Ohio Christmas Factory adds sprawling holiday attractions in Canton

Ohio Christmas Factory in Canton opens Nov. 28.
Located at the Factory of Terror, Ohio Christmas Factory features 60,000 square feet of holiday and family fun.
Attractions also include North Pole Tavern, children’s activities, a Christmas light show, photo ops, Frozen Forest, more than 100 decorated Christmas trees and more.

CANTON − Workers at the Ohio Christmas Factory have been as busy as Santa’s elves preparing for the holiday attraction’s opening.

A life-size gingerbread house was being painted, furnished and decorated on the interior on a recent afternoon. Large wooden holiday display pieces were being cut and colored. And the spirit of Christmas was bright and alive inside the massive industrial space that transforms into a winter wonderland.

The season opening is Nov. 28, marking the third year for the Christmas Factory, located at the site of Factory of Terror, 4125 Mahoning Road NE. It will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 21, as well as on Dec. 22-23. For tickets, hours and more information, go to https://ohiochristmasfactory.com.

Owner John Eslich continues to take the same approach with Christmas Factory that he has with the highly popular Factory of Terror haunted house. He’s always trying to top himself by adding new features while keeping what the guests like most, including a Merry Mirror Maze, with red-and-green lights, and more than 100 Christmas trees that are elaborately and individually decorated throughout the building.

“It’s always getting better,” he said of the 60,000-square-foot Christmas entertainment complex.

Christmas Factory spends $400,000 to $500,000 on improvements

Eslich said he spent $400,000 to $500,000 on improvements and updates to the Christmas Factory this year, including new props, new sets and displays, and other additions or enhancements.

This year marks the culmination of a three-year plan, which includes the unveiling of the inside of the gingerbread mansion.

For the first time, people can walk inside the gingerbread mansion for a variety of fun photo opportunities. Gingerbread actors also will be on hand. There’s even custom carpet.

“All that stuff excites us,” Eslich said. “And we know our guests will be excited. The holidays are fun and exciting, and all these bright colors add fun and excitement on top of that.”

Kim Shapiro, part of the staff at Ohio Christmas Factory, agrees.

“It’s very whimsical,” she said of the gingerbread house. “Cabinets look like jellybeans.”

“It’s hard to be sad when you have bright colors, Christmas lights and kids laughing,” she added.

‘Positive memories for families’

Chris Virgilio, 43, of Cleveland, is creative director at the Ohio Christmas Factory.

“We have a vast space and we’re a fairly progressive company,” he said. “We like to do things in stages. We’ll continue to develop the gingerbread house in the coming years.”

Blending classic Christmas traditions and imagery with new additions is the key, Virgilio said.

“It’s like marking your kid’s height on the doorjamb,” he said. “It’s that one solid thing in your life that you can come in and enjoy. We try to create a really great value and positive memories for families. We treat our guests like they’re our family … and it’s a very interesting thing to be part of.”

“We’re constantly looking for ways to innovate and grow what we do,” Virgilio said.

Standing out this year is the interior of the brightly hued gingerbread house.

“It’s one of the most different things I’ve worked on in a long time,” Virgilio said.

Christmas Factory is fun, not scary

Ohio Christmas Factory is the opposite of Factory of Terror. No gore and no goblins jumping out from hiding spots. There’s one spooky-themed Christmas area, but it’s playful and inspired by “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Eslich said.

“It’s not a haunted house,” he said. “It’s festive spooky, not scary. We have fun characters.”

Abominable snowman-themed areas, including an illuminated tunnel, are all for fun, too.

There’s also a “Land of Oz” photo op area that’s new, with imagery of a yellow brick road.

Cocktails and mocktails served

Shapiro oversees bartending at the Christmas-themed tavern and other bars on site as part of the Jingle & Mingle Bar Crawl. Both cocktails and mocktails are served; juice boxes and beverages for kids are available.

The bars allow for adults to hang out or enjoy a drink while their kids bask in Christmas magic. Or adults are welcome to come out for a date night or group outing, she said.

North Pole Tavern features an old-style department store display window. Elf on the Shelf is the theme.

The mix of fun for both adults and kids draws people from both inside and outside Stark County. Eslich estimated that around 60% of the customers come from outside the area. Most of the attraction is wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly, Eslich said.

Lots of free photo opportunities are sprinkled about. Roaming elves will take photos at no charge. The Meet Santa Package includes photos and costs $25. Santa’s Sleigh Ride VR Experience costs $8. Those optional costs are in addition to tickets.

Hot and iced coffee, hot chocolate and snacks can be purchased. Mini pancakes also will be available, with toppings.

Eslich said he’ll always try to improve the customer experience. He laughed at the thought.

“After the three-year plan, we go back to the drawing table and schedule out another three years,” he said.

Virgilio said he’s up to the challenge, even when working up to 16-hour days prior to Thanksgiving.

“He’s the most fantastic producer I’ve ever worked with in the entertainment industry,” he said of Eslich. “You never get stuck on how good that it was, you focus forward on how good it can be.”

Eslich works long days, too, Virgilio said. The boss stayed late on a recent night and painted 19 fence sections himself.

“He got it done,” Virgilio said.

Reach Ed at [email protected]. Follow on Instagram at ed_balint and TikTok @edwardbalint

If you go

What − Ohio Christmas Factory

Attractions − Indoor holiday, family-friendly experience, featuring photo ops, costumed actors, 120 decorated Christmas trees, a life-size gingerbread house, Christmas light show, indoor snowball fight, children’s activities, Elf Express sliding board, Frozen Forest, North Pole Tavern and other bars, snacks and mocktails.

Where − 4125 Mahoning Road NE, Canton

When − Opening weekend is Nov. 28 to 30. Other dates are Dec. 5 to 7; Dec. 12 to 14; and Dec. 19 to 23. An Adults Only Night is Dec. 18.

Admission − Tickets can be purchased online at https://ohiochristmasfactory.com. Online prices are $27.95 all day for adults. For children ages 3 to 12, tickets cost $19.95 before 4 p.m. and $23.95 after 4 p.m. Children ages 2 and under are admitted free. Tickets are also available on site at the box office.

Hours: They vary. For more information, go to https://ohiochristmasfactory.com or call 330-455-3327.

‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’