Tis the season! From making holiday candy to decorating a Christmas tree for wildlife at Ash Cave, here's a list of things to do near Hocking College this December.
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ATHENS COUNTY
Holiday Pies
December 1 • 10AM
The Lodge at Hocking College (15770 OH-691 — Nelsonville, OH)
Master Chef Alfonso Contrisciani presents his popular pie class just in time to please your Christmas guests. Alfonso will teach you his tips and tricks to making his famous pies, and all students who attend will leave with two take-and-bake pies to enjoy this holiday season. Cost is $75 a person to attend.
Santa's Workshop
December 1, 8, 15 • 12 - 4PM
Public Square (37 Public Square — Nelsonville, OH)
Head to Santa's Workshop located on the square in downtown Nelsonville to make various crafts this holiday season. Each event date will have a different project, including making an ornament (12/1), making a craft (11/8), and decorating cookies (12/15).
A Legendary Christmas
December 7 • 7PM
Stuart's Opera House (52 Public Square — Nelsonville, OH)
Enjoy an evening of the season’s best music sung by all of your favorites with a full band. Performers include: Alex Couladis, Joann Wolfe, Sharell Arocho, Melissa Brobeck, Angela Blair, Stephanie Tikkanen, J W Smith, Andy Stone, Bill L’Heureux, Roger Gilmore, Michael Weiser, Tanyah Stone, and many more! Tickets cost $35 for balcony seating, and between $60 - $100 for floor seating.
Athens Art Guild Holiday Shoppe
December 8 • 10AM - 5PM
December 9 • 12PM - 5PM
Athens Community Center (701 E State St — Athens, OH)
Purchase unique handcrafted work made and sold by local artists including jewelry, eco-printed scarves, pottery, wood-turned bowls & utensils, organic soaps, lotions and yarn, wearables, furniture, yard art, and more!
Nelsonville Holiday Home Tour
December 15 • 6PM
Location TBD (Nelsonville, OH)
Nelsonville's holiday home tour is your chance to see some of the beautiful homes in the Nelsonville area all decked out for the holidays.
New Year's Eve Train and Fireworks
December 31 • 10:30PM
Nelsonville Depot (33 W. Canal Street — Nelsonville, OH)
Celebrate the new year on the train! Enjoy pizza/pop or wine/cheese during the ride, and watch the fireworks display as you ring in 2019. The train ride last about two hours and covers 20-miles round trip. Cost for the pizza/pop ride is $30 for adults, $20 for kids, and $25 for seniors. Cost for the wine/cheese ride is $33 for adults and $28 for seniors.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Fairfield County Festival of Lights
December 1 — 24 • 5PM - 10PM
Fairfield County Fairgrounds (157 E. Fair Ave — Lancaster, OH)
Enjoy a variety of Christmas sights including a Christmas tree, numerous holiday figures like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Shrek, nativity scenes, and more as you drive through the fairgrounds. This festival is strictly drive-through, but there will be a place on the grounds where visitors can stop for hot chocolate and refreshments, as well as listen to Christmas carols. Cost is $5 per car and $10 per passenger van/shuttle bus.
Christmas at Rock Mill
December 2 • 12 - 4PM
Stebelton Park at Rock Mill (1429 Rock Mill Place NW — Lancaster, OH)
Enjoy cookies and mulled cider while finding unique gifts for those special to you and, maybe, something for yourself! Browse through various items including granola, handmade wood rolling pins, pottery, all-natural dog biscuits, gem stone jewelry, spun yarns, homemade soap, primitive crafts, crystal jewelry, more. Mill-themed items are available in the gift shop, note cards with five scenes of the mill and area, mugs, aprons, prints for framing, more are all available for purchase.
Olde Village Pickerington Holiday Gathering
December 7 • 5PM
Olde Pickerington Village (13 W. Columbus St. — Pickerington, OH)
Head to Pickerington for their Annual Holiday Gathering featuring the Festival of Lights at the food pantry and the city tree lighting. This free, family-friendly event will include Santa and his reindeer, decorating cookies, voting for your favorite Gingerbread House, listening to Christmas stories, making crafts, watching an ice carving, riding in a horse-drawn wagon, a live nativity, an indoor gift market, and much more.
Polar Express Party
December 7 • 6:30PM
December 8 • 6PM
Victoria Opera House (101 S Main St — Baltimore, OH)
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the season with crafts, hot cocoa, cookies, and a gift! The movie The Polar Express will begin approximately at 8:30PM each day. Cost is $3 for adults and $2 for children between the ages of 4 & 12.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
2018 Village Lights
December 2 • 5PM
Historic German Village (Columbus, OH)
Visit the historic streets of German Village to discover a world of lights and holiday magic. Follow the luminaries from shop to shop as you begin checking off your holiday gift list. Businesses will be open late with holiday specials and you’ll find festive surprises around every corner, including Mr. & Mrs. Claus, ice carving, live music, mulled wine and more.
Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting
December 6 • 5:30PM
This Ohio Statehouse (1 Capitol Square — Columbus, OH)
The festival marks the beginning of the holiday season on Capitol Square and throughout central Ohio. The indoor ceremony will take place in the Statehouse Atrium and consist of a short program, welcoming Santa and Mrs. Claus, followed by the lighting of the Ohio Statehouse's historically decorated holiday tree. The festivities will continue with refreshments, arts and crafts activities, games, and special performances by local choirs and dancers. There will also be a free photo station available to capture your families’ moment with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Dickens of a Christmas
December 8 & 15 • 5:30 - 9PM
December 9 & 16 • 12 - 5PM
Ohio Village (800 E. 17th Ave — Columbus, OH)
Capture the spirit of holidays past at Ohio Village, where Charles Dickens’s festive and enduring vision comes to life through jolly carols, decorations, and traditions inspired by his colorful tales. Enjoy craft and cooking demonstrations and shop P. Wylie’s Emporium for the perfect gift. Cost for non-members is $14 for adults, $11 for children (ages 4-12), and free for children three & under.
First Night Columbus
December 31 • 5:30PM - 12AM
COSI (333 W Broad St. — Columbus, OH)
A spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Columbus with live entertainment, activities and fun for all ages. Cost is $10 for pre-sale tickets and $15 for tickets the day of the event.
HOCKING COUNTY
Downtown Logan Christmas Parade
December 1 • 2PM
Downtown Logan (Main Street — Logan, OH)
Come see Santa and cheer on this year's musical themed floats. The parade will begin at 2PM at the fairgrounds and this year's Grand Marshall will be the Hocking County Children's Chorus. After the parade, Santa will be conducting a ribbon cutting at his newly built house nestled in Worthington Park.
HVCH 3rd Annual Holiday Affair
December 4 • 5 - 7:30PM
Hocking Valley Community Hospital (601 OH-664 N — Logan, OH)
Come celebrate this joyous season with an old-fashioned Christmas. Activities include Santa Claus and his reindeer, holiday craft making, holiday exhibits, a gingerbread house display, caroling, and much more. This event is free and open to the public.
Cooking Workshop: Christmas Candy
December 6 • 6PM
The Bowen House (196 North Market St. — Logan, OH)
Hocking College's Culinary Arts Program Manager, Susie Krutsch, is hosting another cooking class focusing on making Christmas candy including pecan divinity, coffee toffee, and pate de fruit (fruit jellies). Cost is $25 per person and those interested in attending can reserve a spot by calling The Bowen House at (740) 385-0344.
Christmas in Ash Cave
December 8 • 5PM
Ash Cave (OH-56, Logan, OH)
Step away from the hectic holiday season and come bundled for the weather while enjoying a light stroll to Ash Cave. Once you arrive at the cave, warm up with refreshments by an open fire. Listen to or join in with our carolers, have the kids visit with an old-fashioned Santa, or help decorate our Christmas tree for wildlife.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
The Polar Express
December 2 • 3PM
Peoples Bank Theatre (222 Putnam St. — Marietta, OH)
Come enjoy the movie The Polar Express, a magical train heading to the North Pole. Tom Hanks stars as the conductor—as well as five other roles! This beloved movie is based on the award-winning storybook written by Chris Van Allsburg, this Christmas story tells of a boy who has reached an age when his belief in Santa is beginning to falter.
Christmas Tea & Tour
December 15 • 2PM
The Castle (418 Fourth Street— Marietta, OH)
Come celebrate Christmas at The Castle. Enjoy Victorian Christmas sweets and tea with friends and family. A tour of The Castle decked out in all of its Christmas finery is also included. Cost to attend is $15 per person.
