MANSFIELD, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A ribbon of glittering Tinsel Towns is about to light up the holidays with sparkling winter adventures. Built by the doers, makers, and storytellers of Mansfield and Richland County, Ohio, a wreath of twinkling small towns and villages have come together to help visitors from near and far celebrate with cherished Christmas traditions and lively adventures. Holidays shine brighter as families rediscover the true meaning of the season through the warm and welcoming people, places, and events in north central Ohio’s Tinsel Towns, found at destinationmansfield.com/tinsel-towns.
Now through New Year’s Day, the featured event on Ohio’s Holiday Lights Trail of Lights is the always spectacular Christmas at Kingwood Center Gardens. Visitors can stroll through acres of glowing outdoor lights and an enchanting Community Tree Walk, then marvel at the breathtaking décor inside the majestic Kingwood Hall mansion. The Display Greenhouse offers a cozy retreat among vibrant greenery, lush tropical plants, and festive decorations, while the Garden Gateway is filled with unique Christmas gifts and warm, tasty snacks and drinks. Hours, details on on-site holiday performances, and the required reservations are available at kingwoodcenter.org/christmas-at-kingwood/.
The lights will blaze on Downtown Mansfield’s dazzling 30-foot tree starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 6. Carrousel and carriage rides (advance carriage tickets encouraged), live reindeer and alpacas, photos with Santa, caroling, and more create plenty of Christmas magic. From a family-owned boot shop to local art galleries, jewelers, antique shops, restaurants, and more, some 75 independent businesses fill the city center. Friendly shopkeepers, a great variety of gifts, and plenty of free parking promise a “shop local” experience that feels good. A favorite of pint-sized holiday shoppers for more than two decades, elves at Downtown Mansfield Inc.’s Tiny Tim Shop help kids 12 and under select from a range of gifts under $15 for loved ones. Volunteers then help wrap those presents. Open Friday, Dec. 6, and every Saturday now through Dec. 21, free reservations are required.
The most Christmasy place south of the North Pole may just be adorable Bellville, home to Kleerview Farm. Whether it’s spruce, white, or scotch pine, and large, small, or in between, anyone seeking the perfect old-fashioned cut-it-yourself Christmas tree will find it here. Or, visitors can point to their pick and watch the pros do the work. Pre-cut trees, wreaths, roping, swags, grave blankets, and tree stands are also for sale. Kids love this old-time Christmas tree farm, with its live reindeer and weekend visits with Santa.
On Dec. 6-7, it’s Christmas in the Village in historic Plymouth, with carriage and trolley rides, a giant inflatable snow globe offering picture-perfect photo ops. Friday’s Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting are followed by visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Firehouse and Christmas Fireworks with live music. A Village Christmas Market fills this charming berg with more than 50 vendors peddling everything from handcrafted Christmas decorations and soaps to the famous Plymouth Cheesecake Lady and endless handmade gifts and goodies to sweeten the holidays.
Travelers are encouraged to head to Shelby on Sunday, Dec. 1, for Christmas in the City, where the Holiday Parade highlights a day packed with family events that run from 1-7 p.m. In addition to gingerbread house and coloring contests with prizes, this fun-filled tradition includes a Winter Wonderland Walk and a Christmas market. Downtown shops feature free goodies, activities, and specials, including hot cider, donuts, cocoa, cookie decorating, ornament making, crafts, and a family photo booth. Appearances by Santa, Elsa, Anna, and The Grinch, face painting, letters to the North Pole, food trucks, and cotton candy create treasured memories and photos.
Lucas lights up Dec. 6-8 and 13-15 during Big House candlelight tours at Malabar Farm State Park. Volunteers welcome visitors to beautifully decorated rooms with tales of celebrities who visited to escape Hollywood paparazzi. Fresh-baked cookies and hot local cider end the tour. Tucked in the rolling farmland of Pleasant Valley, this working National Register of Historic Places farm fulfilled Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist Louis Bromfield’s dream of sustainability. In addition to writing best-selling novels and Hollywood screenplays, Bromfield pioneered and wrote extensively on organic, holistic farming and farm-to-table eating — long before the concepts were cool. Malabar farm products and more are available in a wonderful gift shop.
To really dive into the winter holidays, travelers of all ages and abilities can learn to ski and snowboard at Snow Trails. Thanks to major investments in snow making and grooming equipment that ensures a perfect blanket of snow December through March, lift ticket reservations are in high demand for Snow Trails’ broad evergreen-lined slopes covered in pristine snow conditions. Adding a real rush to the holiday lights experience, there’s even gleaming nighttime Glow Tubing. Like skiing and boarding, both day and night tube run passes sell out quickly and require online reservations. Whether it’s lessons, a lift pass, family tubing, or ski or snowboard gear, Snow Trails is the ideal place to shop for gifts for the winter sports fan on anyone’s list.
Also in Mansfield, Dec. 14 is Christmas for the Birds at Ohio Bird Sanctuary with cookie decorating, refreshments, photos with Santa and bird ambassadors, as well as a chance to bring much-needed gifts for the sanctuary’s beloved avian residents. A thoughtful shopping experience that directly supports local artists and Mansfield Art Center, the 55th Annual Holiday Faire Winter Market runs through Dec. 31. Visitors can also make gorgeous gifts while learning fine art skills with classes at the Center, including fused snowflake glass, glass icicles, or blown glass bulbs. Ghosts of Christmas Past will appear Dec. 7 from 2-5 p.m. at Mansfield’s Oak Hill Cottage when re-enactors in period costume share stories as former residents of this 1847 Gothic Revival style home with its seven gables, five double chimneys, and seven marble fireplaces – all bedecked in Victorian holiday finery. Sunday tours also run from 2-4 through Dec. 29. Nearby, historic Renaissance Theatre spreads the spirit with music in a host of holiday shows, including The Nutcracker ballet, Holiday Pops, Youth Orchestra, and “We Wish You a Jazzy Christmas.” Tickets and times are found at rentickets.org/events/.
From the county seat of Mansfield to the towns and villages of Lexington, Shelby, Bellville, Lucas, Butler, and Plymouth, visitors embrace the retro fun and vintage nostalgia of old-time family Christmas traditions. Dazzling displays, cozy shops, inns, and restaurants, and invigorating outdoor experiences bring families and friends together as they slow down a bit and immerse themselves in laughter, love, and unforgettable memories. Complete traveler information is found at destinationmansfield.com.