The Hallmark Channel Officially Named Portsmouth, Ohio Its Hometown Christmas Town
Small town Ohio is a magical place to be when the holiday season rolls around. While the best Christmas town in Ohio has long been a matter of local debate, The Hallmark Channel finally laid this question to rest once and for all. You see, the riverfront town of Portsmouth, Ohio was deemed The Hallmark Channel’s 2019 Hometown Christmas Town. The sleepy little town has been hard at work transforming its town square into a winter wonderland for each winter season, thanks to some spirited citizens and a local nonprofit. From holiday shopping and pictures with Santa to ice skating and snow tubing, this humble little town is the place to be this Christmas season. Friends of Portsmouth Winterfest at Market Square is downright magical — so magical it could be a Hallmark Christmas movie set.
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Welcome to the Ohio River town of Portsmouth, home to a winter wonderland worthy of the Hallmark Channel's 2019 Hometown Christmas Town title.
Portsmouth, home to circa 20,000 residents, is a growing community that has effortlessly maintained a sense of small-town charm. When winter approaches, it grows magical... and you'll find all the downtown holiday magic at Boneyfiddle's Market Square.
The festival takes place all month long in December, with special events scheduled on the weekends. Though the event is fairly young, locals have already come to cherish it. While this event unfortunately paused in 2020 to respect social distancing regulations, the town still has lots to offer.
In 2018, the Hallmark Channel visited the town to check out Winterfest. The following year, the channel deemed it the 2019 Hometown Christmas Town.
This honor was well deserved, as you'll learn during your visit. Portsmouth, famous for landmarks like Indian Head Rock and for shaping oodles of professional sports players and former governor Ted Strickland, is enchanting for locals and visitors alike.
During the winter season, millions of lights dazzle the downtown shops and streets. During the day, you can often find attractions like ice skating, snow tubing, a vendor village, carriage rides, and an endless amount of holiday cheer.
Offered on select days, carriage rides through the city are absolutely breathtaking. Be sure to connect with Friends of Portsmouth on Facebook to see on which days you can go dashing through the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh. This is one attraction particularly known for making spirits bright!
Winter in Portsmouth equals special events and attractions, such as a mailbox that sends letters straight to Santa.
Want some Portsmouth-themed holiday merch? The Friends of Portsmouth have an online shop where you can snag gear to show your holiday cheer... as well as your pride for Ohio's most Christmassy city.
This one town in Ohio has gone down in history as the one city full of holiday cheer.
This is literally true! Portsmouth broke the world record for most people wrapping presents simultaneously, setting a new standard of holiday passion. Each year, it seems, the city has more and more holiday surprises. Pay it a visit and see what kind of discoveries you make. You just might fall in love with the town... a setting worthy of any Hallmark movie.
Have you ever been to Portsmouth during the Christmas season? If so, we want to know what your experience was like!
Each community, it seems, has its own spin on holiday fun when it comes to Christmas in Ohio. Some of the most magical events are drive-thru light shows, tree lightings, visits with Santa, and more. Ask around for the best events near you… locals know their communities like nobody else.
Can I take a sleigh ride in Ohio in the winter?
Does the Portsmouth sleigh ride sound exciting to you? If it’s a bit far away, don’t worry one bit. You can also find other sleigh rides throughout the state, including those at Ma & Pa’s Gift Shack and Gervasi Vineyard.
What are the best ice skating rinks in Ohio?
Ice skating is a beloved winter pastime for Ohioans. Lock 3 in Akron, located just paces away from the Akron RubberDucks’ home field, is easily the largest in the state. However, we have a number of unique skating rinks, including one at a brewery!
April is the Ohio staff writer for Only in Your State. She is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. When she's not on deadline or chasing after her toddler, she's hunting for hidden gems in Ohio or getting lost in a good book.
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