STUFF TO DO
Twinkle Time The advent of long winter nights (and the approaching holidays) means it’s time for elaborate light displays — both drive-through and walkable — to bring a little glow-worm cheer to kids, cozy couples and those with encroaching seasonal affective disorder. Cincinnati Zoo’s Festival of Lights — The 35th annual Festival of Lights is a “Wild Wonderland” featuring a staggering 3 million LED bulbs and 19 new gigantic animal lanterns (including hippos) on display throughout the zoo. Classic attractions return: an elaborate synchronized light display on Swan Lake, thematic train rides, roast-your-own s’mores and plenty of holiday cheer… like peppermint schnapps- or Irish cream-spiked hot chocolate. Through Jan. 1. $18 adults; $12 children and seniors. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org. Christmas Nights of Lights at Coney Island — Watch from the comfort of your car as more than 1 million LED lights illuminate animated Christmas characters and scenes, synchronized to holiday radio music. Now with more light tunnels. Through Jan. 1. $6 per person; free children 3 and under. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., California, coneyislandpark.com. Christmas Glow at Land of Illusion — This haunted Halloween attraction transforms for the season. Instead of ghosts and ghouls,
WEDNESDAY 29
ONSTAGE: Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere continues at Know Theatre. See review on page 19.
Holiday Lights on the Hill at Pyramid Hill — Snuggle in your cozy car and drive through a two-mile wonderland of lights adorning this Hamilton sculpture park. Through Dec 31. $20 per carload Monday-Thursday; $25 per carload Friday-Sunday; $15 members. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, pyramidhill.org. Holiday in Lights at Sharon Woods — This drive-through woodsy display features more than a mile of colorful lights depicting everything from nutcrackers, snow men and trains to elves and animals on the ark. Tune the radio to WARM 98 for some holiday music while you cruise. Through Dec. 31. $13 per car. Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, holidayinlights.com.
THURSDAY 30
EVENT: Nashville’s Blank Range stomp and swagger at the Southgate House Revival. See Sound Advice on page 28.
EVENT: Brain Candy Live! What do you get when you take a seasoned MythBuster, a YouTube star turned educator and a whole lot of science? You get Adam Savage’s and Michael Stevens’ interactive science show, Brain Candy Live!. Marketed as a cross between Blue Man Group and a TED Talk, the curiosity-fueled show features mind-boggling experiments and demonstrations, like a wild presentation about the air pressure in ping-pong balls. Audience members will have a chance to interact with the dynamic duo with activities like tweeting in questions during intermission and, if you’re lucky, you might even be selected to come onstage. Read an interview with Savage on page 18. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. $45-$150. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, braincandylive. com. — ERIN COUCH
Comedy: Jim Gaffigan Pale observational comic/ author/actor Jim Gaffigan brings his Noble Ape standup tour to U.S. Bank Arena. Expect jokes about fatherhood (see: his book Dad is Fat), food (see: his book Food: A Love Story) and his characteristic deadpan delivery. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. $39.75-$69.75. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown, usbankarena. com. — MAIJA ZUMMO
FRIDAY 01
ART: Sanctuary: Kathy Y. Wilson Living in a Colored Museum opens at the Weston Art Gallery. See cover story on page 08. MUSIC: Singer/songwriter Dustin Thomas brings modernized Folk to NKY’s Octave. See Sound Advice on page 28. ART: Winter Greens at the Lloyd Library Early Romans marked the winter solstice with evergreen boughs. Druids decorated temples with winter greens to symbolize everlasting life. Today, plants that thrive in the coldest months
Festival of Lights P H O T O : M ark D umont
— pines, mistletoe and more — still signify hope. The Lloyd Library celebrates those plants’ science and folklore in Winter Greens, an exhibit of botanical illustrations from old American and European tree and forestry books. This rare collection features vivid artwork and detailed line drawings, complemented by a series of programs that pay tribute to evergreens as symbols of enduring optimism. Opening reception 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday. On view through March 17. Free. Lloyd Library and Museum, 917 Plum St., Downtown, lloydlibrary.org. — JUDY GEORGE HOLIDAY: Christmas Saengerfest Saengerfest is a choral tradition that was brought to America by German immigrants; the first American Saengerfest actually took place in Cincinnati in 1849. And after years of silence, American Legacy Tours has been presenting a reinvigorated Christmas Saengerfest event for the past five years. Board a shuttle bus that stops at six venues throughout Over-the-Rhine to hear
Ongoing Shows ONSTAGE: An Evening with Groucho Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Mount Adams (through Dec. 17)
more than 20 award-winning local choirs like the Young Professionals Choral Collective, May Festival Youth Chorus and the Cincinnati Sound Chorus, among others. Expect holiday tunes in historic and sacred spaces. 7-11 p.m. Friday; 6:30-11 p.m. Saturday. $30 per day. Multiple venues, christmassaengerfest.com. — KENNEDY PONDER EVENT: Redsfest Batter up! The annual Redsfest returns to the Duke Energy Convention Center for a two-day event featuring Reds players past and present on hand for assorted appearances, photographs and autographs. While the list is subject to change, Major Leaguers slated to
appear include Joey Votto, Devin Mesoraco and Homer Bailey, with alumni and others like Marty Brennaman, Corky Miller and Eric Davis. If you’re a fan, this is the place to find autographed goods, unique memorabilia and other merchandise for sale. Other activities include bingo, batting cages, mascot meet-and-greets and a kidfriendly fun zone. Opens 3 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. $17 adults; $7 kids; $25 adult two-day pass; $12 kids two-day pass. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, mlb.com/reds. — ALISON BAXTER EVENT: Ugly Christmas Sweater Bar Crawl PSA: Just because the name has “Christmas sweater” in it does not mean you want to bring your grandma. Join the fun at The Banks and participate in a bar crawl with drink specials while donning your most hideous holiday wear. The Ugly Christmas Sweater Bar Crawl includes six bars offering draft deals on Braxton, New Belgium CONTINUES ON PAGE 14
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ONSTAGE: The Dancing Princesses For this year’s holiday season, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is debuting yet another family-friendly musical. From a German fairy tale sometimes called “The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes,” this show is about five sisters who somehow dance their shoes to tatters every night but keep their overprotective father, the King, in the dark. As usual, ETC gives a classic fairy tale an imaginative modern spin including a meaningful moral that’s heartfelt and enjoyable. The show is peppered with contemporary references to keep kids laughing and adults entertained. Through Dec. 30. $55 adult; $31 student; $27 child. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, ensemblecincinnati.org. — RICK PENDER
find a glowing drive-through light display commemorating “Christmas Around the World,” with a twinkling Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal and Big Ben. 6-11 p.m. daily through Dec. 30. $16 per vehicle; $14 with canned good donation. Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown, landofillusion.com.
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