8 ways to get into the spirit with amazing holiday lights

Millions of dazzling lights are adding sparkle to some of the most popular attractions across the region. Plan to celebrate the joy of the season with your family and friends with a visit to some of the area’s glowing holiday light displays.

WINTERFEST AT KINGS ISLAND

Runs select nights, Friday, Nov. 24 through Saturday, Dec. 30. WinterFest, one of the Cincinnati area’s beloved annual traditions is back. The experience features more than 5 million lights. For schedule, details and pricing, go to www.visitkingsisland.com. Tickets start at $25 and go up to $45 for an all-inclusive ticket. . Hours: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. International Street opens at 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 4:30 p.m. on all other operating days. The Lighting Ceremony with Snoopy and the Kings Island Holiday Singers will kick-off WinterFest nightly at 5:30 p.m. from the International Street Stage.

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LIGHTS ON THE HILL AT PYRAMID HILL

Open through Sunday, Dec. 31. Hamilton’s popular drive-through display will offer guests a holiday light experience that brings art and nature together in the 300-acre sculpture park. Monday through Thursday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost: Monday through Thursday is $20; Friday through Sunday is $25 (Per carload). Admission for Pyramid Hill members presenting a current membership card is $15 every day. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is at 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road in Hamilton. For more details, visit www.pyramidhill.org or call (513) 863-8336.

CHRISTMAS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AT CONEY ISLAND

Runs through Monday, Jan. 1. This two-and-a-half-mile, drive-through light display features more than one million LED lights synchronized to festive music. Features include larger than life trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes and tunnels of lights. Ppens at dusk and continues until 10 p.m., nightly. Cost is $6 per person, and children ages 3 and under are free. Open every night including holidays. Local charities will benefit from proceeds. More info at www.coneyislandpark.com.

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Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction

Open daily through Monday, Jan. 1. With Santa and Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, toy shop elves, free Christmas train displays, a walk-through winter wonderland and so much more. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays noon to 6 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day). There are special extended hours on special dates Dec. 9 - Dec. 30, open until 9 p.m. (The attraction closes at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve). Various admission packages start as low as $9.95. Santa is on vacation beginning on December 26. EnterTRAINment Junction is located at 7379 Squire Court, off Interstate 75 at the Tylersville Rd. exit (#22). Call (513) 898-8000, or visit www.entertrainmentjunction.com for more details.

Light Up Middletown

Open Thanksgiving, Nov. 23 through Sunday, Dec. 31. With over a million sparkling lights, themed displays and Santa, many area families continue to make Light Up Middletown a part of their annual holiday tradition. In its 19th year of operation, this drive-through light display offers plenty of themed displays. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand in the Santa House from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings through Saturday, Dec. 23. Admission by donation. Open nightly, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, including holidays and regardless of the weather. Light Up Middletown is located at Smith Park, 500 Tytus Avenue in Middletown. More info at www.lightupmiddletown.org.

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PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo

Open through Monday, Jan. 1. The Cincinnati Zoo will once again be transformed into a “Wild Wonderland” for the 35th annual PNC Festival of Lights. In addition to admiring the beauty of 3 million LED lights, visitors can watch a Madcap black-light puppet show, ride the BB&T Toyland Express and search for fairies in Fairyland. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving (open during the day), Christmas Eve (open during the day) and Christmas Day (closed all day). Parking is $10 and is purchased at the zoo. General admission tickets start at $17 for adults and $12 for children/senior adult when purchased online. (Gate prices are $19 for adult and $13 for children/senior adult.) Go to www.cincinnatizoo.org to plan a visit.

Niederman Family Farm “Walk Thru The Bible Christmas Display”

Open Friday, November 24 through Saturday, December 30. Visitors can enjoy tens of thousands of lights that illuminate the path on this free, walk-through display. The event is free. Donations are accepted. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 5110 Lesourdsville West Chester Road, Liberty Twp. More info. at www.niedermanfamilyfarm.com.

Holiday in Lights at Sharon Woods

Open through Sunday, Dec. 31. Holiday in Lights presented by The Alleen Company has been a Cincinnati Holiday tradition for over 27 years. This outdoor, drive-through light display is located at Sharon Woods, a Great Park of Hamilton County. Open nightly through Sunday, Dec. 31. Admission is $13 per vehicle ($45 for buses and 15 passenger vans). Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Details at www.holidayinlights.com.

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