Holiday Programming

HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Nov. 29-Dec. 22 (Wednesdays-Sundays)
5:30-9:00 p.m.

Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange

Carlisle Equestrian Center, 13630 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange

Free

Lorain County Metro Parks would like to thank their Holiday Lights sponsors:

Join us at Carlisle Reservation this festive season for our annual Holiday Lights display! The event runs from November 29 through December 22, weekly from Wednesday through Sunday. This event is held at TWO locations - the Carlisle Reservation Equestrian Center, 13630 Diagonal Road and the Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Road in LaGrange.

The Carlisle Reservation Equestrian Center (13630 Diagonal Rd.) hosts the drive-through portion of this festive event. This mile-long drive-through features our classic lighted features, such as Santa’s castle and the carousel. NEW this year are even more lights and new features that can be seen from the comfort of your vehicle.

In addition to the drive-through, other displays can be viewed at the Carlisle Visitor Center (12882 Diagonal Rd.). The Children’s Nature Discovery Trail is festively decorated for your family to walk along and enjoy the crisp early winter weather Wednesday through Saturday evenings. On Sundays, during the event from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., the Little Green Choo runs on the trail. While walkers are not permitted along the trail on Sundays during the event, all are welcome aboard the Little Green Choo.

Cookies, hot chocolate, popcorn, etc., are available for purchase inside the Black River Room, courtesy of the Friends of the Metro Parks. We also host a “Wildlife Giving Tree” at the Carlisle Visitor Center with items needed to care for the animals of Carlisle and other LCMP facilities.

As always, outdoor programs are weather-dependent. Please call ahead the day of the program in case of inclement weather or high wind advisories. For more information, please call (440) 458-5121.

Holiday Lights Activities:

Little Green Choo Rides
Sundays, Dec. 1, 8, 15, & 22 | 5:30-9:00 pm
Children’s Nature Discovery Trail

Santa Nights
Thursdays, Dec. 5, 12, & 19 | 6:00-8:30 pm
Carlisle Visitor Center

Balloon Twisting
Wednesdays, Dec. 4, 11, & 18 | 6:30-8:30 pm
Carlisle Visitor Center

Santa Shop - Courtesy of Friends of the Metro Parks
Fridays & Saturdays, Nov. 29, 30, & Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, & 21 | 5:30-8:30 pm
Carlisle Visitor Center

LIGHTS ON THE LAKE
Nov. 30-Jan. 8 | Dusk-9:00 p.m.
Lakeview Park, 1800 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, OH 44052
Free

Experience a FREE lakefront drive-thru lighted holiday display at Lakeview Park! Enjoy “Lights on the Lake” with classic holiday scenes, festive décor, and thousands of twinkling lights spanning this 26-acre park. This after-hours event is intended for drive-thru only. You will not be permitted to exit your vehicle. Lights turn on at dusk and stay lit until 9 p.m. each night. We hope you find an opportunity to enjoy this cheerful and safe holiday activity!

Santa Nights at Lakeview Park
Nov. 30, & Dec. 7, 8, 11, & 20 | 5:00-7:00 pm

Celebrate the holiday season with this annual favorite! Drive through Lakeview Park to see all the magical light displays and visit with Santa at one of our Santa Nights inside the Sunset Terrace for some hot chocolate, cookie decorating, crafts, and a photo opportunity!

Santa’s Holiday Lunch Party at Lakeview Park
Saturday, December 14 | 11:00 am-1:00 pm
$20/person (10+ years) | $15/child (3-9 years) | Kids under 3: free

Join Santa for a Holiday-fun-filled afternoon at Lakeview Park! Tickets include a pasta bar lunch, cookie decorating, one family photo with Santa, craft, and activities for kids. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Call 440-458-5121 for tickets and info.

‘WHIMSICAL HOLIDAY’ DISPLAY
Nov. 29-Dec. 30 | 10 am-5 pm, daily
Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Rd., Avon
$2/person (under 3 free)

Celebrate the holiday season with a visit to Miller Nature Preserve's 'Whimsical Holiday' - a seasonal display set within and outside the Conservatory!

Look for related programming by searching ‘Whimsical Holiday' in the catalog!

Accompanying display programs below:

Santa Lunch
Sat., December 7 | 11:30 am-1:30 pm
$20/person (10+ years) | $15/child (3-9 years) | Kids under 3: free

Enjoy lunch, games, and activities inside the 'Whimsical Holiday' conservatory display and a photo opportunity with Santa! The entry fee includes access to the Conservatory's 'Whimsical Holiday' themed seasonal display. Bring along a camera or phone for the photo op!

Santa’s Whimsical Holiday Party
Fri., December 13 | 6:30-8:00 pm
$5/person (kids under 3: free)

Stop by for games and activities both indoors and out including lighted scenes among the garden beds, holiday movies and songs, and a hot chocolate bar in the Orchid Room! The entry fee includes access to the Conservatory's 'Whimsical Holiday' themed seasonal display. Bring along a camera or phone for a photo opportunity with Santa!

WINTER WONDERETTES
Dec. 6-8 & 13-15
Fri. and Sat. performances at 7:30 p.m., Sun. matinee shows at 2 p.m.
French Creek Theatre, 4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village
$15/person

French Creek Theatre presents Winter Wonderettes. This seasonal celebration finds the girls, Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy entertaining at the 1968 holiday party for Harper’s Hardware. The Wonderettes transform the hardware store into a magical winter wonderland but when Santa turns up missing, the girls use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party! Featuring great ’60s versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland,” the result is, of course, marvelous! This energetic and glittering holiday package is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages.

Seating is limited and tickets are required for all patrons. Doors open 30 minutes before the show and all seats are general admission, first-come first served. For ADA seating options contact the box office at French Creek Nature Center at (440) 949-5200.

OLD-FASHIONED HOLIDAY
Dec. 7 & 8 | 3-7 p.m.
Vermilion River Reservation (Mill Hollow side), 51211 North Ridge Rd., Vermilion
$3/person

Get in the holiday spirit with some old-fashioned fun-for-the-whole-family at Vermilion River Reservation! Step back-in-time to the 1860’s as you tour the candlelit Benjamin Bacon House Museum where members of the Brownhelm Historical Association portray Brownhelm residents celebrating the holidays. Outside the Bacon House, by the warmth of their campfire, enjoy visiting with re-enactors as they cook and share Bacon and Brownhelm history. Go on a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride through Mill Hollow’s pretty, wintry backdrop and relax & roast treats around outdoor firepits (while supplies last). Continue the holiday festivities inside the cozy Carriage Barn where The Friends of Metro Parks will be selling light refreshments (cash only) and listen to live music as you enjoy the warmth and glow of our grand fireplace and 14-foot tall Christmas tree.

The program fee includes one carriage ride and the museum tour. Pre-register EACH person in your group for a 12-minute museum tour time-block (limit of 12 people per tour). No walk-ins; pre-register by 12/4 at loraincountymetroparks.com/programs. On event day, please check in at the Carriage Barn Lobby, where you will receive your Carriage Ride ticket to be used either before or after your scheduled Museum Tour. Outside activities are weather dependent. For questions, contact the Carriage Barn at 440-967-7310.

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR
Sat., Dec. 7 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Henry’s Barn, 46223 U.S. Rt. 20, Oberlin
Free Admission

Join us at Henry’s Barn the first weekend of December for our annual Winter Craft Fair! Shop for all of your holiday gifts and support local vendors during our one-day, family-friendly event. We will have hand-made, crafted goods of all kinds for you to purchase. Get in the spirit of the holiday season with us!

ELF TOY WORKSHOP
Sunday, Dec. 8 | 2-4 p.m.
Wellington Reservation, 535 Jones Rd., Wellington
$15/child (under 3 are free)

This special holiday event will allow children to learn how to build toys from the experts- Santa’s elves! Each child will make three toys from the instruction of Santa’s elves and will be able to write a letter to Santa to be taken back to the North Pole. At the end of the event cookies and cocoa will be served. The cost is $15 per child (ages 3-12). Please register ONLY the child, not the adult caregiver who will be attending with the child. Please limit one caregiver per child. We are allowing one caregiver per child so that each child can have an adult supervising and assisting them with the building of their toys.

COOKIE DECORATING WITH SANTA
Thursday, Dec. 19 | 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Splash Zone, 95 W. Hamilton Rd., Oberlin
$8/person ($3 discount for SZ members)

Cookie decorating fun at Splash Zone with Santa! Each child will get four cookies to decorate, followed by family swim time in the back pool! Children under 8 will need an adult in the water with them.

SANTA SCAVENGER HUNT
Sunday, Dec. 22 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
French Nature Center, 4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village
Free

The hunt for Santa's gift bag begins! Drop-in to French Creek Nature Center for a Santa Scavenger Hunt where you'll search through the Nature Center and one of our trails looking for Santa and some of his magical friends. Find all the items and win a prize from Santa's gift bag!