Holiday Hulabaloo: 2018

With cold weather nipping at noses while cookies and holiday treats are being baked, the spirit of the holidays is in the air. ‘Tis the season to gather your friends and family and explore the joys of the holidays in the Toledo area!

December 1-31
Lights Before Christmas

Sunday–Thursday 3-8pm
Friday and Saturday 3-9pm

Toledo Zoo
2 Hippo Way | 419-385-4040 | toledozoo.org

A holiday tradition for the Toledo area, The Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo is a great time for all ages. Enjoy witnessing one of the best zoo light displays in the country with over a million lights comprising illuminated animal images, a winter village, ice carvings, and holiday treats.

Dec. 1-31
Nite Lites

Sunday-Thursday 5:30-9pm
Friday-Saturday 5:30-10pm

Michigan International Speedway
12626 U.S. 12, Brooklyn, MI | 517-937-6426
nitelitesshow.com

Witness a magnificent drive thru Christmas light show at the Michigan International Speedway. Visitors will be able to see a brilliant light display every night, while also enjoying Winter Wonderland and visits from Santa on the weekends. Cost for a single car is $25.

December 1-30
North Pole Express

Fri-Sat 5:30-9:30pm
Sun 5:30-9:30pm
$3 for adults and $2 for children

Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation
12505 County Road 99, Findlay | 419-423-2995
nworrp.org

Enjoy a scenic wintery display as you travel aboard the North Pole Express. This train ride will put everyone in the holiday spirit. Enjoy a Christmas decoration display in the NWORRP museum, as well as along the railroad track.

Dec. 1-Jan. 6
Hensville Lights

Hensville-Lights

6pm-12am
St. Clair Street between Washington & Monroe St.
hensvilletoledo.com/calendar/event/6630

Take a visit downtown to see the Hensville Lights, showcasing a winter wonderland scene of over 200,000 beautiful lights. All the buildings along St. Clair St. between Washington and Monroe will be decorated with a dancing light show synced to music. Also be sure to check out the local Walleye games throughout the winter months!

December 1-16
Holidays in the Manor House

Holidays-at-the-Manor-House

10am-8pm

Wildwood Preserve
5100 W. Central Ave. | 419-407-9700
metroparkstoledo.com

For over 40 years The Manor House has been decorated for the holidays, and this year is no exception. Visit the beautiful mansion at Wildwood Preserve Metropark and go on a self-guided tour of 32 different displays within the house. Also be sure to visit the welcome tent outside the house for holiday treats.

December 1
Christmas at the Peristyle

3pm

Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle
2445 Monroe St. | 419-246-8000 | toledosymphony.com

Bring a little music into your holiday season with Christmas at the Peristyle. This Saturday matinee will feature the Toledo Opera Chorus and Toledo Symphony School of Music students. Bring your singing voice and be ready for a holiday sing-a-long. Be on the lookout for a special guest from the North Pole who is scheduled to make a visit.

December 1-2
A Christmas Carol

A-Christmas-Carol

Adult – $27; Child – $17

The Valentine Theatre
410 Adams St. | 419-242-3490 | valentinetheatre.com

Get in the holiday spirit with a performance of A Christmas Carol, a 30-year Toledo Rep tradition which will feature beautiful sets, awesome costumes, and a great musical score. This musical is sure to get even the most Scrooge-like folks into the mood for the holidays.

Dec. 1, 7, & 8
Holiday Lantern Tours

4:00-8:30pm

Sauder Village
22611 St. Rte 2, Archbold | 1-800-590-9755
saudervillage.org

Take a step back in time this holiday season with Sauder Village’s Holiday Lantern Tours. Visitors will get to experience various American Christmas traditions, learning how they have changed and developed over the years. The trolley tour starts in the 1850s at the Witmer-Roth Home and continues to take in holiday celebrations up to the 1920s. Visitors will have the chance to participate in crafts, decorating a tree, frosting cookies and singing favorite carols. Non-members $13/adult, $7/children. Members: $11/adult, $6/children

December 2
Holiday Parade

2pm

Downtown Perrysburg
130 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg | visitperrysburg.com

Join the holiday fun in Perrysburg with the annual Holiday Parade. Enjoy watching marching bands, dancers, street performers, and of course the special guest…Santa!

Hip-Hop Hanukkah

1-3pm

Sky Zone Toledo
1600 Albon Rd., Holland | Skyzone.com

The Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo will be hosting Hip-Hop Hanukkah at Sky Zone. Sky Zone offers various trampoline attractions and games, as well as a great snack station. Join in the fun and jump into the celebration of Hanukkah!

Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Gingerbread House Construction

2pm

Imagination Station
1 Discovery Way, Toledo | 419-244-2674
imaginationstationtoledo.org

Bring a little science into the holidays with Imagination Station’s Think Tank Workshops. The month of December features gingerbread house construction to teach kids about architecture basics while using engineering and geometry skills. Visitors can keep their gingerbread creation on display at Imagination Station or take it home to enjoy!

December 7-24
Children’s Wonderland

11am-8pm (11am-2pm on December 24th)

Tam-O-Shanter
7060 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania | 419-882-1500
playsylvania.com/childrens-wonderland

For years families have come from all over the area to see Children’s Wonderland. The display features dozens of classic exhibits of Christmas and wintery scenes. Train rides will also be available, as well as pictures with Santa.

December 7-9
Miracle on Main Street

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Downtown Sylvania
5632 Main St. Sylvania | 419-882-2135
sylvaniachamber.org/miracle-on-main-street

Celebrate the holidays with the Sylvania community as they host their annual Miracle on Main Street. The weekend of festivities includes art exhibits, live music, crafts, food, a parade, tree lighting, a 5K run, and a visit from Santa. Be sure to also stop in and visit the local artists and businesses.

December 8-9
Toledo Ballet’s Nutcracker

nutcracker

Saturday 2 & 7pm, Sunday 2pm

Stranahan Theater
4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. | 419-246-8000
toledosymphony.com

The Christmas story of The Nutcracker comes to life with the Toledo Ballet dancing choreographed with The Toledo Symphony Orchestra’s live performance of the score. The story follows the adventure of Clara as she is whisked into a magical world with the enchanted Nutcracker Prince. This performance has been a great Toledo tradition for over 75 years.

December 9
Fort Meigs Holiday Open House

1-4pm

Fort Meigs
29100 West River Rd., Perrysburg | fortmeigs.org

Add a little history to your Christmas plans with a visit to Fort Meigs for their Holiday Open House. Reenactors will be on hand to answer questions and provide demonstrations. Visitors will also enjoy holiday music, hands-on activities, and snacks.

December 11-16
Elf – The Broadway Musical

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Stranahan Theater
4645 Heatherdowns Blvd
americantheatreguild.com/toledo/elf

Buddy the Elf is making his way to Toledo. The Broadway hit musical will open on December 11th at the Stranahan Theater. Join Buddy as he travels from the North Pole to New York City in search of his father and his true identity. This is a great show for adults and children of all ages. Ticket prices and showtimes can be found on The American Theatre Guild website.

December 15
Run Santa Run

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9:30am

Levis Commons
3201 Levis Commons Blvd, Perrysburg | 419-931-8888
shopleviscommons.com/event

Join the streets of Levis Commons as hundreds of Santas and festively dressed runners compete in a 5K race. Participants will get a Santa shirt, Santa hat, hot chocolate and cookies, chip timing, awards, and a post race beer.

December 20
Art Loop-Light Up! Toledo

5:30-9:00pm

Downtown Toledo
theartscommission.org/ARTLOOP

Every third Thursday of the month from April to December various businesses in the downtown area highlight the creative community of Toledo. Take a visit downtown on December 20th for the last Art Loop of 2018. Be sure to check out downtown Toledo’s great light displays too!

December 20-23
Disney on Ice Presents Frozen

Disney-on-Ice_Frozen

Thurs – 7pm; Fri – 7pm;
Sat – 11am, 3pm, and 7pm;
Sun – 1pm and 5pm

The Huntington Center
500 Jefferson Ave | disneyonice.com

The megahit movie Frozen is now…well…actually frozen.
Witness the full story presented by Disney on Ice at The Huntington Center. Join Anna as she searches to find her sister Queen Elsa who has trapped the kingdom in an unending winter. This is sure to be a hit with kids of all ages!

December 31
Noon Year’s Eve

11am-1pm

Toledo Zoo
2 Hippo Way, Toledo | 419-385-4040 | toledozoo.org

Ring in the New Year a little early for those young ones who might not be able to make it to midnight. Join the fun at the Toledo Zoo to celebrate 2019. At the strike of noon, visitors will watch the ball rise, be showered in confetti, enjoy an apple juice toast, and join in the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”. Also take in ice carving demonstrations, an ice slide, and animal feedings/enrichment times.

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