Get into the holiday spirit with these early, festive happenings in the greater Cleveland and Akron area.
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
Santa Express Train Ride. Ride the train to Santa’s Place. After a group story, each child will have the opportunity for one-on-one time with Santa. Beginning 11/25. Noon-5 p.m. Ohio Station Outlets, 9911 Avon Lake Road, Burbank, ohiostationoutlets.com
NOVEMBER 2-3
Marketplace Holiday Gala. Let the festivities begin as Gervasi Vineyard kicks off the holiday season at The Marketplace’s annual Holiday Gala. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330-497-1000, gervasivineyard.com
NOVEMBER 4
Sunrise Farm’s Christmas Open House. Come see the cozy decorated barn, delight in a hayride, enjoy hot apple cider and gourmet goodies and shop from select fresh wreaths and greens. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 13115 Kinsman Road, Burton, 440-834-1298, destinationgeauga.com
NOVEMBER 11
Hershey Arts Fest. Start your Holiday shopping with a wide array of hand crafted items from more than 40 local artists and crafters. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Hershey Montessori School, 10229 Prouty Road, Concord, hershey-montessori.org
NOVEMBER 11-12
Nature Art Fest. Find one-of-a-kind, nature-inspired pieces for everyone on your holiday gift list. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 11/11 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 11/12. Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road, Wadsworth, 330-722-9364, medinacountyparks.com
NOVEMBER 11 THROUGH DECEMBER 21
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
NOVEMBER 12
Holiday Boutique and Craft Show. Merchants will be selling artistic jewelry, beaded serving pieces, handmade scarves, purses and more. Temple Emanu El, 4545 Brainard Road, Orange Village, 216-454-1300, teecleve.org
NOVEMBER 17-19
33rd Medina Candlelight Walk. Shops and restaurants of the nine-block Medina historic district will be open later into the evening to welcome local and visiting guests from around the region. Main Street Medina, mainstreetmedina.com
NOVEMBER 18
Holiday Ornaments. Get into the spirit of the season by making holiday ornaments from recycled books. 2 p.m. Bainbridge Branch Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, geaugalibrary.net
Winter Wonderland Craft Show. Raffle table, holiday tree silent auction, pictures with Santa, concessions. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Portage Learning Centers, 1945 Mogadore Road, Kent, portagelearningcenters.com
NOVEMBER 18 & 25
Elf Labs. Elf Labs is a fun and fanciful experience just for kids. A team of exuberant elves will escort your children through seven unique stations where they will experience the magic of Christmas. Castle Noel, 260 S. Court St., Medina, castlenoel.com
NOVEMBER 18-26
Holiday Tree Festival. Kick off the holiday season at this festival featuring more than 200 decorated trees, 85,000 strings of lights and countless other holiday creations. John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill St., Akron, 330-374-8900, akronchildrens.org/treefestival
NOVEMBER 19
Holiday Express. Choo, Choo! All aboard the MetroHealth Holiday Express Train. Noon-5 p.m. Crocker Park, 189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, crockerpark.com
NOVEMBER 21 THROUGH DECEMBER 23
A Christmas Carol: The Musical. Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghostly encounters come to life in this lavish and thrilling musical adaptation. Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron, 330-836-2626, weathervaneplayhouse.com
NOVEMBER 24-25
A Christmas Story. See the holiday classic on Canton’s largest movie screen at the Canton Palace Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Canton Palace Theater, 605 Market Ave. N., Canton, cantonpalacetheatre.org
NOVEMBER 24-26,DECEMBER 1-3, 7-23 & 26-30
Deck the Hall. Come see the estate illuminated inside and out with over one million lights with the Manor House interiors decorated to reflect the theme of Postcards from the Past. 5-8 p.m. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 330-863-5533, stanhywet.org
NOVEMBER 24 THROUGH DECEMBER 23
Country Lights. Live lighted trees deck the halls that lead to Santa’s Workshop and the Little Elf Corner. Take a wagon to see operating model trains, farm animals and Holiday Horses. 4:45-9 p.m. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, 440-256-2122, lakemetroparks.com
A Christmas Story. The record-breaking show returns to the CPH stage in all its pink-bunny-suit, glowing-leg-lamp, triple-dog-daring glory. Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1407 Euclid Ave., clevelandplayhouse.com
NOVEMBER 24 THROUGH DECEMBER 24
Scuba Claus & the Seas’N of Play. Activity stations illustrate how hula hoops, fish-cicles and other toys and treats help to keep the aquarium’s residents active and engaged. Guests are invited to try parallel sensory activities such as practicing their aim like an archerfish by spurting a stream of water at a moving target. See Scuba Claus dive in the 230,000-gallon shark tank and ask him questions while he visits a porcupine pufferfish, green moray eel, goliath grouper and other aquatic friends. Fridays through Sundays. Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, greaterclevelandaquarium.com
NOVEMBER 24 THROUGH DECEMBER 30
Wild Lights. Come enjoy more than 25 miles of lights and dozens of lighted displays throughout the zoo. Nearly the entire zoo is decorated and several animals will be out. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, 330-375-2550, akronzoo.org
NOVEMBER 25
Holiday Card Making. Get a jump on the holidays with handmade cards. Drop in to make cards for any holiday including birthdays or Christmas. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road, Wadsworth, 330-722-9364, medinacountyparks.com
Winterfest in Public Square. Take in the magic as you experience Downtown’s vibrancy through free horse and carriage rides, the tree-lighting ceremony at Public Square, a fireworks show and more. downtowncleveland.com
NOVEMBER 25 THROUGH DECEMBER 3
Ballet Theatre of Ohio presents “The Nutcracker.” This classic is a treasured holiday tradition for families of all ages. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com
NOVEMBER 26
Santa Nights at Lakeview. Visit Santa and celebrate the holiday season with hot chocolate, cookie decorating and crafts. Bring your camera to take a photo with Santa. 5-7 p.m. Lakeview Park, 1800 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, 440-245-1193, metroparks.cc
NOVEMBER 30 THROUGH DECEMBER 2
Home for the Holidays. Visions of sugarplums and other Christmas goodies will be dancing in your head as you walk through the Lake County History Center. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 415 Riverside Drive, Painesville Twp., lakehistory.org
DECEMBER 2
Light Up Lakewood. Free, family-friendly event on Detroit Avenue featuring a holiday parade, lighting ceremony, winter fireworks, live music, ice carvings and more.14701 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, lakewoodalive.com
DECEMBER 3
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
