By Delray Busch
Holiday Carriage Rides at Levis Commons
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season with a Clydesdale-drawn Holiday Carriage Ride through Levis Commons!
Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights
Harrison Smith Park, just east of downtown Upper Sandusky, transforms into a fabulous light show for the month of December. Through the volunteer efforts of many individuals, organizations and businesses, the 33 acres of the park are ablaze with millions of lights and a myriad of unique light displays along the drive through the park. A donation per car is requested: proceeds benefit a local charitable organization that is selected yearly.
DTE Christmas Light Experience
Magic of Lights is a unique and dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience to celebrate the season. Pile everyone into the car and experience from the safety and comfort of your own car as you wind through the sparkling 1.5 mile path. At every turn, the magical route is overflowing with spectacular light displays that bring your favorite holiday themes and characters to life.
Winter Wonderland in Fremont, Ohio
Holiday scenes and lights are displayed by local youth and community organizations and local businesses, all available for drive-through from the safety of your car.
Virtual Toledo Ballet’s 80th Anniversary Nutcracker: A Tribute to Marie Bollinger-Vogt
Tickets required, in person also available
Wednesday, December 25 (two sessions)
Wildwood Preserve, Metz Visitor Center
Celebrate the beauty and peacefulness of season as you enjoy a walk to observe some gifts of nature. Warm up afterwards with a cup of sassafras tea. All participants and staff must wear masks and abide by proper social distancing guidelines for the duration of the program. Participants must bring their own mask.
VIRTUAL Holidays at the Manor House
December 5-13, 2020
The 45th annual event is going virtual! COVID can’t keep this long-standing tradition down. This year, Holidays at the Manor House will be brought to you “virtually.” Holidays at the Manor House has been driven by volunteers since the earliest days of Wildwood Metropark. Not only do volunteers decorate the 30,000 square foot house, but they also serve as stationary guides, welcoming and directing visitors on the self-guided tour of 32 displays. The process of decorating the stately mansion begins almost a year in advance when decorators submit proposals for displays to a committee, which makes the final selection. This year, decorators were asked to incorporate a Metroparks theme into each display. Each day a different area of the fully decorated Manor House will be highlighted along with special holiday performances featuring local musicians.
December 6, 7, 13 and 14
Wildwood Preserve, East Entrance
Take this festive season to new heights with our annual holiday tree climbing experience! The Wildwood Preserve climbing tree will be lit up with lights and holiday decorations and climbers will use headlamps as they climb. Metroparks staff will also provide a fire and hot cocoa. All participants and staff must wear masks and abide by proper social distancing guidelines for the duration of the program. Participants must bring their own mask.
Fair Fantasy Lights Drive Thru in Adrian Michigan
Friday, December 18, 2020 at 6 PM EST – 9 PM EST
Winter Wonder Lights in Oregon, Ohio
Toledo Zoo Lights: Reservation required
Contactless Breakfast with Santa at the Maumee Senior Center
Breakfast with Santa—On the Go will be a contactless, free event for children 12 years of age and younger. The event will offer children and their families the opportunity to drive through the Maumee Senior Center’s parking lot pausing at different stops featured at the North Pole. From hand-made Christmas goody bags filled with treats to waving at Santa in an antique fire truck, children will be able to experience a safe holiday event during this public health emergency. Although the event is free, donations will be accepted and registration is required to participate. To register, just call 419-893-1994 or email maumeeseniorcenter@gmail.com with the names of the adults, children and their ages, phone number and email address. Supplies are limited. Reservation deadline is Nov. 25.
Hop on board for a magical trip through a winter wonderland of sparkling lights and festive decorations. See delightful toy trains running in a beautifully decorated museum and train barn plus hundreds of decorated trees inside and out, as well as Santa and Mrs. Claus on select nights. Be sure to bundle up for the train ride!
Local Lights*
The Ageless Childs Christmas: FM 97.7
107 Birch Drive Rossford, Ohio
Hours: 5:30-10:00pm SU-TH/ 5:30-11:00pm F-SA
Bateson Family Christmas: 93.1 FM
108 E. St. Clair Swanton, Ohio
Hours: 5:30-10:00pm SU-TH/ 5:30-12:00pm F-SA
Lights On Milton: 98.7 FM
15251 Milton Grand Rapids, Ohio
Hours: 5:30-10:00pm
Holiday Lights on Rome Court: 87.9 FM
7705 Rome Ct. Holland, Ohio
Hours: 5:00-10:00pm SU-TH/ 5:00-11:00pm F-SA
Christmas AF Lights: 99.3 FM
5957 Meteor Ave Toledo, Ohio
Hours: 6:00-10:00pm
Christmas on Wynn Road: 87.9 FM
1265 S. Wynn Rd Oregon, Ohio
Hours: 5:30-10:00pm SU-TH/ 5:30-11:00pm F-SA
Macklights: 89.7
340 S. Reynolds, Lot 189 Toledo, Ohio
Hours: 5:00-10:00pm SU-TH/ 5:00-11:00pm F-SA
Lite- N- Up: 106.9 FM
1128 Anderson Ave Maumee, OH
Hours: 5:00-10:00pm
Lights on Kellie Lane: 106.9 FM
8747 Kellie Lane Sylvania, Ohio
Hours: 6:00- 10:30pm
Katadiasz Light Show: 98.9 FM
2230 N. Irwin Holland, Ohio
Hours: 6:00-9:30pm
Richler Christmas Lights: 88.1 FM
705 Center Ridge Rd. Bryan, Ohio
Hours: 7:00-10:00pm
Do You Hear What I See?: 88.1 FM
460 Burdine Dr. Oak Harbor, Ohio
Hours: 6:00-10:00pm
Small Businesses Spreading the Holiday Cheer:
Holiday Open House Georgette’s Grounds & Gifts
Lemon Sprinkle Cookie Company Hot Chocolate Bombs
AMAZING Charcuterie with Avocado and Cheese LLC
Buy local toys at Learning Express in Sylvania
To Go Pottery Kits with Peace and Love Pottery Studio
At Home Activities:
- Christmas movie night. Make some chex mix!
- Cookie Decorating Bar (we get our cookies at GFS, we aren’t superheroes) and we get sprinkles and icing from ALDI.
- Hot Chocolate Bar. Peppermint sticks, marshmallows, sprinkles… The possibilities are endless!
- Make Santa Letters: Here is some extra magic with USPS help!
- Give money to a local non-profit. My personal favorite and one close to my heart is Bethany House which is a long term domestic violence shelter in the NW Ohio area.
- Get some snacks and hot chocolate and drive through your neighborhood to look at lights.
- Do fancy popcorn! We like this recipe but get creative. Many out there for sweet and savory options.
- Make your own ornament! Here are some ideas.
- Make some fancy punch. We are doing this one and for those who drink, there are directions to make it alcoholic.
- Make Christmas Eve boxes. We use shoe boxes and put reindeer food, hot cocoa mix, and a new pair of pajamas in them. Sometimes I will put a Christmas related stuffed animal in there too.
- Track Santa! One of our favorites thanks to Google.
- Call Santa!
FOR THOSE WILLING TO MAKE SOME LONG DRIVES