Cleveland Winterfest - Cleveland Article

Held every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26, 2016), Winterfest has transformed from an evening tree-lighting ceremony into an all-day-long, family-friendly occasion.

While event activities will take place in several hotspots around downtown, in 2016, the center of Winterfest will return to the recently renovated Public Square.

The fun kicks off at 10am where you (and the kids) can head to Tower City Center for holiday shopping, rides on the Holiday Express Train and an energizing and colorful tour through the totally interactive Kringles’s Inventionasium. The fun continues at this downtown retail complex with the beloved live children’s performance of “The Toy Soldier, Fairy Godmother and Friends” at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.

Down the street, at the Historic Old Arcade, meet up to enjoy a Take a Hike Tour along famous Euclid Avenue. These unique walking tours introduce visitors to actors portraying some of Cleveland’s most notable historical figures.

At 1pm, the action gets going on Public Square, which will be home to the new Winterfest Village. Live children’s musical and theatrical performances will take place on an outdoor stage, food trucks will line the event space and a local, holiday pop-up shop will be available until 6:30pm.

Up the street at the Cleveland Public Library, enjoy free horse-drawn carriage rides and holiday events and performances inside the Euclid Avenue facility.

As the day progresses, be sure to check out the Keep It Local Cleveland holiday shopping market at the Global Center for Health Innovation; tours of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument; ice skating in Public Square; shopping and dining at the 5^th Street Arcades; cookies and cocoa at Old Stone Church; and all sorts of activities in the Warehouse District for the ever-popular Ohio State/Michigan football game.

Hop on a free RTA trolley to Playhouse Square where the activity continues under the glow of the huge outdoor chandelier that adorns Euclid Avenue. Inside the Idea Center, kids can partake in crafts and other age-appropriate holiday activities. Next door, check out the Festival of Trees inside the Allen Theatre, take a tour of the gorgeous Connor Palace Theatre and enjoy holiday shopping from the Cleveland Bazaar in the Ohio Theatre Lobby.

At night, the action returns to the Winterfest Village in Public Square. Get your spot to scope out the tree-lighting ceremony, performances by the Ohio City Singers and the Spazmatics and, of course, a fireworks presentation scheduled from 6 – 7:30pm.

For more information, visit http://www.downtowncleveland.com/events/winterfest.