1. Mark Chalifoux: Canned Laughter
Cincinnati comedian and writer Mark Chalifoux spent the pandemic doing shows outdoors, in tents, in parking lots and at a lot of limited-capacity venues, then spent five months on the road filming his first special. Now he returns to his home club, the newly reopened Go Bananas Comedy Club (8410 Market Place, Montgomery) and to say "thanks" and provide a way for others to give back to the community, he's offering free or discounted tickets to his shows this weekend to those who reserve their ticket online using the promotional code "Chali-food" if they bring a canned good to the venue.
Performances take place at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The promo code is good for free tickets on Friday or Sunday, and discounted tickets to Saturday evening shows. Proceeds from post-show merchandise sales will be donated to Toys for Tots. Shows are ages 18-up Friday and Sunday, ages 21-up Saturday. Without advance reservation, tickets are $15 at the door. gobananascomedy.com.
Events galore:Things to do in Cincinnati this week: Nov. 22-28
2. Winterfest
Kings Island's Winterfest returns this season, bringing with it old-fashioned winter cheer and dazzling holiday magic. The amusement park is transformed into 11 enchanting winter wonderlands filled with twinkling lights, the aroma of freshly baked treats and the songs of carolers decked out in traditional costumes. You can enjoy ice skating on the Royal Fountain, browsing shops filled with ornaments, trinkets and toys, catching some of the magical live entertainment happening throughout the park – including ice carvers, Charlie Brown's Christmas Spectacular and a tree-lighting ceremony each night at 5:30 p.m. on International Street.
There's also the new Winter Wonderland Parade, featuring more than 150 festive performers and eight floats with classic holiday themes. The parade stops several times along the route to allow guests to take part in the show. And it wouldn't be an amusement park without some rides, right? Twenty rides will be open during Winterfest, including Mystic Timbers.
Winterfest runs from 5-10 p.m. Friday and from 4-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from Nov. 26 through Dec. 12, then opens nightly from Dec. 17-Dec. 31. visitkingsisland.com.
3. Yuletide Village Season of Lights
You can celebrate the season as they did in the 16th century by heading to the glowing village at Renaissance Park (10542 E. Ohio 73, Harveysburg). You'll find a winter fairyland filled with the songs of costumed carolers and handbell choirs, festive food and drinks, twinkling lights and a yuletide market featuring everything from bespoke jewelry to classic wooden toys.
Woodland Santa has set up a workshop in the village as well, and he is ready to hear your holiday wishes. You can find him at St. Peter's Church inside the grounds, and you can bargain with Krampus near the Rose & Crown to get off the naughty list. Kids will love the petting zoo, owl encounter and the stunning display of wizardry come to life as the Joust Field is transformed by winter magic.
It's not all merry and bright at the Yuletide Village. Those who love a good scare can register online for A Scary Little Christmas, which takes place next to the village at Brimstone Haunt. Krampus and Santa Claws will be lurking at Psychosis and the Forgotten Forest on select nights. Yuletide Village is open from 5-10 p.m. Friday and from 3-10 p.m. Saturday through Dec.18. A Scary Little Christmas is open from 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday the first two weekends in December (Dec. 3-4 and Dec. 10-11). Tickets are $15 for Yuletide Village or Scary Little Christmas, $25 combo ticket. yuletidevillage.com.
4. Downtown holiday spirit
Generations of Cincinnatians traditionally come Downtown for the holidays to shop, ice skate and enjoy the magic of the season. Here are a few of this year's highlights.
Light Up the Square kicks off the holiday season at Fountain Square (520 Vine St.) with the city's annual tree lighting celebration. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. Friday and continue throughout the evening with live music by 2nd Wind Band, a special appearance by Santa Claus and a fireworks display.
Every Saturday through Dec. 18, you can catch Downtown Dazzle at Fountain Square, where you can watch Santa rappel down a skyrise followed by a fabulous fireworks display. Music and festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. myfountainsquare.com.
See the Winter Wonder Light Show, an eight-minute light show that dances across the Fountain Square plaza and ice rink once every 90 minutes between 4-9:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday beginning Nov. 26.
Hop on the streetcar to visit Founders Forest, an illuminated display in Imagination Alley, the recently renovated community space in the 1300 block of Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine. You'll find whimsical art installations from 5:30-11 p.m. beginning Friday and running through Jan. 1.
New this year in Downtown is the Lumaze Christmas Light Festival, an indoor winter festival filled with towering light gardens, glowing activities and live entertainment under millions of twinkling lights. See illuminated world landmarks like the Mayan temples of Mexico, the Eiffel Tower in France, the iconic windmills of the Netherlands, London's Big Ben and many more. There's also a winter market, seasonal food and drinks, and kids can enjoy collecting stamps in their Lumaze passports to earn a candy cane prize. It opens Friday and runs through Dec. 30 at Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St. Tickets are $20-$90. lumazelights.com/cincinnati-christmas.
5. "A Christmas Carol"
This holiday family favorite returns to Playhouse in the Park (962 Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams) Friday with a cast of nearly 30 actors, elaborate costumes and thrilling special effects. The play combines faithful storytelling with spellbinding stage magic to bring to life the familiar tale of a sinner given one last chance at redemption by four persuasive ghosts. The show is open through Dec. 30. Tickets run $30-$98. cincyplay.com.
Honorable mention: "Cinderella"
What do you get when you combine a nearsighted bookworm heroine, two fabulously self-absorbed stepsisters, one devilish diva stepmother, along with a self-empowering Well-Wisher? A fun spin on the classic fairy tale that demonstrates being smart is true beauty. The classic fairytale is suitable for all ages and opens next Wednesday, Dec. 1, at Ensemble Theatre (1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine) and runs through Dec. 30. Face masks are required, as well as proof of vaccines or a negative COVID-19 test. ensemblecincinnati.org.
Honorable mention: Santa Rescue
Santa's in a bit of a pickle. While trying to deliver toys to all the good girls and boys, he somehow gets stranded on a rooftop. Luckily, the brave firefighters with the Cincinnati Fire Department are coming to the rescue. Watch as Santa is rescued from the roof of the Cincinnati Fire Museum (315 W. Court St., Downtown) by one of the CFD ladder trucks, then visit with Santa inside the museum. The rescue takes place at noon Saturday and is free to watch. Visits with Santa are included in museum admission: $8 for adults, $7 for ages 65-up and ages 7-17. It's free for ages 6 and under. facebook.com/cincyfiremuseum.
Source link
