Cleveland is an incredible city, without a single doubt. However, there’s much to do beyond our borders. One of the immediate perks of traveling outside of Greater Cleveland in the winter is the opportunity to escape the snow belt. Beyond that, explorers will also find wintertime fun throughout the entire region, ranging from toy workshops at the Lake Metroparks Farmpark to ice bumper cars in Akron, Ohio. If you’ve never tried out the latter attraction, now is your chance! This incredible wintertime event is returning to Lock 3 for another incredible year, and you have to check it out.

As the winter season approaches, Clevelanders begin looking beyond the borders of their hometown for seasonal fun.

Jon Dawson/Flickr As fun as Cleveland is, the rest of our region offers all sorts of exciting holiday fun. Akron, Ohio’s fifth-largest city and the county seat of neighboring Summit County, hides oodles of wintertime fun.

Each winter, Lock 3 is the place to go for wintry fun.

Lock 3 Akron, Ohio/Facebook From November to January, the largest ice rink in the entire state is hosted at Lock 3.

In the past, winter has consisted of epic sledding, Polar Putt-Putt, and movie showings.

Lock 3 Akron, Ohio/Facebook Families have adored these annual festivities for ages, but Lock 3 knows how to keep things interesting. They’re constantly mixing up which movies are shown each year, and they frequently incorporate new events.

One of the newer attractions at Lock 3 is ice bumper cars, and they’re a hit with fans.

Lock 3 Akron, Ohio/Facebook Ice bumper cars are exactly what they sound like! These bumper cars are just like the ones you remember from your childhood, but they slip, slide, and glide across the ice.

A fun alternative to traditional ice skating, ice bumper car reservations can be made online or in person.

Lock 3 Akron, Ohio/Facebook You’ll definitely want to check the event calendar and plan your adventure, as this popular event can get busy.

For safety purposes, bumper car drivers must be at least six years old and 42” tall.

Lock 3 Akron, Ohio/Facebook If too young or too short to operate bumper cars, children must be between the ages of 3 and 6 to ride with an adult over the age of 18.

If bumper cars aren’t your style, you might prefer a more traditional ice skating experience.

Lock 3 Akron, Ohio/Facebook Ice skating is offered all throughout the winter season.

And no matter which event you take part in, the fascinating design of Lock 3 will intrigue and inspire you.

Lock 3 Akron, Ohio/Facebook The historic canal towpath at Lock 3 was exposed for the first time in nearly a century when Akron decided to demolish surrounding buildings in 2001. Nowadays, its impressive path is lit up by brilliant color changing lights.

There’s so much fun to be had at ice bumper cars in Akron, Ohio… and it is so worth the drive from Cleveland, too! Who will you be taking with you this year?

Jon Dawson/Flickr

As fun as Cleveland is, the rest of our region offers all sorts of exciting holiday fun. Akron, Ohio’s fifth-largest city and the county seat of neighboring Summit County, hides oodles of wintertime fun.

Lock 3 Akron, Ohio/Facebook

From November to January, the largest ice rink in the entire state is hosted at Lock 3.

Families have adored these annual festivities for ages, but Lock 3 knows how to keep things interesting. They’re constantly mixing up which movies are shown each year, and they frequently incorporate new events.

Ice bumper cars are exactly what they sound like! These bumper cars are just like the ones you remember from your childhood, but they slip, slide, and glide across the ice.

You’ll definitely want to check the event calendar and plan your adventure, as this popular event can get busy.

If too young or too short to operate bumper cars, children must be between the ages of 3 and 6 to ride with an adult over the age of 18.

Ice skating is offered all throughout the winter season.

The historic canal towpath at Lock 3 was exposed for the first time in nearly a century when Akron decided to demolish surrounding buildings in 2001. Nowadays, its impressive path is lit up by brilliant color changing lights.

Looking for more things to do during winter in the Buckeye State? Here are some of our favorite winter hikes in Ohio.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Lock 3 Park, 200 S Main St, Akron, OH 44308, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Ice Bumper Cars in Ohio November 27, 2022 Sarah M. What are some other things to do during the winter in Ohio? In addition to bumping your way around the rink at the ice bumper cars in Akron, here are some other epic winter activities in Ohio:

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Wildlights and/or the PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo. Millions of lights, festive train rides, and special winter animal encounters make these Ohio zoos tons of fun to visit during the winter months.

Take a trip back in time and explore the Dickens Victorian Village of Cambridge. Until early January, the town is transformed into old-world England, featuring more than 80 scenes of 180 lifelike figures representing typical scenes from Victorian society and Dickens’ novels.

The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill are featured nightly (weather permitting) during the holiday season. You and your little ones will love the amazing and enchanting lights.

Learn to ski, snowboard, or snow-tube at Snow Trails Winter Resort In Mansfield. The family-favorite destination of the Snow Trails Winter Resort features the Timberline Trail, which is the longest in Ohio, the longest tubing lanes in Ohio, a 9,000 square foot Rental Center, a Children’s Learning Center, and more.

Mad River Mountain. The largest snow tubing resort in Ohio, Mad River Mountain is an epic adventure for thrill seekers. With a total of four parks, each differing in size and activities, there’s truly something for everyone at Mad River Mountain. We’re big fans of the Avalanche Tubing Park, which is loads of fun for families and groups of friends. The 1,000 ft. tubing hill features 10 lanes of high-flying, snow-spraying fun!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Ice Bumper Cars in Ohio

November 27, 2022

Sarah M.

What are some other things to do during the winter in Ohio? In addition to bumping your way around the rink at the ice bumper cars in Akron, here are some other epic winter activities in Ohio:

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Wildlights and/or the PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo. Millions of lights, festive train rides, and special winter animal encounters make these Ohio zoos tons of fun to visit during the winter months.

Take a trip back in time and explore the Dickens Victorian Village of Cambridge. Until early January, the town is transformed into old-world England, featuring more than 80 scenes of 180 lifelike figures representing typical scenes from Victorian society and Dickens’ novels.

The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill are featured nightly (weather permitting) during the holiday season. You and your little ones will love the amazing and enchanting lights.

Learn to ski, snowboard, or snow-tube at Snow Trails Winter Resort In Mansfield. The family-favorite destination of the Snow Trails Winter Resort features the Timberline Trail, which is the longest in Ohio, the longest tubing lanes in Ohio, a 9,000 square foot Rental Center, a Children’s Learning Center, and more.

Mad River Mountain. The largest snow tubing resort in Ohio, Mad River Mountain is an epic adventure for thrill seekers. With a total of four parks, each differing in size and activities, there’s truly something for everyone at Mad River Mountain. We’re big fans of the Avalanche Tubing Park, which is loads of fun for families and groups of friends. The 1,000 ft. tubing hill features 10 lanes of high-flying, snow-spraying fun!

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

In addition to bumping your way around the rink at the ice bumper cars in Akron, here are some other epic winter activities in Ohio:

  • Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Wildlights and/or the PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo. Millions of lights, festive train rides, and special winter animal encounters make these Ohio zoos tons of fun to visit during the winter months.
  • Take a trip back in time and explore the Dickens Victorian Village of Cambridge. Until early January, the town is transformed into old-world England, featuring more than 80 scenes of 180 lifelike figures representing typical scenes from Victorian society and Dickens’ novels.
  • The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill are featured nightly (weather permitting) during the holiday season. You and your little ones will love the amazing and enchanting lights.
  • Learn to ski, snowboard, or snow-tube at Snow Trails Winter Resort In Mansfield. The family-favorite destination of the Snow Trails Winter Resort features the Timberline Trail, which is the longest in Ohio, the longest tubing lanes in Ohio, a 9,000 square foot Rental Center, a Children’s Learning Center, and more.
  • Mad River Mountain. The largest snow tubing resort in Ohio, Mad River Mountain is an epic adventure for thrill seekers. With a total of four parks, each differing in size and activities, there’s truly something for everyone at Mad River Mountain. We’re big fans of the Avalanche Tubing Park, which is loads of fun for families and groups of friends. The 1,000 ft. tubing hill features 10 lanes of high-flying, snow-spraying fun!

Take a trip back in time and explore the Dickens Victorian Village of Cambridge. Until early January, the town is transformed into old-world England, featuring more than 80 scenes of 180 lifelike figures representing typical scenes from Victorian society and Dickens’ novels.

The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill are featured nightly (weather permitting) during the holiday season. You and your little ones will love the amazing and enchanting lights.

Learn to ski, snowboard, or snow-tube at Snow Trails Winter Resort In Mansfield. The family-favorite destination of the Snow Trails Winter Resort features the Timberline Trail, which is the longest in Ohio, the longest tubing lanes in Ohio, a 9,000 square foot Rental Center, a Children’s Learning Center, and more.