Special to 1812Blockhouse from TourismOhio
TourismOhio is once again brightening the holiday season with its Holiday Lights Trail. The statewide showcase of enchanting holiday displays, merry train rides, charming towns, and twinkling lights is back to dazzle visitors on the hunt for holiday cheer.
From the small-town charm of places like Steubenville’s Nutcracker Village to the big city cheer illuminating the Columbus Commons, travelers can experience 70 magical displays across the state.
The Ohio Holiday Lights Trail is available for print or download online at Ohio, The Heart of It All’s Holidays in Ohio landing page.
“There is so much to see and do in Ohio during the holidays, and the light displays across the state make the Christmas season even more magical,” said Governor DeWine. “The Ohio Holiday Lights Trail is truly unique, and the stops are great destinations to spend time with family and experience the heart of Ohio’s communities.”
This season’s Ohio Holiday Lights Trail is the largest since it was launched in 2016. The 70 stops along the self-guided trail include five zoos, two trains, three courthouse light shows, two amusement parks and more than 20 drive-through displays. Nearly all attractions have at least 100,000 lights or more. Several displays have more than one million lights.
There are 18 stops featured on the trail for the first time this season.
“The holidays are about coming together to celebrate, and it’s great we get to do that in a way that showcases destinations from all across the state,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development which oversees TourismOhio. “We have had light displays featured on the trail since it first launched, and others are new this year. It’s a wonderful tradition to be a part of, and we’re pleased to make it bigger and better than before.”
Along with the dazzling new stops featured on the trail, many destinations have made themselves holiday traditions in the hearts of Ohioans, including Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights in Delaware, which has been featured on the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail every year since the trail’s inception.
“Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is proud to have been a part of the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail for the past seven years!” said Jamie Bando, Director of Marketing at Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights. “We are looking forward to another amazing year being a part of the trail and lighting up your holidays, Ohio!”
Attractions are encouraged to apply for the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail through TourismOhio’s Ohio, The Heart of it All tourism industry newsletter starting in July of each year. Application submissions are reviewed by TourismOhio staff who compile the trail, ensuring each region of the state is represented and that attractions meet trail criteria.
Operating within Ohio’s 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.
