There's No Place Like Cleveland For The Holidays

CLEVELAND (Nov. 12, 2018) – The holiday season is right around the corner, and there’s no shortage of festivities taking place around The Land. As celebrations kick-off in November, Destination Cleveland suggests locals and their visiting family and friends explore the region’s seasonal sights and sounds. And for those residents who want to encourage out-of-town family and friends to choose the CLE as a home base for the season, holiday-themed “Visit Me in CLE” postcards can be emailed from Destination Cleveland’s website or mailed to family and friends by visiting the Cleveland Visitors Center.

TURKEY TIME

Thanksgiving at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
If the family needs a break from Thanksgiving festivities, they can head out to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and see their favorite animals feasting on Thanksgiving treats throughout the day. As a special thanks to the community, admission to the zoo on Thanksgiving Day is free of charge.

• 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland
• Thursday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Turkey Tech at Great Lakes Science Center
Residents can explore the Great Lakes Science Center during Turkey Tech this November for family-friendly Thanksgiving fun. Lying on the couch in a food coma will be a thought of the past as guests of all ages can enjoy holiday-themed science demonstrations and hands-on activities like learning how chemistry helps to cook the perfect feast or discovering if turkeys really can fly in the Physics of Flight Spectacular.

• 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland
• Friday, Nov. 23 – Saturday, Nov. 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 25, noon – 5 p.m.

Larchmere Holiday Thanksgiving Stroll
The 10 blocks of Larchmere Boulevard will provide locals a new street to turkey trot through for all of their shopping needs. Larchmere’s Historic Commercial District will be open this Thanksgiving weekend with activities like carriage rides and holiday treats as well as shopping at local favorites like The Dancing Sheep, Loganberry Books and Eclectic Eccentric.

• Larchmere Boulevard, one block north of Cleveland's Shaker Square Neighborhood (click here for specific directions)
• Friday – Saturday, Nov. 23 – 24, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

DE“LIGHT”FUL DISPLAYS 

Glow at Cleveland Botanical Garden
This season, residents can join friends and family at Cleveland Botanical Garden’s annual event, “Glow,” for a night of holiday lights and seasonal sights. The festive winter wonderland will give Clevelanders the chance to see decorated trees, poinsettias and Christmas villages throughout the Botanical Garden. And on Wednesdays and Saturdays this year, workshops will be offered for guests to build their own gingerbread houses, which they can put on display in their own home during the holidays.

• 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland
• Glow, Friday, Nov. 23 – Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019; for special holiday hours, visit www.cbgarden.org
• Gingerbread Workshop, Wednesdays and Saturdays, Nov. 24 – Dec. 22

Wild Lights at Akron Zoo
For a walk on the wild side this holiday season, residents can ”ooh” and “ahh” at displays that are decked out with animated lights and set to holiday music at the Akron Zoo’s Wild Lights. Residents can take a spin on the ice rink, watch ice carvers create masterpieces and fill their jolly bellies with sweet treats and s’mores. And to ensure they are on the nice list this year, kids should be on their best behavior when they visit and take pictures with Santa.

• 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron
• Nov. 23 – 25, 30, Dec. 1 – 2, 7 – 9, 14 – 16, 21 – 23 & 26 – 30, 5 – 9 p.m.

Winterfest
Residents can gather in Downtown Cleveland to enjoy the start of the holiday season at the annual Winterfest holiday festival. This year’s event includes free ice-skating at the Cleveland Foundation Skating Rink, free horse-drawn carriages, food trucks, live entertainment and the Winterfest Kids Village complete with crafts, face-painting and holiday characters. Additional activities will be taking place at various locations throughout Downtown Cleveland including Tower City Center, East 4^th Street, the Cleveland Public Library, the 5^th Street Arcades and Playhouse Square. The day-long festivities will culminate with the tree-lighting ceremony, a visit from Santa and a fireworks show. Locals can even stop by the Cleveland Visitors Center and fill out holiday themed postcards to encourage their family and friends to “Visit Me in CLE.”

• Public Square, Cleveland
• Saturday, Nov. 24, 1 – 7:30 p.m.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

I-X Christmas Connection at I-X Center
The I-X Center is kicking off the season of giving with a weekend-long Christmas shopping event. Guests can peruse the 700 stands and fill their stockings with goodies ranging from crafts, specialty foods, home décor and jewelry. After making their lists and checking them twice, guests can kick up their heels and enjoy entertainment from local choirs, bands and dance groups. Little ones can stop by for a visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves and shop in the Sugar Plum Shoppe, which features more than 4,000 pre-wrapped gifts.

• One IX Center Drive, Cleveland

• Friday – Saturday, Nov. 16 – 17, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Cleveland Holiday Flea
If residents are looking for that special, one-of-a-kind gift, they can mark their calendar for The Cleveland Flea’s Holiday Market. The November theme is “Friendsgiving with the Flea,” which will feature more than 50 businesses that have specially curated their goods and services for holiday shoppers.

• The Madison, 4601 Payne Ave., Cleveland
• Friday, Nov. 16, 6 – 10 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 17 – Sunday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.   

Kringle’s Inventionasium Experience
Clevelanders don’t have to make a trip to the North Pole to see Kris Kringle’s workshop as they can visit Kringle’s Inventionasium Experience at Tower City Center in Downtown Cleveland. This immersive and interactive experience lets kids help Mr. Kringle get ready for the holiday season by creating and testing toys in the top-secret inventing lab. After their adventures in the toy lab, families even have the chance to chat about their Christmas wishes with Mr. Kringle himself.

• 230 W. Huron Road, Cleveland
• Nov. 17 – Dec. 30
• To schedule a visit to Kringle’s Inventionasium Experience, visit www.mrkringle.com

Scuba Claus & The Seas’n of Play at Greater Cleveland Aquarium
Santa Claus is comin’ to town this holiday season, and he is even stopping at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium where families can see him swim amongst the sea life as Scuba Claus. Residents can take pictures and talk with Scuba Claus as he navigates his way through shark-filled waters and enjoy activity stops throughout the aquarium as a part of the Seas’n of Play.

• 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland
• November 23 – December 24, Scuba Claus appearances Fridays – Sundays from 1 – 2 p.m.

Deck the Halls at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Less than an hour from Downtown Cleveland, residents can journey to the Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, where the 65-room Manor House and estate will be decorated in a Winter Wonderland theme, complete with one million indoor and outdoor lights. Visitors can revel in Dazzle, an outdoor light show, and little elves can play in Gingerbread Land while parents shop for holiday gifts in Molly’s Shop.

• 714 North Portage Path, Akron

• Nov. 23 – 25, 29 – 30, Dec. 1 – 2, 6 – 9, 13 – 23, 26 – 30; for special holiday hours, visit www.stanhywet.org  

A Christmas Story House
From checking out the classic Red Ryder BB Gun to climbing under the sink like Randy or picking up the fra-gee-lay leg lamp, Clevelanders are triple-dog-dared to visit A Christmas Story House and recreate scenes from the classic holiday film. Residents searching for a holiday staycation can find a residence at the newly-opened Bumpus House, the fictional home to Ralphie’s hillbilly neighbors, the Bumpus family.

• 3159 W. 11 St., Cleveland

• For extended holiday hours, visit www.achristmasstoryhouse.com.

Castle Noel
Clevelanders may not know this, but America’s largest year-round indoor Christmas entertainment attraction, Castle Noel, is located less than an hour away from Downtown Cleveland. Residents can gawk and gaze at Castle Noel’s Hollywood props and costumes from Christmas films like “The Grinch,” “Elf” and “A Christmas Carol,” animated New York City Christmas windows, and toys from the 1950s through the 1980s in the “I Had That” Toyland experience.

• 260 S. Court St., Medina

• For extended holidays hours or to schedule a tour of Castle Noel, visit castlenoel.com

WINTER WONDERLANDS

Holiday Train Rides on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Locals can embark on a holiday train ride with Santa’s number one elf, Mr. Jingeling, aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Christmas songs and stories of the North Pole will not be in short supply on this three-hour round trip. 

• Akron Northside Station, 27 Ridge St., Akron or Rockside Station, 7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence
• Mr. Jingeling’s Holiday Jubilee, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17 – 18, 24 – 25
• For more information on Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad schedule, visit www.cvsr.com

Tobogganing at The Chalet at Mill Stream Run Reservation
Since the cold never bothered Clevelanders anyway, they can get outside for an afternoon of thrills and chills at The Chalet at Mill Stream Run Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks. Families and friends can spend the day racing down the twin, 700-foot refrigerated ice chutes (no snow is needed!), and they can warm up on a wintry day by popping inside The Chalet for food and drinks.

• 16200 Valley Parkway, Strongsville
• Friday, Nov. 23 – first week of March
• For more information on holiday hours and pricing, visit www.clevelandmetroparks.com

SEASONAL SHOWS

Playhouse Square
Playhouse Square will be decorated with dazzling displays and bustling with holiday cheer and performances throughout the winter season.

• The Singing Angels Holiday Spectacular at KeyBank State Theatre will grace locals with the beautiful voices of 200 of Ohio's most talented young performers. The concert will feature melodies ranging from classical interpretations to modern medleys of winter, Christmas and Hanukkah songs.
  • Sunday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m.
• If residents are fans of the movie, they’ll want to see “A Christmas Story” live on stage presented by the Cleveland Play House – complete with pink bunny suits, leg lamps and holiday hilarities.   
  • Nov. 23 – Dec. 23
• Clevelanders can spread holiday cheer by attending Holidazzle throughout Playhouse Square. The afternoon event includes a Holiday Sing-a-Long with the Kimball Organ in the Connor Palace, holiday-themed face painting, shopping in the Cleveland Bazaar Holiday Market and Cleveland Play House’s Festival of Trees.
  • Saturday, Nov. 24, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
• The Cleveland Pops Orchestra and Chorus will fill the Connor Palace with the sounds of the holidays during its A Christmas Spectacular Concert. Families can also enjoy activities in the lobby before the show, including performances by high school music ensembles, meeting adoptable pets from local rescue shelters and greetings with Santa Claus.   
  • Sunday, Nov. 25, 2 p.m.
• The Charles Dickens’ classic tale, “A Christmas Carol,” returns to the CLE as the Great Lakes Theater Company brings the timeless characters of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and Christmas ghosts to life on the Ohio Theatre stage.
  • Nov. 30 – Dec. 22

For more holiday events or to learn more about Destination Cleveland, new attractions and activities, please visit thisiscleveland.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Pinterest.

DON’T FORGET: Destination Cleveland’s Concierge Team is also available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region. Contact our team through email at cleconcierge@destinationcle.org, live chat at thisiscleveland.com or stop in the Cleveland Visitors Center (334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 44114) Mon. – Sat., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. to plan your adventure.

Please note, the Cleveland Visitors Center will operate under special hours the week of Thanksgiving –
Wed., Nov. 21, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Thurs., Nov. 22 and Fri., Nov. 23, closed; Sat., Nov. 24, 10 a.m. – 7p.m.
  ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland’s destination marketing and management organization. This private, non-profit organization’s mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. Cleveland welcomes 18.5 million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.