By: Dr. Bailey Lang
When you imagine the perfect place to visit during the holiday season, northwest Ohio might not be top of mind. If you’re one of my grandkids, you might prefer to go to the North Pole. (If you’re one of my kids, you might be wishing for a tropical vacation!)
But the Defiance area has some of the best and brightest holiday activities in the region. Making plans for Santa’s Arrival, the Cookie Crumble, the ice skating rink, and the Christmas Cruise Thru has become a treasured part of my family’s holiday season.
Here’s what you can expect when you plan your visit to the Defiance area.
Santa’s Arrival
One of the loveliest memory-making events in the area is Santa’s Arrival in downtown Defiance. Santa makes a special trip to Defiance in early December each year. If you’ve got young children — or grandchildren, like me — making space in your calendar to show up for Santa’s Arrival will be a day your family will love.
The event starts at the Defiance Public Library in the afternoon, where kids have an opportunity to partake in holiday craft time. Seeing kids proudly presenting their crafts to their family members was enough to warm even the Grinch’s heart.
Santa first appeared downtown a couple of hours later, making his grand entrance across the Purple Heart Bridge at 5. It’s a sight to remember!
His arrival is accompanied by a group of wonderful carolers, and it’s followed by Storytime with Santa. The kids (and adults) loved it, and my grandkids were excited to get a special holiday treat bag once story time ended.
Afterward, our family ventured out to take one of the free holiday trolley rides from Triangle Park. The beautiful white-and-red trolley is like something out of a Christmas storybook, and the youngest grandkids especially loved getting to go for a special adventure.
Triangle Park also hosted some special farm animals, which the kids could meet in between trolley trips and before their visit to his local workshop.
Located on the 1918 Campus off Arabella Street, Santa’s workshop is a festive place. Kids can tell the man in red what they’d like for Christmas, and families can get the perfect picture for their Christmas cards.
Cookie Crumble
The fun continued in Defiance after Santa arrived on December 5. The next day brought us to another event my family never misses: the Cookie Crumble. I have a sweet tooth, and there’s nothing I like more than a freshly baked cookie. Add in some holiday decorations and the chance to contribute to a good cause, and you’ve got a recipe for a great time!
During the Cookie Crumble, businesses in downtown Defiance provide baked goodies and kick off their holiday sales.
Tickets are limited. Each one costs $15 and means you get one cookie from each participating business. All of the proceeds from the Cookie Crumble go to the Holiday Decorating Committee, which handles all the holiday light displays.
The Cookie Crumble is the perfect opportunity to spend some time with the family and see all the holiday decorations downtown. Plus, you can eat delicious cookies while visiting the many downtown businesses that participate (there were 19 this year!) to get in some early Christmas shopping!
Ice Skating Rink
Ice skating is a classic winter activity, and one I have fond memories of from my own long-ago childhood. I’m not as fast as I used to be, but getting out on the ice is a delightful way to make memories with the family. Plus, it can let the little ones get some energy out during all the holiday excitement!
Steve and Kelly Grube donated the Defiance Ice Rink, and it’s quickly become a favorite activity for our whole family.
The ice rink had a new location this past year, right in the heart of the Defiance community at the Bronson Splash Park. The entrance is off of Power Dam road, and there’s plenty of signage to make it easy for everyone to find registration and get their skates.
Since it’s open from mid-December through mid-January, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to visit the ice rink and go for a spin!
Admission—and skate rentals—are totally free, but make sure you register online ahead of time to reserve your time. Reservations are an hour long, so you’ll have plenty of time to spend taking a spin.
Bundle up, grab your skates, and get ready to glide into the winter magic!
Christmas Cruise Thru
Another favorite family activity is the Christmas Cruise Thru in Hicksville. Driving around and admiring the community’s creativity with their holiday decorations is always enjoyable, and the Christmas Cruise Thru takes the experience to a whole new level.
The Hicksville fairgrounds are transformed into more than 2.5 miles of Christmas light displays. More than 3 million lights brighten the cold winter nights and invite families to celebrate the season.
The Christmas Cruise Thru started with a goodwill donation-supported Walk, Bike, and Cart event to make the experience accessible to everyone. My family loves taking our time exploring all the displays.
After that first night, families are welcome to “cruise thru” the displays from the warmth and comfort of their cars. Fill some travel mugs with hot chocolate (don’t forget the marshmallows) and you’ve got a great evening planned for the whole family!
The Christmas Cruise Thru starts in late November and runs through most of December, and families can attend plenty of other activities throughout its run! On Fridays and Saturdays, you can rent a pair of skates or bring your own and skate for free.
Last year, the Christmas Cruise Thru committee also arranged an amazing Winter Massive Fireworks show and a Jeep invasion, reindeer, a visit from Santa himself, and more.
Making Memories in Defiance
The weather outside is often frightful during the winter months, but Defiance knows just how to make the season delightful. From visits with Santa to dazzling light displays, there’s something for everyone in the Defiance area. Watch the calendar for next year’s winter adventures!
