Written by: Kendahl Plank
Updated: 9/23/2025
Welcome to the holiday wonderland that is Toledo, Ohio! As the festive season approaches, our city comes alive with a vibrant array of light displays, events and holiday experiences, ensuring that there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Ice Skating at The Ribbon
The 2025 – 26 ice skating season opens on November 15, and runs daily through mid March (excluding Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). Ice skating sessions are 90 minutes each, with schedules varying by day of the week. We strongly encourage making advanced reservations to guarantee your spot on the ice.
The Ribbon at Glass City Metropark is a 1,000 ft. looping ice trail featuring rolling hills and soft curves for a uniquely Metroparks winter ice skating experience. The Ribbon is connected to a 5,000 square foot skating pond that offers a traditional ice rink experience for beginners and a series of special events and programs. Learn more about Winter on The Ribbon here.
The Lights Before Christmas
Each year the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium shines bright from mid-November through the end of December with their annual lights display, The Lights Before Christmas.
The event features a breathtaking array of over one million lights, intricate and imaginative light displays, turning the zoo’s picturesque landscape into a mesmerizing tapestry of colors and shapes. From the towering Big Tree adorned with colorful bulbs to animated light sculptures of animals and holiday characters, every corner of the zoo is adorned with radiant illumination, and it is fun for the whole family to enjoy! During Lights, zoo opens daily at 3 p.m. The Zoo is not open during the daytime and is only open for Lights.
Mon – Thurs
Open 3 – 8 p.m., Zoo closes at 9 p.m.
Fri – Sun
Open 3 – 9 p.m., Zoo closes at 10 p.m.
Thanksgiving Day
Open 3 – 8 p.m., Zoo closes at 9 p.m.
Christmas Eve
Open 3 – 8 p.m., Zoo closes at 9 p.m.
Christmas Day
Open 3 – 8 p.m., Zoo closes at 9 p.m.
New Year’s Eve
Open 3 – 8 p.m., Zoo closes at 9 p.m.
Step into the holiday spirit at the newly reimagined Winter Village! Sip a seasonal drink at Twinkle Tavern, browse festive finds at Enchanted Gifts, and warm up by a crackling fire while roasting s’mores from The Sweet Shoppe. Be sure to stop by Santa’s Lodge to share your Christmas wish. You’ll find Winter Village on the south side of the Zoo in the Amphitheatre.
Holidays at the Manor House
The annual Holidays at the Manor House returns, December 6-14. Admission is free and no reservations required. Ring in the holidays at one of northwest Ohio’s most festive celebrations. Each year, volunteers from the community transform over 30 areas of the 30,000-square-foot Manor House into a holiday wonderland. Tour the house and see why more than 40,000 people make Holidays at the Manor House part of their holiday tradition.
Visit Metroparks Hall on the same dates from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to see the model train exhibit by the Swanton Area Railroad and Model Club. Reservations will not be required to see the trains, however a limited number of people will be allowed inside the building at one time.
Walleye Hockey Season
It wouldn’t be winter in Toledo without Walleye Hockey. This adrenaline-fueled spectacle takes center stage at the Huntington Center Arena all winter and many visitors make attending a game part of their holiday tradition! Part of what makes the Walleye experience special is their themed nights and promotions. Learn more about the Walleye Hockey season here.
Notable Holiday Displays, Events & Tree Lightings:
Children’s Wonderland
Friday, December 12 – Wednesday, December 24 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Sylvania Tam-O-Shanter
Children’s Wonderland began as a Northwest Ohio holiday tradition over 50 years ago. For decades, families from all over the Northwest Ohio have been coming to find the holiday spirit at Children’s Wonderland. As always, dozens of classic exhibits will be on display, train rides will be available, and there will be plenty of opportunities to take pictures with Santa.
Hensville Lights
Thanksgiving through NYE
Hensville Park and Fleetwoods Taproom will be fully lit covering the whole building with a display of lights along with a big tree lighted tree in Hensville park. Head downtown for their special tree lighting event to ring in the season and kick off the downtown Toledo Holiday Lights Trail.
Sleigh Bellwether
Mid December through the end of the year
Celebrate the holiday season at Toledo Spirits Company’s cocktail bar! Each year they transform Bellwether into an annual Christmas Wonderland Pop-Up: Sleigh Bellwether! Enjoy Christmas music, over the top decorations, and holiday cocktails. The Sleigh Bellwether cocktail menu features holiday inspired drinks served in unique glassware with festive garnish. Stay tuned for more details!
Main Street Sylvania
Downtown Sylvania is lit up each year with strings of lights and can be enjoyed while exploring Sylvania’s lively downtown district. Wander through art galleries for inspiration and stock up on supplies at the art supply depot. Get the latest fashions at locally owned boutiques and shop for unique home décor. Get a drink at a local establishment to sip as you stroll through the shops in Sylvania’s Downtown Outdoor Recreation Area (DORA).
Levis Commons
The tree lighting ceremony is complete with live coverage, entertainment and kids activities to enjoy. Eat, shop, enjoy live performances, witness 13abc’s live broadcast, welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus, and help Levis Commons light the big tree!
Other events
Several holiday themed events will continue to be announced in the Toledo area soon. To catch events as they go live this season, check out our events calendar!
Holiday Shopping
It is no secret that a big part of the holiday season is shopping! Visitors to Toledo typically spend time shopping while they are here due to our local retail offering, thriving mall, and unique places to find gifts. So after you’ve made your holiday gift-giving list, get ready for some retail therapy at Toledo’s locally owned businesses! You’ll find a unique array of local boutiques and handcrafted artists to complement your must-have mall items.
Merry & Bright Holiday Nights
Head about one hour west of Toledo to Archbold, Ohio and step back in time at Sauder Village. From the bright lights on Main Street to the quiet warmth of candlelit cabins, Sauder Village brings the past to life and inspires new memories. Slow down and stroll through historic buildings. Listen to live music. Take a trolley or train ride, make a holiday craft, and perhaps run into Santa himself. Indulge in an old-fashioned treat at our Soda Fountain. Take a break for the hustle of the holidays and make Merry and Bright part of your new tradition. While visiting, make sure to stop in at the Barn Restaurant for a home-style meal and grab your holiday treats at the Doughbox Bakery, adjacent to the Barn Restaurant.
Making Spirits Bright on Main Street
Enjoy a cocktail from the Broken Barrel Speakeasy on Main Street while you stroll through the historic buildings and learn about Christmas traditions from the past. Enjoy a sample of several historic themed drinks in our historic homes. Take a Trolley Ride or a train ride on our decorated train. Learn more here.
Holidays at RB Hayes
Enjoy a special evening tour of the Hayes Home during Hayes Home Holidays, offered two nights in December. Guests will be treated to festive stories and, throughout the tour, guests will be able to interact with costumed characters.Participants will enjoy a comforting cup of wassail, a hot spiced cider that was a popular holiday drink during the Victorian era. The home will be lightly decorated for the holidays in a historically accurate manner. Before and after tours, guests can enjoy the “Hayes Train Special” model train display in the museum auditorium. Learn more here.
Horse-drawn sleigh and trolley rides through Spiegel Grove
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. Learn more here.
