Clifton Mill covers its entire building, including its waterwheel, with thousands of holiday lights. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

‘Tis the season for dazzling light displays and holiday happenings, and you can find a huge assortment of displays and events at the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail, with 73 different locations where you can enjoy the festive lights of the season. Here are a few of them.

A Village Christmas to Remember — The village of Caldwell, Ohio, celebrates Christmas with a parade on Dec. 7, Santa’s shuttles and reindeer, Christmas carnival and market, Trees of Remembrance lighting, breakfast with the Grinch and more. A reader says: “Downtown Caldwell looks just like a Hallmark movie. 25 miles from Cambridge makes it a great road trip!” Check them out on Facebook — A Village Christmas to Remember or check their website for times, dates and more information.

Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is a locally-owned and family-operated holiday light show located at the Alum Creek State Park campgrounds Nov. 22 through Jan. 1. Admission fee is charged; located at 3311 South Old State Road, Delaware. Information at (614) 412-3499.

Castle Noel is America’s largest indoor year-round Christmas entertainment attraction. Experience 40,000 square feet of amazing installations featuring the world’s largest privately owned collection of Hollywood Christmas movie props and costumes from your favorite Christmas movies, animated displays from New York City department stores with lots of toys from the ’50s through the ’80s — and much more. Open every day during holiday season except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Reservations required. Located at 260 S. Court St., Medina (330) 721-6635.

Clifton Mill’s 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. Parking fee is charged. Clifton Mill is located at 75 Water St., Clifton (937) 767-5501.

The Christmas Ranch is “a whimsical place with 1 million dancing Christmas lights synchronized to holiday music.” The display has been featured on HGTV and Good Morning America, as well as many other media outlets. The lights display is open from Nov. 22 to Dec. 23. Admission fee is charged. 3205 Waynesville Road, Morrow (513) 444-9362.

Conservatory Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory & Arboretum offers magical outdoor lighting displays and fun, engaging, family-friendly indoor holiday activities at the Franklin Park Conservatory & Arboretum, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus. Parking is free; admission fees charged to conservatory and classes. (614) 715-8000.

Dawes Arboretum offers its seventh annual Winter Wonders Walk Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 from 6-9 p.m. Take a walk along a paved trail to view spectacular illuminated trees and the beauty of nature in winter. Enjoy music, coffee and food trucks and a special appearance from Santa Claus each night. Registration is required. 7770 Jacksontown Road, Newark (740) 323-2355.

Dickens Victorian Village and Guernsey County Courthouse lights. Take a walk in downtown Cambridge any evening from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, when the downtown becomes a unique walking tour that takes you back to 18th-century England with larger-than-life displays of Victorian life. In addition, the spectacular 1881 Guernsey Courthouse comes alive nightly with a total of 30,000 lights synchronized to a holiday soundtrack. Each light/music cycle lasts about one hour. Information available at the Welcome Center, 708 Wheeling Ave. (740) 421-4956. Parking and admission is free.

Dogwood Pass is a replica of an Old West town set in the hills of southern Ohio. Christmas at Dogwood Pass starts Friday, Nov. 29 and runs each Thursday through Sunday until Christmas. Hours are Thursdays. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visit Santa Claus, the Grinch and all the vendors; watch Wild West shows on weekends and Christmas shows every evening. Located at 726 Adams Road, Beaver, Ohio (Pike County). Tickets are sold by cash at the gate only, (740) 835-1130.

Gallipolis in Lights: Thousands of holiday lights fill the Gallipolis City Park in downtown from Nov. 27 to Jan. 1. In 2022, the Today Show named this display the Merriest Main Street! Located at 300 Second Ave., Gallipolis. Free parking and admission.

Licking County Courthouse in Newark is brightly lit each holiday season. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Licking County Courthouse in downtown Newark will be lit in Christmas splendor from Nov. 29 through Jan. 1. A lighting event (6-8 p.m.) and holiday bazaar (3-6:30 p.m.) and more festivities will be held Friday, Nov. 29. The courthouse is a National Historic Landmark constructed in 1875 and located on the public square. The tradition of lighting the structure began around 1928. The building is decorated on all four sides with additional displays on the grounds and festive music accompanying the lights. Free admission and parking.

Lights on the North Coast is a drive-through holiday lighting display at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Sandusky, Ohio. Free interactive walk-through with 1 million lights, Santa’s Mini-Golf, A Christmas Village, food trucks and more. 3110 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, Nov. 15-Dec. 31, 5:30-8:30 p.m. nightly. Admission fees benefit area nonprofits.

Medina County Fair Drive-Through Christmas Display — Drive through and see holiday lighting displays at the Medina County Fairgrounds, Nov. 29 and 30, Dec. 1, 6-8, 13-15, and 20-29. Times are 6-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 6-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Admission fee charged. Located at 720 W. Smith Road, Medina (330) 723-9633.

The Muskingum County Courthouse in Zanesville is showing its holiday lighting displays this season. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Muskingum County Courthouse in downtown Zanesville is decorated as part of A Storybook Christmas with holiday lighting displays set to festive music. Parking is free; no admission fee. The display runs Nov. 15 to Jan. 2, Fridays and Saturdays from 5-10 p.m. and Sundays through Thursdays from 5-9 p.m. More holiday events in Zanesville include Storybook Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 4; carriage rides Dec. 13 and 20; 5K run Dec. 7 and ice skating Dec. 13 and 20.

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) Nov. 15 through Jan. 1. Online advance tickets are required to keep wait times to a minimum.

Ohio Christmas Factory is a family-friendly holiday experience that’s indoors and heated, with lots of holiday sights in 50,000 square feet of space. Open Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, see website for hours. Admission charged for all adults and children over 2. Activities include extreme Christmas light shows, fun activities for children and families, holiday character meet and greets, refreshments and much more. Located at 4125 Mahoning Rd. NE, Suite B, Canton (330) 455-3327.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens: Deck the Hall is held at Stan Hywet from 3-8 p.m. Nov. 29 through Dec. 30 (Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1, 5-23, 26-30). The estate is illuminated with 1.4 million holiday lights, and the Manor House is decorated in beautiful holiday fashion. Tickets required. 714 N. Portage Path, Akron (330) 836-5533.

Steubenville Nutcracker Village: Featured on Today, People and other media, visit the world’s largest display (200) of life-size nutcrackers in historic downtown Steubenville from Nov. 26 through Jan. 10. No admission fee or parking fee. Begin your visit at 155 N. Fourth St.; check website for special events each day. (740) 371-6020.

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo: This annual event (Nov. 22-Jan. 5) features millions of LED lights, animated and musical light shows and festive activities at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Hours are Sunday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m. Admission to zoo includes admission to Wildlights. 4850 W. Powell Road, Powell (614) 645-3400.

WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio is a drive-through lighting display open from Nov. 15 to Jan. 5 that features over 1 million LED lights synchronized to traditional and newer, rocking Christmas music played through your own car stereo. Located at Hartford Fairgrounds, 14028 Hartford Fairgrounds Road, Hartford, in Licking County. Fee charged per carload.

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

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