Cutler Blog

"Wonderwall" of Lights: Cincinnati's Premier November & December Lifestyle Guide

Oasis released "Wonderwall" in 1995, asking: "Because maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me?" Well, these incredible Cincinnati holiday events are here to save your winter weekends from boredom! From the banks of the Ohio River to historic neighborhoods, the Queen City knows how to celebrate November and December in style.

1. PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo

Recognized consistently as one of the best zoo light displays in the nation, the PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is a must-visit. Featuring 4 million LED lights, a black-light puppet show, and s'mores stations, it's pure magic.

• Explore: Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights

2. "Jump Around" at Elm Street Plaza Ice Rink

House of Pain had everyone jumping in 1992, and you can jump (or glide!) on the ice at the UC Health Ice Rink presented by Fifth Third Bank formerly at Fountain Square has relocated to the Elm Street Plaza for 2026. Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, it's perfect for ice skating, and festive city energy.

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• Explore: Elm Street Plaza Ice Rink

3. "Waterfalls" of Lights at Nights of Lights

TLC told us in 1995 not to go chasing waterfalls, but you should definitely drive out to Cincinnati's Nights of Lights . Stay warm in your vehicle as you drive through synchronized light tunnels set to classic holiday tunes for nearly 2 miles at the Warren County Fairgrounds!

• Explore: Cincinnati Nights of Lights

4. "Empire State of Mind" at Findlay Market

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys sang about the bustling energy of NYC in 2009, but Cincinnati's historic Findlay Market brings that exact vibrant market charm to Ohio! In November and December, Findlay Market hosts holiday markets, artisan pop-ups, and seasonal food tastings perfect for buying local gifts.

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• Explore: Findlay Market

Looking for your Queen City castle? Discover modern urban living or quiet suburban charm across Cincinnati with the experts at Cutler Real Estate.

"Ice Ice Baby": Cool Ways to Celebrate November & December in Central Ohio

Vanilla Ice dominated the charts in 1990 with "Ice Ice Baby", and while Central Ohio gets its fair share of winter chill, Columbus stays red hot with incredible holiday events throughout November and December! From twinkling downtown lights to bustling shopping centers, living in Columbus during the holidays offers something for everyone.

1. "Steal My Sunshine" at the Columbus Zoo Wildlights

LEN's 1999 hit was all about chasing the bright spots, and nothing brightens winter nights quite like Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Millions of LED lights, animated light shows set to music, and reindeer encounters make this a top-tier tradition for Central Ohio families.

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• Explore: Columbus Zoo Wildlights

2. "All Star" Shopping & Dining at Easton Town Center

Smash Mouth told us in 1999 that "all that glitters is gold," but at Easton Town Center, all that glitters is millions of festive holiday lights and a giant 50-foot Christmas tree! Easton offers premier holiday shopping, a holiday drone show, and dining options that make holiday prep a delight.

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• Explore: Easton Town Center

3. Stroll Through the Scioto Mile Lights

For a breathtaking city skyline view, take an evening walk along The Scioto Mile. Transformed into a glowing winter wonderland each December, downtown Columbus lights up the parkland along the riverbanks with vibrant hues.

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• Explore: Scioto Mile Parks

4. "Life is a Highway" – Head to the Conservatory

Tom Cochrane's 1991 anthem urges us to drive all night long, but your destination should be Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for Conservatory Glow. Walk among glowing light installations, outdoor displays, and warm indoor tropical gardens.

• Explore: Franklin Park Conservatory

Welcome Home to Columbus! Whether you want a cozy condo in the Short North or a family home in Dublin or Olentangy, let Cutler Real Estate guide your Columbus home search this season.

Welcome to a fun, whimsical twist on home upkeep! At Cutler Real Estate, we know that keeping your home safe, efficient, and beautiful shouldn't feel like a chore.

Deep in the autumn forest, Hansel and Gretel knew that cold days were fast approaching. Rather than relying on a trail of breadcrumbs that birds might eat, they left a clear trail of fall home maintenance tasks to prepare their cottage for the long, freezing winter ahead!

Before winter trickery catches you off guard, use our autumn home winterization guide to keep your house warm, safe, and cozy.

1. Warm Up the Oven... Er, Furnace!

Don't wait for the first freeze to realize...

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The Best Time To Buy a Home in 2026 Is Almost Here

Want to buy a house this year, but not sure if the timing's right? Seasonally, it may actually be a better time to buy than you expect.

Yes, mortgage rates have been ticking up lately – and that's creating some real challenges with affordability. No one's arguing that. But there are also predictable trends that happen this time every year that can put some wind back in your sails.

According to research coming out of 

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Ohioans love their ice cream so much that the state has spawned its own Ice Cream Trail. Can't get enough of this tasty treat? Check out these favorite ice cream shops in Cleveland, Akron, and North Canton.

Top Ice Cream Shops Around Northeast Ohio

Apple Cart

4313 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103

Find out firsthand why Apple Cart has been cited as one of the best soft-serve ice cream spots in America. The shop is housed in a modest storefront that belies its status as a local icon.

Go beyond the basics with one of these specialty treats on the menu:

• Arctic Swirl, Apple Cart's take on a Blizzard
• Caramel Apple Sundae
• Banana Boat

Hours are noon - 7 p.m. daily except Tuesday, when closing time is 5:30 p.m.

Sweeties Soda Shoppe

6770 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44129

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Sweeties Soda Shoppe brings the classic ice cream parlor into the 21st century. Take a seat at a table or pull up a chair at the counter to enjoy your choice of 36 flavors of homemade ice cream or 300+ soda varieties.

Distinctive features include:

• Open-kitchen format
• Sundae topping dispensers and topping bar
• Whipped cream, hot fudge, waffle cones, and chocolate syrup made in-house

Hours are noon -11 p.m. daily except Sunday, when doors close at 9 p.m.

Hip Hop Smoothie Bar

1300 W. 9th St., Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44113

Hip Hop Smoothie Bar invites you to create your own "mixtape" of ice cream, milkshakes, and smoothies with your choice of add-ins and toppings. If you're really hungry, start out with one of their wraps or thin-crust pizzas.

Many items have a whimsical music-themed name, such as:

• Cereal Remix, which is a strawberry milkshake with Frosted Flakes, Fruity Pebbles, and Reese's
• Blue Electric Dance Bowl with tropical fruits, bee pollen, granola, and coconut flakes
• Mini Crispy Waffle Collab, a "sandwich" with grilled or crispy chicken topped with fresh strawberries and powdered sugar

Hip Hop Smoothie Bar is open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, and noon - 8 p.m. Sunday.

Chill Artisan Ice Cream

209 S. Main St., Suite 2, Akron, OH 44308

Appropriately located in Akron's Historic Arts District, Chill Artisan Ice Cream brings a true artisan approach to gourmet ice cream. Inspired by childhood experimentation with their home ice cream maker, the Jaworski brothers apply a "food sensibility" to flavors such as French Toast & Bacon, Bourbon Granola, and Whiskey Pistachio Brittle.

Vegetarians and vegans can also indulge in creative flavors:

• Key Lime Coconut
• Fudgsicle
• Dr. Pepper Sorbet

Hours are noon - 7 p.m. every day but Monday.

Pav's Creamery

3769 Manchester Road, Akron, OH 44319

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Opened in 1969, Pav's Creamery still uses the old-school Soeder Sons Batch machines from iconic Euclid Beach Park. When the Micochero family purchased the shop from founder Robert "Pav" Pavlik, they upped the game with custard, ice cream, yogurt, and sorbet made fresh daily.

Here are a few of the Flavors of the Week scheduled for this summer:

• Strawberry Jam Shortcake / Strawberry Pretzel Palooza (6/15-6/21)
• Fluffernutter (7/6-7/12)
• Buckeye Fudge (8/24-8/30)

Pav's Creamery is open seven days a week from noon - 9 p.m.

Waylon's Handcrafted

3979 S. Main St., Akron, OH 44319

Waylon's Handcrafted proudly proclaims to be "mom-owned and family-inspired." Jenn Myers was inspired to open the shop after travel adventures with her husband and named it for their son, Waylon.

Live dangerously with dessert-for-lunch with one of their gourmet ice cream sandwiches on freshly-baked cookies:

• 4 Love of Chocolate
• Biscoff Coffee
• Mint Chip

Waylon's Handcrafted is open noon - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon - 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Swensons Drive-In

1558 N. Main St., North Canton, OH 44720

Take a trip back in time with a visit to Swensons Drive-In. Wesley T. "Pop" Swenson went from selling burgers out of his station wagon in front of Buchtel High School to a classic drive-in format with carside service.

While Swensons is well-known for their ice cream, the restaurant also features some legendary savory and beverage items on their menu:

• The Galley Boy, a double cheeseburger layered with Swen Red and Swen White sauces and secured with a green olive pick
• Potato Teezers, fried nuggets of potato, cheese, and mild jalapeños
• Whips, made with soft serve and your choice of fountain soda and shot of flavor

Hours are 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream

2191 E. Maple St., North Canton, OH 44720

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Founded in 1945, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream still employs many of the methods and recipes of their namesake. Alice Handel famously used fresh ingredients from her backyard garden to make each batch of ice cream by hand.

Throughout the years, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream has been recognized by nationally respected publications such as:

• USA Today
• National Geographic
• Newsweek
• Entrepreneur Magazine

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Ro's Custard Creations

1166 S. Main St., North Canton, OH 44720

No need for GPS when you're heading to Ro's Custard Creations. Just look for the giant candy-colored rooftop sign that's a local landmark.

The pet-friendly shop leaves ice cream to others, offering custard and frozen yogurt for cones, cups, and specialty treats such as:

• Blizzard-like Concretes, available in a dozen different flavors
• Sundaes topped with Heggy's hot fudge
• Root beer floats and Boston coolers

Ro's Custard Creations is open 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 - 9 p.m. Sunday.

I Scream, You Scream...

If you could have only one ice cream flavor for the rest of your life, what would you choose?