KROHN CONSERVATORY HOLIDAY SHOW

A Queen City winter tradition is visiting the annual Holiday Show at Krohn Conservatory. Decorated with over 3,500 species of plants, each year the conservatory creates a theme unique to our city. This year's feature is A Cincinnati Scenic Railway, which we had the pleasure of visiting thanks to tickets from my friend Nedra of Adventure Mom.

Krohn Conservatory

The show features many iconic Cincinnati landmarks such as Union Terminal, Moerlein Lager House, P&G Headquarters, Great American Tower and the Tyler Davidson Fountain as well as a riverboat with real smokestacks. All of the structures are made from pine cones, nuts, bark, sticks and moss. Surrounding the buildings are colorful seasonal flowers, such as red poinsettias, amaryllis, white edged spider plants, purple persian shield, and spicy rosemary. 

Tyler Davidson Fountain

P&G Headquarters

Moerlein Lager House

Great American Tower

Island Queen Riverboat

Cincinnati Museum Center

Ault Park Pavilion and Cincinnati Observatory

In addition to the flora, visitors can enjoy the Nativity Scene in the courtyard of the conservatory. In its 75th year, one can view live sheep, a cow, and a mule inside the barn. To note, unless, the sheep wander up to the fence, this is not a petting zoo Nativity Scene. The cow and mule are fenced off far from the walkway, and the sheep tend to be grazing out in the yard. Fun to see, but if you have a hankering to pet some livestock, I suggest checking out the Over-The-Rhine petting zoo for some hand-to-wool contact.

A river runs through the exhibit, as well as train tracks that cross over a Roebling Suspension Bridge that spans the entire room. See if you can spot the streetcar zipping along the tracks near the entrance, as well as a recreation of the Mount Adams Incline. A Cincinnati Scenic Railway highlights the history of our city's seven hills and all of the culture, food, architecture, and parks that can be found within.

Krohn Conservatory's Holiday Show runs through January 5.

Open daily from 10:00AM-5:00PM.
Admission is $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for children, and free for children under age 4.
Download a coupon for $1.00 off admission.

CHRISTKINDLMARKT AT FINDLAY MARKET

Cincideutsch Christkindlmarkt expanded into a three-weekend celebration this year, with its new location at Findlay Market. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 13-15 are the final days for the event.

Ironically, Christkindlmarkt is set up near the Anti-German Hysteria historical placard.

Inspired by the centuries-old holiday markets in Germany, Cincideutsch organized a version of the festivities for Cincinnatians to enjoy. Old fashioned timber houses create storefronts for vendors selling anything from traditional German baked goods, handcrafted gifts, mulled wine, and more.

Founded in 2011 by native German speakers and Americans who had lived in Germany, Cincideutsch is a group of Cincinnatians that aims to promote modern German language and culture in Cincinnati. Last year's Christkindlmarkt topped the list of where I found some of my favorite gifts of the season in 2012. - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/2013/12/two-weekends-of-christkindlmarkt.html#sthash.zAzcGOwy.dpuf

Founded in 2011 by native German speakers and Americans who had lived in Germany, Cincideutsch is a group of Cincinnatians that aims to promote modern German language and culture in Cincinnati. Last year's Christkindlmarkt topped the list of where I found some of my favorite gifts of the season in 2012. - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/2013/12/two-weekends-of-christkindlmarkt.html#sthash.zAzcGOwy.dpuf

Founded in 2011 by native German speakers and Americans who had lived in Germany, Cincideutsch is a group of Cincinnatians that aims to promote modern German language and culture in Cincinnati. Last year's Christkindlmarkt topped the list of where I found some of my favorite gifts of the season in 2012.

Over 15,000 visitors are expected to attend the event throughout December. Christkindlmarkt runs from 9:00am-6:00pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 10:00am-4:00pm on Sunday

TWO WEEKENDS OF CHRISTKINDLMARKT

Findlay Market will be brimming with Gemütlichkeit for the next two weekends as Christkindlmarkt brings German heritage back to the heart of Over-the-Rhine. From December 6-8 and December 13-15, look for specialty vendors in charming half-timbered houses serving traditional holiday sweets, European baked goods, and handcrafted gifts. The event, organized by Cincideutsch, is inspired by the same festivities held throughout Germany that have been celebrated for hundreds of years.

Founded in 2011 by native German speakers and Americans who had lived in Germany, Cincideutsch is a group of Cincinnatians that aims to promote modern German language and culture in Cincinnati. Last year's Christkindlmarkt topped the list of where I found some of my favorite gifts of the season in 2012.

Over 15,000 visitors are expected to attend the event throughout December, enjoying the market's spirited ambiance, live music, and sparkling lights. Christkindlmarkt runs from 9:00am-6:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 10:00am-4:00pm on Sundays.

SHILLITO'S ELVES

Built in 1979, a Christmas window display was created by the employees at Shillito's, Cincinnati's first department store, located at 7th and Race Street. Each window featured handmade elves that were created by the department store's staff. Visitors could see scene-by-scene the process of the animatronic elves making toys and helping Santa Claus deliver them on Christmas.

My favorite scene: the candy shop.

When Shillito's was acquired by Macy's in the 1980s, the display was dismantled and Cincinnati's holiday tradition became a distant memory. The elves were eventually auctioned off in 2005 to collector Bill Spinnenweber, who saved the elves from being split up as a set.

In partnership with Spinnenweber, American Legacy Tours was able to raise over $25,000 to restore the elves and display them in their new home at Newport On The Levee. Located on the Mezzanine level near Bar Louie, Cincinnatians can once again see all of Shillito's Elves toiling away in Santa's Workshop in their new 5,000 square foot space.

 

Shillito's Elves are on display through December 30, 2012.
Sunday - Thursday 11:00AM-8:00PM
Friday & Saturday 9:30 AM-8:30PM

Tickets: $7.00 each, Children 3 & under are free.