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Cleveland Holiday Activities

By Sandy Mitchell, About.com

Lights, poinsettias, trees, and "Babes in Toyland" -- all are Cleveland Christmas traditions. Check out the top Northeast Ohio holiday events. (updated for 2007)

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

Stan Hywet Hall at Christmas(courtesy of Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens)
Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens transforms itself each holiday season into a winter wonderland. For 2007, the theme is the "Babes in Toyland," and the main house will be adorned with trees, lights, and decorations reflecting the classic story. Outside, the gardens will be strung with thousands of glittering lights. The museum shop will be open for holiday shopping and the cafe will serve hot chocolate, cookies, and other holiday treats.

The event dates are November 23 and 24, December 7-9, December 14-23, and December 26 -30, from 630pm to 830pm. Admission is $14 for adults and $2 for youth for the house and grounds, and $8 for adults and $1 for youth for the grounds only

WinterFest - Tree Lighting at Public Square

Cleveland Winterfest(courtesy of travelcleveland.com)
WinterFest is the annual holiday celebration in Cleveland's Public Square. Held the weekend after Thanksgiving each year, the evening of music, dance, and hot chocolate culminates in the lighting of the unique holiday light displays in each quadrant of the square and the Christmas tree in front of Tower City. Over 50,000 people attend the event each year. The light display is kept up until after New Year's Day. The event is FREE and is usually televised.

"A Christmas Carol" by the Great Lakes Theater Festival

(courtesy of the GLTF)
Seeing "The Christmas Carol" at the Ohio Theater at Playhouse Square is a Cleveland Tradition. For 2007, the Great Lakes Theater Festival production of the classic Dickens story will run from November 23 to December 23. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the Playhouse Square box office at 216 241-6000.

Holiday Lights at Blossom Music Center

Poinsettia Forest at Blossom Lights in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio(Courtesy of Live Nation)
Drive through the Blossom Music Center grounds, in Cuyahoga Falls, and see thousands of festive displays; November 15 - January 6; Sunday - Thursday: 6pm - 9pm, Friday and Saturday: 6pm - 11pm; $12.50 per carload.

WinterShow 2007 at the Cleveland Botanical Garden

Cleveland Botanical Garden Gingerbread House Competition(Courtesy of the Cleveland Botanical Garden)
For the 2007 holiday season, the Cleveland Botanical Garden will transform itself into a Gingerbread Dreams fantasyland. Features included large gingerbread houses with window vignettes, designed by the Garden's affiliate garden clubs, and the Garden's exhibition area was filled with gingerbread house contest entries, lights, trees, and other holiday accents. Of course, the wonderful Garden shop was loaded with special holiday gift items.

Holiday Display at the Rockefeller Greenhouse

Cleveland Greenhouse at Christmas(© 2006 S. Mitchell)
Each holiday season the Cleveland Greenhouse, just north of University Circle, transformed itself into a holiday wonderland with hundreds of red, white, and pink Poinsettias and other Christmas flowering plants. For 2007, the show runs from December 1 to January 5, 2008. Hours are 10am to 4pm daily and admission is free.

Lighting Display at Nela Park

Nela Park holiday lights display, Cleveland Ohio(© Cetta Sole Hartman/used with permission)
The lighting display at the GE Lighting Center in Nela Park in East Cleveland has been a holiday tradition since 1925. The elaborate display lines GE's property along Noble Road from early December through New Year's Day. NELA Park, 1975 Noble Rd., East Cleveland.

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker performed by the San Jose Ballet(© John Gerbetz/courtesy of the San Jose Ballet)
Though the Cleveland Ballet is no longer with us, guest companies traditionally perform this holiday favorite in Cleveland. For the 2007 season, Ballet San Jose is dancing to the music of Tchaikovsky at Playhouse Square from November 23 to December 2. For tickets, visit the Playhouse Square Center website or call the ticket office at 216 771-8403 or 800 352-0212.

Christmas at Hale Farm

The holiday season at Hale Farm, in Bath, harkens back to the 19th century with Lantern Tours of the historic site, all decked in traditional fashion for the holidays. The dates for 2007 are December 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22.

The Black Nativity at Karamu House

An annual Cleveland tradition, the Black Nativity, written by hometown literary master Langston Hughes, is a retelling of the Gospel according to St. Luke, set to the music and dance of the Black church. The 2007 presentation will run from December 7 to December 30. For tickets and information, call 216 795-7077.

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