13 events to attend for a holly-jolly good time in Northeast Ohio this holiday season
Do you hear that?
It's the sound of sleigh bells ringing, snowflakes softly falling and a slow-burning fire crackling in the fireplace.
It can only mean one thing: The holiday season has officially started in Northeast Ohio.
The region has so many traditional holiday festivities to see and do between now and the new year that it can be a bit overwhelming.
To help narrow down your choices, here's a list of some of the most beloved holiday traditions to experience in the region before time runs out.
Akron Zoo's Wild Lights
The Akron Zoo will come to life with nighttime lights and displays at this holiday season.
Oh yeah, and the zoo's residents will be in attendance, too.
The zoo will be open on select evenings through the holidays. The scheduled dates for Wild Lights are Nov. 24-29, Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-23 and 26-29.
More info: Akron Zoo sets dates and times for its holiday Wild Lights festivities
The hours are 5-9 p.m., and the event is sponsored by Akron Children’s Hospital.
Discounted tickets for the zoo's Wild Lights can be purchased ahead of time at akronzoo.org/wild-lights. Advance tickets cost $15 for adults, $11 for children and $3 for the parking and shuttle fee. This year, tickets are also available at the gate. They are $18 for adults, $14 for children and a $5 for parking and shuttle fee. Children ages 2 and under are free.
Wild Winter Lights at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
More than a million lights will illuminate Cleveland Metroparks Zoo this holiday season.
Holiday-themed displays on the zoo's grounds include the Enchanted Forest and Santa's Workshop, where guests can take pictures with Santa Clause.
There will also be two dynamic light shows — a first for the event — including a 50-foot tree and a show on Waterfowl Lake.
Visitors have the option to walk through the displays or drive through on select dates during the Wild Winter Lights Drive Through Experience, supported by community partners CrossCountry Mortgage, Meijer, MetroHealth and Serpentini Chevrolet.
Walk-through dates are Nov. 16-19, 22, 24-26, 30, and Dec. 1-3, 7-10, 14-23, 26-29. Drive-through dates are Nov. 14-15, 21, 28-29, and Dec. 5-6, 11-13.
The hours are 5:30-10:30 p.m., and the event is presented by NOPEC. Individual and four-pack groupings for tickets are available for purchase. For more information, visit clevelandmetroparks.com.
Holiday Music concerts by The Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is one of the top orchestras in the nation and delivers a series of holiday concerts each season in Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center.
This year, its holiday concerts will include the Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus, Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus Chamber Ensemble, Wooster Chorus of The College of Wooster and Cleveland State University Chorale on select dates. All concert dates are Dec. 13-17 and 21-23. Single ticket pricing starts at $49. More information at clevelandorchestra.com.
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Ice skating in Akron, Cuyahoga Falls
Nothing says happy holidays like ice skating while drinking a tall mug of hot chocolate.
The ice rink in Cuyahoga Falls opens for skating on Nov. 25. Admission is free and skate rental is $5.
Visit cityofcf.com/places/ice-skating-rink for complete ice rink hours and more information.
And in Akron, the Huntington Ice Skating Rink, billed as Ohio’s largest outdoor seasonal ice-skating rink, returns to downtown Akron the day after Thanksgiving.
Ice skating in Akron: WinterBlast brings ice skating, ice bumper cars, Santa and more back to downtown Akron
The rink has been moved to the area between the State Street bridge and Canal Park Stadium temporarily because of construction at Lock 3 park.
Ice skating hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays from Nov. 24 through Feb. 19.
Ice skating is $5 and includes rental or $3 if you bring your own skates.
For more information or to make a reservation for the other attractions, visit lock3live.com.
Holiday pop-up bars in greater Akron, Cleveland
Raise a cup of holiday cheer at one of the many holiday pop-up bars that emerge annually in Northeast Ohio.
The key word is "festive" when it comes to the holiday décor and specialty drinks that local bars and restaurants have come up with. Here are the merry and bright spots that have popped up in years past to check out this season.
The Christmas Corner Bar; 18616 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
Miracle on 4th Street at Society Lounge; 2063 E. 4th St., Cleveland
Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Pop Up at Tiki Underground; 1832 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
Blitzen's pop-up bar at Hudson's Restaurant; 80 N. Main St., Hudson
Winter Wonderland PLX Pop Up Bar at The Upper Deck; 357 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron
The Reindeer Room at the President's Lounge; 341 Darrow Road, Akron
Welcome Santa Parade in Akron
The 36th Annual Welcome Santa Holiday Parade will take place Nov. 24 in downtown Akron. For the second time in the parade’s 36-year history, it will take place at night, stepping off at 6 p.m.
This is an illuminated Welcome Santa Holiday Parade, with community groups, arts and cultural organizations, marching bands, drum lines, and businesses participating with lighted floats, vehicles and costumes.
The parade will step off on South Main Street at Cedar Street and will travel north a half mile on South Main Street, ending at Bowery Street. Immediately following the parade, the city will host Lock 3’s annual tree lighting ceremony and fireworks, courtesy of the Downtown Akron Partnership.
Nativity scenes in Akron
Akron is home to one of only two replicas in the country that re-creates the cave where Jesus is said to have been born just as it appears in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
The Nativity of the Lord Jesus Catholic Church on Myersville Road is home to the Bethlehem Cave along with a Nativity Museum that has more than 500 Nativity scenes from all over the world.
The cave and museum in Springfield Township as open for tours by appointment. You can call 330-699-5086 or email tours@nativityofthelord.org to arrange a time to visit.
Visit America's biggest Christmas museum in Medina
A museum filled with Christmas movie props and a collection of celebrated holiday window displays from New York department stores has called Medina home for the last 11 years.
Last year, Castle Noel even added the “Enchanted I Had That Toyland Experience” to its collection in celebration of its 10-year anniversary. The exhibit features rare and not-so-rare toys, and many of the toys come to life — from a Furby and spaceships to even a game or two.
Medina's Christmas museum: It’s Christmas 365 days a year at Castle Noel in Medina
With a little help from Hollywood, the museum even has a full setup from the NBC holiday special “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas” along with some props and one of the Buddy puppets used in the production.
Not quite Christmassy enough for you? It also has the giant Naughty or Nice globe from the Santa Clause movies right beside the equally ginormous sleigh Jim Carrey rode in the “Grinch” movie.
The museum is super popular this time of year, so it is best to check its website castlenoel.com for available tour slots.
Akron's historic Stan Hywet hosts Deck the Halls
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is a popular destination in Akron during the holidays.
The Manor House, the largest historic home in Ohio, is decorated from floor to ceiling.
And the gardens at the estate of one of the Goodyear Tire founders come to life at night under the glow of 1.2 million lights.
Deck the Halls is open from 3-9 p.m. on Nov. 25-27, Dec. 1-4, Dec. 8-23 and Dec. 26-30. The last guests are allowed to enter the grounds at 8 p.m.
Tickets must be purchased in advance at stanhywet.org.
Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes in Akron
Have you ever wanted to see inside some of Akron's historic homes? Now's your chance to see them in all their holiday glory.
The Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes will be available both in person and virtually. Live tour tickets include a self-guided tour of five decorated homes in Greater Akron noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 3, while the virtual tour includes a video tour of seven homes that can be viewed as many times as you'd like Dec. 9-10.
Among the homes featured this year include a 1939 Federal-style Merriman Heights home built by Roy Firestone, a 1952 Fairlawn Heights Cape Cod featuring custom mural rooms, a 1922 Good & Wagner-designed Tudor in West Akron with a spiral staircase, an updated 1928 French Tudor Revival in Merriman Heights also designed by Roy Firestone and a 1953 modernized Cape Cod in Highland Square.
Tickets for either the live or virtual tour are $35 and $60 for both tours.
Visit sugarplumtour.org for more information.
Case-Barlow Farm in Hudson
Case-Barlow Farm in Hudson will play host to a variety of events in December.
The historic site plans to have Christmas Tea for Adults on Dec. 1.
A Gingerbread Tea for Children will be Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.
The Tour of Trees Open Houses featuring 50 decorated trees will begin Dec. 8 with various dates and special themed days planned, including visits by Anna, Elsa and Olaf.
For more information and a listing of the planned events, visit casebarlow.com.
Hale Farm & Village Holiday Lantern Tours
You can take a holiday stroll and soak in some history at the same time.
The Holiday Lantern Tours are back at Hale Farm & Village in Bath Township.
Visitors will depart on a lantern-led tour of the grounds and historic village and interact with residents as they prepare for the holidays in the 1840s.
Tour dates are Dec. 2-3, 8-10, 15-17 and 20-23.
Advance reservations are required and can be made by visiting wrhs.org.
Stadium Park holiday light display and Holly Pine Lane
The Stadium Park light display and Holly Pine Lane helped kick off the holiday season in November.
A popular local tradition, the holiday light display is celebrating its 23rd year at Stadium Park. Holly Pine Lane is a free holiday event inside the Canton Garden Center, coinciding with the light-up event.
Here comes Santa: Stadium Park holiday light display and Holly Pine Lane open Thursday
Stadium Park features holiday displays posted along Stadium Park Drive NW, allowing a drive-thru experience.
Holly Pine Lane at the Canton Garden Center features Santa and decorated Christmas trees, as well as indoor lighting displays and children's activities.
Displays will be illuminated from 5 to 11 p.m. through Jan. 7.
Got a story recommendation? Contact Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com and on Twitter @TawneyBeans. And follow her adventures on TikTok @akronbeaconjournal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Top 13 Christmas, holiday events to check out in Akron area
