Holiday Happenings 2019

By

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November 30, 2019

Lights Before Christmas

Sunday-Thursday, 3-8pm
Friday-Saturday, 3-9pm

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

The famous Toledo Zoo’s Lights Before Christmas is an award-winning light display that is known throughout the country. Enjoy lights skillfully strewn all over the zoo, holiday snacks, dancing trees, visits with Santa, and, of course, the zoo animals. Non-member prices are $19 for adults and $16 for children. Members get unlimited weekday visits and one free weekend visit. Through December 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

Stay nice and toasty in your warm car while driving through the amazing Christmas light show at the Michigan International Speedway. On select days, enjoy the Winter Wonderland, visits from Santa and live reindeer. Cost for a single car is $25. Through December 31.

North Pole Express

Friday-Saturday, 5:30-9:30pm
Sunday, 5:30-8:30pm

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

The Polar Express comes to life with the chance to ride the North Pole Express. The train ride takes riders through the beautiful winter scenery and is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit. $4 for adults and $3 for children. Through January 5, 2020.

Hensville Lights

5pm-12am

St. Clair St. between Washington/Monroe
in downtown Toledo
hensvilletoledo.com

A trip to downtown Toledo will light up your day with 200,000 lights along St. Clair St. and a dancing light show in Hensville Park. See the beautifully decorated Hensville Park Christmas tree, a great background for pictures. Through January 5, 2020.

Children’s Wonderland

11am-8pm, December 6-23
11am-2pm, December 24

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

A tradition for many years in the Toledo area, Children’s Wonderland brings generations together with its beautiful holiday displays. Wander through the holiday exhibits, ride a child-sized train and snap a picture with Santa. Visit the website for times of special daily performances and attractions.

Don’t miss these events…

Miracle on Main Street

December 6-7

Downtown Sylvania
419-885-8381 | downtownsylvania.org/miracle-on-main-street

A weekend of holiday fun is scheduled in downtown Sylvania, including a holiday market of handmade and local crafts, a silent auction, the Elfin’ Brew Hop, a tree lighting ceremony, and a Saturday night holiday parade. Kids 2+ $6, adults $8, seniors $6.

Holiday Lantern Tour

December 6-7, 4-8:30pm

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

Bring a little history into the holidays with a trip to Sauder Village. Learn about American Christmas Holiday Traditions throughout history starting with the Witmer-Roth Home from the 1850s. The tour also includes crafts, cookies, and carols. Holiday Lantern Tours occur every half hour and last about an hour and 45 minutes. Reservations are required. Non-members $13/adult, $7/children. Members: $11/adult, $6/children

A Christmas Carol

December 6-8

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

This classic holiday story of Ebeneezer Scrooge’s transformation from a curmudgeon to a loving man is a Christmas holiday tradition. A Christmas Carol will leave
the whole family feeling joyful, grateful and ready to celebrate the season. Tickets start at $29.

Mini Explorers’ Club Explores Snow

December 7, 1-2:15pm

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

Bring your littlest scientists (3-5 years old) to Imagination Station to learn all about snow. The program focuses on sparking the curiosity of young scientists with STEAM activities. Kiddos and parents will enjoy story time, activities, a snack and free play time. For those who can’t make it to the Saturday session, the program will also take place on Tuesdays throughout December. Member $5/workshop; nonmembers $7.

Christmas at the Peristyle

December 7, 3pm

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

Enjoy the music of the holidays with a concert at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle. The show will include performances by the Toledo Opera Chorus and the Toledo Symphony.
Join in with holiday sing-a-longs, and be sure to
say hello to Santa.

Holidays in the Manor House

December 7-15
10am-8pm, Saturday-Sundays

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

For a fun and free family event, check out the Manor House in Wildwood Metropark. This beautiful and historic home has 32 holiday displays that visitors can see on a self-guided tour. Stop by the welcome tent for holiday goodies!

Fort Meigs Holiday Open House

December 8, 1-4pm

Fort Meigs
29100 W. River Rd., Perrysburg
fortmeigs.org

For another free seasonal event, pop over to Fort Meigs for a holiday celebration. Decorate cookies, make holiday crafts, listen to holiday music, visit Santa, and learn some handy skills, like leatherworking, tinsmithing and spinning.

Soothing Santa

December 8 & 15, 8-10am

Franklin Park Mall Macy’s Court
5001 Monroe St.
Shoppingfranklinparkmall.com

Santa welcomes children of all ages and abilities! Soothing Santa invites families with special needs to enjoy a sensory-friendly environment to experience the time-honored tradition of visiting with Santa. Enjoy extra time with Santa, free train rides, holiday games and more. Reservations are required; event is free.

Pancakes with Santa

December 14, 9:30-11:30am

The Legacy by Arthur Hills
7677 US 223, Ottawa Lake, MI
734-854-1101 | Playlegacy.com

Eat yummy pancakes and sausage, create holiday crafts, play holiday-themed games like “Pin the carrot on Frosty,” and, of course, visit with Santa, straight in from the North Pole! Call to register. Kids under 2 are free, ages 3-4 are $5, and 5 and up are $10.

Toledo Ballet’s Nutcracker

December 14-15
2pm & 7pm, Saturday | 2pm, Sunday

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

The incredible story of The Nutcracker comes to life with the Toledo Ballet’s annual performance. The combination of effortless dancing, gorgeous scenery, and the classic score performed by the Toledo Symphony makes for a wonderful afternoon or evening at the theatre. Tickets start at $34.

Jingle Bell Run Toledo

December 14, 8-11am

The Shops at Fallen Timbers
614-362-7370 | events.arthritis.org

For some fitness fun, join the Jingle Bell Run, one of the largest holiday-themed 5Ks around. The money raised goes to helping The Arthritis Foundation. Break out those ugly Christmas sweaters and show your Christmas spirit as you run for a cause.

A Night In Bethlehem

December 14-15, 1-4:30pm

Hope Lutheran Church
2201 Secor Rd.
419-536-8383 | Hopetoledo.net

Experience first century Bethlehem at Hope Lutheran Church! Take in the sights, smells and sounds of the bustling marketplace, complete with authentic shops staffed with artisans and live animals. And did you hear the exciting news? A baby has been born! Admission is free with “no strings attached.”

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical

December 21, 7:30pm

The Stranahan Theater
4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. Toledo, OH. 43614
419-381-8851 | americantheatreguild.com/toledo/elfontheshelf/

For the first time ever, the story of The Elf on the Shelf comes to life onstage in a brand new musical adaptation. The Christmas musical tells the tale of the top Scout Elf who works to bring together a struggling family by helping them discover the Christmas spirit. Tickets start at $34.

Chanukah Celebration

December 22, 5-8pm

Franklin Park Mall Food Court
5001 Monroe St.
Shoppingfranklinparkmall.com

To celebrate the 2019 Chanukah season, Chabad House of Toledo invites the community to a celebration of light and Chanukah joy. A Menorah Lighting Ceremony will give honor to Toledo leaders following holiday crafts and activities.

TMA’s The Great Art Escape

December 26-January 1
10am-4pm

2445 Monroe St.
419-255-8000 | toledomuseum.org/visit/events/great-art-escape

The Toledo Museum of Art is hosting their Great Art Escape at the end of this month. This family event introduces kids to various art forms: enjoy watching dances from different cultures, listen to Dutch organ concerts, meet visiting artists and observe glass blowing demonstrations. Plus, participate in workshops, yoga and family center activities. Free with some ticketed activities.

Noon Year’s Eve

December 31
11am-1pm

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

2020 is on its way and The Toledo Zoo offers the perfect way for the little ones to ring in the new year with Noon Year’s Eve. Join the crowd as the recycling ball is raised, confetti falls, toasts are made with apple juice, and sing ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ Visitors will also enjoy ice carving demonstrations, animal feedings and the Ice Slide.

Motherhood with Depression: Coping strategies for mental health

By

Dina Sobhan

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November 30, 2019

Nobody said motherhood would be easy. But, little did I know how hard it would actually be. I imagine there are some mothers who find getting up at 5am, making fabulously healthy 3-course meals, and juggling successful careers with a thriving family life to be a breeze. For me, the idea of achieving those things seems impossible. I suffer from depression, which sometimes makes even the simplest of things seem impossible.

A lifelong battle

I have struggled with depression all my life. At 19, I started taking antidepressants and sought therapy, all with varying degrees of success. I was at a low point in my life when I met my husband. A whirlwind romance led to marriage within a month and pregnancy almost immediately, which I thought would be the answer to all my problems.

At the urging of my husband, I went off my medication during pregnancy. While happy hormones buoyed me through the 9 months of pregnancy, the postpartum tune was a different story. I was overcome with anxiety every time my baby cried, and the simple tasks like giving him a bath or cutting his nails filled me with trepidation. Fast forward to my second pregnancy, during which I stayed on my meds and things were radically different. I actually enjoyed being a mother without being paralyzed by fear at every turn.

Everyday struggles

While I adore my children, depression prevents me from always enjoying them. I frequently find myself getting impatient with them for taking too long to get dressed or to put on their shoes. On a daily basis, I get annoyed by their inability to pick up their toys or when they leave their clothes scattered all over the floor. I fly off the handle and yell at them for menial things, only to feel guilt-ridden afterwards.

How I cope beyond medication

Besides taking antidepressants daily, I recently found a therapist at Toledo Counseling and Mental Health who understands me and makes me feel heard. I make it a point to go as often as possible to yoga for an hour of uninterrupted “me” time for body and mind.

The person who helped me the most when I moved to Toledo 4 years ago is energy healer Tobie Saad. As an Advanced Crystalline Consciousness Technique (TM) Practitioner, she helped me overcome repetitive patterns and emotional wounds, allowing me to experience calm with a change in perspective.

Better days

Parenting is not easy for anyone, and those with mental health issues have added hurdles. While there are days that I find it hard to cope, and not even the laughter of my children can penetrate the darkness around me, more often I have moments when I feel joy in the simple things. I keep reminding myself that, as important as it is to acknowledge my illness, it is more important to keep pushing forward to ensure a happier life for my family.

*Editor’s Note: Interested in yoga but not sure where to start? Check out our sister publication, Toledo City Paper, for a round-up of yoga studios in the 419: toledocitypaper.com/feature/yoga-in-the-419/.

2019 Holiday Gift Guide

By

Erin Schoen Marsh

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November 30, 2019

–While ordering holiday presents online certainly saves time, toys purchased over the internet lack the charm and durability of handmade gifts. Holiday shopping locally provides an opportunity to support Toledo-area small businesses. Here is a list of one-of-a-kind items from local businesses to help with your shopping selections.

FORTÉ MUSIC SCHOOL

Rock the holidays this year with the gift of music at Toledo’s Forté Music School, which offers one-on-one music lessons for all ages and all abilities. An experienced faculty and a wide range of lesson times allows you to fit music lessons at Forté into even the tightest of schedules. With a wide variety of gift certificates available, you’re sure to find whatever meets your needs, and your budget.

3208 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo.
fortemusicandarts.com.

BOWINKLES

Bowinkles specializes in designer clothing and accessories for babies, girls, and boys with unique ideas unavailable anywhere else. Bowinkles, located in downtown Sylvania, was founded in 2016 by mother-daughter duo Jane Wurth and Stephanie Pilgrim, delivering the latest children’s fashion from all over the world to this neck of the woods.

5627 Main St., Sylvania.
bowinklesboutique.com

TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART

If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind gift, pop into the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) Museum Store, which features a diverse selection of unique merchandise and specialty gifts inspired by TMA’s world famous collection. The Store also carries exclusive items developed in tandem with the TMA Glass Pavilion Hot Shop. Gifts available include fine art books and supplies, seasonal items and decor, TMA apparel, prints and postcards derived from the TMA collection, stunning jewelry, delightful educational toys and books for children, and more. Members receive a 10% discount (excluding original art).

toledomuseum

The Yogi in Your Life

Love leggings but still want to support local? Pop into The Yogaja Shop in Cricket West to buy your favorite brands— Alo, Spiritual Gangster, Beyond Yoga— while still shopping small. The Yogaja Shop also carries sustainable items like steel straws, reusable produce bags and more.

Yogaja.shop

BOYD’S RETRO CANDY

There’s nothing like enjoying the candy from yesteryear to bring you back to the past and the simple pleasures of childhood. Why not share that with your little ones? Boyd’s Retro Candy has classics that are still readily available today, such as Pez, candy corn, and jawbreakers, along with items you may not have seen since you were a kid: Atomic Fireballs, Bit-O-Honey Chews, Nik-L-Nips wax bottles, Smarties candy necklaces, and more. And for that loved one in your life you’ve been begging to quit smoking? Candy cigarettes will make everyone chuckle.

954 Phillips Ave., Toledo.
boydsretrocandy.com

The Coffee Lover

There’s no shortage of locally brewed coffee in Toledo these days. Buy a bag of fresh coffee or a gift card from one of our local coffee stops: Maddie & Bella Roasters, Sip Coffee, Flying Rhino Coffee, Iron Bean Coffee Company, Black Kite, or Chandler’s Cafe.

CHECKMATE GAMES AND HOBBIES

Peruse the many games for people of all ages at Checkmate Games and Hobbies! Clients love the knowledgeable staff, who do their best to know the plethora of games that Checkmate carries so they can make accurate recommendations, helping you find the next game you or your child will love. If you’re searching high and low for a particular game, even if Checkmate doesn’t carry it, they can order it for you. For the gamers on your holiday list, you need look no further than Checkmate, located in the St. James Plaza.

6725 Central Ave, Toledo.
(419) 720-6901 | checkmategames.net

Toledo Proud

The proud Toledoan on your list will love anything and everything from Jupmode. If they don’t already own the renowned “You will do better in Toledo” shirt, that’s a sure-fire winner for those who love Toledo, those living here or those missing T-town.

Jupmode.com

OPEN ARMS WELLNESS CENTER & YOGA LOFT

Looking for a special gift for the overworked loved one in your life? A gift certificate to Open Arms Wellness Center provides the recipient with all the amenities people want but oftentimes don’t allow themselves. Choose from a multitude of therapeutic massage options, including relaxation, therapeutic, deep tissue, hot stone, prenatal, fertility, Ashiatsu, lymphatic drainage, Reflexology, and more. Pamper the skin with Aesthetics: facials, waxing, peels, or an herbal foot soak. Or treat the entire body with infrared sauna, yoga and more! Open Arms aims to provide you with the ultimate wellness escape without leaving NW Ohio.

2300 Navarre Ave. Ste. 204, Oregon.
openarmsmassagestudio.com

Healthy Holiday Help: Tips To Keep Germs Away

By

Emily Remaklus

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November 30, 2019

‘Tis the season for colds, flu, and strep throat. Don’t let the winter germs ruin your holiday season! Check out these tips and tricks to stay healthy during the holidays.

1. Keep that immune system strong.

Be sure to drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep. Trading in some of your Christmas cookies for fruits and veggies will also help to boost your immune system. For even more immunity support, or for those kiddos who don’t like their veggies, daily vitamins are a great option.

2. Be aware of germs traveling.

Public transportation and hotels can be a breeding ground for germs. Bring hand sanitizer, use it regularly, and keep your hands away from your face. When staying in a hotel, it’s not a bad idea to bring some Lysol or Clorox wipes to disinfect light switches, remotes, door knobs, and other items that might not be cleaned often but get touched plenty.

3. Be cautious at holiday parties.

As fun as parties can be, keep in mind that the shared utensils at the punch bowl or at the buffet have been touched by everyone before you. Using your own utensils is an easy solution, or even just a quick use of hand sanitizer before you dig in can help kill those germs.

4. Make time for the family.

The holidays are such a busy time that we often forget to relax. Take some time away from the hustle and bustle of holiday readiness and enjoy some relaxing time at home as a family. Going for a walk, reading, or watching a holiday movie can help with mental and emotional health.

5. Sharing isn’t always caring.

When the kids are sick, it’s best to keep them home, and this also goes for you! If you’re feeling under the weather, don’t be tempted to tough it out and continue on with your holiday planning. Take a day to recover and you’ll be back to your holiday fun in no time.

Free Monthly Home-Book Delivery

By

Toledo Parent Staff

-

November 30, 2019

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) is expanding to Oregon City Schools. DPIL is a free, monthly home-book delivery program for children up to 5-years-old with a goal to increase reading comprehension rates and prepare children for kindergarten.

For more information on the program and its area affiliates,
visit Imaginationlibrary.com/usa/find-my-program.

Letter from the Editor: Highs and Lows of the Holidays

By

Erin Schoen Marsh

-

November 30, 2019

The holiday season can be tricky. Spending time with family can be fantastic, but if anyone knows how to push buttons, it’s those near and dear to us. Holidays are also the time we reflect on, and miss, the loved ones who are no longer with us to celebrate the joy of the season.

Whether you’re spending the season alone or surrounded by your loving/overwhelming family, this month is the time to reflect on 2019, make plans for 2020 and practice gratitude.

As a species, we are programmed to focus on the negative in our lives as a survival tactic, but studies show that if we practice gratitude, we become more content. It’s not wealth, beauty or the perfect physique that creates joy…it’s being thankful.

Exercising mindfulness and enjoying the great outdoors are also markers for happiness, and being present when you’re outdoors can improve your emotional state.

My personal goal this Christmas is to purchase as many gifts as possible from local Toledo vendors. That won’t be as simple as clicking “buy now” on Amazon, but it sets a precedent for my kids: supporting small businesses is important and buying local is more meaningful than an overpriced Ryan’s Toy Review egg. Plus, it cuts down on shipping waste, which helps our environment.

We have so many small businesses in Toledo that it is impossible to include them all, but check out our Holiday Gift Guide for ideas on buying locally. Holiday Happenings is a great list of Toledo area events, and our columns will surely pull on your heartstrings this month. Happy reading!

With gratitude,

Erin Schoen Marsh

Toledo Parent Assignment Editor