CLEVELAND (Dec. 12, 2022) – The holiday season seems to be flying by faster than Clark Griswold slid through the woods on his saucer sled. While some may be checking their list twice before Christmas comes around, others will soon come together to celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. To complement the holiday celebrations, there’s still plenty of festive fun to be had all across #TheLand before the last minutes of 2022 tick away.
THE LAND OF HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS
Cleveland knows a thing or two about celebrating – and as home to so many diverse cultures, there’s a variety of celebrations to take part in as the holiday season wraps up.
Chanukah on Ice
The Mandell JCC of Cleveland welcomes the start of Hanukkah with a party at the Wade Oval skating rink. Families can enjoy ice skating and special Hanukkah goodies before the evening culminates with the lighting of the community menorah.
Downtown Menorah Lighting
Clevelanders of all faiths are invited to join the celebration for the lighting of the Public Square menorah. The event on the fourth night of Hanukkah will include a menorah lighting, entertainment and car parade down Superior Avenue. Attendees can also enjoy a variety of WinterLand offerings like ice skating, a walk through the holiday lights or just a festive photo op in the Square.
Kwanzaa Celebration at Cleveland History Center
The Cleveland History Center invites the community to come together to celebrate Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration of African and African American culture where each day represents a different principle. A program for all ages will include crafts, music and refreshments. Attendees are encouraged to wear African-inspired attire to the celebration.
Cleveland Pops Orchestra New Year’s Eve Celebration
Clevelanders can don their tuxedos and celebrate in high style with the Cleveland Pops as the orchestra performs the music of James Bond on New Year’s Eve. Attendees will enjoy refreshments as they dance the night – and year – away while counting down to the midnight balloon drop.
“Noon” Year’s Eve Lunch Cruise
Locals who aren’t night owls or families looking for a way to ring in the New Year together can celebrate onboard the Nautica Queen for a “Noon” Year’s Eve Lunch Cruise. The outing includes music, dancing, food and drink and, maybe best of all, a chance to celebrate while still getting to bed before midnight.
THE LAND OF SHOPPING LOCAL
For Clevelanders with shopping yet to do, it’s never too late to give the gift of local. From rare vintage finds to uniquely-CLE experiences and everything in between, there are many ways to support local businesses during the last-minute shopping crunch.
For the vintage aficionado
Unique gifts abound at a variety of Cleveland’s retro and vintage shops. For the giftee who’s into funky furniture, exceptional art and quirky clothing, Flower Child on the west side will help locals wrap up their holiday shopping. One-of-a-kind clothing and accessories are ready to take home at Himiko's Cool World in Detroit-Shoreway. And it’s one-stop shopping for the vintage lovers on any gift list at Beachland Ballroom’s Holiday Flea on Dec. 17, which will feature more than 20 vendors selling vintage items, vinyl records, cool crafts and unusual items.
For the CLE superfan
Clevelanders aren’t shy about their city pride, and The Land has the t-shirt shops to prove it. Thanks to spots like CLE Clothing Co., GV Art and Design, Only in Clev and We Bleed Ohio, locals can help their friends and family wear their pride on their sleeve – literally – this holiday season. Or, send a little bit of The Land anywhere in the world with a gift from Cleveland in a Box.
For the lover of locally made
The Land boasts no shortage of talented creators, all of whom have spent months designing and producing the perfect gifts. Made Cleveland features handmade goodies from dozens of local makers at its storefront in Coventry and its online marketplace. On the west side, the Home for the Holidays pop-up boutique returns for its seventh year and features a collection of goods from local artists, makers and small-batch food makers. Clevelanders can also peruse online for in-store pick-up.
For the experience enthusiast
For a present that’s sure to be a perfect fit, consider a gift of Cleveland’s world-class attractions. Memberships to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Greater Cleveland Aquarium or Great Lakes Science Center are great choices for families, while tickets for the 2023 Blossom Music Festival or Playhouse Square’s KeyBank Broadway Series are sure to be a hit with anyone who loves a live performance.
THE LAND OF YOUR WINTER PLAYGROUND
Even as the flakes fly and Lake Erie turns to ice, there’s no shortage of ways to make the most of every day in #TheLand and find out why there’s SNOW place like Cleveland, even in the cold weather.
Rockefeller Park Greenhouse
One of the most beautiful places to warm up in the winter months, Rockefeller Park Greenhouse offers an oasis in the middle of the city. The Greenhouse comes alive in the holiday season thanks to a dazzling display of red, pink and white poinsettias. For those who don’t mind braving the cold, the outdoor park is landscaped with trees native to Ohio and gardens that are tended to year-round.
Cleveland script signs
Locals looking for the picture-perfect spot to snap that holiday family photo need to look no further than the Cleveland Script signs. The six signs offer some of the best views in The Land at Tremont, Edgewater Park, North Coast Harbor, Villa Angela Beach, The Foundry and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. With the perfect picture captured, residents can share their shot on social media using the hashtag #ThisisCLE and show their out-of-town family and friends how great The Land looks in winter.
Winter warmers
It’s no secret that winter in Cleveland can be cold and dreary; luckily, there are many ways to warm up from the inside out. Locals looking for a little extra holiday “spirit” can head to The Rustic Grill at StoneWater Golf Club for a glass of Cleveland Glogg – a mulled wine cocktail that’s becoming a local holiday tradition. Over at Western Reserve Distillers, organic and handcrafted spirits are on the menu, all crafted from grains grown at Ohio farms within 150 miles of the distillery. And CLE Urban Winery brings a working winery and tasting room to an urban setting in the Cedar-Lee neighborhood of Cleveland Heights. All the wines are hand-crafted and bottled on-site.
PLEASE NOTE: The Cleveland Visitors Center will operate under special hours during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s:
DON’T FORGET: Destination Cleveland’s concierge team is available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region. Contact the team via email ([email protected]), live chat at thisiscleveland.com, or stop at the Cleveland Visitors Center (334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland) Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. for planning assistance.
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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. In 2021, visitation to Cuyahoga County rebounded to 16.1 million visits, a 17% increase after the COVID-19 global pandemic reduced visitation by 30 percent in 2020. Destination Cleveland continues its work to rebuild the travel and tourism industry, with the goal of exceeding pre-pandemic success as quickly as possible. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.