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Christmas events happening near you in Northeast Ohio: 2024 guide

Many cities in Northeast Ohio, including Akron, Canton and Cleveland, have announced their annual Christmas events.

CLEVELAND — It's almost the most wonderful time of the year! 

The holiday season is right around the corner, and many places in Northeast Ohio have announced that Christmas festivities will be happening this year. c v

So what's near you? We've compiled a list of holiday-related events for your family to explore. 

Keep checking back as we will continue to update this list as more holiday events are announced. 

ASHTABULA COUNTY 

Geneva-on-the-Lake 

6th Annual Light Up The Lodge 

  • Dec. 6-8 
  • The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake | 4888 North Broadway
  • More information can be found HERE

We’re kicking off the holiday season at The Lodge in a big way with our 6th annual Light Up The Lodge event in December! This action-packed weekend will be fun for all ages.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY 

Bedford 

Tree Lighting Ceremony 

  • Nov. 27 
    • 4:30-6 p.m. 
  • Bedford Commons | 730 Broadway Avenue
  • More information can be found HERE

Berea 

Magic of Lights 

  • Nov. 27-Jan. 4
    • 5:30-10 p.m. 
  • Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds 
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE.

Magic of Lights is a dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations. Experience Magic of Lights from the comfort and safety of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path of Middleburg Height’s new holiday tradition. One carload, one price.

Jack Frost Festival 

  • Saturday, Dec. 7 
    • 5-8 p.m. 
  • Downtown Berea and Coe Lake Park

The Jack Frost Festival welcomes the holiday season with fun activities for the entire family. The community organizations are invited to march in the Light Up Berea parade through downtown Berea.

Cleveland 

Wild Winter Lights 

  • Nov. 12-Dec. 30 
    • 5:30-9:30 p.m. 
  • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

Wild Winter Lights, presented by NOPEC, features over 1.5 million lights across holiday-themed areas, including Enchanted Forest, Swan Lake, Candy Lane, Polar Pathway, and Santa’s North Pole Lodge, presented by CrossCountry Mortgage, where guests can take photos with Santa Claus.

2024 Christmas Connection 

  • Nov. 22-24 
    • Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 
    • Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 
  • I-X Center
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

The Christmas Connection is a festive marketplace where you can shop for holiday gifts, see works from local artisans, experience holiday displays that will inspire your own decorations, and much more!

Kringle's Inventionasium Experience 

  • Nov. 23-Dec. 24 
  • Tower City Center | 230 West Huron Road, Suite 7286 
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

Let your imagination run wild and turn your most brilliant idea into reality. Only the most exceptional dreamers have what it takes to become an honorary elf and work with Kringle’s kooky inventing team as they prepare for the holiday season. Guests participate in the engineering design process as they venture through the laboratory and invent their own toy to show Mr. Kringle®.

FROST: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience 

  • Nov. 23-Jan. 5 
  • Cleveland Botanical Garden 
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE.

Northeast Ohio's favorite immersive holiday experience returns to the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Winter botanical displays, holiday lights and immersive, themed rooms will transport you to an enchanting world.

Downtown Cleveland Winterland 2024 

  • Saturday, Nov. 30 
    • 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 
  • Public Square
  • More information can be found HERE

Kick off the holiday season at the WinterLand Tree Lighting Ceremony at Public Square! Bring your family and friends for music, food, entertainment, holiday activities, and fireworks. As always, Santa will make an appearance as well as various local favorite holiday characters.

Santa on a Submarine Christmas Program 

  • Saturday, Nov. 30 
    • 12:30-2:30 p.m. 
  • 1201 North Marginal Road, Cleveland 

Visit with Santa and have Christmas cookies and hot chocolate in Cod's galley. Admission is free for children accompanied by adults.

8th Annual 12 Bars of Christmas Crawl

  • Saturday, Dec. 7 
    • 12-8 p.m. 
  • Starts at Dive Bar | 1214 W 6th Street 

 Put on your best holiday onesies, Santa suits, ugly sweaters, and elf costumes! It's the most wonderful crawl of the year!

Pentatonix: Hallelujah! It's A Christmas Tour

  • Sunday, Dec. 8 
    • 7 p.m. 
  • Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

Cleveland Orchestra Holiday Concerts

  • Dec. 11-22 
  • Severance Music Center | 11001 Euclid Ave.
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

Holiday Concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus return in 2024! Join us for an unforgettable experience that will fill Mandel Concert Hall with the sounds of the holiday season.

Breakfast with Santa 

  • Sunday, Dec. 15 
  • 8 a.m.-12 p.m. 
  • Table 45 at the InterContinental Cleveland |  9801 Carnegie Ave, Cleveland

Bring the kiddos for photos with Santa while indulging in a delicious holiday spread. The menu features breakfast favorites like Steel-Cut Oatmeal, made-to-order Eggs, Buttermilk Waffles, Maple Sausage Links and more. Savor holiday desserts, including a Yule Log, a Cookie Decorating Station, and Gingerbread. Little ones will love the "Little Elves Table," offering kid-friendly classics like Chicken Tenders and Ziti with Marinara and Meatballs.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve 

  • Friday, Dec. 27 
    • 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. 
  • Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

Holiday Events at Tower City Center 

  • November and December 
  • Tower City Center | 230 West Huron Road
    • More information on holiday events can be found HERE

List of events: 

  • WinterLand at Tower City
    • Saturday, Nov. 30 | Skylight Park, Tower City
      • 12-7 p.m.
  • Gifting with the Grinchy
    • Saturday, Dec. 7 | English Oak Room, Tower City
      • 12-4 p.m. 
  • Donte’s Gift Express
    • Saturday, Dec. 14 | Skylight Park, Tower City 
      • 12-4 p.m. 
  • Frozen Fun
    • Saturday, Dec. 21 | Skylight Park, Tower City 
      • 12-4 p.m.
  • Tower City Center’s Noon Year’s Eve
    • Tuesday, Dec. 31, | Skylight Park, Tower City
      • 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Black Nativity 

  • Nov. 30-Dec. 15 
  • Playhouse Square's Allen Theatre | 1407 Euclid Avenue
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE 

Langston Hughes’s adaptation of a holiday staple is back this season as Karamu House presents “The Black Nativity” at Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre. The show tells the story of the birth of Jesus through the creative lens of gospel, dance, poetry and biblical narrative. Performed for the first time in 1961, the production has since been an annual celebration of culture and storytelling. Langston Hughes spent many years in Cleveland and was a familiar face at Karamu House, the oldest producing African American theater in the United States. 

A Christmas Story 

  • Nov. 30-Dec. 22
  • Playhouse Square's Allen Theatre | 1407 Euclid Avenue
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

Lakewood

Light Up Lakewood 2024 

  • Saturday, Dec. 7 
    • 4-8 p.m. 
  • Detroit Avenue, downtown Lakewood
  • More information can be found HERE

This free, family-friendly event on Detroit Avenue in Downtown Lakewood features a holiday parade, lighting ceremony, winter fireworks, a beer garden, holiday train, live music, ice carvings, hot chocolate, food trucks, children’s games and more!

Solon 

Annual Winter Festival 

  • Wednesday, Nov. 27 
    • 5-8 p.m. 
  • Solon City Hall | 34200 Bainbridge Road

Strongsville 

Winter Wonderland Lighting Celebration 

  • Sunday, Nov. 24 
    • 5:30 p.m. 
  • Strongsville Commons

There will be all kinds of family fun events, including a holiday fireworks display, trolley rides, free doughnuts and hot chocolate, an ice carver, and more.

Westlake

2024 Crocker Park Tree Lighting Ceremony 

  • Saturday, Nov. 23
    • 12-8 p.m. 
  • Crocker Park | 177 Market Street
  • More information can be found HERE.

ERIE COUNTY 

Sandusky

Magic of the Seasons at Cedar Point Resorts 

Kids and younger families can escape to Castaway Bay for Castaway Christmas, Nov. 22 – Dec. 31, while the cozy woodland setting of Sawmill Creek Resort lights up during Season of Joy, Nov. 29 – Dec. 31.

GEAUGA COUNTY

Chardon 

  • Chardon Square Christmas Lighting 
  • Nov. 30 
    • 6:30-8 p.m. 
  • Heritage House | 111 East Park Street 

Join us as we light up the square for Christmas! Along with the colorful lights, we’ll have live music from Chardon High School’s Free Harmony and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus!

LAKE COUNTY 

Kirtland 

Country Lights Drive-Thru 

  • Select dates from Nov. 30-Dec. 29 
    • 6-8:30 p.m. 
  • Lake Metroparks Farmpark | 8800 Euclid Chardon Road
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

This year will feature some familiar lighting displays throughout Farmpark as visitors enjoy the experience during the month of December from the warmth of their own vehicles. Wooden toy kits will be available for pre-purchase online during the purchase of a carload tickets. Kits will be picked up at the event and taken home to assemble.

LORAIN COUNTY 

Lorain 

Winterfest Parade 

  • Saturday, Nov. 30 
    • 4:30 p.m. 
  • The parade route will be from 8th St. to Veterans’ Park on 4th St.

Avon 

Christmas Around the World 

  • Nov. 29-Jan. 4
  • Lake Erie Crushers Stadium | 2009 Baseball Blvd
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

We’re here to take you on a journey to discover the spirit of the holidays around the globe. As you’re transported to each country, you’ll experience its holiday traditions with all five senses. 

MEDINA COUNTY 

Medina 

  • Medina Candlelight Walk 
  • Nov. 22-24 
  • Main Street Medina | 39 Public Square, Suite 305

Enjoy the Medina Light Up on Friday, Parade and Fireworks on Saturday, and Santa & Reindeer with entertainment on Sunday.

STARK COUNTY 

Canton 

Light Up Downtown 

  • Thursday, Dec. 5 
    • 5:30-8:30 p.m. 
  • Downtown Canton | 222 Market Avenue North 

You won’t want to miss the festivities that include 14 city blocks of attractions, ice skating, entertainment, refreshments, sleigh rides, singers and dancers, a visit from Santa and amazing fireworks.

Winter Blitz / Spirit of the Season 5K 

  • Saturday, Dec. 14-Jan. 20
  • Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium | 1835 Harrison Avenue NW

Immerse yourself in winter fun at Winter Blitz! This holiday festival for all ages features different attractions each weekend, including the Touchdown Tubing Hill, Sideline Igloo Experience, Cocoa Hut, Spirit of the Season 5K run/walk, and more!

Hartville 

An Evening in the Village

  • Sunday, Dec. 8 
    • 4:30 p.m. 
  • Historic Downtown Hartville | 115 South Prospect Avenue

Winter Wonderfest

  • Nov. 22-Dec. 28
    • Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market | 1289 Edison St NW

Massillon 

68th Annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting 

  • Nov. 23 
    • 5-8 p.m. 
  • Duncan Plaza 

SUMMIT COUNTY 

Akron

43rd Annual Holiday Tree Festival

  • Nov. 16-24 
  •  John S. Knight Center | 77 E. Mill Street

Deck The Hall 

  • Nov. 29-30, Dec. 1, Dec. 5-23, Dec. 26-30 
    • 3-8 p.m. 
  • Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens | 714 North Portage Path
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

Stan Hywet is the place to be during the holiday season! The estate is illuminated with 1.4 million holiday lights, and the Manor House is decorated in beautiful holiday fashion. 

Holiday Parade 

  • Friday, Nov. 29 
    • 6 p.m. 
  • The parade marches down Main Street from Exchange to Bowery

The parade is an illuminated night parade featuring community groups, arts and cultural organizations, drum lines, and businesses with illuminated floats, vehicles and costumes.  The Lock 3 lighting celebration takes place immediately following the parade

Akron Zoo Wild Lights 

  • Nov. 29-Dec. 30 
    • 5-9 p.m. 
  • Akron Zoo | 500 Edgewood Avenue 
  • Tickets can be purchased HERE

Celebrate the holidays at the wildest lighting display around! Dazzling lights, goodies, warm beverages and more!

Barberton

Lake Anna Park Christmas Lighting 

  • Saturday, Nov. 30 
    • 6 p.m. 
  • Lake Anna Park 

Coventry Township 

Light Up the Clock Tower

  • Sunday, Dec. 8 
    • 4-7 p.m. 
  • Coventry Clock Tower | 462 Portage Lakes Drive

Green

Christmas at Central Park

  • Saturday, Dec. 7 
    • 3-7 p.m. 
  • Central Park | 1795 Steese Road 
    Peninsula 

North Pole Adventure

  • Nov. 8-Dec. 21
    • Times: 5 p.m. and 7:55 p.m. 
  • Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
    • Departing station: Rockside Station 
  • Buy tickets HERE

The North Pole Adventure™ is not just an event; it’s your chance to step into the story and create moments your family will cherish forever. Whether you’re celebrating with children or rekindling your own holiday spirit, this experience will wrap you in the warmth and joy of the season.

Stow

Glow with Stow Holiday Lighting

  • Saturday, Dec. 7 
    • 5:30-8:30 p.m. 
  • Stow City Hall | 3760 Darrow Road 

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