The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s Downtown Dazzle

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati hosts Downtown Dazzle, a festive holiday celebration featuring activities for kids alongside some spectacular entertainment. Starting at 6 p.m., children can participate in "Elfification"—a series of holiday-themed stations where they complete activities to earn stamps and eventually become "elf-certified." Stations include holiday yoga, building Santa's sleigh models, decorating cookies, enjoying winter stories, and making crafts. Kids collect stamps at each activity and finish with a photo with Santa to complete their certification. Families can also take trackless train rides around the plaza for $5 per ride. The evening's main events happen around 7 p.m., when Santa rappels down from a tall Cincinnati building in an impressive display, followed immediately by a fireworks show. This combination of hands-on activities for younger children, seasonal entertainment, and a memorable finale makes it a well-rounded outing for families wanting to embrace the holiday spirit together in downtown Cincinnati.