If you're planning a visit to Holmes County before Christmas, you'll have plenty of events to choose from. Holiday shopping begins in early November, the theaters have new seasonal shows, and Berlin's Live Nativity Parade returns the day after Thanksgiving. And this year, the Christmas Cookie Tour is back!
It's all part of Holmes for the Holidays, a celebration featuring events, small town traditions, and local experiences you can enjoy throughout the season. There's a lot on the schedule between now and Christmas. Here's where to start.
Get a Head Start on Holiday Shopping
If you're looking for gifts you won't find everywhere else, November 5–7 is the perfect time to explore local stores and see what catches your eye.
The village of Berlin kicks the weekend off with its annual Christmas Open House. Main Street shops will be dressed for the season, with special displays, discounts, and plenty of opportunities to work on your gift list.
You'll also want to check out Christmas at Sheiyah Market, where the shops are filled with decorated trees, seasonal displays, and plenty of gift ideas.
And if Christmas decorations are your weakness, plan a stop at 'Tis the Season, Berlin's three-story Christmas shop, where you can browse thousands of ornaments and decorations.
Take in a Holiday Show
Holiday entertainment gets underway November 10 at The Amish Country Theater in Berlin, where Christmas in the Country runs through December 19. The new show combines Christmas music, comedy, and familiar faces from the theater's regular cast. Expect plenty of laughs alongside traditional holiday favorites.
For something different, Ohio Star Theater at Dutch Valley in nearby Sugarcreek presents A Christmas Carol: The New Musical, November 18–December 15. The production puts a musical spin on Dickens's familiar story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his Christmas Eve visitors.
Ohio Star also has special holiday concerts, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra's Christmas program on November 13. Both theaters are a perfect excuse to turn an afternoon of shopping into a full evening out. Check performance schedules and reserve your seats ahead of time.
A Christmas Tradition Comes to Life
Berlin brings the Christmas story to life on Friday, November 27, with its annual Live Nativity Parade.
The parade begins at Sheiyah Market and travels through town to the square. Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, shepherds, and angels share the streets with live animals from The Farm at Walnut Creek, including camels, sheep, donkeys, and horses. Children can also watch for snowmen passing out candy along the route.
After the parade, everyone gathers in the town square for the Christmas story, music, and a candlelighting ceremony. Hot drinks and cookies will be available, with donations supporting Operation Christmas Child.
It's a longstanding Berlin tradition and a particularly good event to share with children and grandchildren.
The Christmas Cookie Tour Returns
Here's one for anyone who enjoys discovering local businesses and sampling delicious Christmas goodies.
After several years away, the Christmas Cookie Tour returns December 18–19. The two-day event takes visitors through participating Holmes County businesses, with signature treats, holiday decorations, and special experiences at each stop.
Your ticket includes admission for both days, a tour booklet, and recipes to take home. The tour runs from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, giving you time to explore the stops and enjoy some shopping along the way.
Tickets are limited. Presale admission is $45 through November 1, with regular tickets priced at $50 during the November 1–December 1 sales period, subject to availability.
More Holiday Stops to Enjoy
In Millersburg, the Victorian House Museum opens Our Town Holidays at the Mansion on November 21. Visitors can tour 28 decorated rooms and see an exhibit of Christmas photographs from Holmes County communities. The displays continue through December 31.
On December 4, Berlin hosts Shopping Under the Stars, when Main Street stores stay open late for an evening of shopping, carols, refreshments, and special sales.
Stay a Little Longer
Coming for a Christmas show or an evening event? Consider making an overnight trip of it. Book a room at a local inn, hotel, or cabin, enjoy dinner at one of our restaurants, and leave yourself time to explore the next day. Beyond the holiday festivities, you'll find specialty food shops, furniture makers, local artisans, museums, and plenty of independent businesses worth visiting.
Find places to stay, restaurants to try, and more things to see and do while you're here. And check out our Holmes for the Holidays page for more seasonal events and activities to add to your plans.