Your guide to holiday events & cheer in Richland County

MANSFIELD — December is just around the corner and with the new month comes plenty of opportunities to partake in Christmas cheer.

From parades and tree lightings to Christmas at Kingwood, historical tours and toy drives, here’s your comprehensive guide for holiday fun this season.

Events for kids & families

The Mansfield-Richland County Public Library is hosting a holiday photo backdrop through Dec. 28 at the main branch during regular business hours. Bring your own camera and festive outfits to the second floor lobby. Take your phone or camera to the Learning Lab for a free 4-by-6 inch photo print.

Each MRCPL library branch location is also offering free photos with Santa, story time with Santa, gingerbread house decorating and other activities. Visit the library’s event page for dates, times and registration info for certain programs.

Shelby’s Marvin Memorial Library is also hosting story time with Santa Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. Registration is required by Nov. 30. After story time, the library will host drive-thru cookies and cocoa with Santa to talk with Santa and get a goodie bag.

The Mansfield Parks & Recreation Department is partnering with Kingdom Grace Fellowship Church for a “Jingle & Mingle” Christmas party Dec. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring a DJ, giveaways, hot chocolate, cookies and more.

The Ohio Bird Sanctuary will host its “Christmas is for the Birds” celebration Dec. 14 with 45-minute sessions at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. Attendees can meet Santa and his reindeer, decorate cookies, enjoy light refreshments and meet some of the birds who live at the sanctuary (and offer them Christmas gifts). Advance registration and tickets are required. Admission is $25 per vehicle and space is limited to 25 vehicles per hour. The event has sold out in previous years.

The Richland Outreach Center is hosting its ninth annual holiday party Dec. 14 featuring a Whoville theme at Malabar Intermediate School. A full Christmas dinner, games, crafts, hot chocolate bar, pictures with Santa and the Grinch are included. ROC also provides free toys, hats and gloves to kids. The event is from 2 to 5 p.m, but many families line up early because the event is capped at 1,000 kids.

The “Bellville Character Houses” will host meet and greets for different Christmas characters on Dec. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. Characters will include the Grinch at the “Bellville Whoville House” at 72 Church Street, Ana, Elsa and Olaf, Mickey Mouse, Jack Skellington from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and Darth Vader.

Hope Lutheran Church is hosting its annual Christmas Cantata choir concert at Madison Middle School Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. The concert is free and will be followed by a reception with plenty of Christmas cookies for attendees to enjoy.

Santa will be at Richland Carrousel Park from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 23 to Dec. 22. Photos are $5, including a printed photo and option to take additional photos with your own phone or camera. Carousel rides are also available for purchase.

Clear Fork Alliance Church at 1008 St. Rt. 97 in Bellville will present its 21st year of the live retelling of Jesus’ birth, “Experience Bethlehem,” starting Dec. 13. Attendees can travel through the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Bethlehem as they follow the star to the manger from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec 13 and 14 or from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 15.

Christmas tree lightings & parades

Shelby’s Christmas in the City parade will start at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1 with activities including a winter wonderland walk, a gingerbread house contest and more preceding the parade all day Sunday.

The City of Ashland aims to break the world record for the largest display of “illuminated metal structures/sculptures,” with its Candy Cane Trail at Freer Field. A special event featuring a Guinness World Records representative is set for Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. The Candy Cane Trail will be open daily through Jan. 5.

The annual Marshall Park Christmas tree lighting in Ontario will feature performances from the school jazz band and choirs, Santa escorted by Miss Ontario, and the Hagerman light display for the first time this year. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 with a golf cart holiday parade at 5:45 p.m. 

The Village of Plymouth is hosting its 10th annual Christmas in the Village Dec. 6 and 7 featuring a small business shopping market, ice rink, Santa and his reindeer, parade of lights and fireworks display (Friday), Polar Express train rides (Saturday) and more. There will also be live music, face painting, food trucks and a Christmas spirits tent for adults 21+.

Mansfield’s annual Christmas Time in the City tree lighting on Dec. 6 will feature carolers, photos with Santa and more at Richland Carrousel Park. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with the tree lighting at 6 p.m. This year, carriage rides are only available through online reservations for $10.

The Bellville Christmas Parade will begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 on Main Street featuring sleigh rides, Santa Claus and snacks.

More winter fun

The Mansfield Art Center and S&S Second Chances Art and Craft Studio in Shelby are hosting hands-on art classes to make festive gifts with a variety of mediums throughout the month of December. Check individual websites for class availability, pricing, dates and times.

Oak Hill Cottage offers historic tours of the 310 Springmill Street home decorated for the holidays each Sunday Nov. 24 to Dec. 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. The annual “Ghosts of Christmas past” open house hosts historical reenactors Dec. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. Tours, including ghosts of Christmas past, are $5 for adults and $1 for children.

Malabar Farm State Park, the historic home of author Louis Bromfield and site of the 1939 wedding of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, will host holiday tours of the “big house” decked out for the holidays on Dec. 6, 7, 13, and 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Dec. 8 and 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children, available for purchase at the farm’s Visitor Center and gift shop.The farm also provides baked goods, hot chocolate, tea and cider at the end of the tour in the garage. 

Christmas at Kingwood features a community tree walk, a wonderland of outdoor decorations, display greenhouse and the historic three-floor mansion decorated for the holidays. It is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 30 through Dec. 30. The gift shop and cafe will also be open. Visit kingwoodcenter.org for dates of special events including a model train display, live music and visits from Santa.

Timed entry tickets are free for Kingwood members and $10 for adults (19+), $5 for ages 7-18 and free for children age 6 and under. A limited availability of walk-up tickets are also available at higher prices.

Blood Prison will be open for Christmas Incarceration Dec 13 and 14. Timed entry tickets are $24.75 apiece online after fees for ages 10+.

Snow Trails is introducing its new rope tow system for The Woods Terrain Park this season, as well as improved lighting and snowmaking. The tubing park is usually open from mid- to late-December though mid-March. The ski shop is open with pre-season hours currently. Keep an eye on Snow Trails’ website and Facebook page for more information.

Local alpaca farms Alpaca Meadows and Shady Lane Alpaca Farm promise opportunities to meet their animals and find unique gifts for anyone on your shopping list for special hours during the month of December. Alpaca Meadows is located at 1200 Rock Road near Ontario (open Wednesdays through Saturdays noon to 4 p.m.) and Shady Lane Alpaca Farm is located at 3073 Gass Road near Lexington (open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, or by appointment).

The Note at The Teller Building in Lexington is opening its cocktail bar Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 10 p.m. at 40 East Main Street in Lexington featuring themed cocktails for the holidays. It is also hosting a SantaCon Dec. 14 and cookie decorating classes for families, kids, teens and adults Dec. 21 featuring different packages and times.

Craft shows & shopping

The Mansfeld Art Center hosts its 55th annual holiday fair from Nov. 24 through Dec. 31 showcasing local artists and carefully selected gifts from small businesses around the globe. The Art Center is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

The Richland County Fairgrounds is set to host two different craft fairs this season — the Ontario Community Events craft show on Dec. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (admission $2 or an unwrapped toy for local toy drives) and Christmas Bazaar 2024 on Dec. 14 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Dec. 15 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) featuring more than 50 vendors and free admission.

The Ontario Center (formerly the Richland Mall) is hosting a Christmas Expo Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Local small businesses will feature a variety of crafts, food and seasonal items perfect for holiday gifts.

Butler’s second annual Christmas in the Village craft show Dec. 7 will be at the Butler Event Center, located at 111 West Elm St. The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free admission for children and $1 admission for adults. The event will also feature an appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Holiday shows

The Sorelle sisters, Lexington natives who earned a fourth place finish on season 23 of “The Voice,” will present the second annual Harmony Holiday Bash at The Ashland Theatre on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. with special guests. The concert promises interactive singing and dancing — and VIP bracelets for a meet-and-greet and photos with the sisters for anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy for Red Helmet Christmas Charities. Tickets are $25, available at theashland.org.

The Ashland Theatre is also showing a classic Christmas movie on select days Dec. 13 to 22. Visit theashland.org for showtimes and tickets.

The Renaissance Theatre will present a myriad of holiday shows including Richland Academy of the Arts “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 7 and 8, The Mansfield Symphony Orchestra’s “Holiday Pops” show Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., the Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra’s “Holiday Prelude” on Dec 15 at 3:30 p.m. and the Artistic Jazz Orchestra’s “We Wish You a Jazzy Christmas” on Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Visit the Renaissance’s website for ticket prices.

The Mansfield Playhouse will bring “It’s a Wonderful Life” to the stage as a live radio play Dec. 6, 7, 13, and 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 15 and 2:30 p.m. Visit mansfieldplayhouse.com for tickets.

Ways to give back

Many organizations are hosting toy drives for those in need this season, including the Mansfield police and fire departments, the Madison Township Fire Department, the Springfield Township Fire Department and the Ontario Police Department. Check with the individual organizations for donation rules, times and drop off locations.

The Richland Outreach Center is accepting hats, gloves, toys and food donations at select locations through Nov. 30 for its annual Christmas event.

Richland Young Professionals and the 8th annual Metal for Miracles show are also hosting events, accepting new toys as a cover charge for the holiday fun. A Dec. 20 “Hardcore Food Drive” will accept non-perishable food, toiletries, cold weather clothing or a $10 cover charge to benefit Wayfinders, formerly Harmony House.

A Dec. 13 benefit concert at La Luna for the Domestic Violence Shelter will also help children and families with holiday presents.