Every year Ohio surprises me with how much is happening during the holiday season and every year I find myself wishing I had started planning sooner.
If you have been waiting for an excuse to get into the Christmas spirit, this list is your starting point. We are talking small-town open houses, holiday bazaars, Victorian teas, outdoor light trails, and at least one event where you can get Santa photos without losing your entire Saturday. I update this post each season as new events are announced, so bookmark it and check back.
Here is what is coming up right now and what you need to know before you go.
What to Pack for Ohio Christmas Events
Most of these events involve being outside — walking through towns, standing in line, watching parades, or exploring light trails after dark. Ohio in November and December means cold, so come prepared:
- Hand warmers — the single best thing you can bring to an outdoor evening event
- A good insulated tumbler for hot cocoa or coffee
- A warm hat that still looks cute for photos
- A cozy sherpa or fleece jacket — layers are everything at outdoor night events
- A roomy tote bag for market shopping — you will buy things
- Comfortable walking shoes or boots — cobblestone streets and market grounds are uneven
- Cash — many small-town vendors and Amish country shops prefer or require it
Early November: Open Houses and Holiday Markets
Christmas Open House in Berlin, Ohio
November 5 to 7
Berlin is one of my favorite places to go in Ohio any time of year, but it is especially good at Christmas. The annual Christmas Open House spans the whole town — shops stay open late, there are deals and demos, and the whole downtown feels like it was designed for this season. If you have never done a holiday trip to Amish Country, this is a great entry point.
📍 Berlin, Ohio (Holmes County) Visit Amish Country events page
Road trip pairing: Combine with the Farm at Walnut Creek or David Warther Carvings for a full Amish Country day. Stay overnight in Millersburg or Sugarcreek to catch the morning before the crowds.
Hearthwarming Holidays in Waynesville
November 6 to 8
Waynesville calls itself the Antique Capital of the Midwest and their holiday open house lives up to it. Shops throughout the historic downtown participate, and the whole thing has this warm, unhurried energy that is hard to find at bigger events. Good for gifts, good for a slow fall afternoon.
📍 Waynesville, Ohio Waynesville Shops event page
Road trip pairing: Waynesville is less than 30 minutes from Dayton and about 45 minutes from Cincinnati — easy to pair with lunch in Miamisburg or a stop at Caesar Creek State Park on the way home.
Buddy the Elf Bazaar in Stow
November 7 to 8 — Free Admission
Free admission makes this one very easy to recommend. The Buddy the Elf Bazaar features local vendors, holiday shopping, and that specific Elf movie energy that somehow never gets old. Great for families and a solid option if you want to do some early Christmas shopping without fighting a mall.
📍 Stow, Ohio Event details
Road trip pairing: Stow is right next to Akron — pair with lunch in the Cuyahoga Falls riverfront area or a stop at Stan Hywet Hall if it is open for the season.
Gift of Light Expo in Columbus
November 7 to 8
This one is a little different — the Gift of Light Expo is a holistic health and psychic fair with vendors covering crystals, readings, wellness, and more. If that is your thing, Columbus always delivers a good version of it. A fun girls day option or a unique alternative to the standard holiday market circuit.
📍 Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Expo Center) Gift of Light Expo details
Road trip pairing: Columbus has so much going on — after the expo, head over to German Village for a walk through the historic brick streets. The neighborhood is stunning in the winter and the Book Loft alone is worth the trip. Grab dinner in German Village or the Short North to round out the day.
Mid-November
Christmas in the Country at Clinton Massie
November 14
A one-day event out at Clinton Massie that brings together vendors, holiday shopping, and that classic small-town Christmas market feel. Good stop if you are in the Warren County or Clinton County area and want something lower-key than the bigger city events.
📍 Clinton Massie area, Ohio
Road trip pairing: Clinton County is about 45 minutes from Dayton and an hour from Columbus — easy day trip from either direction.
Thanksgiving Weekend: The Holiday Season Officially Begins
Live Nativity Parade in Berlin
November 27
Berlin shows up twice on this list and honestly that tracks. The Live Nativity Parade is a Berlin tradition — a real, old-fashioned holiday parade with a nativity component that feels nothing like a typical small-town parade. Worth the drive if you are looking for something meaningful to do on Thanksgiving evening.
📍 Berlin, Ohio Visit Amish Country
Christmas at the Tree Farm in Wadsworth
November 27 to 28
A holiday event at an actual tree farm sounds like exactly what it is — festive, outdoorsy, and good for photos. Wadsworth is a cute town and this is the kind of event that is perfect for families who want to start the season with something a little different than the usual mall circuit.
📍 Wadsworth, Ohio
Road trip pairing: Wadsworth is about 30 minutes from Akron and 45 minutes from Cleveland — easy to add to a Thanksgiving weekend Northeast Ohio loop.
Magical Medina Christmas Expo
November 28 — $1 admission or a canned good donation
Medina’s historic square is already one of the prettiest spots in Ohio, and they know how to do Christmas. The Magical Medina Christmas Expo is one of the best low-cost holiday events in the state — $1 admission or bring a canned good for a local food bank. Vendors, shopping, holiday atmosphere, and you are basically doing a good deed at the door.
📍 Medina, Ohio Event info on Macaroni Kid
Road trip pairing: Medina is 30 minutes from both Akron and Cleveland. Combine with Christmas at the Tree Farm in Wadsworth the day before for a full Thanksgiving weekend Northeast Ohio trip.
Joyful Afternoon Tea in Marietta
November 28 to 29
This one has layers, and I love it. Saturday is the Joyful Afternoon Tea before the Christmas Parade — a proper sit-down Victorian tea experience, the kind of thing that feels like a special occasion even if you go every year. Sunday continues with the Tree Walk with Santa.
Marietta is one of Ohio’s most underrated river towns and this is the kind of weekend event that makes for a really lovely overnight trip if you have not explored it before.
📍 Marietta, Ohio Marietta Ohio events
Road trip pairing: Marietta sits right on the Ohio River at the West Virginia border. If you are coming from Columbus it is about 2 hours — make it an overnight and explore the historic downtown on Friday evening before the tea Saturday morning.
December: Lights, Shopping, and the Full Holiday Experience
Shopping Under the Stars in Berlin
December 4
Berlin is back for a third appearance on this list. Shopping Under the Stars is an evening shopping event with extended hours, and the downtown lit up at night in Amish Country is genuinely beautiful. If you are going to do one holiday shopping day trip this season, the Berlin area is hard to beat.
📍 Berlin, Ohio Visit Amish Country events
Joyful Afternoon Tea at the Tree Lighting in Roscoe Village
December 5
Roscoe Village in Coshocton is one of those Ohio places that looks like it was built specifically to be a Christmas destination, and the Tree Lighting event is one of their signature moments. Pairing it with an afternoon tea makes this feel like a real occasion. Good for a girls day, a mother-daughter trip, or any time you want to do the holidays with some elegance.
📍 Roscoe Village, Coshocton, Ohio Roscoe Village
Road trip pairing: Coshocton is about 90 minutes from Columbus and 2 hours from Cleveland. Combine with a stop in Millersburg or the Amish Country area on the way for a full day.
Nature’s Aglow at Glamorgan Castle in Alliance
Select nights December 4 to 30 — 5 to 9 PM
Nature’s Aglow at Glamorgan Castle in Alliance is one of those events that people discover and then immediately start bringing everyone they know. It is an outdoor light experience at a genuinely stunning historic property and the kind of thing that photographs beautifully and feels magical in person.
One important note: tickets are cheaper online, so do not wait until you get there to buy them. Book ahead and save yourself both money and the stress of a sellout night.
📍 Alliance, Ohio (Glamorgan Castle) Glamorgan Castle Book tickets online in advance.
Road trip pairing: Alliance is about 20 minutes from Canton and an hour from Cleveland. Pair with dinner in Canton or a stop at the Pro Football Hall of Fame if you have football fans in your group.
Santa Photos at Party at the Barn in Aurora
Dates vary — book on Eventbrite
Santa photo experiences are everywhere in November and December but finding one that does not require you to buy four separate packages or stand in line for two hours is rarer. Party at the Barn in Aurora has a great setup — one ticket covers up to 2 adults and 5 kids, which is genuinely good value for a family.
Book on Eventbrite and check for available date and time slots. These fill up fast.
📍 Aurora, Ohio Book on Eventbrite
A Few Tips for Making the Most of These Events
Buy tickets online when they are available. Nature’s Aglow, the Joyful Afternoon Tea, and the Santa photos especially benefit from advance booking. Prices are usually lower online and you avoid the stress of a sold-out night.
Thanksgiving weekend is peak small-town Christmas. The November 27 to 28 window has five events on this list alone. If you love the holiday market season, that is a very good weekend to plan around.
Berlin, Ohio deserves its own day trip. It shows up three times on this list between now and December. If you have never done Amish Country in the winter, the Christmas season is the perfect introduction — the combination of the landscape, the food, and the small-town events is something special.
Bring cash for Amish Country and small markets. The Farm at Walnut Creek, many Berlin shops, and small vendor events often prefer or require cash. Stop at an ATM before you head out.
Save This for Your Holiday Planning
This list grows every season as new events are announced, so save this post and check back. I update it each year with the latest dates and new finds. And if you know of an Ohio Christmas event I should add, drop it in the comments — our community always has the best finds.
For more Ohio hidden gems, day trips, and seasonal guides, follow along at @bucketlisttravelfam on Instagram and Facebook, and join our Ohio Weekend Events, Day Trips and Hidden Gems group on Facebook where our community shares what is happening near them every week.
More Ohio holiday content is at bucketlisttravelfam.com.
