5 Things To Do in Cleveland Over the Holidays

By Laurel Wilson

Posted On: Dec 16, 2025

From The Arcade decked out for the holidays to dazzling light displays, there are so many activities that you can check off your Holidays in Ohio bucket list during a visit to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio!

We put together 5 exciting events and activities happening before the end of the year for couples, families, and friends, as well as 5 holiday activities you can enjoy for free!

Severance Music Hall in Cleveland 

Ohio Holiday Activities For Couples

1. Indulge in the Feast of the Seven Fishes at Patron Saint Cafe in Cleveland from December 15-19 (no reservation needed).

2. Attend a festive Holiday Concert at Severance by The Cleveland Orchestra from December 17-21.

3. Take in the 1.4 million lights at Deck the Hall at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron now through December 23 and December 26-30.

4. Get fancy with a Holiday Tea at The Ritz-Carlton Cleveland on December 27.

5. Take a Holiday Baking Class at Buttercream and Olive Oil in North Royalton. There are multiple dates through January 2026.

Around the Corner in Lakewood 

Ohio Holiday Activities For Friends

1. Find local gems while Holiday Shopping at The Screw Factory in Lakewood on December 19, 20, and 21.

2. Have a girl’s day at a Ho-Ho-Ho Brunch Babes at Around the Corner in Lakewood on December 21 and 28.

3. Fans of Seinfeld will love attending Festivus at Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland on December 23.

4. Join in for a special Oyster Monday event, Gin on the Half Shell, at Patron Saint Cafe in Cleveland on December 29 (no reservation needed).

5. Find your way out of The Naughty List Escape Room at Perplexity Games in Cleveland. Multiple dates through the end of the year are available.

Wild Winter Lights at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Ohio Holiday Activities For Families

1. Attend a Holiday Show at Playhouse Square in Cleveland (The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, and A Christmas Story) from December 17-21.

2. Tap into your imaginations during this exciting experience at Kringle’s Inventionasium inside Cleveland’s Tower City through December 24.

3. See an amazing display at the Country Lights Drive-thru at Lake Metroparks in Kirtland, Friday-Sunday until December 28.

4. Drive or walk through the epic Wild Winter Lights display at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. There are multiple dates through December 30 and it’s part of the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail.

5. Experience the magic of Frost at Cleveland Botanical Garden through January 4, 2026.

Photo credit: Puritas Nursery & Garden Center, Facebook

Ohio Holiday Activities To Do For Free

1. Take part in a magical Sleigh Ride in Kamm’s Corners in Cleveland on Friday, December 19 from 6-8PM.

2. Meet Bruce the Spruce and explore his Forest inside Cleveland’s Tower City through December 21.

3. Get crafty at a Holiday Pop-Up! Open Studio at the Cleveland Museum of Art on December 27 and 28.

4. Visit Puritas Nursery in Cleveland for their Holiday Train Display through December 31.

5. Experience Life Size Candy Land at Penitentiary Glen Reservation in Kirtland through January 4, 2026 (closed Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve at 12PM, and New Year’s Day).

The Arcade in Cleveland

With all of the magic of the holidays in Northeast Ohio, there’s something for every age and budget to enjoy!

For more things to do this #HolidaysinOhio, check out #OhioTheHeartofitAll at Ohio.org.