The Shillito's Elves returning to Downtown Cincinnati through early January

CINCINNATI —

A beloved Christmas tradition is returning to Downtown Cincinnati as people get set for holiday shopping.

The Shillito's Elves are back in time for Friday’s Light Up the Square, blocks away from where they debuted at the Shillito’s store in the late 1950s. Advertisement

After greeting visitors along Main Street last year, the elves are returning to the heart of the Fountain District this holiday season, at the iconic Carew Tower.

The move to Carew Tower puts the elves at the center of the holiday festivities downtown on Fifth Street, putting them in the same area as the Winterhaus on Fountain Square and the UC Health Ice Rink.

The Shillito’s Elves are a collection of mechanized figures that depict various Christmas scenes, including Santa’s workshop. They’ve been a class