Sat 11/25 @ noon-10PM
Cleveland officially launches its holiday season on Thanksgiving weekend with a festive downtown even now dubbed WinterLand.
Events start as early as 10am when the Cleveland Bazaar its up its makers and vendors in the 5th Street Arcades, where they’ll be selling distinctive items, many handmade, until 7pm.
The downtown branch of the Cleveland Public Library starts hopping early too with live music starting at 11:30am, live reindeer on view from 1-3pm, a performance by the City Ballet o Cleveland in the auditorium from 3-4:15pm, and — most important of all — face painting @ 3-4:30. The Public Square rink is open for skating from noon-10pm. And there’ll be activities in Tower City from noon-7pm.
Drag the kids away from the face painter and head for the main stage on Public Square at 4pm when the big event starts. There’ll be live music from Apostle Jones, one of Cleveland’s hottest (and busiest) bands, and Josiah Roger, followed by the tree lighting at 6pm. There’ll probably be some speeches by local politician and civic leaders too, but grin it and bear it: immediately after the tree lighting — fireworks!!!
It’s all free.