12+ Things to Do for Christmas in Cleveland this Holiday Season (2025)

Note: This post includes dates and details for the 2025 Christmas season, as far as I know them. I’ll update this with more details as the holiday season gets closer!

Christmas tends to be a favorite holiday for most people. And for people in Cleveland, the holiday means lots of extra themed things to see and do!

If you’re looking for something festive to do in Cleveland this Christmas, here are a dozen holiday-related things to consider.

Things to do at Christmas in Cleveland (in 2025)

1. Kick off the holiday season at WinterLand

When: Saturday, November 29, 2025

Where: Public Square and downtown Cleveland

The annual kickoff to Christmas event happens each year in downtown Cleveland the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Previously known as Winterfest (which was a one-day event in Public Square and the surrounding downtown area), WinterLand is now an ongoing winter festival throughout the holiday season.

The kick-off event on Nov. 29 will include live music, ice skating, food trucks, fire pits, and more. The event culminates in the lighting of the Public Square Christmas tree and a brand new illumination show on Terminal Tower.

Read my full WinterLand kickoff guide here: Cleveland WinterLand 2025: How to Enjoy the City’s Holiday Kickoff Event

How much: Free

Other neighborhood holiday kick-off events to look forward to include:

• Crocker Park Tree Lighting, November 22 in Westlake. This event includes a block party and sing-along with Santa. More info here.
• Illuminate the Circle, November 22 in University Circle. Kick off the holiday season in University Circle with a tree lighting on Wade Oval, along with live music and Santa. More info here.
• Light Up Lakewood, December 6 in Lakewood. This holiday kick-off includes a parade, tree lightings, fireworks, and more. More info here.

2. See Wild Winter Lights at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

When: The event is running on select evenings from November 18-December 30, 2025, with Mondays added Dec. 16, 23, and 30. Hours are 5-9 p.m.

Where: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will once again be putting on a family-friendly winter lights display in 2025, which is always a holiday favorite!

Wild Winter Lights will feature hundreds of lighting displays across holiday-themed areas, including the Enchanted Forest, Polar Pathway, and Santa’s Workshop. There will be several walk-through displays great for photos, along with carousel rides, ice carvers, a light and music show, and more.

The main event is a walk-through one, but the Zoo is also offering a drive-through experience on select nights for those who would rather enjoy the lights from the safety of their own cars. (Elliot and I did this in 2020, and while it’s not the same as walking through all the displays, it’s still festive and a great way to see the lights.)

Check out this video for a preview:

How much: Tickets are $24 for Zoo members and $27 for non-members if purchased in advance. Drive-through tickets are $49 per car for Zoo members and $59 per car for non-members. It’s highly recommended that you book your timed tickets in advance. You can buy them here.

Looking for kid-friendly things to do in Cleveland this Christmas? I’ve got you covered here.

3. Go to a drive-thru lights show

Speaking of drive-through holiday lights shows, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo isn’t the only option. There are several excellent drive-through lights shows in the Greater Cleveland area.

Other places to see Christmas light displays in the Cleveland area from the comfort of your own car include:

• Country Lights – This drive-through at Lake Metroparks Farmpark is another great option. It takes place from 6-8:30 p.m. on weekends through December (starting on December 5, 2025). Advanced tickets are required, and tickets are $27.50 per car.
• Holiday Lights Cruise-Thru: The Lorain County Metroparks’ Carlisle Reservation is hosting its annual twinkling lights and holiday displays from November 28-December 21, 2025 on Wednesday-Sunday nights. This is free, but they are requesting at least one non-perishable food item to donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank. 
• Lights on the Lake – This light display in Ashtabula County claims to be the largest holiday light display on Lake Erie. It has 70 displays across the 54 acres of Lakeshore Park. It runs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 6-9 p.m. from November 29 through December 29, 2025. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 per car.
• Holiday Lights – Located at the Medina County Fairgrounds, this drive-through holiday light display runs Fridays-Sundays from November 28-December 14, and also daily from December 19-28 in 2025. It costs $10 per car (cash or check only), and is open 6-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 6-9 p.m. on Sundays and weeknights.
• Bethlehem Hills Christmas Light Park: With 40 different light displays to witness along a 1.5-mile path, you’ll be enchanted by the 2 million LED lights on display at the Geauga County Fairgrounds. This drive-through is open nightly from November 1-December 31, 2025. Tickets are $25 per (regular) carload.

RELATED: Where to See the Best Christmas Light Displays Near Cleveland

4. Go to FROST at Cleveland Botanical Gardens

When: November 22, 2025-January 4, 2025; hours vary, but I think it’s best experienced after dark!

Where: Cleveland Botanical Gardens, 11030 East Blvd, Cleveland

The Cleveland Botanical Gardens are a gem in Cleveland as it is, but during the holidays, the gardens burst with holiday cheer. FROST is this year’s holiday event, held inside and out at the gardens, which includes themed rooms, gingerbread house displays, photo opportunities, an outdoor light trail, and more.

As part of FROST, the garden will also be hosting a Krampusnacht with music, drinks, and crafts on December 6, as well as Breakfast with Santa on December 21 and several other wintery events and workshops. See them all here.

How much: You’re encouraged to purchase timed tickets for FROST in advance. Admission to the gardens in the evening starts at $28 per adult and $16 per child for non-members. Purchase tickets here.

5. Visit the House from A Christmas Story

When: Every day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with some extended hours around the holidays. Tours of the house run every half hour beginning at 10:15 a.m. (last tour at 4:15 p.m.).

Where: 3159 W 11th St, Cleveland

This isn’t strictly a Christmas activity since the A Christmas Story House & Museum is open for tours year-round, but the holiday season is definitely the preferred time of year for a visit.

The yellow house in Tremont was used for exterior shots in the 1983 holiday classic “A Christmas Story.” In the early 2000s, a fan and developer purchased the Cleveland house and turned it into an exact replica of Ralphie Parker’s home as it was in the film.

Today, you can tour the house (which is always decorated for Christmas!), and visit the museum across the street to see costumes and behind-the-scenes photos from the movie. (Just note that this tour is kind of like a history tour, and isn’t always the most interesting for young kids!)

How much: Tickets are $20, and for November and December, tickets must be purchased online in advance.

READ MORE: Your Guide to Visiting the Christmas Story House in Cleveland

6. See a Christmas theater production

When: Various dates in November and December

Where: Various locations

Cleveland’s Playhouse Square is the second-largest performing arts center in the US after Lincoln Center in New York City. So you’d better believe there are some Christmas shows to enjoy!

There are always a mix of annual holiday favorites and other Christmas classics at Playhouse Square. In 2025, check out:

• A Christmas Carol at Mimi Ohio Theater
• The Nutcracker at Connor Palace
• A Christmas Story at Allen Theatre
• A Motown Christmas at Hanna Theatre
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas at KeyBank State Theatre
• A Magical Cirque du Soleil Christmas at KeyBank State Theatre

Also of note is the Black Nativity, presented by Karamu House. The Karamu Performing Arts Theatre on Cleveland’s East Side is the oldest African-American theater in the United States, and has a unique connection to the Black Nativity. The Black Nativity is a “gospel-drama” by Langston Hughes (it heavily features gospel music) that debuted on Broadway in 1961. Hughes lived and worked in Cleveland, and taught at Karamu House as a young man.

The Black Nativity is running December 1-17, 2025, and this year will be performed at the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square.

Looking for Cleveland gift ideas instead? Check out our guide to the best local Cleveland gifts, too!

7. Listen to holiday music

When: December 13-21, 2025

Where: Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Ave, Cleveland

Cleveland is home to one of the top orchestras in the nation, and the Cleveland Orchestra always delivers at Christmastime with a series of holiday concerts.

This year, the Cleveland Orchestra will be performing its Holiday Concert a dozen times in December. The concert will include the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, and cover all the Christmas classics.

How much: Holiday concert tickets run $49-$140, depending on dates and seats.

Separately, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra is performing its Jingle Bell Jamboree concert at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 30 at the Connor Palace Theater at Playhouse Square.

8. Skate at a holiday ice rink

There are always a handful of seasonal outdoor ice rinks to enjoy around Cleveland. A few to check out include:

• Cleveland Foundation Skating Rink in Public Square – The Public Square rink opens this year on November 28, 2025, and will remain open through February 1, 2025 (various open dates; check here). Tickets are $15 per person, and include skate rental.
• The Rink at Wade Oval – This rink is a great place to stop off between museum visits in University Circle, or after going to FROST at the Botanical Gardens. It does not appear to be opening in 2025.
• Crocker Park ice Rink – It does not appear to be opening in 2025.

RELATED: The Best Places to Go Ice Skating in Cleveland

9. Shop local at a holiday market or pop-up shop

There are usually several pop-up markets and shops in Cleveland that are only around during the holiday season. These are always an excellent option to get some holiday shopping done in a way that also supports local makers and businesses!

My favorite ongoing pop-up Christmas shop is Home for the Holidays, a pop-up shop in Lakewood filled with handmade gifts and goodies from local makers. You can shop in-store Tuesday-Sunday at 17106 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood), or shop online.

Find my full guide to Cleveland area Christmas markets and pop-up shops here. (There are lots of one-day holiday markets to visit this year!)

10. Drink up at a pop-up Christmas bar

Get ready to raise a cup of good cheer at one of the city’s pop-up Christmas bars this year! There are always a couple of these opening each holiday season. Some of my favorites include:

• Christmas Corner Bar – The Around the Corner Bar in Lakewood transforms for a few weeks each year into an over-the-top Christmas bar, with tons of decorations, a themed drink menu, and even Christmas karaoke. Follow on Facebook for info on hours.
• Miracle on 4th Street – Miracle is a national chain of pop-up Christmas bars, and this year it’s popping up for the season at Society Lounge on East 4th St. The cozy bar is decked out in holiday decorations and is serving up a tasty menu of festive cocktails. It’s set to open on November 17 this year.
• Xmas Bar – Taking over two floors of a building in the heart of The Flats, Xmas Bar is another excellent spot in Cleveland, and always has great themed drinks.

Be sure to check out our post on the best pop-up Christmas bars for more details on all of these and more – there are more than 20 Christmas bars around Cleveland this year!

READ MORE: Drink Up at These Christmas Pop Up Bars and Bar Crawls Around Cleveland

11. Enjoy Christmas decorations everywhere

Cleveland knows how to do holiday displays! Here are spots with holiday displays you can see for free:

• Lights, wreaths, and a Christmas tree at the Cleveland Arcade (you can also see the “Santas of the World Exhibit: Timeless Traditions, Modern Celebrations” in the Arcade through January 5)
• Decorations and interactive displays (like Bruce the Spruce) inside Tower City
• And of course the lights and tree in Public Square

I also always love the Christmas displays of holiday plants and decorations at Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, which are always at their best during the greenhouse’s annual poinsettia sale. (The greenhouse is free to visit, too!)

12. Go on a holiday walking tour

Local walking tour company Take a Hike runs a series of holiday-themed walking tours around Cleveland. The three tours on offer this year include “Holiday Historic Hotels Tour,” “Holiday Grand Department Stores Tour,” and “Holiday Little Italy Tour.”

Each tour is only offered a few times through December, so advanced booking is essential! Tours cost $33.85 per person, and come with an insulated tumbler filled with hot chocolate to sip during the tour. Read more about the tours and book tickets here.

BONUS: Have dinner in an igloo

There are several spots around Cleveland where you can rent out a private igloo for drinks or a meal – and some will be very festive feeling!

If you want to rent an igloo on a patio that’s also decked out in holiday cheer, then you want to head to Georgetown & Vosh in Lakewood, which has multiple decorated igloos on its twinkling patio. Igloos can be rented for two hours at a time.

Many local restaurants are installing these igloos again this year, so you have several different options! Read more about heated patios and igloos in Cleveland in this post.

Christmas beyond Cleveland

I feel like one of those people on an infomercial now… but wait, there’s more!

If you’re willing to drive a little ways outside of Cleveland, there are lots of other holiday-themed things to enjoy in northeast Ohio, too.

Winter favorites like the toboggan chutes in Strongsville and snow sports at Boston Mills and Brandywine are always on the table, of course, but Christmas-specific things you can do not far from Cleveland include:

1. North Pole Adventure in CVNP

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is already a pretty cool place to visit in the winter, but the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s North Pole Adventure is THE place to be around the holidays if you have kids. The train transforms for a few weeks each year, with cookies and hot chocolate on board, and a chance for kids to deliver letters to Santa. More info here.

(And remember, I’ve got a whole separate guide for Cleveland at Christmas with kids!)

2. Deck the Halls at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron celebrates the holidays with its annual Deck the Halls event, held on select nights November 28-December 30, 2025. The Manor House is always decked out in holiday decorations, and the gardens outside feature elaborate light displays.

3. Christmas at Hale Farm

The Western Reserve Historical Society celebrates the holidays with its popular holiday lantern tours of Hale Farm and Village in Bath, Ohio. Visitors can take a lantern-lit tour of the historical village and its cheery holiday scenes. Tours in 2025 run various dates in December. Reservations are required. More info here.

4. Castle Noel

Castle Noel in Medina bills itself as an “indoor year-round Christmas entertainment attraction,” but of course it’s always more fun to visit around the holidays. Inside, you’ll find animated Christmas windows, props and costumes from your favorite Christmas movies, plus interactive exhibits. Online reservations are required for tours in 2025.

READ NEXT: The Best Things to Do in Cleveland in Winter

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What are your favorite things to do in Cleveland at Christmas?

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