'Tis the weekend before Christmas, and the Queen City is definitely decked out in holiday cheer.
See my full rundown of 2019 holiday festivities by tapping here before checking out the individual weekend events below.
FOOD & DRINK
LMBC Second Anniversary Weekend: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. Little Miami Brewing Co., 208 Mill St., Milford. To celebrate its second year in business, Little Miami Brewing Co. is hosting three evenings of special events. At 6 p.m. Thursday, Thom Stephenson will perform, followed by the release of the brewery's holiday beer at 7 p.m. Friday's festivities will feature Jim Kelly at 4:30 p.m., a birthday cake cutting at 7:30 p.m. and a performance by the Big Trouble Blues Band at 8 p.m. The anniversary bash will end on Saturday with a 1980s costume contest, giveaways and music. Saturday's fun includes Freak Duology performing at 4:30 p.m. and then Tone Yard at 8 p.m. www.littlemiamibrewing.com
Braxton Howl-iday Bash with Queen City Bulldog Rescue: Noon-11:30 p.m. Saturday. Braxton Brewing Co., 27 W. Seventh St., Covington. Braxton is celebrating the season with Queen City Bulldog Rescue with a day full of fun in its Covington taproom. There will be plenty of festive fun for you and your canine friend, including an ugly sweater party for pups, photos with Santa, ornament decorating, giveaways, holiday tunes and music. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
COMMUNITY
Ugly Sweater Day: 5-10 p.m. Friday. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Kings Mills. Get in the holiday spirit and flaunt your festive fashion faux pas with pride on National Ugly Sweater Day at Kings Island's WinterFest. Folks who arrive at the park wearing garish holiday garb will get $20 off admission to WinterFest. (That means each person wearing an ugly sweater will pay only $19.99 at the front gate of the park.) To receive the discount, show your ugly sweater at any admission window located to the left of the park’s entry gate. Bonus: The first 3,000 guests through the gate on National Ugly Sweater Day will receive a free WinterFest Coca-Cola souvenir bottle sweater that will keep your mitts warm while holding your festively dressed Coke bottle. www.visitkingsisland.com
Winter Solstice Celebrations at Union Terminal: Noon-3 p.m. Saturday. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Free. Enjoy fun, hands-on activities as you learn about holiday traditions around the world in the Union Terminal Rotunda. This free event hosted by the Cincinnati Museum Center will explore the traditions of Hanukkah, the Lunar New Year, Christmas and Kwanzaa, all holidays celebrated on or around the Winter Solstice. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Mount Adams Egg Nog Jog: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday. Chapter, 940 Pavilion St., Mount Adams. $27 before noon Thursday; $35 after. Jingle all the way for this annual Mount Adams holiday tradition. The scenic and challenging course begins at Jerome and St. Gregory before winding through Mount Adams and Eden Park, which offers spectacular views of the Queen City below. Both the 5K run and walk begin and end at Chapter in Mount Adams. www.runsignup.com
MUSIC & COMEDY
A Christmas Evening with Over The Rhine: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $40-$65. Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, the husband-and-wife duo that are known as the band Over the Rhine, will perform three Christmas concerts this weekend at Memorial Hall. Special guest Lucy Wainwright Roche will join the duo. www.memorialhallotr.com
WEBN Presents Feliz Navifrog Featuring Badflower: 8 p.m. Saturday. Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. $78. Celebrate the season with Badflower, the bluesy, gritty band known for catchy vocals and rock-star prowess. Bones UK and Silent Riva will join the band. www.bogarts.com
THE ARTS
"The Nutcracker": 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $29-$125. It wouldn't be the holiday season in the Queen City without the Cincinnati Ballet's performance of "The Nutcracker" presented by Frisch's Big Boy. Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they journey to the Land of Sweets in this timeless holiday tale. cballet.org
"Awaited": 8 p.m. Friday; 2, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. $25-$100. Experience the wonder of Christmas in a completely new way with "Awaited," a creative retelling of the Christmas story brought to life on stage by more than 80 performers. "Awaited" features original choreography and music, along with favorite holiday classics that remind everyone why Christmas is the ultimate season of hope. www.cincinnatiarts.org
