Visiting Canton During the Holidays
*This post is sponsored by Visit Canton. In this post, we give our honest review of our experience taking a trip to Canton in Stark County. For more information on our Disclosure Policy, please visit this page.
We love, love, love the holiday season, so when Visit Canton invited us to explore the festive magic of Stark County, we were over the moon with excitement! From twinkling lights to heartwarming meals, Canton offers loads of opportunities for holiday fun.
Whether you’re looking for family-friendly Christmas activities, unique shopping, or tasty dining, this guide has everything you need for the ultimate holiday experience in Canton.
WHERE WE STAYED
Comfort Suites Hartville-North Canton
We stayed at the Comfort Suites Hartville-North Canton, which was super convenient because it was right next to many of the holiday experiences we visited, like Winter Wonderfest and the Hartville Kitchen & Shops.
Our room was tidy and had all of the amenities we look for in a hotel, including a fitness center, pool with a hot tub, and a free complimentary breakfast.
The breakfast had two waffle makers – one for regular-sized waffles and one for four mini-waffles (my daughter’s favorite!) with two flavor options: regular and red velvet. We tried both and found them to be delicious. Other breakfast options included biscuits and gravy, eggs, cereal, yogurt, and pastries.
SHOPPING
Hartville Hardware | Ornaments
One of the first places we went shopping was the famous Hartville Hardware store. This 305,000 foot, two story location is so much more than a traditional hardware store. In addition to tools, clothing, and house-related items they have awesome seasonal items available for purchase.
Each of our kids picked out ornaments for our tree and then had them customized with their name and the year. I thought these were super affordable, and the customization was free! While we waited, we browsed the Christmas decorations and then stumbled across the Idea House, where you can find inspiration for home projects in an actual model home.
I lovedddd the Idea House. I felt like I had stepped into my dream home. My husband had to practically drag me away from the display. 🤩
Hartville Kitchen Children’s Shop
After eating dinner at the Hartville Kitchen (more on that below) we walked upstairs to browse the Hartville Kitchen Children’s Shop. They had all kinds of different toys from stuffed animals to crafts, STEM toys, and books.
They have a hand-crafted Noah’s Ark play area for kids under 54″, and a few Melissa and Doug displays for kids to play-test. My son bought a 3D-printed dragon and dinosaur. My daughter bought a bag of mermaid rocks.
Holiday Market at Oakwood Square
We love visiting farmers and local craft markets, and the Holiday Market at Oakwood Square was a lot of fun for us. Located in the Oakwood Square Plaza parking lot near Johns Bar & Grille, the Holiday Market at Oakwood Square is a festive way to support local businesses and a hidden holiday gem.
The Holiday Market at Oakwood Square is like stepping into a European Christmas Market right here in Canton. With 34 charming wooden cabin storefronts, local vendors offered everything from handmade gifts to tasty treats. Our kids loved sampling snacks while we browsed.
Another highlight at the Holiday Market at Oakwood Square was the reindeer exhibit. When we were there, the two reindeer were named Buddy and Bo. They were both only a year and a half old, and the attendant told us they’d grow another six to eight inches!
HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES in canton
Winter Wonderfest
My kids love Christmas light displays, so when they found out we’d be visiting Winter Wonderfest, which has more than 500,000 sparking lights, animated Christmas scenes, and a 30-foot-singing Christmas tree, they couldn’t wait to get there.
We bundled up nice and warm, grabbed our free hot cocoa, and walked through the festive holiday displays. Some of our favorites were the free mini train ride, the singing raccoon band, the nativity scene, and all of the fun photo opportunities, like on Santa’s sleigh and in front of the giant Christmas tree.
It took us about an hour to walk through Winter Wonderfest, though we did stop to get warm by the firepits for about ten to fifteen minutes.
Tickets purchased in advance are $14 for adults (16+) and $8 for kids (ages 3-15), while children 2 and under are free. To purchase tickets in advance, click here.
Nature’s A-Glow at Beech Creek Garden
We visited Beech Creek Garden over the summer, and my kids had such a good time. While this visit was very different from the first time we had been there, they had just as much fun.
Nature’s A-Glow at Beech Creek Gardens takes holiday lights to the next level, with over 500,000 shimmering lights illuminating the gardens. But this experience is more than just a light display—it's an interactive holiday adventure.
My kids loved the hands-on activities and displays in the gardens. They made elf ears in the Elf Dance Party, made Christmas Trees on the giant Lite-Brite, played a match game at Olaf’s display, and decorated an ornament after visiting Santa.
Another display we absolutely loved was Narnia hidden inside the “Woven” interactive outdoor exhibit. We love the Narnia series, and as soon as we saw the wardrobe and the lamp post nestled inside, we knew exactly what it was. Stepping inside, we also found the White Witch’s lair and Cair Paravel with Aslan near the Pevensie’s thrones.
The boardwalk was another of our favorite displays. We thought it was so magical walking through all of the lights to end our night.
It took us about an hour and a half to make our way through Nature’s A-Glow. We could have probably spent more time had it not been quite so cold.
Tickets to Nature’s A-Glow are $17 for non-members and $8.50 for members. Children 2 and under are free. For available hours and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Ohio Christmas Factory
The highlight of our Canton holiday trip was, hands down the Ohio Christmas Factory. This 50,000-square-foot indoor Christmas experience is packed with so much festive fun that we didn’t know where to start!
Interactive Holiday Fun
We kicked off our visit by writing letters to Santa, a sweet tradition made even more memorable when the Grinch himself tried to steal my son’s letter. 😂 One of the best parts of the Ohio Christmas Factory is all of the characters roaming the space, bringing the magic of Christmas to life. From Jack Skellington and Sally to Olaf and Anna, each character was more than happy to pose for photos and interact with our kids.
Santa, Stuffed Animals, and Spooky Surprises
Next, we stopped at One-Eyed Jack’s, where the kids picked out their complimentary stuffed animals. Meeting Santa was another highlight (available for an additional fee), and the photo we received was the perfect keepsake.
Afterward, we ventured into the mirror maze, danced at the high-energy Dance Party, strolled through the enchanting Tinsel Tunnel, and then entered Spooky Town—a surprise hit for our kids. As fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas, they loved being playfully chased by Lock, Shock, and Barrel and spooked by Oogie Boogie. Families with younger kids might want to skip this area, but for us, it was just the right mix of thrills and fun.
We spent the rest of our time in the large room at the end where the kids did Santa’s VR Sleigh Ride ($6 per ride), participated in an interactive snowball fight, played the Rudolph vs Grinch Reindeer Games, walked through the Frozen Forest, and then finished our time at the Elf Express Slide.
All in all we spent a little over two hours at the Ohio Christmas Factory, and it was so much fun.
For times of availability and ticket prices, visit the Ohio Christmas Factory’s website here.
KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN CANTON
Hartville kitchen & bakery
If you and your family enjoy homestyle cooking, then I’m sure you’ll love Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery. Eating here reminded me of dinners with my grandpa. The portions were hearty, and the staff was super friendly. And the rolls – oh my goodness – the rolls were amazinggggg!
John’s bar & Grille
Before visiting the Holiday Market at Oakwood Square, we had lunch at Johns Bar & Grille. I had the BEST Buffalo Chicken Sandwich on a Pretzel bun. It was so, so good! My husband had the dry rub wings, which he really liked. My daughter got a huge soft pretzel, and my son got the sliders. We all really enjoyed our food.
Unhitched Brewing Company
We had dinner at Unhitched Brewing Company on our last full day. The service was great, and the food came out really fast. I had the General Tsao Chicken Sandwich, which was my favorite meal of the entire trip!
My husband and kids all got pizzas, and my kids got to watch them get made and tossed into the woodfire pizza kiln.
Twisted Citrus
Our favorite restaurant this trip was most definitely Twisted Citrus’s holiday pop-up. The Christmas decorations were so cute and festive, and the food was oh-so delicious!
First, let’s talk about the amazing dishes. I had the Chorizo Gravy & Corn Cakes from the normal menu. It was the perfect blend of sweet and spicy! I also got the Snow Globe Mimosa because it looked so cute, and I had to try it. I’m not a big mimosa fan, but I really liked this one.
My husband got the gingerbread pancakes (Partridge in a Pear Tree) with pear sauce and a side of eggs and sausage. My daughter got the Christmas Tree pancakes so she could decorate them with sprinkles. My son got the reindeer pancake stack, which was super cute, and he loved how they tasted.
Lastly, I just have to mention how super cute the decorations are. They really went all out, and my family loved playing eye-spy with all of the different types of Christmas decor and characters.
If you’re looking for a fantastic holiday brunch, Twisted Citrus is definitely worth checking out!
COFFEE SHOPS
Tremont Coffee
We had visited Tremont Coffee the last time we were in Canton, so I knew we had to make our way there before heading back to Cleveland. I got an ice chai latte, and we picked up some whole beans of their Peruvian blend at home.
VISITING CANTON DURING THE HOLIDAYS IS A REAL FESTIVE TREAT
Canton truly shines during the holidays, offering something special for everyone. Whether you’re strolling through dazzling light displays, shopping for unique gifts, or enjoying cozy family meals, Stark County is the perfect destination to make your Christmas season magical.
Plan your visit today and create holiday memories your family will cherish for years to come! Find out more about everything Canton has to offer at VisitCanton.com.
