CINCINNATI (FOX19) - The Cincinnati Zoo is about to kick off tri-state’s longest running holiday tradition – the 29th Annual PNC Festival of Lights. The event kicks off with a special preview event on Wednesday as two million LED lights illuminate the Zoo. 

The Preview Night is only open to Zoo members, invited media and sponsors.  

The Preview Night features Cincinnati recording artist and TV host Nick Lachey, and Ciara Bravo of Nickelodeon’s “Big Time Rush”, at the annual tree-lighting ceremony.  There will also be puppet shows from the Madcap Puppets, and a light show on Swan Lake. 

The event opens to everybody on Friday, November 25. 

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CINCINNATI, (FOX19) - The University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Friday announced the receipt of a $1 million donation, bequeathed from the late Betty Jean (Seeger) Dannenfelser.  The gift - which came as a surprise to CCM faculty and staff - will be used to establish a student scholarship fund and enhance CCM faculty support. 

"The soon-to-be-established Betty J. Dannenfelser Memorial Scholarship will permit CCM to recruit many generations of the very best students and attract top-notch faculty, allowing CCM to maintain its international reputation as one of the world's leading conservatories," said Peter Landgren, Dean of CCM. "Through her generosity, she has made a lasting statement about the importance of the performing and media arts and their value to our community and beyond." 

Dannenfelser's gift is an extension of her longtime patronage of the local arts.

CLIFTON, OH (FOX19) - As the holiday season rapidly approaches, shopping for that unique gift just got a little easier. The Clay Alliance annual Holiday Fair, showcasing the diverse talents of 35 members, returns Saturday, December 10, to the Clifton Cultural Arts Center in the historic Clifton Elementary School at 3711 Clifton Avenue. Hours for the fair are 11 am to 5 pm.

Visitors to the show can expect to find a wide variety of pottery – functional wares to decorative art pieces – for themselves or gift-giving. Included are jewelry, items for the home and garden, ornaments, seasonal items, and one-of-a-kind sculpture. Credit cards are accepted.

"We're excited to be back here. The soaring ceiling, the open lobby and the Rookwood tile drinking fountains add a perfect ambience for our eclectic group of clay artists," said co-chair Pam Duncan.