Ohio-bound for the holidays? Follow the state’s Holiday Lights Trail, which this year features the historic Cambridge/Guernsey County Courthouse. Built in 1880, the courthouse is transformed each night by more than 80,000 synchronized lights that pulse in time with holiday music, creating a dazzling centerpiece for the trail.
Nearby, Historic Downtown Cambridge hosts the Dickens Victorian Village, a charming display along Wheeling Avenue. The exhibition showcases life-size, handcrafted mannequins dressed in period clothing, depicting 96 distinct Victorian-era scenes. Together with the courthouse display, these scenes add rich, nostalgic detail to any evening drive.
Driving maps for all 30 stops on the trail are available for download from the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail website, making it easy to plan a route and enjoy the variety of displays across the state.
If you prefer railroad adventures, Ohio offers several Polar Express–style experiences. In Findlay, the Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation runs a one-quarter scale North Pole Express that departs every 15 minutes on weekends and selected evenings. At the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, storytellers bring The Polar Express to life while families enjoy cookies, hot chocolate and songs; Santa boards the train to hand out sleigh bells to children.
© Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau
In Nelsonville, the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway runs two-hour Santa Train excursions, offering a relaxed, scenic holiday journey. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway hosts a Polar Express–style ride where children and parents are encouraged to wear pajamas, enjoy hot chocolate and treats, and arrive at North Pole Village to be greeted by caroling elves.
Other holiday train options around the state include the LM&M Railroad & the North Pole Express in Lebanon, where passengers receive a souvenir hot chocolate mug. The Dennison Railroad Depot Museum repeats its on-board reenactment of Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express, and the Ohio Railway Museum in Worthington offers a special 1920s Railway Post Office Car where kids can write and mail letters to Santa. At the Ohio Railway Museum, children can also make holiday crafts, take photos with Mrs. Claus and ride in a restored 1925 Interurban car.
Whether you travel by car to trace the Holiday Lights Trail or choose a festive train ride, Ohio presents a range of seasonal activities that blend historic charm with family-friendly entertainment. From twinkling courthouse lights and Victorian tableaux to immersive rail experiences, these traditions offer memorable ways to celebrate the season across the state.