A Mom’s Guide to December Family Fun in Cincinnati & NKY {2017}

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This list is full of non-holiday fun to be had this month.

If you are looking for our holiday event roundup, you can find that HERE.


REC Reads 

Wednesdays
Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
11:30am-12pm
FREE

Bring your toddler or preschooler to the Rosenthal Education Center for a morning of art-themed story books, songs, and sensory activities. This 30 minute program will get your little one excited about art in a fun and interactive way.

The Dancing Princesses 

November 29 – December 30
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
1127 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Various matinee and evening performances
$27 Child, $31 Student, $55 Adult

From the creators of last season’s runaway hit CINDERELLA: AFTER EVER AFTER comes a whimsical adaptation of the classic fairy tale about a kingdom where an enchanting mystery is afoot! Wanting the best for his daughters, an overprotective king locks the castle doors each night. Yet, each morning, the princesses’ shoes have been curiously worn to tatters. Keen to cobble together the mystery of the frayed footwear, the King resorts to drastic measures of royal proportions. This is the heartfelt and humorous story of five uniquely different sister princesses who embark upon a journey of the imagination that explores the universal quest for understanding, acceptance, and love. This new family-friendly musical will delight audiences of all ages this holiday season.

Astronomy Friday 

December 1, 8, 22, & 29
Cincinnati Observatory Center
3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, OH 45208
7-8:30pm
$7, $5 ages under 18

In awe with the beauty of the night sky? Have questions about the Universe? This is where you can get the answers. Astronomy Fridays include short presentations on a wide variety of topics and plenty of time for your astro questions. Tour of the Cincinnati Observatory, which as a National Historic Landmark played an important role in the history of Cincinnati and our nation. Once dark, we will view the Moon, planets and deep space treasures through the historic 1845 telescope. (The program is held rain or shine; telescope viewing if clear skies). The topics and the night sky change week-to-week/month-to-month so you can visit often to hear and see something new.

Redsfest 

December 1 & 2
Duke Energy Convention Center
525 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Friday: 3-10:30pm & Saturday: 11am-6:30pm
$25 Adults for 2-day pass, $17/day; $12 Kids (12 & under) for 2-day pass, $7/day

FOX Sports Ohio Redsfest is an offseason event featuring fan interaction with current and former Reds players, interactive games for kids of all ages, hard-to-find memorabilia, autograph signings, Reds merchandise, interactive games and much more! Proceeds from the event benefit the Reds Community Fund.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 

December 1-3 & 7-10
NKU Corbett Theatre
Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099
Various matinee and evening performances
$16, $10

Based on the Academy-Award winning animated feature, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST brings to life the characters, story, and songs that have made the musical an international sensation. The classic story follows Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, a prince trapped in a spell. When the Beast takes her father captive, Belle trades her own freedom for his release, and begins a life-changing adventure that ultimately brings an incredible transformation for all. Teaching a beautiful lesson about the way we look at others, and ourselves, this “tale as old as time” promises to enchant audience members of all ages.

Family First Saturday: Art and Science 

December 2
Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
12-4pm
FREE

Designed with the whole family in mind! Performances, artist demonstrations, storytelling, scavenger hunts, tours, and hands-on art making activities are just the start of the fun for the whole family.

Carol Ann’s Carousel’s Read Around 

December 2
Carol Ann’s Carousel
8 E. Mehring Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
11am-3:30pm
FREE

Enjoy family fun story time at 12pm. Receive a free child’s book, courtesy of the Cincinnati Children’s Reach Out and Read Cincinnati Program! For all those budding readers, make a special bookmark, and enjoy other cool crafts. The animals look forward to ‘reading’ with you soon!

Supermoon 2017

December 2
Cincinnati Observatory Center
3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, OH 45208
5-8pm
$5, FREE kids

Not all Full Moons are created equal. Some are closer to the Earth than others, and every 14 months we get a slightly larger Full Moon. These Supermoons make the Moon appear 14% bigger in the sky than the smallest Moon.
Think you can tell the difference? Join us at the Observatory to watch the Supermoon rise above the eastern horizon at 5:00pm and see for yourself.
Supermoon includes tours of the two Observatory buildings and viewing through the telescopes of the Moon and stars (weather permitting). Bring warm clothes, blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics and have a nice evening outside under the Moon. We’ll also have a food truck from Urban Vistro.

Library Play Date 

December 5, 12, 19, & 26
Boone County Public Library – Main Branch
1786 Burlington Pike, Burlington, KY 41005
10am-12pm
FREE

Play and social time with other parents and caregivers while child explores toys and activities.

Taft Jr.: Holiday Fun 

December 7
Taft Museum of Art
316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
11:15am-12:15pm
$10 non-members in advance (includes Museum admission), $12 day of program, FREE for Taft member; Information & registration: [email protected] or (513)684-4517.

Start your holiday fun at the Taft. Enjoy a holiday story, make an ornament, and explore the toys and decorations of the Taft’s Antique Christmas display.

Thursday Art Play: Winter Wonderland 

December 7
Contemporary Arts Center
44 E. 6th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
12-3pm
$5 for non-members, FREE for members

Bring your babies cause it’s cold outside! Join us for some winter themed art making with ice painting, igloo fort building and even an indoor snowball fight. Warm up at our complimentary hot chocolate bar and help yourself to a marshmallow or two. Stick around for some kid-friendly yoga in the UnMuseum following each Art Play session.

Carol Ann’s Carousel’s Kids Bingo Day 

December 9
Carol Ann’s Carousel
8 E. Mehring Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
11am-3:30pm
FREE

B-Frog, I-Giraffe, N-Penguin, G-Ladybug, O-Oktoberfest Horse, BINGO!! Come join us at Carol Ann’s Carousel for another Kid’s Bingo Day. No need to bring your Bingo daubers, we have everything you need, including your good luck charms! So bring your children to this fun filled day of ‘bingo-ing’ to win tokens, and other prizes. The animals look forward to “playing” with you soon!

Cinderella 

December 9-10 & 15-17
Taft Theatre
317 E. Fifth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Various matinee and evening performances
Tickets start at $10

For the holidays, TCT will treat audiences to a Cinderella Christmas. In this hilarious holiday panto, you’ll jeer at the deliciously dysfunctional stepmother and sisters as much as you’ll cheer for Cinderella in her quest to attend the magnificent Christmas Ball. With plenty of audience participation, side-splitting humor, and outlandish characters, boys will love this classic fairytale set to pop music just as much as girls!

Winter Break Night Hike 

December 27
Forest Run Wildlife Preserve
1810 New London Road, Hamilton, OH 45013
6-8pm
FREE, Motor vehicle permit required (FREE to Butler County Residents; Non-residents $5/daily or $10/annually)

Whether you are walking off the Christmas turkey, or getting a jump on your New Year’s resolution, a night hike is a great activity for the whole family. Enjoy the sights and sounds of a mid-winter night as you hike through forest and meadow.

Show and Tell on the Farm: Hibernation Hideaways 

December 28
Chrisholm Gardens
2070 Woodsdale Road, Trenton, OH 45067
10-11am
FREE, Motor vehicle permit required (FREE to Butler County Residents; Non-residents $5/daily or $10/annually)

Come on over to the farm and let’s explore animals that hibernate during the winter through hands-on activities, craft and snack inside the Augspurger House. Part of the program will be outside with the farm animals, too.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone In Concert 

December 28-30
Music Hall – Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Thursday: 7:30pm, Friday: 7:30pm, Saturday: 7:00pm
Tickets start at $25

Fifteen years ago Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™ enchanted our screens and now it’s returning, for the first time ever, with the music of a live symphony orchestra. Momentous scenes from the film play on a giant screen in high-definition while John Williams’ unforgettable score is performed by your Cincinnati Pops. Experience the magic with the first installment of the Harry Potter™ Film Concert Series.

Extreme Deep: Mission to the Abyss 

Through January 7
Boone County Public Library – Main Branch
1786 Burlington Pike, Burlington, KY 41005
Monday-Friday: 9am-9pm, Saturday: 9am-5pm, Sunday: 1-5pm
FREE

Join us as we explore newly discovered life forms, thermal vents, shipwrecks, and close-up views from deep-sea research submersibles. “Fly” a remotely operated vehicle over a virtual model of the Titanic’s deck and observe firsthand the technology that has allowed explorers to travel to the ocean floor through the recreation of the interior of an Alvin personnel sphere. Complete a checklist of tasks to prepare Alvin for a dive. Watch though a 4pinch viewport window—just like Alvin’s window—as you attempt to operate Alvin’s robotic arm to pick up lava rocks and clams from the sea floor. It’s not as easy as it looks! Extreme Deep introduces us to the critical role that biology, chemistry, geology, history, exploration and technology play in understanding our world and its future.

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Lisa Springer
I am a native Cincinnatian, born and raised on the West Side and currently settled across the river in Northern Kentucky. I’m a former Highlander, Bearcat, Falcon, and Fulbright Scholar. My greatest challenge hitherto is the one I love the most: being a Mom to an energetic eight-year-old boy. When not working full-time at one of the city’s great hospitals, I’m trying to fit in all there is to do in this wonderful city – and there is certainly A LOT to do! As one who loves to read, I am an advocate for the public library and go multiple times a week. You can often find me at Music Hall enjoying the ballet, opera, and orchestra. I am an introvert, a bit of a foodie, an NPR listener, a pessimist who likes to think she’s a realist, a middle child, an ex-wife and amicable co-parent, a fiancée, and much, much more. I feel lucky to have grown up in Cincinnati and to be raising my own child in this wonderful city.

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