National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
2025-12-19 | OH
Since 2011, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day has grown to be an international event. Now occurring on the third Friday of December, the celebration gives holiday lovers worldwide a chance to wear their ugly Christmas sweaters.
In 2014, they partnered with Save the Children in their “Make the World Better with a Sweater” campaign.
Each year, ugly Christmas sweater wearers, decorate, shop, and do their darndest to out ugly last year’s ugliest sweater. Whether they sport the most lights or colors, bells or characters, ugly sweater wearers find the most ribbon and felt ladened sweaters and festoon them with glitter so blinding no Dustbuster invented will capture the wave left behind. The sweaters serve as beacons of light so bright, Rudolph himself will someday be out of a job.
However, don’t be sad. So often Rudolph is featured on many of the sweaters. Elfs, donkeys, snowmen, and many other holiday characters we love and adore find their way to these ugly monstrosities. It’s all part of the fascination with the holiday. So, join in the fun. Celebrate and donate, too.

HOW TO OBSERVE #UglyChristmasSweaterDay
Try these tips to take the prize:

Animal or cartoon characters with a holiday theme give sweaters a kitsch feel. Think reindeer, snowmen, mice, kittens or elves.
Select ridiculous colors. The more they clash, the better.
Embellish. Scratch that. Over-embellish! Pom-poms, bells, felt, tinsel, or any other glittery, jingly items lying around the house.
Add a collar, dickey, or ruffle.
Electrify it! Put Rudolph to shame and go to the head of the team with bright, flashing lights!
Give it some 80s flair with shoulder pads.

Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater. Use #UglyChristmasSweaterDay or #ChristmasSweaterDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER DAY HISTORY
In 2011, ugly Christmas sweater lovers created National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day as a way to lighten up the busy holidays and to show off their absurdly, ugly sweaters. The day has grown in popularity and is celebrated worldwide.

Frost & Lights: A Festive Holiday at the Gardens
2025-12-19 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Fellows Riverside Gardens, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, OH, 44509, United States
Experience the magic of the season at Fellows Riverside Gardens! Frost & Lights: A Festive Holiday at the Gardens, a joyful celebration full of twinkling lights, festive trees, and holiday cheer for all ages, will feature the Festival of Trees. Marvel at a stunning indoor display of beautifully decorated live trees from December 7 – January 4 (closed Mondays), from 10:00am-5:00pm.
Winter Nights – take a frosty evening stroll through the Gardens glowing with dazzling outdoor lights from 5:00pm-7:00pm on December 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 & 28, and January 3-4. Keep an eye out–your favorite holiday characters will be making special appearances!
Festive Finds Weekend – shop local and discover handcrafted treasures at this holiday shopping spectacular from 10:00am-7:00pm on December 13 & 14. The perfect chance to find those last-minute, one-of-a-kind gifts. Don’t miss this beloved holiday tradition filled with sparkle, joy, and seasonal spirit!

Photos with Santa
2025-12-19 10:00 - 21:00 | Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market Street, Boardman, OH, 44512, United States
Get ready to capture the magic of the holiday season! Santa Claus is making a special stop at Southern Park Mall to take pictures, hear wish lists, and spread the holiday cheer! Santa will be in Center Court from November 14-December 24.
Reserve your spot: Where Is Santa – Southern Park Mall

Memories of Christmas Past
2025-12-19 12:00 - 16:00 | Arms Family Museum, 648 Wick Ave., Youngstown, OH, 44502, United States
The Mahoning Valley Historical Society presents the 17th annual Memories of Christmas Past exhibit at the Arms Family Museum, November 15 through December 31. The seven period rooms of the Arms Family home will be filled to the brim with vintage and contemporary decorations that include ornaments, lighting, trees, and toys – all arranged in breathtaking vignettes that delight generations young and old. The display features many pieces from Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s collection as well as items on loan from private collectors.
Two gift shops feature vintage as well as new merchandise. Santa’s Village (also known as the Hands-On-History Room) on the museum’s lower level is a Christmas-themed experience for visitors of all ages, where families will enjoy holiday-themed activities.
This year’s exhibit will take place November 15-December 31, 2025. Museum hours are Tuesday-Sunday, noon-4:00pm. On Twilight Thursdays (December 4, 11 & 18), the exhibit is open until 7:00pm. There will also be a Twilight Tuesday on Tuesday, December 23 with hours 12:00pm-7:00pm. The museum will open on Monday, December 29, from 12:00pm-4:00pm. The Museum is closed Mondays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
For more information, visit the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s website.

Drive-Thru Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights
2025-12-19 17:00 - 22:00 | Boardman Township Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Rd., Boardman, OH, 44512, United States
Enjoy a holiday drive-thru light display at Boardman Park and marvel at the beautiful light displays! It’s free and is open from 5:00pm-10:00pm each night December 7, 2025 through January 7, 2026. Tune into 88.9FM to enjoy several light displays that are synchronized to a variety of your favorite holiday songs.

Joy of Christmas Light Show
2025-12-19 18:00 - 21:00 | Harvey S. Firestone Park, 338 E. Park Ave., Columbiana, OH, 44408, United States
The Joy of Christmas drive-through holiday light show features more than one million lights in 100+ holiday scenes in Harvey S. Firestone Recreational Park in nearby Columbiana.
Now in its 17th year, the Joy of Christmas Light Show takes place on select nights, from 6:00pm-9:00pm:
Thursday-Sunday, November 20, 21, 22, 23
Thursday-Sunday, November 27, 28, 29, 30
Thursday-Sunday, December 4, 5, 6, 7
Thursday-Sunday, December 11, 12, 13, 14
Wednesday, December 17-Sunday, December 28 (Closed December 25)
Admission is:
$20/vehicle
$30/seasonal pass until September 6, 2025
$40/seasonal pass starting September 7, 2025
Sunday Nights $10 entry for all First Responders, Veterans + Seniors (adults 65 yrs.+)
In addition to more than 100 displays, the event offers:
Concessions benefiting local nonprofit and civic organizations (nominal fee)
Storytime with Mrs. Claus (only Thursdays, Sundays & select special event nights)
Photos with Santa (nominal fee)
Reindeer food, letters to Santa, other children’s activities; indoor train display
Gingerbread House display featuring student & professional designs
Special events (TBA)
For more information, please call 330-482-2282, or visit www.TourColumbianaOhio.org.

Tapestries: Christmas Madrigals Dinner & Show
2025-12-19 18:30 | Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave., Youngstown, OH, 44504, United States
Tapestries of Ohio returns to Stambaugh Auditorium on Friday, December 19 to present “Christmas Madrigals Dinner & Show.” Be guests of the Lord and Lady of the castle as they gather with other nobility of Medieval times to sing the songs and tell the story of the first Christmas. An authentic music, costume, and dining experience will recreate the mood of a Madrigal celebration.
With the performance, a meal will be served in the Jeanne D. Tyler Grand Ballroom featuring braised beef tips in a red wine sauce, sage brown butter chicken breast, parslied buttered baby potatoes, roasted root vegetables, spinach salad with glazed walnuts, strawberries, shaved red onion, and raspberry vinaigrette, rustic assorted dinner rolls, and finished with baked apple blossoms.
Tapestries of Ohio, Inc. is a non-profit, self-sustaining organization dedicated to providing educational and entertaining activities in the Mahoning Valley and the wider Northeast Ohio Region. Members of Tapestries of Ohio volunteer their time and talents throughout the year to present quality performances.
All seating is general admission; reserved seating is available for groups of four or more. Tickets are $56, service fees included. For additional information about the Tapestries’ “Christmas Madrigals Dinner and Show,” call 330-259-0555 or visit stambaughauditorium.com.

Miracle on Easy Street
2025-12-19 19:30 | DeYor Performing Arts Center, 260 W. Federal Street, Youngstown, OH, 44503, United States
Miracle on Easy Street will return to Powers Auditorium in the DeYor Performing Arts Center December 19-21! Easy Street Productions is headed back to the stage with the triumphant return of their perennial holiday favorite Miracle on Easy Street for three public performances: Friday, December 19 at 7:30pm; Saturday, December 20 at 7:30pm; and Sunday, December 21 at 2:30pm.
Easy Street co-founders Maureen Collins and Todd Hancock will once again serve as hosts for the extravaganza featuring over 100 singers, dancers and Little Rascals. Featured performers will include Colleen Chance, Katy Collins, Candace Campana, Cortney MacKay, Natalie Kovacs, & Finn O’Hara.
Musical Director Don Yallech and The Easy Street Little Big Band will blend a mixture of the season’s most popular tunes both old and new. The show’s choreographer Megan Cleland will assemble dancers from studios all across the valley to perform dance routines featuring a wide variety of styles.
To purchase tickets, visit the DeYor Performing Arts Center website or call the box office at 330-259-9651.

Let It Snow
2025-12-19 20:00 | Ward Beecher Planetarium – Youngstown State University, 84 Lincoln Ave., Youngstown, OH, 44503, United States
A holiday music show celebrating the winter with popular holiday music comes to life on the dome at The Ward Beecher Planetarium, transporting the entire family to a magical wonderland of the season. Experience bells and reindeer, presents and cookies, snow and nutcrackers in colorful spectacles of fun!
Shows are Friday, December 5, 12 & 19 at 8:00pm; Saturday, December 6 & 13 at 8:00pm; and Saturday, December 20 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm.
All shows are FREE! Doors open approximately 30 minutes before showtime, seating is first come, first served. You can always visit The Ward Beecher Planetarium Facebook page or The Ward Beecher Planetarium website for directions and more details.
