5 Must-Visit Classic Holiday Attractions in Ohio

Whether you love Ralphie Parker, The Grinch or elaborate model train displays, holiday attractions that capture the imagination await across the state. From a home turned museum that was made famous in one of the most popular Christmas movies of all time to a destination built entirely around holiday nostalgia to a communitywide effort to transform their town into Charles Dickens-era England, these spots capture the spirit of the season and have become beloved traditions for Ohio families. 

Castle Noel | Ongoing
Artist Mark Klaus and his wife, Dana, opened this year-round celebration of Christmas in a former church in downtown Medina. (It’s billed as the largest indoor year-round Christmas display in the nation.) Since 2013, Castle Noel has taken visitors on immersive tours that feature authentic props from movies such as “Elf” and Jim Carrey’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and holiday window displays that once appeared at New York City department stores. Visitors can also take a trip down a slide like the one Ralphie took in “A Christmas Story.”

House From A Christmas Story | Ongoing
Those who have ever dreamt of stepping into the Parker family’s living room can do so at the House From A Christmas Story in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. Restored to look as it did in the 1983 film “A Christmas Story,” tours of the home provide plenty of opportunities for photo ops, including one with the movie’s famous leg lamp. Across the street, a museum features a collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the film. 

Yuletide Village | Through Dec. 20
Warren County hosts the Ohio Renaissance Festival each year, which runs over the course of several fall weekends. Once the holidays arrive, Yuletide Village takes over on Fridays and Saturdays between through Dec. 20. Walk the streets of the Ohio Renaissance Festival grounds decorated in holiday lights and browse the marketplace vendors and artisan shops. A fun maze, the chance to visit with Santa and holiday treats are also among the offerings.

Dickens Victorian Village | Through Jan. 1
Thanks to Cambridge’s 19th-century architecture and the efforts of local volunteers, the city’s annual Dickens Victorian Village has been delighting holiday-season visitors since 2005. Running through Jan. 1, the public-art installation features more than 100 scenes that depict life in Victorian-era England during the time of A Christmas Carol author Charles Dickens. A massive light show on the Guernsey County courthouse that is synchronized to music repeats throughout the evening and is part of the fun as well.

Holiday Junction Featuring the Duke Energy Trains | Through Jan. 5
Union Terminal has long been Cincinnati’s most famous train station. Today, the art deco landmark houses the Cincinnati Museum Center and, each holiday season, it plays host to Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Trains. A Cincinnati tradition, the elaborate train display features 300 rail cars and 50 locomotives traversing a snow-covered scene.

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