From Courthouse Tree Lightings to Carriage Parades: New Statewide Holiday Events Guide Showcases the Traditions Ohio Communities Love Most

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Across Ohio, communities are stringing lights, tuning choirs, baking cookies, warming the cocoa, and preparing for one of the most cherished seasons of the year. Today, TourismOhio released the 2025 Ohio Holiday Events Guide, a curated collection of 440 holiday happenings - five in every county - that highlight the small traditions, big celebrations, and hometown magic that make the holidays meaningful across the state.

"The Holiday Events Guide is really about connection," said Sarah Wickham, Ohio's State Tourism Director. "The holidays are when people come home, see old friends, and reconnect. These events - big and small - are opportunities to make memories together, support local businesses, and feel that sense of belonging that Ohio does so well."

Why This Guide Matters to Ohio Communities

TourismOhio research shows that one in four people visiting friends or relatives in Ohio never leave the house to do an activity - meaning families miss opportunities to make memories, and local businesses miss the boost that comes from holiday traffic. At the same time, 60 percent of Ohio trips are planned within just four weeks, which means most holiday outings are spur-of-the-moment decisions.

The Holiday Events Guide is designed exactly for that. It makes it easy to turn "What should we do tonight?" into "Let's go."

"During the holidays we welcome friends, family, and loved ones into our homes, hoping to make their stay as effortlessly magical as the season feels said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "This guide gives people a simple starting point to turn those visits into experiences - and experiences into memories. And when visitors get out into our towns and neighborhoods, the whole community feels the benefit."

Local Stories, Statewide Reach

Events in the Holiday Events Guide are submitted by Convention & Visitors Bureaus (CVBs), ensuring the listings reflect what residents treasure most, including:

• Festive light shows
• Historic village celebrations
• Parades and tree lightings
• Snowy hikes and winter markets
• Home tours, choirs, craft fairs, and community theater

To help media tell these stories from a local perspective, TourismOhio can connect reporters with event organizers and tourism contacts in all 88 counties.

A Tool for Local Storytelling

Reporters and newsrooms looking for holiday content will find:

• Local families, volunteers, and long-running organizers to interview
• Feel-good community features perfect for TV, print, and digital
• Ready story angles for "things to do this weekend" updates
• Economic impact at the local level

TourismOhio will connect media directly with local contacts upon request.

Available Now

The 2025 Ohio Holiday Events Guide is available now at Ohio.org/Holidays and can be viewed digitally or downloaded for free. Media outlets, bloggers, and local tourism partners are encouraged to share and highlight events in their regions using #HolidaysInOhio and #OhioTheHeartOfItAll.

About TourismOhio

Operating within the Ohio Department of Development, TourismOhio works to showcase all Ohio has to offer as a place of adventure, a place of promise, and the place for you.  

The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio's people, places, and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov.

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For Immediate Release:
Nov. 13, 2025

For more information, contact: Mason Waldvogel [email protected]