One way to prepare for the December holidays is to pull out your calendar and add all the events that you want to attend, so that you can organize your time around those events and make sure not to miss anything important. To that end, here’s Destination Mansfield’s list of December happenings:
Let’s cross Christmas shopping off your list!
Shop local specials at the First Friday Shop Hop (December 6) in Downtown Mansfield. Give the gift of art, explore the Holiday Fair 2019 (December 1-29, Closed Mondays, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day) at Mansfield Art Center. Make sure to stop by the Soup au Faire where homemade soups and desserts are served from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM, Tuesdays through Fridays. For more hand-crafted artisan gifts, shop the GIVE ART Holiday Fine Arts Fair (December 1-28) at Main Street Books. This art show will feature over 15 different artists from a variety of mediums. All items will be priced under $100.
Shop for unique alpaca gifts, make and take a felted ornament, or just meet some fluffy fiber animals at the Christmas Open House (December 7 & 8) at Alpaca Meadows.
To help children shop for their parents, the volunteer-assisted Tiny Tim Shoppe for children ages 12 and under will open November 23 at 128 N. Main St. The shop will be open every Saturday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM through December 21. Gifts are $10 and under and are gift wrapped onsite.
Catch a festive performance.
The play, A Gift to Remember (December 6-7 & 13-15) takes the stage at the Mansfield Playhouse. Seasonal performances at The Renaissance Theatre include the Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra: Holiday Prelude (December 8), and the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra & Chorus: Holiday Pops (December 14). Bring the whole family to watch the Christmas classic Family Film: Home Alone (December 15). Celebrate Advent and the Christmas season with St. Peter’s Music Series: Advent Lessons & Carols (December 15) at St Peter’s Catholic Church.
Attend a tree lighting.
Celebrate Christmas in historic downtown Mansfield at Christmas Time in the City (December 6). Don’t miss the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Richland Carrousel Park at 6:00 PM with live reindeer, Christmas caroling, photos with Santa, carriage rides and more! The Ontario, Ohio Christmas Tree Lighting will take place December 5 at 5:30 PM at the Marshall Park Pavilion #2 and Band Shelter. The evening’s activities will include special performances, an appearance from Santa Claus, hot chocolate, cookies, and a coloring contest.
Celebrate the holidays with your favorite attractions.
Pick out your Christmas tree with Holiday Fun at Kleerview Farm (December 1-20). The farm is full things to do with hayrides, animals, reindeer Santa, hot cocoa and more. Visit Oak Hill Cottage for Christmas Tours on Sundays from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, December 1-29 and Ghosts of Christmas Past Tours (December 7), where ghosts of Oak Hill Cottage’s former inhabitants serve as your tour guides.
A holiday season favorite, don’t miss the Candlelight Holiday Tours (December 6-8, 13-15) at Malabar Farm State Park. Tour Louis Bromfield’s Big House while its halls are decked for the holiday season. Your tour will include freshly baked cookies, hot cider, and you may even enjoy an appearance by Santa Claus himself.
Kingwood Center Gardens will open for Christmas at Kingwood, Thursdays through Sundays, November 30 – January 5 from 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. See Kingwood Hall decked for the holidays, walk the outdoor trail of lights, visit the Community Tree Walk and a special greenhouse display. Each week will bring new Christmas magic with special events and workshops. General admission is $5 per person. Members and children 12 and under are free.
Check the full schedule of events to see what’s happening each weekend at Christmas at Kingwood. Events will include performances from the Mid-Ohio Jazz Orchestra and the Mid-Ohio opera. The Hampstead Stage will present a production of A Christmas Carol at Kingwood Center Gardens on December 5 from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. There will be a free children’s activity at 5:30PM before the show, and your ticket includes admission to Christmas at Kingwood. Non-members: $8, members and children ages 6-12: $3. Children age 5 and under are free!
Check the Destination Mansfield – Richland County calendar of events for recurring events, classes, and live music during the holiday season. New events are added all the time!
Photo Credit: 1812Blockhouse
