All season long, the Cleveland Public Library will offer free holiday entertainment for the entire family as its Main Library and the Louis Stokes Wing in downtown Cleveland, along with 27 neighborhood branch libraries, will transform into a winter wonderland.
Festivities kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 30, just in time for Winterfest. Children and adults are invited to hop aboard the Library’s Winterfest experience and check out the Toy Train Depot or get inspired in Imagination Station where families can get creative with crafts and stories. There’s also live reindeer, ice sculpting, and an opportunity to pose for a photo with Conductor Comet the Reindeer. Families also can celebrate around the world without ever leaving the city at the library’s Traditional Polish Holiday Program. Cookies and hot cider will be provided.
The star of Winterfest at Cleveland Public Library is world-renowned sock puppet Lamb Chop. Mallory Lewis, the daughter of the late puppeteer and ventriloquist Shari Lewis, will present “A Lamb Chop Celebration” at 3 p.m. in the auditorium of the Louis Stokes Wing. Lewis will honor her mother’s achievements over the last six decades through song and dance.
Schedule of Winterfest Activities at Cleveland Public Library
| 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Toy Train Depot | Louis Stokes Wing,
Lower Level |
| 1-3 p.m. | Live reindeer and ice sculpting | Eastman Reading Garden |
| 1-4 p.m. | Imagination Station | Main Library, 4th Floor |
| 1-5 p.m. | Conductor Comet the Reindeer | Louis Stokes Wing,
Lower Level |
| 1-2:30 p.m. | Traditional Polish holiday program | Main Library, 4th Floor |
| 2-3 p.m. | Cookies & hot cider | Louis Stokes Wing,
Indoor Reading Garden |
For more information and to register for “A Lamb Chop Celebration,” go to cpl.org/winterfest.
Can’t make it downtown? CPL is spreading holiday cheer throughout the city. On Thursday, December 5, the library is hosting its third annual Jolly Storytime Trolley at five branch locations: West Park, South, Hough, Memorial Nottingham and Union. Families will learn about the adventures in The Polar Express and revel in the holiday spirit through song while sipping on hot chocolate. Jolly Storytime Trolley will pick up every half hour at each branch library from 5-8 p.m. Registration is required for this activity.
Head over to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch on Sunday, December 8, from 1-5:30 p.m. to celebrate Holiday CircleFest in University Circle. The MLK Branch will have face-painting, balloon art, crafts and more for the entire family. Attendees will also enjoy the smooth sounds of Cleveland Native and Jazz Trumpeter Kamal Abdul-Alim.
The free fun for all doesn’t stop there. From gift wrapping to classic movies, the Library has something for everyone this holiday season. Check out what’s happening in your neighborhood library in the UpNext Winter Program Guide.
