Make it a December to remember with holiday-themed events and start-of-winter fun in Shores & Islands Ohio. Whether it’s wandering through amazing light displays, visiting a community holiday celebration, or simply reveling in the crisp cold air, there are a number of way to feel festive this month. Here are 25 events taking place that will get you in the spirit!
Looking for holiday markets and shop local opportunities? https://www.shoresandislands.com/blog/post/christmas-markets-abound-in-shores-islands-ohio-this-holiday-season/
Eddie's Winter Wonderland 2026
Thursdays-Sunday through Sunday, Jan 4, 2026
Fast Eddie’s Sports Park, Port Clinton
Families of all ages can enjoy a beautiful, interactive, holiday experience unlike any other in the area! Fast Eddie’s has converted its beautiful miniature golf course into a fully playable walk-through holiday light experience. The onsite fun includes Santa's Workshop which will offer holiday crafts, S'more kits, outdoor fire pits, hot cocoa and hot adult beverages, and holiday character visits (including Santa!!) Proceeds will benefit the Ottawa County Workforce Hub for Career Advancement.
Lights on the NorthCoast
Daily through Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025
Erie County Fairgrounds, Sandusky
Jingle Bell Rock towards Lights on the NorthCoast's Christmas drive-thru light display and interactive walk-thru light display. There will be an epic amount of over 1 million lights. Also join in on the holiday fun with indoor Christmas-themed putt-putt, Christmas Village, food trucks, and much more!
FurFest Hybrid Silent Auction Fundraiser
Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025
The Winerie, Sandusky
Join the Humane Society of Erie County for a beautiful evening at a great venue! Lots of great silent auction and raffle items, food, drinks, and friends - all for a great cause. The auction is virtual, so you can even bid at home if you aren't able to join in person! VIP tables available and include reserved seating, keepsake wine glass, and early-entry pre-party.
Jingle & Mingle Mixer
Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025
Gideon Owen Wine Company, Catawba
Jingle & Mingle with Josh Battiste and his Tipsy Elves! Join for a festive night of curated cocktails, tasty bites, and jolly vibes. Your ticket includes 2 handcrafted holiday cocktails taught by Josh + delicious small bites. Don’t forget to rock your ugliest holiday sweater - you might just win our contest!
Planetarium Show - Winter Skies Over Sandusky
Thursday, Dec 4 and Sunday, Dec 7, 2025
Sydney Frohman Planetarium, Sandusky
See the stars and constellations that are visible in the skies this time of year at this free, family-friendly planetarium show.
Lakeside Christmas
Friday-Sunday, Dec 5-7, 2025
Lakeside Chatauqua, Marblehead
To kick off the holiday season, you’re invited to celebrate a “Lakeside Christmas.” Festivities include holiday cheer for the whole family, featuring a tree lighting ceremony, Christmas movies, a visit from Santa Claus, a Community Christmas Dinner, holiday shopping and much more!
Light Up Vermilion
Friday, Dec 5, 2025
Exchange Park, Vermilion
Come on out and feel like you have stepped back in time to enjoy the holidays the old-fashioned way, with family, neighbors, and friends in historic downtown Vermilion. Main Street Vermilion is bringing back Light Up Vermilion for its ninth season with family friendly events and special new traditions. The evening begins when Santa arrives in style to help count down to the community tree lighting. After the tree lighting, stroll through town enjoying caroling, roasting chestnuts, hot chocolate, photo opts, and more.
Olde Fashioned Christmas
Friday, Dec 5, 2025
Downtown Oak Harbor
Hometown Holiday on Water St. and Olde Fashioned Christmas, where you can visit Santa & Mrs. Claus at the Log Cabin in Adolphus Kramer Park, enjoy free cookies, cocoa, ornament and other craft-making at downtown merchants.
5K Santa Run & Family Jingle Jog
Saturday, Dec 6, 2025
Chateau Winery & Vineyard, Helena
5K Santa Run - Santa apparel encouraged! Or try the Family Jingle Jog (1.4 miles), strollers and wagons welcome! Race begins at 10 am, with check-in beginning at 9 am. Registration is $25 plus a Toys for Tots donation. Register by November 24th to receive a commemorative t-shirt. We will allow registration on the morning of the event, but t-shirts will not be included. All runners are welcome to enjoy a free hot cocoa after the race. Kids can partake in holiday crafts, and there will be plenty of fun for everyone. Lunch and additional beverages will be available for purchase.
Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes
Saturday-Sunday, Dec 6-7, 2025
Various locations, Sandusky
This popular tour of Sandusky homes and museums decked for the holidays has returned! The tour will include a number of homes as well as the Boeckling Club and the Follett House Museum. Sponsored by the Old House Guild of Sandusky. Door prizes, raffles for wreaths, 50/50, live music, mystery item hunt/prize, donuts & hot beverages.
Downtown Fremont Holiday Parade!
Saturday, Dec 6, 2025
Downtown Fremont
Come explore the Fremont community for a whole day of spectacular events! Downtown Fremont Open House and Sip & Shop (ALL DAY). Indoor Holiday Market and Santa will be at The Santa House (Be Sure To Bring Your Camera). There will be live entertainment with Grace Brethren Chapel and The Fremont Ballet School. Then, one of the biggest parades around! The 30th Annual Downtown Fremont Holiday Parade starts at 6 pm! Dress warm!
Perkins Township WinterFest 2025
Saturday, Dec 6, 2025
Strickfaden Park, Sandusky
This is a FREE Community Event and Perkins Township is excited for all of you to enjoy: food trucks, live music, craft vendors in the North Pole vendor tent, petting zoo, fire pits with a free s’mores bar, free hot chocolate, free kettle corn, free caricatures, and free caramel apple nachos! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be arriving on a Perkins Township Firetruck at 4 pm to help light-up Strickfaden Park early in the evening and staying to help welcome the holiday season with everyone.
Port Clinton Community Christmas
Saturday, Dec 6, 2025
Downtown Port Clinton
Families can visit over 20 businesses that host activities like face painting, ornament making, cookie decorating, and games.
💛 Canvas Night: The Improvised Musical 💛
Saturday, Dec 6, 2025
The Emporium at West Market Street, Sandusky
Get ready to laugh, connect, and celebrate creativity at Canvas Night. Enjoy an unforgettable evening filled with music, food, art, laughter, and community impact. 25% of net proceeds benefit United Way Erie County. Includes a panel discussion featuring local artists Marsha Gray Carrington and Kylee Frederix, plus Tim Murray — a Sandusky native comedian, actor, and writer extraordinaire — sharing their creative journeys and stories. Then enjoy a live comedy show with Tim Murray — and he’s bringing friends! Ali Reed and Adrien Pellerin, world-touring musical improv stars (including sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland) join Tim for a one-of-a-kind night of comedy! They’ll ask the audience for a title of a musical and then make up an entire show on the spot — jokes, characters, songs, and even harmonies! If you love Whose Line Is It Anyway? — this is the show for you! Don’t miss this one-night-only experience.
Brunch with Santa
Sunday, Dec 7, 2025
The Ørchard Bar and Table, Catawba
Make your reservations now to join Santa for a jolly good brunch and a sprinkle of holiday cheer! Enjoy a cozy morning by the fire, festive favorites, and plenty of merry moments for the whole family. Bring your wish list, your appetite, and your holiday spirit — Santa’s saving you a seat at the table! Full regular menu and Kid's menu available
Lights of Spiegel Grove
Friday, Dec 12, 2025
RB Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Fremont
Get in the holiday spirit by seeing Santa light the 50-foot outdoor Christmas tree at Spiegel Grove, an arboretum and the estate of President Rutherford and First Lady Lucy Hayes. Enjoy refreshments, carolers, visits with Kris Kringle (the Victorian name for Santa), a campfire and more. Carolers will sing and attendees are welcome to join in on the beloved holiday songs. There will be an open house of the first floor of the Hayes Home, which will be lightly decorated in a historically accurate manner. During the event, participants also can take a short walk of the lighted grounds and visit the Hayes Train Special, an operating model train display that runs through an intricate Victorian holiday scene. The Hayes Train Special runs through January 4, 2026.
Selfies with Santa!
Saturday, Dec 13, 2025
Mad River Harley-Davidson, Sandusky
A festive day lined up for the whole family including: Snap a FREE selfie with Santa, bring your camera and your best smile! Cozy up at our gourmet hot chocolate bar with all the fixings. Treat yourself to a spread of fresh-baked cookies. Get crafty with stocking decorating (supplies provided!) Show off your creativity in our Holiday Coloring Contest, the winner takes home an H-D Kids Gift Basket valued at $100!
Liberty Aviation Museum Annual Open House
Saturday-Sunday, Dec 13-14, 2025
Liberty Aviation Museum, Port Clinton
Enjoy free admission for everyone, and explore the museum's collection of historic aircraft and exhibits. Don't miss out on the Tin Goose Diner, open Fri-Sun 8am-3pm, and the Liberty Aviation Museum PX Gift Shop, featuring a 20% off Christmas Sale! On Sunday, December 14th, Santa will join us Breakfast with Santa at the Liberty Aviation Museum (ticketed event), followed by the Santa Fly-Away at 11am! (FREE). Children and adults can visit with Santa from 10am-11am and then watch Santa fly away for FREE at 11 am (weather permitting)
Holidays and Harmonies (matinee and evening shows)
Sunday, Dec 14, 2025
Sawmill Creek Convention Center, Huron
The joy of the holiday season will be in full swing with festive favorites, sing-along classics, and choral music from around the world with the Firelands Symphony Orchestra and Chorale. Guest baritone Darryl Lewis brings a rich, velvety tone and charismatic presence to this beloved holiday tradition. Expect a heartwarming celebration for the whole family and community (and a few holiday surprises along the way)!
Winter Hike
Friday, Dec 19, 2025
Edison Woods MetroPark, Berlin Heights
Bundle up and join Natural Resources Manager Tara on a guided hike to celebrate the upcoming winter solstice. Come dressed for the weather. Walk-ups welcome, no registration required.
SUPER SATURDAY - DELIVERING CHEER
Saturday, Dec 20, 2025
Sandusky Mall, Sandusky
Get all your last-minute shopping done at the Sandusky Mall and have fun while doing it! Don't know what to get? A Sandusky Mall gift card is always a great option! Grab a quick snack at the Make Your Own Trail Mix Station, listen to some great Holiday tunes, and get your photo taken with Santa (costs apply)! Open extended hours for your shopping convenience - 9 am-10 pm!
🎵🎷 A Canvas Night Series — Motown Night 🎸🎤
Saturday, Dec 20, 2025
The Emporium at West Market Street, Sandusky
Join The Emporium for an unforgettable evening of music, art, food, and community impact — all while supporting United Way Erie County! Panel Discussion: Meet local hair artists Mary Beth White, Phil Parker, and Ja'Leen McGee, plus tattoo artist Athena Pribanic, as they share their creative journeys and inspirations. Performances by local Sandusky band 447 Soul — bringing the Motown magic all night long! Sandusky is buzzing with energy — and Canvas Night is the heartbeat!
Christmas in the Village
Sunday, Dec 21, 2025
Historic Lyme Village, Bellevue
Christmas in the Village is a wonderful time to visit all the decorated buildings, including the beautifully-decorated John Wright Mansion. The children will have an opportunity to go to the Merry Schoolhouse to write a letter to Santa, then go to the Post Office to mail it, and finally, visit the Mansion…there will be a surprise waiting! Treats will also be available in the Carriage House Café.
Horse-drawn sleigh and trolley rides through Spiegel Grove 2025
Friday-Wednesday, Dec 26-31, 2025
RB Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Fremont
Ride through the wooded estate of President Rutherford B. Hayes in a horse-drawn sleigh, as he did when he lived there. A horse-drawn trolley also will offer rides through Spiegel Grove. The sleigh can fit four people, and the trolley can fit 16 -18. The rides are a nostalgic trip through the beautiful, wooded estate. Rides are by South Creek Clydesdales.
Holiday Candle-lit Tours at Historic Lyme Village
Saturdays, Dec 27, 2025 and January 3, 2026
Historic Lyme Village, Bellevue
Step back in time to New Year’s Eve the year 1865 as you enjoy a quaint candle-lit guided tour of the Village, wonderfully decorated for the holiday season. Hear stories from costumed interpreters of how Christmas and New Year’s were celebrated in the Firelands in the mid-19th century. Afterwards enjoy complimentary hot cider, hot chocolate, and cookies in the Carriage House Cafe’. Tours depart every twenty minutes. Dress appropriately for this indoor/outdoor 90-minute walking tour. Reservations required.
Get out and celebrate! However you commemorate the season, find all the area special event on our Events Calendar.
