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“[My favorite holiday decoration is] by far the light displays,” Brian Meeron, a WHHS math teacher, said. “Especially when neighborhoods come together and do these giant ones. Even if it’s not my holiday tradition, it’s still fun to experience others having fun, too.”

With the Halloween season long gone, the Greater Cincinnati area’s winter holiday decorations and festivities are in full swing. Lights are up, trees are trimmed, halls are decked and most importantly, loved ones are beginning to engage in annual holiday traditions together.

“I think [having holiday events] helps build our city culture,” Chayce Evans, ‘25, said. “We’re scattered throughout the city and having holiday events helps bring us together for part of the year.”

One of the most dazzling holiday displays is the Cincinnati Zoo’s Festival of Lights, where for nearly 40 years the zoo has been decorated in about 4 million lights, ranging from colorful LEDs to animal-themed displays. Guests are also able to interact with winter-themed characters such as Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

“It’s the most interesting [winter festival], visually, because other [light shows] don’t really change much from how they normally are [year-round],” Evans said.

Meanwhile, Fountain Square has been transformed into a winter wonderland with the return of the 111th annual holiday tree, a frozen yet illuminated Genius of Water and the UC Health Ice Rink.

“[My family and I] go ice skating with friends,” Bareen Abdulrahman, ‘26, said. “Me, my dad and [my] brother went and [attempted] it for two hours, [and] in the end, we finally learned it. Whenever I go, it’s with people, [so] going skating, in a way, has become a really fun community thing for me.”

However, a few attractions have changed or retired this year. Coney Island, which closed last winter due to plans to turn the park into an entertainment venue, has moved its light show to the Clermont County Fairgrounds. Elsewhere, the UC Health ice rink has decided to discontinue the use of bumper cars.

“[My family] never got a chance to see [the Coney Island Night of Lights]; now we never will and we’re kind of sad about that,” Brian Meeron, a WHHS math teacher, said. “A lot of people had their holiday traditions there, so now they’re having to look to replace that tradition. I know [for] some families, that goes back generations, so that’s a hard change to make.”

With winter break right around the corner, students staying local can enjoy plenty of activities and attractions around the city.

“It’s those things that remind you that there is community here,” Abdulrahman said. “You get so caught up in school and everyone doing their own individual thing, you forget there are families behind that, so I think having [holiday events] just connects the community of Cincinnati.”