# Weekend getaways from Lexington with kids Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/lexington/weekend-getaways/ > The best trip within about five hours of Lexington for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. Last checked: 2026-10-18. ## Weekend of Oct 23–25: Cincinnati (about 1 hr 30 min) HallZOOween is daytime trick-or-treating, noon to 5 on Saturday and Sunday, included with a regular zoo ticket. Kings Island's no-scares Tricks and Treats runs 11 to 5 the same days. - **HallZOOween**, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 12–5 p.m., Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Included with zoo admission. Trick-or-treat stations from noon to 5, with a short costume parade at noon. Bring your own treat bag. Official page: https://cincinnatizoo.org/events/hallzooween/ - **Tricks and Treats at Kings Island**, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Kings Island, Mason. Included with park admission. The daytime, no-scares side of Halloween at the park, with a costume contest, treats and family rides. Planet Snoopy closes at 6 p.m. on these days. Official page: https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland/events/tricks-and-treats Also within reach: Louisville (about 1 hr 15 min): Boo at the Zoo, nightly 5 to 9. Nashville (about 3 hr 30 min): Boo at the Zoo, nightly 5 to 9. ## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Indianapolis (about 3 hr 15 min) ZooBoo's final weekend, with Halloween fun at the zoo from 2 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 1. - **ZooBoo**, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1, Festivities from 2 p.m., Indianapolis Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Runs Wednesdays to Sundays through Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/events/zooboo/ Also within reach: Cincinnati (about 1 hr 30 min): HallZOOween's last weekend, noon to 5. Nashville (about 3 hr 30 min): Boo at the Zoo's final three nights: 10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday. ## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Dayton (about 2 hr 15 min) The 50th Original Dayton Train Show fills the fairgrounds with more than 20 running layouts, LEGO trains included, and kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. Kings Island's Bonus Weekend of rides is in Mason if you want to add a second stop. - **Original Dayton Train Show**, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Montgomery County Fairgrounds. $10 per adult; kids 12 and under free with a paying adult. The 50th year of this show, with more than 20 operating layouts in HO, N and LEGO plus trains of every scale for sale. Official page: https://www.nmra.org/events/50th-original-dayton-train-show Also within reach: Nashville (about 3 hr 30 min): A Country Christmas opens Friday at Gaylord Opryland, with ice! featuring "Home Alone," ice tubing and more than 5 million lights. Cincinnati (about 1 hr 30 min): Bonus Weekend at Kings Island, 11 to 7. ## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Cincinnati (about 1 hr 30 min) Holiday Junction opens Friday at Union Terminal: the Duke Energy holiday trains, included with museum admission and entirely indoors. - **Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains**, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Museum hours, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. Included with museum admission. Santa arrives Friday, Nov. 27. Official page: https://www.cincymuseum.org/holiday-junction/ Also within reach: Louisville (about 1 hr 15 min): Lights Under Louisville opens Friday in the Mega Cavern. Nashville (about 3 hr 30 min): Glow Wild opens at the zoo, plus Opryland's ice! ## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Knoxville (about 3 hr) Disney On Ice is at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Thursday through Sunday. - **Disney On Ice**, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, See the tour page for show times, Knoxville Civic Coliseum. See the tour page. In Knoxville Nov. 19–22. Official page: https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/tickets/ Also within reach: Columbus (about 3 hr 15 min): Wildlights opens Friday, and your daytime zoo ticket covers the lights. Arrive at noon, nap in the car and stay until dark. Louisville (about 1 hr 15 min): Lights Under Louisville in the Mega Cavern. ## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Cincinnati (about 1 hr 30 min) Thanksgiving weekend has the most going on here: the zoo's Festival of Lights, Holiday Junction (Santa arrives Friday) and WinterFest opening at Kings Island. - **Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Museum hours, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. Included with museum admission. Santa arrives Friday, Nov. 27. Official page: https://www.cincymuseum.org/holiday-junction/ - **PNC Festival of Lights**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Lights activities from 4 p.m.; zoo open until 10 p.m. Fri–Sat, 9 p.m. Sun, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Included with zoo admission. Closed Thanksgiving Day. Train and carousel rides start at 2:30 p.m. Official page: https://cincinnatizoo.org/events/festival-of-lights/ - **WinterFest at Kings Island**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fri 5–10 p.m.; Sat 4–10 p.m.; Sun 5–10 p.m., Kings Island, Mason. See the park's ticket page. Opening weekend. WinterFest then runs select nights through Dec. 31; check the park calendar before you go. Official page: https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland/events/winterfest Also within reach: Louisville (about 1 hr 15 min): Lights Under Louisville in the Mega Cavern. Chattanooga (about 4 hr 45 min): Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights on Lookout Mountain, lit nightly from Nov. 13. ## FAQ **Where can we go for a weekend from Lexington with little kids?** Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Lexington are Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dayton, Knoxville. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages. **Which cities are within an easy drive of Lexington?** Louisville (about 1 hr 15 min), Cincinnati (about 1 hr 30 min), Dayton (about 2 hr 15 min), Knoxville (about 3 hr), Columbus (about 3 hr 15 min), Indianapolis (about 3 hr 15 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic. **Why is the same city picked more than once?** Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety. **Are the times and prices current?** They're what each official page showed on Oct 18, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.