Fill your calendar this month with these family-friendly holiday events. For even more seasonal happenings, visit Northeast Ohio Parent’s event page at northeastohioparent.com/events.
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
Santa Express Train Rides. Ride the train to Santa’s Place, enjoy a group story, and have one-on-one time with Santa. Noon-5 p.m. through 12/18. Ohio Station Outlets, 9911 Avon Lake Road, Lodi, 330-948-1239, ohiostationoutlets.com
A Gingerbread Celebration. Enjoy a gingerbread adventure through the nature center with themed crafts and activities. Noon-5 p.m. through 12/18. Susan Hambley Nature Center, 1473 Parschen Blvd., Brunswick, 330-722-9364 medinacountyparks.com
Snack with Santa and the Animals. This holiday tradition includes animal encounters, visits with Santa, a variety of snacks, entertainment, and crafts. 3-5 p.m. through 12/18. Akron Zoo, 504 Euclid Ave., Akron, 330-375-2550, akronzoo.org
THROUGH 12/18
A Charlie Brown Christmas. The cherished holiday classic comes to life in the faithful adaptation of the animated television special. Friday, Saturday and Sunday showings. Magical Theatre Company, 565 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton, magicaltheatre.org
Fruitcakes – A Heartwarming Christmas Comedy. A hilarious celebration of small town life that will make you appreciate the true meaning of Christmas. Geauga Theater, 101 Water St., Chardon, 440-286-2255, geaugatheater.org
White Christmas – The Musical. Relive the days of yuletide yore with memorable music, a heartwarming story and a whole lot of throwback holiday cheer. Ewing Hall, 4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village, metroparks.cc
THROUGH 12/20
The Polar Express. Wear pajamas to hear a reading of The Polar Express on a journey to the North Pole. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, 800-468-4070, cvsr.com
THROUGH 12/23
Festival of Trees. Get into the spirit of the season with this beloved annual holiday tradition. Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, playhousesquare.org
THROUGH 12/31
Holidays at the Mansion. Visit this 28-room Victorian Mansion featuring a 40-tree winter wonderland. 1-4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 1-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Victorian House Museum, 400 Wooster Road, Millersburg, 330-674-0022, victorianhouse.org
Glow Winter Spectacular. Glow transports you to a world full of seasonal cheer, where all-new wonders and returning traditions await you. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org
12/2-3
Santa’s Secret Shop. Kids ages 12 and under can shop for presents for family and friends with the help of our elves. 5:30-8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Falls-Lenox Primary School, 26450 Bagley Road, Olmsted Falls, pack102.net
12/3
Breakfast with Santa. Hosted by Easter Seals of Northern Ohio. 8:30-10 a.m. 4296 Kent Road, Stow, 440-838-0990, eastersealsnoh.com
Christmas on the Canal. Stroll through the streets of historic downtown Canal Fulton, visit Santa, see an electric lights parade
and much more. 2-7 p.m. 125 Tuscarawas St., Canal Fulton, 330-854-6835, cityofcanalfulton-oh.gov
Lunch with Santa. This memorable holiday event includes lunch, decorating a holiday cookie, photo, crafts and games. 11 a.m-1 p.m. Quirk Cultural Center, 1201 Grant Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-971-8225, cityofcf.com
Holiday Mini Golf Open House. Story times, musical entertainment, refreshments served by elves and above all — mini golf in the stacks. 1-3 p.m. Avon Branch Library, 37485 Harvest Drive, Avon, 440-934-4743, lorainpubliclibrary.org
Decorate a Gingerbread House. Children 12 and younger decorate a graham cracker gingerbread house. 11 a.m-1 p.m. Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville,
440-352-3383, morleylibrary.org
Merry Grinchmas. Enjoy some Whoville activities and help the Grinch find the true meaning of Christmas. 1-2 p.m. Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., 440-255-8811, mentorpl.org
Pictures with Santa. Bring your camera and take pictures with Santa at the library. 10-11:30 a.m. North Canton Public Library, 185 N. Main St., 330-499-4712, ncantonlibrary.com
12/3-4
Ballet Theatre of Ohio presents “The Nutcracker.” This classic has become a treasured holiday tradition for families of all ages. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com
12/4
Breakfast with Santa. Plated menu of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. Coloring, cookie decorating and letters to Santa. 10 a.m. Wagner’s of Westlake, 30855 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, 440-871-8800, wagnersofwestlake.com
Hanukkah at Home Depot. Anshe Sfard, Beth El, and Temple Israel all come together for a special Hanukkah Program at Home Depot. Free and open to the community. 10 a.m.-noon. 4066 Medina Road, Fairlawn, 330-864-2105, jewishakron.org
Family Christmas Party. Holiday fun abounds with stories with the Youth Services staff and Santa Claus, plus a craft and music. 2-4 p.m. Chardon Library, 110 E. Park St., 440-285-7601, geaugalibrary.net
Cookies with Mr. Claus. Fun with Santa and the Mrs., holiday craft, and cookie decorating. 4-6 p.m. Romp n Stomp Activity Center, 900 Medina Road, Medina, 234-248-4405, rompnstompcenter.net
Paws and Claus Pet Parade. Walk the Holiday Lights trail with your favorite costumed four-footed friend. Santa will visit. 6:30-8 p.m. Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Road, Lagrange, metroparks.cc
Holiday CircleFest. A free annual Circle-wide celebration with activities, entertainment and a procession led by community lantern artists, illuminated dancers, and giant puppets. 1-5:30 p.m. The Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., 216-707-2483, clevelandart.org
Live Nativity on The Green. A live nativity with animals and characters. Noon-6:30 p.m. Clocktower Green, 27 E. Main St., Hudson, 330-653-8230, hudson.oh.us
Wildwood Cultural Center Holiday Display & Craft Show. Enjoy entertainment, and a fine arts and crafts. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wildwood Cultural Center & Park, 7645 Little Mountain Road, Mentor, 440-974-5735, cityofmentor.com
Pet Photos with Santa. Professional pet photos, refreshments, gift bags, vendors, casino games and more. Noon-4 p.m. Paws by the Lake, 33757 Lake Road, Avon Lake, loveastraydog.com
12/5
Holiday Bells. Members of the talented St. Bartholomew Bell Choir will perform traditional holiday music that the whole family will enjoy. 7-8 p.m. Middleburg Hts., Branch Library, 15600 E. Bagley Road, 440-234-3600, cuyahogalibrary.org
12/6-11
How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decided to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos. Connor Palace at Playhouse Square, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-771-4444, playhousesquare.org
12/7-10
Home for the Holidays. Voted a History Center most popular event with glorious Christmas trees, lavish Victorian decor, wreaths, ribbons, bows, Father Christmas and more. Lake History Center, 415 Riverside Road, Painesville, 440-639-2945, lakehistorycenter.org
12/9-11
White Christmas. Sister act Betty and Judy Haynes team up with singers Bob Wallace and Phil Davis to perform a Christmas show. Can the four of them bring a yuletide miracle by raising enough money to save General Waverly’s quaint country inn? Olmsted Performing Arts, 611 W. Bagley Road, Berea, 440-973-4363, olmstedperformingarts.com
12/10
Santa’s Wild Workshop in the Woods. Kids with sensory or developmental disabilities will make a toy, ride the Wildwood Express, see outdoor displays, visit with Santa, and decorate cookies. 2-4 p.m. Wildwood Cultural Center & Park, 7645 Little Mountain Road, Mentor, 440-974-5735, cityofmentor.com
Elf Academy. Join in the reindeer games and train to become a “Certified Elf” by completing several elf-ercises. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, 440-871-2600, westlakelibrary.org
Winter Holiday Pottery Gifts. Grades 2-4 enjoy painting a holiday pottery bowl with Hands On Pottery. It’s a perfect gift for someone you love or to keep for yourself. 11 a.m.-noon. Orange Branch Library, 31975 Chagrin Blvd., Pepper Pike, 216-831-4282, cuyahogalibrary.org
Kids in the Kitchen: Holiday Gifts. Make some very special and tasty holiday gifts at the library. 2-2:30 p.m. Twinsburg Public Library, 10050 Ravenna Road, 330-425-4268, twinsburglibrary.org
Ho Ho Ho Hiking with Santa and Buddy the Elf. Discover the wonders of the season on a magical hike. 12:30-2 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. The West Woods, 9465 Kinsman Road, Russell, 440-286-9516, geaguaparkdistrict.org
12/11
Pet Photo Night with Santa. Bring your four-legged family members to have their picture taken with the head elf himself – Santa Claus. 6:30-8 p.m. Summit Mall, 3265 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-867-6997, shopsummitmall.com
Chanukah Mitzvah Day. Pack lunches for the homeless, wrap presents, donate blood, and create vests and hats for others. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, 216-464-1330, fairmounttemple.org
12/13
Live Nativity Scene. Stop in anytime between 4:30 and 8 p.m. You can just drive through or park and mingle with the animals and participants. Stow-Glen Retirement Village, 4285 Kent Road, Stow, stowglen.com
Jingle Bell Jam. Jingle all the way to the Gallery for a holiday sing-along with Miss Misty and her guitar. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Avon Branch Library, 37485 Harvest Drive., Avon, 440-934-4743, lorainpubliclibrary.org
12/16
Homemade Gift Wrap. Learn easy techniques for making simple, homemade gift wrap from recycled and natural material. 10-11:30 a.m. Sand Run Metro Park, Mingo Lodge, 1501 Sand Run Pkwy., Akron, summitmetroparks.org
12/17
Breakfast with Santa at Merwin’s Wharf. There will be two seatings: 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 11:30-1:30 p.m. Call for reservations at 216-664-5696. 1785 Merwin Ave., Cleveland, clevelandmetroparks.com
12/18
Holiday Family Skate. Welcome the holiday season and spend quality time with your family at this fun event. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Mentor Civic Ice Arena, 8600 Munson Road, Mentor, cityofmentor.com
12/21
Christmas Roller Skating Party. Bring your family and friends for this Ho, Ho, Ho good time. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mentor Skateland, 5615 Andrews Lane, Mentor-on-the-Lake, mentorskateland.com
12/24
Christmas Eve Sunrise Hike. Come and enjoy a crisp, fresh and quiet morning walk through deep woods. 7:30-9 a.m. North Chagrin Reservation, 3037 SOM Center Road, Willoughby Hills, clevelandmetroparks.com
12/27
Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Eton. The event will commence at 5 p.m. with the lighting of the Menorah, followed by entertainment and refreshments inside the mall. 28699 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere, etonchagrinblvd.com
12/28
Friends of the Maltz Museum Hanukkah Candle Lighting. Children of all ages and backgrounds are invited to celebrate the Jewish festival of lights. 5-6 p.m. Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, 216-593-0575, maltzmuseum.org
