Clifton Mill has a spectacular lighting display each holiday season. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Clifton Mill’s legendary annual holiday lighting display with more than 4 million lights won a nationally-televised holiday lighting award in 2018, and was nominated as one of USA TODAY’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards in 2022.

The mill’s music-synchronized holiday light show covers the entire mill, gorge and covered bridge and runs nightly from 6-9 p.m. from the night after Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

My family and I have been to the mill numerous times, including several different times to see the holiday light show. It surely ranks as one of the best lighting displays in the Midwest. It should be — it typically takes six employees three months to set up and synchronize the lights each year.

The award-winning display has been featured in the national spotlight on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight.”

But there’s much more to see at this historic mill, which claims to be the among the largest remaining water-powered operating grist mills in the United States. The majestic grist mill was originally built at the site in 1802 by Owen Davis along the Clifton Gorge of the Little MIami River. The mill produced grain for the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. Another mill built at the same site provided corn meal and flour for troops during the Civil War.

From 1908 to 1938, the mill produced electricity for the towns of Cedarville, Clifton and Yellow Springs, using a water turbine installed in 1869. That same Leffel turbine is still in use today, grinding pancake mix sold at the store and used on the mill restaurant’s menu.

The mill and surrounding property, owned by the Satariano family since 1987, includes a home-style restaurant (open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week) gift shop, old-fashioned gasoline station, log cabin, covered bridge and, during the holidays, a detailed miniature replica of an Ohio town that includes a drive-in movie theatre, a football stadium, an amusement park and Clifton Mill itself.

Clifton Mill is located at 75 Water St., Clifton (937) 767-5501. Learn more about Clifton Mill and other Ohio mills in Dusty Tires.

More places to go to see holiday lights

There are many other places you can go see Christmas lights and enjoy holiday activities this season. Follow the 2023 Ohio Holiday Lights Trail for 70 stops around the state. Here’s a partial list:

Alum Creek State Park (Delaware) — Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is a locally-owned and family-operated holiday light show located at the Alum Creek State Park campgrounds through Jan. 1. Admission fee; located at 3311 South Old State Road, Delaware.

Christmas Ranch (Morrow) — “A whimsical place with 1 million dancing Christmas lights synchronized to holiday music” is the description of the Christmas Ranch in Morrow. The display has been featured on HGTV and Good Morning America, as well as many other media outlets.

Conservatory Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory & Arboretum (Columbus) — Magical outdoor lighting displays and fun, engaging, family-friendly indoor holiday activities at the Franklin Park Conservatory & Arboretum.

Dickens Victorian Village and Guernsey County Courthouse lights (Cambridge) — Through Dec. 31, Downtown Cambridge becomes Dickens Victorian Village, a unique walking tour that takes you back to 18th-century England. The spectacular Guernsey Courthouse lights are synchronized to music.

Gallipolis in Lights (Gallipolis) – Thousands of holiday lights fill the Gallipolis City Park in downtown through Jan. 1. In 2022, the Today Show named this display the Merriest Main Street! Located at 300 Second Ave.

Hartford Fairgrounds (Licking County) — WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio is a drive-through lighting display that features over 1 million LED lights synchronized to traditional and newer, rocking Christmas music played through your own car stereo.

Lake Erie in Lights (Sandusky)— Drive-through holiday lights display at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Sandusky, 5:30-8:30 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31.

Medina County Fair Drive-Through Christmas Display (Medina) — Drive through and see holiday lighting displays at the Medina County Fairgrounds, 6-10 p.m. nightly.

National Trails Raceway (Hebron) – The Magical Lights of Winter, a two-mile drive through holiday lights and music experience, is at National Trail Raceway (US 40 just west of SR 37) through Jan. 1. Online advance tickets required to keep wait times to a minimum.

Ohio Christmas Factory (Canton) — A new family-friendly holiday experience that’s indoors and heated. Lots of holiday sights in 50,000 square feet of space.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens (Akron) – Deck the Hall is held on select evenings at Stan Hywet through Dec. 30. The estate is illuminated with 1.2 million holiday lights, and the Manor House is decorated in beautiful holiday fashion.

Steubenville Nutcracker Village (Steubenville) — The world’s largest display (200) of life-size nutcrackers on display in historic downtown Steubenville throughout the holiday season.

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo (Lewis Center) — This annual event features millions of LED lights, animated and musical light shows and other holiday festivities at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Ken Drenten is creator and manager of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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