26 Fun and Unique Things To Do In Cleveland This Winter

I’m going to make a bold statement: Winter is not that bad. There, I said it. I’m sure I will have a lot of people disagreeing with me but I stand by that statement. Winter is my least favorite season, but I’ve learned to embrace it and enjoy the things our city has to offer.

That said, I always forget to plan so by the time I hear about cool pop-up bars, remember there’s a toboggan in the park you can ride all season, or of all the awesome markets and events going on it’s usually too late. So, in efforts to not forget I’ve put together a curated list of Cleveland winter fun, enjoy!

Pop-Up Bars & Experiences

Such a novelty, such an Instagram trap, and you know what? I love it. Pop-Up bars have a unique ability to be super obnoxious with decor and overall ambiance because it’s only temporary. I’m excited to check out these fun looking pop-up bars this year!

Lake Effects Pop-Up Bar

By the time I heard about this pop-up bar last year, it was too late. We ate dinner at Parker’s Downtown on NYE and the bar was booked for a party. Well, I won’t be making that mistake this year! Lake Effects Pop-Up Bar is making a comeback for its second year and my Instagram account is eagerly anticipating all the holiday photos it will share.

Website | 2000 East 9th St at the corner of Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115
November 29-December 31, 2019. T-Th: 4 pm-12 am, F+Sa: 4pm-1am, S-10am-8pm, Closed M

Miracle on 4th Street

Society has major speakeasy vibes and is hosting a Miracle pop-up cocktail event. There’s all kinds of themed cocktails and even glassware. My favorite is the dinosaur! We may check this one out this year.

Website | 2063 E 4th St, Cleveland, OH 44115November 26 – December 31, 2019. M-Th 5 pm – 12 am, F 5 pm – 2 am, Sa 1 pm – 2 am, Su 1 pm – 12 am.

The Christmas Corner Bar

Another pop-up bar and this time in Lakewood, Ohio! The Christmas Bar is going on its third year and features holiday decor, Christmas Vacation trivia, music, Santa visits, ornament decorating… there’s even a blow-up Arctic Igloo Experience!

Website | 18616 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH 44107
November 22 – December 31, 2019. Varying hours, check the website.

Winter Wonder Cleveland

10 Interactive visual exhibits where you can take selfies, solve challenges, and even try out Olympic ice curling (this might convince my husband to go!). The site doesn’t give away too much, but I am a sucker for pop-up experiences.

Website | 5401 Hamilton Ave, Cleveland OH
December 2019-February 2020

Festivals, Lights, & Events

Twinkling lights, shimmering tinsel, decorated trees and more.

Festival of Trees

This event is FREE to the public and really cool to walk through. Several people and groups lavishly decorated trees throughout the Allen theater lobby. It’s fun to look at the trees and the theater is absolutely gorgeous, too.

Website | 1407 Euclid Ave, Allen Theater Lobby November 23-December 23, 2019. Tuesday-Friday: 5 – 11 pm | Saturday: 11 am- 11 pm | Sunday: 11 am – 10 pm, Closed Mondays

Winterfest Downtown Cleveland

There’s a lot going on at Winterfest. Ice Skating, you can tour the Soldiers and Sailors monument, horse and carriage rides, Higbee Window displays, food trucks, games, music, crafts and more. It looks like a fun way to spend a Saturday! Check out their website for a full schedule, there’s a lot!

Website | Public Square, Downtown Cleveland Ohio
Saturday, November 30, 2019. 1 pm – 7:30 pm

Uptown Winterfest

S’more’s making, ice sculptures, gingerbread decorating, live music, holiday characters, games and more.

Website | Toby’s Plaza, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland Ohio 44106
Friday, December 6th, 2019. 5 pm – 10 pm

Holiday Lights on Public Square

The Christmas tree and lights officially get turned on November 30th! Walk through a winter wonderland, ice skate, and more. I’m hoping the rainbow light arch comes back in 2019!

Website | 50 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113
Begins Saturday, November 30, 6 pm

Holiday Circlefest

University Circle’s museums come together for a variety of winter fun including ice skating, food trucks, holiday market, live music, parades, lights, crafts, and so much more. Check out the website for more details.

Website | University Circle area, Cleveland, Ohio
Sunday, December 8

Light Up Lakewood

Lots of holiday events scheduled from lunch with Santa, holiday markets, beer gardens, parades, performances and of course a lighting ceremony!

Website | Along Detroit Ave. between Marlowe and Arthur
Saturday, December 7, 4 pm – 8 pm

Wintertide at Gordon Square

This is a free event in Gordon Square full of arts, music, theater. Free Lolly the Trolly rides, and even firepits for s’ mores! Looks fun.

Website | Gordon Square Arcade
Saturday, December 14th, 30, 2 pm-6 pm

Catch a Christmas play at Playhouse Square

Did you know Cleveland’s Playhouse Square is the second-largest theater district in the country? That’s pretty cool. The theaters are gorgeous inside, and so many cool plays come through. Get the fam or friends together and catch a play this winter season! A few going on: A Christmas Story, A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, and White Christmas to name a few. I got some tickets to A Christmas Carol, can’t wait!

Website | 11030 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106
Saturday, November 23rd – Saturday, January 4th
Tuesdays, Wednesdays 10 am-6 pm | Thursdays, Fridays 10 am – 9 pm | Saturdays 10 am-6 pm | Sundays Noon-6 pm

Glow at Cleveland Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens gets all decked out for the holidays. Over 100 decorated gingerbread houses, a community decorated tree gallery, and much more. Tickets for adults are $15, kids $10.

Holiday Lights Tour with Lolly the Trolly

You can ride the trolly on two different holiday tours: The Silver Bells CLE Tour driving you through a variety of locations or the Christmas Story House tour which includes a visit to the famous Christmas house.

Website | 1101 Winslow Ave, Cleveland OH 44113
Dates and times range, check the website for details.

Brite Winter

This cool (literally, it’s in February outside!) festival is full of live music, art, and fun. It’s hard to say what the weather will be like, but even if it’s cold this will be a good time. They do have bonfires!

Website | Probably in the East Bank of the Flats
Saturday, February 22nd, 2020

Holiday Markets & Pop-Up Shops

Cleveland Flea Holiday Pop-Up & Mini Markets

Instead of doing a large market one or two weekends the Cleveland Flea is having several smaller markets in the new Van Aken District. Check the website for the vendor schedule.

Website | 3441 Tuttle Road, Shaker Heights, OH
November 12-December 24, 2019. T-Su 10 am – 6 pm, 8 pm Fri.

Give Gifted’s Holiday Marketplace

Hosted at Pinstripes in Pinecrest a day of shopping with local vendors. Tickets are $10 on Give Gifted’s website, link below.

Website | Pinstripes located at Pinecrest 200 Park Ave, Orange, OH 44122
Saturday, November 30th, 3 pm-8 pm

Cleveland Bazaar

Lots of unique vendors with a little something for everyone. The Bazaar will also have a pop-up shop happening along with Winterfest at the 5th Street Arcades November 30th from 10 am – 8 pm.

Website | 78th Street Studios 1300 West 78th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44102
Saturday, December 14th, 10 am-9 pm | Sunday, December 15th, 10 am-6 pm

Holiday Market at the Screw Factory

There is a huge list of vendors at this one, and with the date so close to Christmas it seems like the perfect last-minute holiday gift shop

Website | 13000 Athens Ave., Lakewood, Ohio 44107
Friday, December 20th 6 pm-10 pm | Saturday, December 21st 10 am-6 pm | Sunday, December 22nd 10 am-3 pm

Winter Fun & experiences

Ice Skating at Public Square

Skate downtown with the Christmas lights and Cleveland surrounding you.

Website | 16200 Valley Parkway Strongsville, OH 44136
Opens November 30th – February 28th
Tickets $10, $7 if you have your own skates

Tobogganing at the chalet in mill run

I’ve had this on my to-do list forever and every year I just forget but this year I am determined to ride the toboggan at The Chalet in Mill Stream Run Reservation. The 700-foot twin refrigerated ice chutes run with or without snow which gives you a lot of opportunities to visit as it isn’t that snowy these days. Tickets for adults are $12, kids under 11 $10 with one ride tickets costing $6.

Website | 16200 Valley Parkway Strongsville, OH 44136
Opening Day is Friday, November 29, 2019, and runs through December with a couple of 2020 dates.
Friday hours: 6 pm-10:30 pm| Saturday hours: 12 pm-10:30 pm | Sunday hours: 12 pm-5 pm.

Snowy Hike in the Metroparks

Cleveland is home to several beautiful Metroparks and one of my favorite things to do is to drive through them after a fresh snowfall. It’s magical, surreal, and just dreamy! Even better if you bring your boots and go walking through the fresh snow to get some incredible winter photos.

Ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

I’ve always wanted to do this! Rides end in November but pick back up in early 2020. I’m hoping to catch a ride on a snowy day so the train drives through the snow and it scatters everywhere.

Website | Rockside Station 7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio 44131. Akron station 27 Ridge Street, Akron, Ohio 44308
Hours and days of operation vary, visit the website for details.

Visit A Christmas Story House

Do you know the movie that plays on a 24-hour loop around the holidays? Yup, the one about Ralphies quest to get a toy gun for Christmas and not shoot his eye out? Well, you can visit the actual house from the movie! It’s in the Tremont neighborhood.

Website | 3159 W. 11th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44109
Hours and days of operation vary, visit the website for details.

Castle Noel

Over 40,000 feet of Christmas magic and fun! We tried to go last year but tickets were sold out when we wanted to go and while this is a year-round Christmas attraction I am only a Christmas person in December. That said, this place looks incredible and you’re definitely going to get amazing photos! There are old animated holiday window displays from NYC, Christmas movie props, the big red slide from A Christmas Story, a spinning blizzard vortex you can walk through, a chimney you can squeeze through to feel like Santa. There’s so many things I think a visit to the website to see the photos will help. It looks like a lot of fun and it’s indoors so a great time when it’s wintery outside.

Website | 260 South Court Street
Medina, Oh 44256
Hours and days of operation vary, visit the website for details. Adults $21, 12 and under $19.50, 3 and under free. Group rates and other discounts available.

Kris Kringle Inventionasium

So, this one looks like it’s geared towards families with small children but adults can come to have fun, too! Visit the North Pole and help Mr. and Mrs. Kringle and their elves get ready for Christmas with an immersive, hour-long experience through the Inventionasium workshop. Kids tickets include the toy they create, so cool!

Website | Tower City Center, 230 W. Huron Road, Cleveland
Now through December 24th. Tickets start at $24+

So there it is a handful of fun events, shopping, pop-ups, and activities to do over winter. This is just a small sample of what caught my eye, there is so much going on out there Cleveland! Enjoy the winter!

Did I miss an event you think looks awesome? Comment below and let me know!