Looking for events during the 2018 holiday season? Check out our most up-to-date guide A Complete Guide to 28 Holiday Events in the Akron and Canton Area.  The holiday season is upon us, which means that your schedule is likely filling up with family get-togethers, ugly sweater parties and more! While we love sporting those ugly sweaters just as much as the next person, we recommend you save some of your holiday-themed attire for the many events happening in the Akron and Canton area. From a ride on the Polar Express to a gingerbread extravaganza, there are so many festive things to do this time of year! Here are some of the events we are most looking forward to this year, so mark your calendars and get ready to make this season one to remember.

The Polar Express on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

When: November 11-21 AND November 24 through December 21, 7-9 pm Where: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Akron Northside Station

Photo courtesy of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Pajama-clad families will board a train for a fun filled evening excursion, complete with hot chocolate, cookies, and a reading of the classic Polar Express story. Your destination is the North Pole, and upon arrival, you will be greeted with caroling elves and even Santa himself!

The 36th Annual Holiday Tree Festival

When: November 18-26, Times Vary Where: The John S. Knight Center, Akron Mark your calendars for the 36th Annual Holiday Tree Festival! This event will feature more than 200 decorated trees, 85,000 strings of lights and countless holiday creations displayed in the John S. Knight Center. It will truly be a sight to behold! All proceeds will benefit the Akron Children's Hospital.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Welcome Santa Parade

When: November 24 &  25, 11 am Where: Lock 3 The night after Thanksgiving, the streets of downtown Akron will light up with thousands of holiday lights and fireworks to ring in the holiday season in style! The event will feature live performances, ice skating at Lock 3, holiday treats and more. Come back the following day for a grand parade and the arrival of Mr. Claus himself! The parade will feature more than 75 units including marching bands, floats, costumed characters and dance groups. Santa will be available at Lock 3 after the parade to meet everyone!

Wild Lights at the Akron Zoo

When: November 24-December 30, Dates Vary, 6-9 pm Where: The Akron Zoo, Akron

Photo courtesy of the Akron Zoo

Come see the zoo in a whole new light! One of Akron's most popular gems will be decked out in thousands of holiday lights and decorations. Walk through the zoo's displays, enjoy a concert from the carolers, take a ride on the Wild Winter Express train, get a photo with Santa, and top the night off with a freshly made s'more!

Christmas at Beech Creek Gardens

When: Weekends, November 24-December 23, Times Vary Where: Beech Creek Gardens, Alliance Stop by the idyllic Beech Creek Gardens for a holiday extravaganza. There will be trees, holiday trains, roasted marshmallows, visits from the Grinch, live performances, plenty of gorgeous light displays, and so much more. There's no better way to get into the holiday spirit!

The Nutty Nutcracker Presented by the Ballet Theatre of Ohio

When: December 1, 7 pm Where: The Akron Civic Theatre, Akron You might have seen a version of the Nutcracker before, but you've never seen it like this! For one night only, enjoy a spoof of America's favorite holiday classic on the Akron Civic Theatre stage. The performance is family-friendly, but parts might be considered adult humor.

A Christmas Candlelight Victorian Tea

When: December 1, 4:30 and 7 pm Where: The Dragonfly Tea Room, Canal Fulton Start off your holiday season in a sophisticated setting with a soul-warming cup of tea! The famed Dragonfly Tea Room will host a special candlelight tea, complete with holiday snacks and live music, for your enjoyment. Call ahead to make your reservation!

Holiday Party at the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum

When: December 1, 6-8 pm Where: The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, Canton This festive, annual event will include live music, crafts for kids, open hearth cooking demonstrations, unique stocking stuffers for purchase, special planetarium and science shows, and a live reading of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. The museum will be decked out in its holiday best with more than 30 trees and extravagant lighting displays — and we even hear that Santa will make an appearance! Admission for members is free (guest tickets are just $5), but make sure to bring a few canned goods for the Hunger Task Force.

A Christmas Carol

When: December 1-17, 8-11 pm Where: The Players Guild Theatre, Canton

Photo courtesy of the Players Guild Theatre

See the story of Ebenezer Scrooge brought to life by the Players Guild Theatre! The performance of Dickens' ghostly story is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Christmas on the Canal

When: December 2, Time TBD Where: Historic Canal Fulton Stroll through the streets of Historic Downtown Canal at this family-friendly festival! You will have the chance to meet Santa in person, enjoy Christmas shopping, marvel at the beautiful lights, listen to caroling, get out onto the ice skating rink, and so much more.

The Holiday Celebration at the Huston Brumbaugh Nature Center

When: December 3, 3-6 pm Where: The Huston Brumbaugh Nature Center, Minerva Celebrate the season at the Nature Center! Make holiday-themed crafts, enjoy s'mores and hot chocolate by the fire, listen to live music, and (most importantly) visit with Santa in an 1800s-era cabin. This free event is guaranteed to be fun for the whole family!

Santa Fly In

When: December 3, 1-4 pm Where: The MAPS Air Museum, North Canton

Photo courtesy of the MAPS Air Museum

Santa Claus is coming to town, but he's not using the chimney this time! Santa will fly to the MAPS Air Museum by plane to visit all of the good boys and girls. Make sure to snag a photo with him before enjoying punch and cookies, and exploring the planes at the museum. 

Snack With Santa at the Akron Zoo

When: Saturdays and Sundays, December 2-19. Times Vary. Where: The Akron Zoo, Akron The animals won't be the only ones at the zoo this season! Santa Claus is coming to town, and he will be at the zoo for this merry event, which includes snacks, entertainment and holiday crafts. Admission to Wild Lights is included in the ticket price.

Light Up Downtown

When: December 7, 5:30-8:30 pm Where: Downtown Canton This holiday festival will feature live performances, fantastic fireworks, and a special visit from everyone's favorite man in red! Bring the whole family for this fun-filled event, and don't forget that camera — you'll need it to capture all of the memories! Photos with Santa will be available on the main stage shortly after fireworks have concluded.

Home for the Holidays with Helen Welch

When: December 8, 7:30 pm Where: E.J. Thomas Hall - The University of Akron, Akron Join the Akron Symphony Orchestra for their annual holiday celebration concert. Helen Welch, one of Akron's most beloved entertainers and a critically acclaimed vocalist, will lead the evening, so you can be sure the night will be lively and festive to say the least!

Home Sweet Home: A Gingerbread House Event

When: December 9, 9 am-3 pm Where: The Fieldcrest Estate, North Canton This tradition is as sweet as can be! The Fieldcrest Estate will host adults and children alike, giving them the chance to choose a floor plan and design your own giant gingerbread house. Guests can choose from three different sized houses to take and build. It will be baked, sliced and constructed upon your arrival, and there will be plenty of materials available so you can decorate the home to your heart's content! While you are working, enjoy hot chocolate, adult beverages and other holiday treats. 

ELF the Movie and ELFcon

When: December 9, 2 pm Where: The Akron Civic Theatre, Akron Enjoy everything ELF at this festive event. A sing along screening of ELF will take place at 2 pm at the Akron Civic Theater, because the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! Raise the spirit meter even higher by stopping by Lock 3 for ELFcon before the movie starts. Here, you'll be able to compete in an Elf costume contest, an etch-a-sketch drawing contest and a trivia contest alongside a sled hill, ice skating and putt putt.

The Frosty Frolic

When: December 9, 9 am-noon Where: McKinley National Memorial, Canton The Canton Parks are merry and bright this time of year, strewn with an assortment of fun and colorful holiday decorations. We can't imagine a better setting for a morning jog! Come to this festive race and walk or run the course of your choosing. The event will start and finish at the McKinley National Memorial, and entry includes a tee shirt, cookies and plenty of hot chocolate!

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

When: December 12, 7:30 pm Where: E.J. Thomas Hall - The University of Akron, Akron This critically acclaimed extravaganza combines a cirque show, a Broadway musical and a Christmas spectacular into one incredible show! Witness snowmen, penguins, reindeer, gingerbread, Santa and more complete gravity defying feats to the soundtrack of original music and seasonal hits from live performers.

The Carol of the King - The Irish Dance Christmas Spectacular

When: December 17, 7:30 pm Where: E.J. Thomas Hall - The University of Akron, Akron Carol of the King will bring a love story to life on stage with 20 of the world's most skilled Irish dancers and musicians. You'll be transported to a mystical time and place, right here in Ohio.

The 9th Annual Ryan Humbert Holiday Extravaganza

When: December 20 and 21, 8 pm Where: The Akron Civic Theatre, Akron This annual extravaganza has become a staple of the Northeast Ohio holiday season, and this year's theme will not disappoint! Ryan Humbert's new honky tonk band, Shooter Sharp & The Shootouts, will pay tribute to the country greats and serve up a healthy dose of merry classics.

May your days be merry and bright!