• Dayton is just one of the many towns with a festival to explore over the holidays.dayton, ohio image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com
  
  Ohio has a rich tradition of festivals when it comes to the celebrating the holidays, including parades, small carnivals and Christmas-tree-lighting ceremonies. Seasonal food like gingerbread and music by local musicians are just some of the holiday fun you can sample at Ohio's seasonal festivals.
  
  

Columbus Zoo

• The Columbus Zoo is open during the holidays and has a wide range of exhibits and activities for families or couples on a day trip. Zoo exhibits include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds. Hands-on experiences at the zoo include the "Kangaroo Walkabout," where visitors can share the same space with the kangaroos. During the holidays, the Zoo also has seasonal lighting displays.
  
  Columbus Zoo
  
  4850 West Powell Road
  
  Powell, OH 43065
  
  614-645-3550
  
  colszoo.org
  
  

Dayton Holiday Festival

• The Dayton Holiday Festival was started by Virginia Kettering in 1972---to bring the entire community to together to enjoy the holidays. The festival includes a holiday village, carnival, horse-drawn carriage rides, gingerbread house displays, and holiday crafts for families and children. The two biggest events are the annual Christmas-tree-lighting ceremony and the Dayton Children's Parade. Admission is free.
  
  Dayton Holiday Festival
  
  Downtown Dayton, OH
  
  937-224-1518
  
  downtowndayton.org
  
  

Holidazzle Illuminated Parade & Festival

• Downtown Wilmington closes its main streets for the Holidazzle Illuminated Parade & Festival. The streets are decorated with lights and ornaments, and the city has a small parade. Santa also makes an appearance to hear the wish lists of visiting children. Other activities include indoor carnival games, different seasonal foods and local musicians. Admission is free.
  
  Holidazzle Illuminated Parade & Festival
  
  13 N. South St. (Downtown Wilmington)
  
  Wilmington, OH 45177
  
  877-428-4748
  
  consumer.discoverohio.com
  
  

Dickens Victorian Village

• The Dickens Victorian Village is an annual event in historic downtown Cambridge. The town is decorated with 60 vignettes of 180 figures depicting classic scenes from Victorian society. Most of the Dickens scenes are located between 6th and 11th streets. All figures are life-size mannequins wearing vintage clothing, with each face individually sculpted and painted by local artists. Some of the more recognizable mannequins are Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, appearing in scenes that look frozen in time. Admission is free.
  
  Dickens Victorian Village
  
  Historic downtown
  
  Cambridge, OH
  
  800-933-5480
  
  dickensvictorianvillage.com/