge Road
šŸ†šŸŽ¶6365 Carley Lane –Ā Giant Nutcracker statues
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 6778 Taylor Rd- Santa Claus Lane
3625 Coral Gables RoadĀ 
ā“4417 Bridgetown Road
3858 Biehl
ā˜ƒļø 6037 Musketeer DriveĀ -lights are minimal

CHEVIOT/WESTWOOD
4111 HomelawnĀ 
šŸ†3998 Washington Ave
3061 Verdin AvenueĀ  (Westwood) – lights dance to music but no radio station

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP
3022 Aries CourtĀ 
5790 Blackwolf Run
šŸ†šŸŽ¶ ā˜ƒļø 7209 Austin Woods Lane (up until Jan 1)
ā˜ƒļø 2751 Overdale Dr
8730 Cheviot Road – 75 ft tall lit up tree
9205 Silva Drive

COVEDALE
šŸ†5373 Maylee Place – multiple houses on the street with arches over the sidewalks. They collect canned good for a local food shelter daily & offer hot chocolate on Friday & Sat nights with donations accepted for a local animal shelter.Ā (up until Jan 3)

DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP
šŸ†3578 Simpson TraceĀ 

DEER PARK/DILLONVALE
7818 Dearborn AvenueĀ 
Tramore DriveĀ 
3856 & 3824 Mantell – lots of inflatables
4039 Limerick Ave

DELHI
5341 Delhi Pike
šŸŽ¶5125 Whitmore DriveĀ – nativity scene

EASTGATE
515 & 522 Kaldy Street
4226 Deepwood LaneĀ 
4663 Rustic Way
šŸŽ¶ 968 London Court

FAIRFIELDĀ 
šŸŽ¶1 Kingsmont CourtĀ – Check out their Facebook Page for any updatesĀ (up until Jan 1)
899 Shady LaneĀ 
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 906 Linwood AvenueĀ 
šŸŽ¶964 Antioch Drive – ended for the season
šŸ†1050 Gail Avenue – Star Wars, Minion and other character lit displays
2547 Skylark Drive – šŸŽ…Kids can drop a letter to Santa in the special mailbox! Include a return address for a note back from the big guy. NOTE: mailbox will close on 12/17 to allow time for Santa to get the letters in the mail!
5839, 5731 & 5734 Sigmon Way
1553 Hunter Road –Ā beautifully lit trees with white lights and a tasteful done display
1023 Oberlin Dr – lots of homes lit on the street
3450 Hamilton Mason Rd
1839 Gloucester Drive – front & backyard with a mile high tree
2096 Harrogate Hill Lane
773 Doris Jane Avenue
3329 Cherry Hill DrĀ 
5169 May Ave

FELICITY
460 Felicity Higginsport Road – a residential farm decorated
ā˜ƒļø 751 State Route 133Ā (up until Jan 8)

FINNEYTOWN/NORTH COLLEGE HILL
7242 Clovernook AvenueĀ (up until Jan 1)
šŸŽ¶ 2420 Berthbrook Drive
šŸŽ¶ 691 Buff StĀ 
7228 Park AvenueĀ 
9295 Montoro DriveĀ 
7350 Elizabeth StĀ (+2 neighbors)
943 & 936 Timber TrailĀ 
šŸŽ¶šŸ†šŸ†7211 Fairpark Avenue
2032 West Galbraith Road –Ā Zapf’s Christmas DisplayĀ (very limited display this year)
1267 West Galbraith RoadĀ 

FOREST PARKĀ 
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø11198 Lincolnshire Drive

GOSHEN
šŸ†2200 OH-132 (corner of OH-132 & Shiloh)Ā –Ā live animals, hot cocoa, and a train ride. Plan to get out and walk around. Sleigh rides and Santa on 12/4 from 6 – 8pm. Check their Facebook page for updates.
6249 Belfast Road
1577 Woodville Pike

HAMILTON/ROSS TOWNSHIP/MORGAN TOWNSHIP
šŸ† ā˜ƒļø 2825 Pleasant Avenue
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 6124 Tyler Point Drive
3938 Withrow Rd
ā˜ƒļø 312 Progress Avenue
ā˜ƒļø 710 Webster Ave -Tune to 99.7 to hear Christmas movie snippets & music (720 also decorated)
969 North “E” St
2359 Bevington Lane (through Jan 1)
šŸ† 4161 Leona Ct – 20ft tall snowman and ferris wheel
šŸ† 3118 Sorbus Dr –Ā lots of figurines, hot cocoa on weekends :)!
šŸŽ¶5372 Alert New London Rd
ā˜ƒļø 1628 Tuley Rd
3581 Morganthaler Rd
ā˜ƒļø 1825 Timberman Road (up until 12/30)
šŸŽ¶ 4207 Jennifer Dr – tune to 106.7fm
1956Ā RebeccaĀ Ridge
šŸ†7101 Iron Kettle Dr
4066 E Taylor School Road
637 W Taylor School RdĀ 
šŸŽ¶ 63 Morris Ave

HARRISON/CLEVES
šŸŽ¶šŸ†1526 Abigail CourtĀ (up until Jan 1)
šŸŽ¶337 South Elm St
8944 Harrison PikeĀ (up until Jan 1)

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP & WEST CHESTER
šŸŽ¶ ā˜ƒļø 6393 Sauterne Dr 45011 –Ā walking path
šŸŽ¶šŸ†6656 Devon Drive – Christmas at the Hormanns (collecting canned goods for Reach Out Lakota & The Princeton Closet through Dec 25.)Ā (up until Jan 3)
8145 Cherry Laurel Drive
6209 & 6185 Yankee Road
446 West Chester Rd
šŸŽ¶8757 Bluebird Drive
ā˜ƒļø 4863 Cedar Brook Ct (through Jan 1)
5226 Traverse Ct.
5062 Anmer Hall Lane – lots of figurines
šŸŽ¶Quail Hollow Ct & Brucehills Dr
7487 Providence Woods Ct
ā˜ƒļø 7534 Lawndale Dr – walking path in backyard
8305 Kimberly Ann Ct
šŸŽ¶5216 Belgium Ct
šŸŽ¶7395 N. Pisgah Drive
ā˜ƒļø 7481 Barrett Rd
ā˜ƒļø 7702 Bonnie Dr
Carriage House Blvd – the entire neighborhood is lined with trees lit in red and white

LOVELAND/MAINVILLE
819 & 843 Marbea DriveĀ 
1100 Sunrise Drive – Bring a letter to Santa, and take a pic at the selfie stand wreath!
1111 Redbird Meadows Dr (4 homes together)
6245 Sweet Briar Ct – lots of candy cane figurines
342 East Hatt Swank Rd
ā˜ƒļø 10100 Sleepy Ridge Drive
šŸŽ¶7909 Highbrook (Maineville)
ā˜ƒļø šŸŽ¶ 3464 Simpson Trace (Mainville)

šŸŖšŸæ–> LOVELAND ROUTE: 28 minutes without stops, starts at Trailside Provisions to stock-up on treats for the ride and includes 4 homes.
šŸ“CLICK HERE for the Loveland Google Maps Route.
Note: Trailside Provisions is where this route starts. They are open M-Sat until 6pm & Sunday until 5pm and CLOSED 12/25-28.

MASON
102 Elmlinger DriveĀ 
5186 Minuteman Court – multiple houses
4966 Elizabeth CT
Concord Crossing cul-de-sac
3263 Ultra Ct

MILFORD
šŸŽ¶1111 Heatherstone Way (sun-th: 6-10, fri & sat: 6-11) + 1115 Heatherstone Way (up until Jan 1)
1397 Linden Creek Drive (multiple homes)Ā 
1696 Cottontail Drive
šŸ†5657 Sugar Camp Road – Click HERE to see Sugar Camp on WLWT – the ‘plaid’ houseĀ (up until Jan 8)
5707 Highland Terrace (up until Jan 1)
āŒ šŸŽ¶5447 Cindy Ln –Ā not decorated this year
1124 Hayward Circle – many neighborhood homes decorated
6070 Delfair Lane
2327 Pleasant Meadows Ct
šŸŽ¶ Scarlet Maple Ct

MONROEĀ 
šŸŽ¶100 Hollytree Drive (90 is taking a year off)
šŸŽ¶905 Ryan CourtĀ 
šŸŽ¶38 Village Court
19 Ambergreen Ct

MONTGOMERY
10419 Stone Court
ā“10869 Bromwell Lane

MT. LOOKOUT
ā˜ƒļø 3488 Principio AvenueĀ Ā 

NEW RICHMOND
šŸ†2426 Country Place – arches lining their driveway. You can drive down their driveway, just stay in your cars.
130 Regatta DrĀ 
100 Lights Pointe Ct

NORWOOD/NORTH AVONDALE
ā˜ƒļø 2516 Marsh Ave – lights are minimal
961 Avondale Ave – lots of Disney character cutouts like Mickey, Toy Story & Frozen

READING/WYOMINGĀ 
2263 Pompano Ave
1427 Jefferson Ave
2181 Bolser Drive
9 North AvenueĀ 
šŸŽ¶115 Linden DriveĀ (lights only on 6-9pm)
šŸŽ¶346 Hilltop Ln & Circlewood Lane –Ā many houses on the street are lit up, so this is good if you’re looking for lots of lights at once
160 Eagleview Way –Ā lots of inflatables
15 Magic Lane

SHARONVILLE/SPRINGDALE
10602 Robindale DriveĀ Ā 
4010 Beavercreek Circle
šŸ† 638 CloverdaleĀ (up until Jan 1)

ST BERNARD
403 Jefferson Avenue
šŸŽ¶309 & 320 McClelland AveĀ (up until Jan 1)
417 Washington AveĀ – new to the list

WESTERN HILLS
2213 Rollingridge Ln
Corner of Werk & BoudinotĀ 

WHITE OAK
šŸŽ¶šŸ†4036 Ridgedale Drive – Santa will be passing out candy canes & the home owners will be serving hot chocolate on 12/12 from 6-8pm
5846 Fawnridge CourtĀ Ā (up until Jan 1)
šŸŽ¶6023 Ramblingridge Dr
4044 Hubble Rd
3678 Jessup Road
7015 King James Ct

WITHAMSVILLE/WILLIAMSBURG
šŸ†3890 Dieckman Lane (up until Jan 1)
446 Glenrose Ln
3918 Randolph Ln – 35+ blow mold snowmenĀ 
šŸŽ¶ 17 Lynn Ct

Northern Kentucky Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays

The list is organized by neighborhood. Plan your custom route using Google Maps. 

ALEXANDRIA
10 Elmwood Court
2495 Grandview Rd – Old fashioned blow molds display
šŸŽ¶957 Willow Creek Drive
šŸŽ¶ 1183 Wildflower Ct – low-res diy matrix screen
šŸ†112 Hunters Hill 
115 Hunters Hill
šŸ†2 Bittersweet Drive
šŸŽ¶103 Quailwood Ct – tune to 92.7fm
šŸŽ¶šŸ†1227 Parkside Drive – tune to 96.1

BURLINGTON
šŸŽ¶šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 3251 Millakin Place (The Kramer’s Christmas Lights) – Click HERE to see Millakin Place on WLWT!
šŸŽ¶45 homes on Tosha Drive
šŸŽ¶1598 Deer Run Dr – a walk-through 20ft tunnel, a selfie frame & letters to Santa mailbox. Open through Jan 7th

COLD SPRING
šŸŽ¶5048 Dodsworth Lane
ā“409 Knollwood Dr

COVINGTON
20 Waterside Way 
šŸ†22 Hideaway Drive 
West Broadway Street – many homes lit up

CRESTVIEW HILLS
šŸŽ¶2902 Campus Drive – take pictures in their full size sleigh (up until Jan 1)

DAYTON
Cottonwood Place – many homes on the street are decorated

DRY RIDGE
āŒ29 New Del Drive
āŒ2105 Taft Highway
taking a year off

ERLANGER
4109 Fitzgerald Court – Santa video screen & šŸŽ…mailbox for letters to Santa! Leave a return address for a letter back from Santa!
šŸŽ¶ 876 Ashridge Court
438 Mcalpin Ave – he decorates his car šŸ™‚

ELSMERE
šŸ† 7789 Bridgegate
1066 Wermeling Lane
ā˜ƒļø 1489 Clovernook Dr
šŸŽ¶213 Caldwell Dr
64 Park Avenue
ā“459 Palace Avenue

FLORENCE
šŸŽ¶45 Hearthstone Court – follow them on Facebook (up until Jan 1)
1456 Arlington Drive 
šŸ†8344 Pleasant Valley Road – includes a huge Santa’s workship display
šŸŽ¶15 Glenn Street – Tune to 97.9
45 Heathwood Ct
šŸ† šŸŽ¶ 7059 Manderlay Dr – Music on 89.3FM
ā˜ƒļø 2116 Rose Petal Drive
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 1792 Fair Meadow Drive – lots of Disney characters
411 Merrayvay Dr

FORT MITCHELL
šŸ† 10 W Maple Avenue 

HEBRON
šŸ† ā˜ƒļø 1837 Northern Spy Drive
šŸŽ¶1917 Conway Hills – Tune your radio to 99.7 Click here for their Facebook Page
1813 Rome Ct

INDEPENDENCE
šŸ†ā˜ƒļø 5179 Christopher Drive – walking display also. Home on The Christmas Light Fight show on ABC. (5122 also decorated) – Click HERE to see Christopher Dr on WLWT! – (up thru at least Jan 2)
šŸŽ¶1111 Battleridge Drive (up until Jan 1)
6383 Alexandra Ct (up thru mid Jan)
šŸŽ¶šŸ†4591 Oliver Rd
10315 Charleston Lane
šŸŽ¶4458 Silversmith Lane (previously 49 Caney Court in Covington) + 4462, 4463 Silversmith Lane
890 Independence Station Rd – lots of old fashioned blow molds
šŸŽ¶2271 Harris Pike – new to the list this year
ā“789 Ridgepoint Dr 

LUDLOW
Adela, Laurel & 844 Oak St – Many houses on these streets are lit.

NEWPORT
šŸ†100 W Broadway Street 
39 E Ridge

PENDELTON CO
Several homes in the Peach Grove area have great displays starting at KY Hwy 10 south of Ky Hwy 154 to Jacob’s Road – LIVE nativity scene on Saturdays (intel from a page followers)

TAYLOR MILL
šŸŽ¶šŸ†3245 Huntersridge Lane – 2020 wasn’t the last year! Their adult kids have kept the tradition alive. šŸ™‚

UNION
šŸŽ¶2217 Antoinette Way 
šŸ†1031 Aristides Drive – the lights drape the house from top to bottom in a unique way. Click HERE to see Aristides on WLWT! (up until Jan 6)
šŸŽ¶10829 Silver Charm Lane – non-traditional music, too
ā“šŸŽ¶10686 Sedco Drive 

VILLA HILLS
764 Sunglow Drive (up until Jan 9)
šŸ† ā˜ƒļø 813 Winterberry Court
ā˜ƒļø 2725 Vera Cruz Dr

WILDER
šŸŽ¶šŸ† 488 Stevens Hill – The Blanchet’s Christmas. BUT, use 725 Johns Hill Rd, Wilder, KY in your GPS to find it. It is a gravel road.

Southeastern Indiana Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays

The list is organized by neighborhood. Plan your custom route using Google Maps. 

GUILDFORD
šŸ†5036 Old Hunt Ln

LAWRENCEBURG
šŸŽ¶šŸ†20072 Cravenhurst Drive (Craven Lights – daily music schedule published on their page) (up until Jan 8) **Special NYE show too!
šŸ†5169 Kaiser Dr 

WEST HARRISON
šŸ†2006 Snow Hill Road (Weaver Christmas Lights Walk-thru open through 12/31 until 10pm with cookies & hot cocoa) – starting to thin the lights on 12/30 but still plenty to see!

CLICK HERE for 12 walk or drive thru light displays in Cincinnati & NKY area - complete with ice skating, Santa visits and more!
Best Christmas lights in NKY

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