CINCINNATI – Dogs in cute costumes on parade, a new distillery opening to lift your spirits and Downtown streets filled with Santas are all part of this weekend's suggested things to do.
Crafts, Cocktails, Claus: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. $40 adults; $20 children. Mark your calendar for this special evening with Kris Kringle at the Cincinnati Museum Center. Parents can enjoy spiked eggnog and cocktails while working alongside their children and Santa himself to build something special for the holiday season. Admission to the event includes live demonstrations and exclusive access to the new home of Holiday Junction. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Bacchanalian Fall Gathering Benefiting the YWCA: 7-10 p.m. Thursday. The Phoenix, 812 Race St., Downtown. $20. Join the Bacchanalian Society for a festive evening at the Phoenix that involves wine and charity. For $20, enjoy a drink while helping the YWCA in its mission of helping others. There will also be an after party at Rosedale in Over-the-Rhine. bacchanaliansociety.com
Karrikin Spirits Co. Grand Opening: 5 p.m. Friday. Karrikin Spirits Co., 3717 Jonlen Drive, Fairfax. Karrikin Spirits Company promises a unique experience during its grand opening this Friday. The new distillery will serve spirits, sodas and craft beers made fresh onsite, along with dishes that utilize locally-sourced ingredients. You can learn more about Karrikin by reading my preview of the place here. karrikinspirits.com
The Cov Repeals 2018 Pub Crawl and Costume Party: 6-9:30 p.m. Friday. Lisse Steakhaus, 530 Main St., Covington. Visit 12 different Covington eateries and enter for the chance to win a $100 gift certificate and a one-night stay at Hotel Covington during this unique bar crawl and costume party. The event celebrating the repeal of Prohibition will start at Lisse Steakhaus and make its way to the Hotel Covington by the end of the night with music by the Big Time Swing Band. Dress in your best Repeal-era dress for your chance to win the gift certificate and hotel stay. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Cincinnati SantaCon 2018: Noon-midnight Saturday. Jack Cincinnati Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Downtown. $15. Break out your Santa suit and prepare for a day of fun during the annual SantaCon. This year's dash through Downtown begins at Jack Casino and continues through midnight. Registration includes an official SantaCon wristband, free rides along the Cincinnati Bell Connector, lyric sheet of songs to sing and the chance to win tickets to Bunbury, Bellwether music festival and a Cincinnati staycation. cincinnatisantacon.com
Doscher's Holiday Open House: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Doscher's Candies, 6926 Main St., Newtown. Satisfy that sweet tooth during the Doscher's Candies open house this Saturday. There will be caroling, refreshments and a visit from Santa during the event. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Arrival of St. Nicholas in MainStrasse Village: 6-7 p.m. Thursday. Goose Girl Fountain, Main and West Sixth Streets, Covington. Bring your family out to enjoy this Mainstrasse tradition. St. Nicholas will visit the village Thursday evening to share cookies, hot chocolate and a treat with children while supplies last. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
My Experiences in a Japanese American Internment Camp: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday. The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St., Downtown. Free. Join Dr. Harald Y. Arai as he discusses his experience in a Japanese American Internment Camp as a child during World War II. Dr. Arai will focus on the strength and perseverance exhibited by the detainees. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required due to space. mercantilelibrary.com
Winter in the Woodlands: 6-8 p.m. Friday. California Woods Nature Preserve, 5400 Kellogg Ave., California. $6 per person. Follow a beautiful luminaria-lit trail on a self-guided hike through the California Woods Nature Preserve before warming up your insides by decorating homemade cookies, making crafts, listening to stories in a cabin and enjoying live music by Ceol Mohr. In case of inclement weather, the event will take place on Saturday. explorenature.regfox.com
Mount Adams Reindog Parade: Noon-2 p.m. Saturday. The Monastery Event Center, 1005 St. Paul Pl., Mount Adams. Free. Come dressed in your best holiday costume with your dog and participate in the annual Mount Adams Reindog Parade this Saturday. Registration runs from noon until 1:45 p.m. at the Monastery Event Center, followed by the annual parade through Mount Adams. All proceeds from the parade benefit SPCA Cincinnati. There will also be rewards given for holiday best dressed in multiple categories. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Holiday Market at Fountain Square: 4-9 p.m. Friday; Noon-9 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Free. The Holiday Market on Fountain Square will feature regional artists and crafters, along with full concessions that include beer, wine and food from local businesses. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Jingle Bell Run: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Northern Kentucky Convention Center, 1 W. Rivercenter Blvd., Covington. $40. Get your bells on and take part in one of the oldest Christmas-themed runs in Greater Cincinnati. The Jingle Bells Run is a 3.1 mile race that raises money for the Arthritis Foundation. And as the name of the race suggests, participants are welcome to show their holiday cheer by decking themselves in decorations. events.arthritis.org
2018 OTR Holiday Home Tour: Noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Samuel Adams Taproom, 1632 Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine. $35. Join the Future Leaders of Over-the-Rhine for this self-guided walking tour of beautiful and unique homes in OTR. Explore these hidden gems and enjoy a treat or two at a few stops along the way. All proceeds benefit Future Leaders OTR, which is dedicated to helping neighborhood youth in their pursuit of higher education. www.americanlegacytours.com
Cincinnati Fairytale Ball: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. $25-$55. Take your favorite princess to have a ball this Saturday when the Duke Energy Convention Center is transformed into a pretty princess party. Guests will get to meet Disney's most popular princesses during the Fairytale Ball. They'll also get to read with Rapunzel, share treats with Tinkerbell, create at tiara with Elena and dance with Cinderella. Each child will also receive a professional princess portrait, a candy buffet and crafts. www.eventbrite.com
The Sixth Annual OTR Raildog Parade: noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. Dress your four-legged friend in his or her's best holiday attire and take part in the sixth annual Over-the-Rhine Raildog Parade. This year's holiday walk through OTR begins at 2 p.m. from Queen City Radio and concludes on Main Street. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
SSOM Winter Edition 2018: Noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Main Street between 12th and Liberty, Over-the-Rhine. Free. Do your holiday shopping all in one day in Over-the-Rhine. This Sunday local vendors and stores will line Main Street for the winter edition of Second Sundays on Main. There will also be an award ceremony for the cutest pooch who participated in the sixth annual Raildog Parade earlier in the day. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. $60. Evan Tyrone Martin will perform the hits of Nat King Cole during his visit to Cincinnati this weekend. The golden-voiced singer will perform songs such as "Mona Lisa," "The Christmas Song" and "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." www.cincinnatiarts.org
Holiday Pops: 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $25-$120 adults; $15 children. A Queen City holiday tradition returns when the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra takes the stage at Music Hall this weekend. You'll be sure to make new family memories during Holiday Pops, which blends holiday favorites that will send your holiday spirit soaring with singers and dancers, humor and joy, magic and music. This year CCM graduate and Broadway star Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) joins the fun. And don't forget to share the holiday cheer by bringing new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, or socks to the concert to benefit City Gospel Mission. cincinnatisymphony.org
A Post Modern Dance with 97XtraBeats, 120 Minutes and Warehouse: 9 p.m.-midnight Friday. Bircus Brewing Co., 322 Elm St., Ludlow. Pay tribute to the Cincinnati club scene of the 1990s during this dance party at Bircus Brewing Co. There will be live DJs spinning records, including those from your favorite industrial, New Wave and Goth bands of the late 1980s and 1990s. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Crystal Method: 8 p.m. Friday. Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. $12-$22. 18 and older. Dance the night away with Crystal Method and special guests Sean G, Bitflip and Vaance at Bogarts. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
'Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells:' 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Saturday. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $13. Take your children to this holiday performance of the classic Junie B. Jones story by the Casa Manana Theatre. The story offers life-lessons about giving and sharing. www.memorialhallotr.com
Bruce Bruce: 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday. Funny Bone, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township. $25-$55. 21 and older. Bruce Bruce is a prolific performer and comedian who has hosted BET's "Comic View" and made multiple appearances on TV and in film. Bruce will perform five sets at the Liberty Funny Bone this weekend. liberty.funnybone.com
Cincinnati Poetry Slam III: 5-9 p.m. Saturday. Artsville, 5021 Whetsel Ave., Madisonville. $15. Witness the creativity and verbal linguistics of local artists as they perform in the annual Cincinnati Poetry Slam presented by Kim DuWaup Bolden and Artsville. Sixteen poets will compete for $500 in cash prizes throughout the evening. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Jingle Jams 2018 featuring Migos:7 p.m. Saturday. US Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown. $59-$204. Tis the season to get out of your seats as Migos performs with special guests Tee Grizzley, BlockBoy JB, La4ss and Dash Gwopovelli at US Bank Arena. Migos is a hip-hop superstar group known for their high energy shows. usbankarena.com
'Santa Claus: The Musical:' 2 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St. Downtown. $10-$30. This holiday season The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati will transform the Taft Theatre with its performance of "Santa Claus: The Musical." Enjoy this brand new show that focuses on Santa trying to retire and find his replacement after 1,000 years of faithful service to children around the world. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
