Lights, parades & other festivities herald in the holidays

With Halloween behind us, it’s time to talk turkey about the holidays, which are approaching fast. Christmas trees and decorations have already been springing up in local stores, and area communities are finalizing their annual festivities, including parades, tree-lighting ceremonies and more. Once again the Toledo Zoo will sparkle with its annual Lights Before Christmas display which kicks off Friday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. with the lighting of the zoo’s 85-foot Norway Spruce, adorned with more than 35,000 LED lights – more lights than the famous tree in New York City’s Rockefeller Center.

Other November events include:

Toledo Museum of Art – Various exhibits at the museum, 2445 Monroe St., Toledo:

Through March 4: “Storytelling in Miniature,” Works on Paper Galleries. Featuring approximately 140 miniature engravings and prints from the Renaissance through the modern and contemporary eras from the museum’s collection.

Through Dec. 31: Focus Exhibition: King James Bible First Edition, Gallery 15. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, the museum will display rare first edition copies of the book that are part of its collection.

Through Jan. 8, 2012: “The Egypt Experience: Secrets of the Tomb” Exhibit, Lower Level Egyptian Gallery, Main Museum. TMA’s popular mummies return to public view for this exploration of ancient Egyptian beliefs about life and afterlife.

November
Through Jan. 29, 2012: Civil War: Battlefield & Homefront, Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes & Buckland, Fremont. The exhibit interprets the war years using the letters of Northwest Ohio residents who served in the war and those who stayed behind. Hours & info: www.rbhayes.org or 800-998-PRES.

Nov. 5-6: 16th annual Holiday Craft & Gift Marketplace, Lucas Co. Rec Center, 2901 Key St., Maumee, Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. www.cloudshows.biz.

Nov. 8-12: Chemistry Week, Imagination Station, One Discovery Way, Toledo. Celebrate with the American Chemistry Society and explore the positive impacts of chemistry as it relates to nutrition, hygiene and medicine. www.imaginationstation.org.

Nov. 8-13: “Les Miserables,” Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo. The new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schonberg's legendary musical, with new staging and reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. www.ticketmaster.com or www.theaterleague.com.

Nov. 9: Toledo Walleye vs. Chicago Express, Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 10:30 a.m. 419-725-WALL or www.toledowalleye.com.

Nov. 10: “Stage Door Canteen,” featuring popular swing and Big Band tunes of the World War II era performed by Terra Thunder Jazz Band, along with students & community musicians, 7:30 p.m., Terra State Community College Student Activities Center. Admission by donation of a non-perishable food item. 419-559-2233.

Nov. 11-12: Toledo Walleye vs. Gwinnett Gladiators, Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo. 419-725-WALL or www.toledowalleye.com.

Nov. 12-13: Fisher-Price Little People® Live Holiday Show, Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo. Join The Toledo Zoo and start the season off right with a very special Fisher-Price Little People® Live Holiday Show, free with regular zoo admission. 419-385-4040 or www.toledozoo.org.

Nov. 12-13: Fremont Flea Market, Sandusky Co. Fairgrounds, corner of Rawson & North, Fremont. Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Over 200 vendors. Free admission and parking. Concessions available. 419-332-5604 or www.sanduskycountyfair.com.

Nov. 12-13: Homespun Holiday Art & Craft Show, Great Hall at the Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo. Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 419-842-1925 or toledocraftsmansguild.org.

Nov. 16: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 4 and 8 p.m. www.ticketmaster.com.

Nov. 17-20: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Owens Community College Center for Fine & Performing Arts, 30335 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg. Steve Martin's comedy places Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso in a Parisian café in 1904, just before the renowned scientist transformed physics with his theory of relativity and the celebrated painter set the art world afire with cubism. www.owens.edu/arts/index.html.

Nov. 17: Annual Reverse Job Fair, Toledo-Lucas Co. Public Library, Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St., Toledo, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Job seekers construct displays and receive on-the-spot interviews from employers. Tiffany Reynolds: 419-242-7304, ext. 2925.

Nov. 17: Authors! Authors! Series: Lisa See, Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 7 p.m. Tickets $10 per person and $8 for students. 419-259-5200, www.toledolibrary.org or www.lisasee.com.

Nov. 18: Lights Before Christmas, Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo. The family holiday tradition of over one million lights, over 200 lighted animal images and the zoo’s own electrical spectacle, the Dancing Lights. 419-385-4040 or www.toledozoo.org.

Nov. 18: Christmasfantastic, Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 7:30 p.m. www.ticketmaster.com.

Nov. 18-19: Toledo Symphony: Gerstein Returns for Rachmaninoff, Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle Theatre, 2446 Monroe St., Toledo, 8-10:30 p.m. 419-246-8000 or www.toledosymphony.com.

Nov. 19: Mannheim Steamroller, Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 8 p.m. www.ticketmaster.com.

Nov. 19: Toledo Walleye vs. Reading Royals, Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 7 p.m. 419-725-WALL or www.toledowalleye.com.

Nov. 19: 2011 Downtown Holiday Parade, downtown Toledo, 10 a.m.

Nov. 19: Rosemary Clooney Tribute Starring Judie Cochill, Valentine Theatre, 400 N. Superior St., Toledo, 8 p.m. www.valentinetheatre.com.

Nov. 19: Bowling Green Holiday Parade, downtown Bowling Green, 10 a.m. www.downtownbgohio.org.

Nov. 20: Toledo Walleye vs. Cincinnati Cyclones, Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 4 p.m. 419-725-WALL or www.toledowalleye.com.

Nov. 20: Terra’s Music on Sunday, Terra’s Recital Hall, 2830 Napoleon Rd., Fremont, 4 p.m. Free. Featuring Terra’s Chamber Strings Ensemble and Brass Choir. 419-559-2233 or www.sanduskycounty.org.

Nov. 23: Toledo Walleye vs. Florida Everblades, Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 7 p.m. 419-725-WALL or www.toledowalleye.com.

Nov. 25-27: “The Nutcracker,” Valentine Theatre, 400 N. Superior St., Toledo. 419-242-2787 or www.ballettheatreoftoledo.org.

Nov. 25-27: Crafts for Christmas Show, Sylvania Tam-O-Shanter, 7060 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania. Fri. & Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. www.toledocraftsmansguild.org.

Nov. 25: The Ohio State Marching Band, Stranahan Theatre, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo. www.stranahantheater.com.

Nov. 25: Toledo Walleye vs. Cincinnati Cyclones, Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 7 p.m. 419-725-WALL or www.toledowalleye.com.

Nov. 25-Dec. 31: Christmas Light Show Spectacular, Ghostly Manor Thrill Center, 3319 Milan Rd., Sandusky. 419-626-4467 or ghostlymanor.com.

Nov. 26: Christmas in the Village, downtown Pemberville. www.beekersgeneralstore.com.

Nov. 26: It’s a Wonderful Christmas with Michael W. Smith, Grammy-award winning Christian artist, Stranahan Theater, 4646 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 8 p.m. 419-381-8851 www.toledosymphony.com.

Nov. 26: Holiday Lantern Tours, Sauder Village, 22611 SR 2, Archbold, 4-8 p.m. Experience a turn-of-the-century Christmas celebration. Reservations only. 800-590-9755 or www.saudervillage.org.

Nov. 26: Holiday Light Parade, Uptown Maumee, www.maumeeuptown.com.

Nov. 26: Oak Harbor Olde Fashion Christmas, Adolphus Kraemer Park, downtown Oak Harbor, 5 p.m. Free. Santa arrives to light the village Christmas Tree. Children can share their Christmas wish lists with Santa at the Portage Fire Station, then enjoy hot cocoa and a cookie, and then be able to shop for two free presents for their loved ones at the Community Market Lobby. Info: Valerie Winterfield at 419 898-0479 or visit www.oakharborohio.net. Sponsored by the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce

Nov. 27: Wooden Feather Day, Magee Marsh, 13229 W. SR 2, Oak Harbor, noon-4 p.m. Sponsored by the Maumee Bay Carvers and the Friends of Magee Marsh. Enjoy a warm fire, marsh walk and refreshments. www.friendsofmageemarsh.org.

Nov. 27: Home for the Holidays Parade, downtown Perrysburg, 4-5 p.m. Tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. 419-872-6246.

Nov. 27-Jan. 8, 2010: Hayes Train Special, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Spiegel Grove, Fremont. Watch eight different model trains in styles that relate to the life of 19th U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes and his family traverse a 12x24-foot, three-tier model train layout. 800-998-PRES or www.rbhayes.org.

Nov. 27: Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos, Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 5 p.m. www.ticketmaster.com.

Nov. 30: Toledo Walleye vs. Chicago Express, Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 7 p.m. 419-725-WALL or www.toledowalleye.com.

For more events, be sure to visit www.presspublications.com, www.do-toledo.org, www.lake-erie.com or www.lakeeriesfavoriteneighbor.com. Submit event information to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Toledo Zoo will once again sparkle with Lights Before Christmas, featuring over one million lights, including more than 200 lighted animal images and the zoo’s own electrical spectacle, the Dancing Lights. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)

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