The holiday season in Cincinnati is truly a magical time. (Don’t just take my word for it—the people of WalletHub named Cincinnati a Best Winter Holiday Destination in 2025.) Standard activities around the holidays include shopping, dining out, and checking out events, and, with its excellent retail and restaurant options, as well as its plentiful holiday events, our great city has no shortage of things to do, places to go, and events to check out throughout the holidays.
Downtown Cincinnati, which encompasses Over-the-Rhine (OTR), the Central Business District (CBD), The Banks, The West End, Findlay Market, and Pendleton, has so many excellent things to do, see, and visit, plus great places to shop during the Holidays in the Queen City. I have partnered with Downtown Cincinnati to provide a comprehensive list of family friendly ways and establishments to celebrate the holidays, including events, performing arts, restaurants, shops, and venues and displays, as well as tips for how to get around Downtown and where to park.
Events
December 18
Thursday Art Play: Holiday Gifts
Contemporary Arts Center, 10:30–11:30a
Hands-on art making activities and yoga every Thursday morning.
Free for members, $5 per non member child. This program is designed especially for children ages 2–6 years old, and their parents or caregivers. Free for families with a valid SNAP or food assistance card (EBT).
December 19
Jingle Jams
Washington Park, 6–8p
A merry mix of live holiday music, great drinks, and festive vibes.
Free admission
December 20
Peanut Butter & Jam Sessions: Winter Winds
Elm Street Plaza, 1–3p
Free admission
Downtown Dazzle
Live at Fountain Square and streamed on the LED board at Elm Street Plaza, 6–9p
Cookie and ornament decorating, scavenger hunt, photos with Santa and Buddy the Elf, Santa rappelling from a building, and fireworks show.
Free admission
December 20–21
Santa’s Workshop
Washington Park*, 11a–2p
Bring your family, your dog, and your friends to meet and take a photo with Santa—bring your own camera.
Free admission
Winter Markets: ArtisanFest513’s Grinchmas Cincinnati
Washington Park*, 11a–4p
The finale of the ArtisanFest513 season, complete with fire pits, hot chocolate, vendors, and photos with Santa and the Grinch.
Free adamission
December 21
Storytime with Mrs. Claus
Elm Street Plaza, 11a–1p
Gather ‘round inside the WGU Warming Tent as Mrs. Claus shares some of her favorite holiday stories.
Free (rink admission not required)
Art on Vine Holiday Market
Rhinegeist, 12–6p
Free admission
Cocoa & Crafts
Washington Park*, 3–5p
Paint wooden ornaments and drink hot cocoa.
Free
Performing Arts
December 3–31
It’s Fritz! A Sequel to Fiona: The Musical
Ensemble Theatre
December 5–21
Elf the Musical Jr.
The Emery Theater
One of the company’s most popular productions for the holiday season.
70-minute runtime
December 18–28
The Nutcracker
Music Hall
Cincinnati’s favorite holiday tradition.
December 19–21
David Choate’s Hot Chocolate
Aronoff Center
Cincinnati’s first and only African American Nutcracker experience presented by Revolution Dance Theatre—back for its 5th anniversary.
Restaurants
Arnold’s Bar & Grill*
210 E 8th Street
Tues–Thursday, 11:30a–10p; Fri–Sat, 11:30a–11p
Menu (there is no dedicated kids menu, but menu items can easily be accommodating for people and palates of all ages)
Biscuit Love*
1602 Pleasant Street
Open daily, 7a–3p
Menu (there is no dedicated kids menu, but these breakfast items can easily be accommodating for people and palates of all ages)
BRU Burger Bar
41 E Sixth Street
Sun–Thurs, 11a–9p; Fri–Sat, 11a–10p
Menu | Kids menu
Takes reservations
Mellotone*
1429 Race Street
Tues–Thurs, 4–10p; Fri, 12p–midnight; Sat, 11a–midnight; Sun, 11a–10p
Menu (there is no dedicated kids menu, but the menu features a soft pretzel, fries, and a side of mac and cheese, which can be accommodating for people and palates of all ages)
Takes reservations
Moerlein Lager House*
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Mon–Thurs, 11a–10p; Fri–Sat, 11a–11p; Sun, 11a–9p
Menu | Brunch menu | Kids menu also available
Takes reservations
Nada
600 Walnut Street
Mon–Thurs, 11a–9p (lunch until 4); Fri, 11a–11p (lunch until 4); Sat, 11a–11p (brunch until 2); Sun, 11a–9p (brunch until 2)
Lunch menu | Brunch menu | Dinner menu | Kids menu
Takes reservations
TAGLIO*
56 E 12th Street
Sun–Thurs, 11a–9p; Fri–Sat, 11a–11p
Lunch and dinner menu
Shops
Fabulous Frames & Art*
17 W 4th Street
Puzzles, calendars, art, games, [activity] books, and more.
Mon, 10a–3p; Tues–Thurs, 10a–5:30p; Fri–Sat, 10a–3p
Indigo Hippo
1334 Main Street
Creative Reuse Center (think arts supply thrift store) and arts programming 501(c)(3) non-profit.
In-store shopping hours: Wed–Sat, 12–6p
Koch Sporting Goods*
131 W 4th Street
Cincinnati’s oldest and largest sporting goods store, featuring pro and collegiate apparel and accessories, as well as sporting goods products and team equipment.
Mon–Fri, 9:30–6p; Sat, 9a–3p
Paper Wings*
1203 Vine Street
Stationery, cards, notebooks, and pens.
Mon–Thurs, 11a–7p; Fri–Sat, 10a–8p; Sun, 10a–5p
Pink Rich Charm Bar
1411 Main Street
Custom charm jewelry and accessory shop. You can also book an event.
Thurs–Sat, 11a–5p; Sun, 12–4p
Pop Cultur’d Co
6 W 12th Street
Clothing, accessories, stationery and gifts, and more.
Wed–Sat, 11a–7p; Sun, 11a–5p
Venues and Displays
Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt
Moerlein Lager House*
All ages German-American Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt, complete with food, beverages, merchandise, holiday lights, choral music, themed character visits, ice rink, Igloo boardwalk, and musical entertainment.
Thurs, 5–9p; Fri, 5–10p; Sat, 12–10p; Sun, 12–7p (click here for Christmas week hours)
Free admission
Cincinnati Fire Museum*
315 W Court Street
Tues–Sat, 10a–4p
Contemporary Arts Center
44 E 6th Street
Thurs–Fri, 10a–7p; Sat–Sun, 10a–4p
Elm Street Plaza
Elm Street Plaza is a 2.5-acre park that neighbors the Duke Energy Convention Center and features holiday amenities such as the ice rink, warming tent, concessions, and rentable igloos and pergolas.
Ice rink holiday hours (December 19–January 4)
Open daily, 9a–10p
Shillito’s Elves
Carew Tower (along Fifth Street)
Elves will be animated Mon–Thurs, 11a–1p and 4–8p; Fri–Sun, 11a–8p
The elves’ move is part of expanded holiday programming that will stretch throughout downtown’s Fountain District.
Free
Washington Park*
Winter porch
Fri, 3–8p; Sat–Sun, 11a–8p
Winterhaus
Fountain Square*
With the move of the ice rink to Elm Street Plaza, Winterhaus is a cozy, glass-enclosed tented retreat in the heart of the city, complete with daily programming, a full bar, and space for everything from co-working to private events.
Open daily, 11a–11p (December 19–January 4, closed Christmas Day)
Getting Around
Cincinnati Connector
The streetcar is fare free, completely ADA compliant, and travels a 3.6 mile loop from the Brewery District in the north and south to The Banks. There are 18 stations along the route.
Hours: Mon–Fri, 7:30a–11:30p; Sat, 8:30a–11:30p; Sun, 9:30a–9:30p
Cincinnati Metro
For $2 (Hamilton County Local), you can take the Metro bus system to avoid paying for parking downtown. Download the Transit app to plan your trip(s) and pay for your fare.
Cincinnati Red Bike
Cincinnati’s nonprofit-based bikeshare system, connecting people to places with a low-cost, green transportation option. There are more than two dozen Red Bike stations in the Downtown area. Download the app to get riding.
Electric Scooters
E-scooters by Bird and Lime are available to rent daily from 6a–11p. Simply download their respective mobile app to start riding.
Parking
3CDC operates more than 15 covered parking garages and lots in the CBD and OTR. (Click here for a list of locations and to view their rates.) There is also street and other surface lot parking available for a fee.
Tip: Findlay Market has FREE parking for one hour Mon–Fri, 8a–6p
Walkability
In addition to public transit, e-scooters, and Red Bike, Downtown Cincinnati is a very walkable city.
This is merely a shortlist of ways to enjoy your time Downtown during the holiday season. Have any questions or looking for a custom recommendation? Just ask!
*Participating Queen City Card venue. The Queen City Card is an eGift card accepted at more than 100 Downtown Cincinnati establishments. From going out to eat, supporting the arts, and shopping local, to having a drink, and treating yourself to a spa treatment, the Queen City Card has options for people of all ages with a variety of interests.
