“‘Twas the Night Before” by Cirque Du Soleil
Cirque Du Soleil’s first Christmas show comes to Playhouse Square, taking the audience to a magical realm inspired by the famous poem, where acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and tricksters await. Tickets $35-$130. 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Through Dec. 15. DETAILS
Deck the Hall at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
The holidays are the best time to visit this historic estate in Akron as 1.4 million twinkling lights illuminate the scenic gardens while the manor house is decorated in stunning holiday fashion. Don’t forget the hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies, too. Tickets $9-$24. 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. Through Dec. 30. DETAILS
Frost at Cleveland Botanical Garden
Cleveland Botanical Garden is transformed into a captivating frosty haven with sparkling light installations and beautiful botanical displays across a dozen indoor and outdoor rooms. Tickets $14-$26. 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland. Through Jan. 5, 2025. DETAILS
Magic of Lights
Enjoy this drive-through lights experience from the comfort of your vehicle as the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds is turned into a holiday wonderland. Disembark at the Jolly Holiday Village for a photo with Santa, ice skating, bounce house and more fun. Admission $23-$50 per vehicle. 19201 Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights. Through Jan. 4, 2025. DETAILS
House from A Christmas Story
One of Cleveland’s most popular tourist attractions, the Tremont house used in the movie has been meticulously restored to its on-screen glory. Across the street, a museum showcases original props, costumes and memorabilia, while the gift shop sells leg lamps of all shapes and sizes. Admission $20. 3159 W. 11th St, Cleveland. Tours daily except on Christmas and New Year’s Day. DETAILS
Wild Lights at Akron Zoo
This annual event features a new look with over one million shimmering lights, plus warm beverages and appearances by Santa Claus and the Grinch. For an added fee, Wild Lights Safari Tours include a 45-minute staff-led tour on a golf cart, light-up necklace and s’mores kit. Admission $8-$24. 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron. Through Dec. 30. DETAILS
Winter Toyland at Cleveland History Center
The centerpiece of the Cleveland History Center’s holiday experience is “HollyDays,” a winter village created by Dennis Hoert that features over 350 miniature buildings, nine trains and scenes depicting Macy’s Parade, Lake Erie and more. Admission $8-$15. 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland. Through Jan. 12, 2025. DETAILS
Breakfast with Santa at Lake Metroparks Farmpark
Enjoy a classic breakfast as Santa and Mrs. Claus visit your table. Then head to Santa’s sleigh to pick up a wooden toy kit or explore Farmpark attractions such as wagon rides, encounters with farm animals and more. Tickets $5-$25. 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland. Weekends through Dec. 22. DETAILS
Kringle’s Inventionasium Experience
This immersive experience at Tower City Center lets kids tour Mr. Kringle’s top-secret inventing laboratory and help create toys. Each visit concludes with a private audience with Santa himself. Tickets start at $35. 230 W. Huron Rd., Cleveland. Through Dec. 24. DETAILS
Christmas Around the World at Crushers Stadium
Celebrate global holiday traditions at Lake Erie Crushers Stadium in Avon. Highlights include international foods, live music, character appearances, vendor booths, a 150-foot snow tube hill, a mini-golf course, fireworks and more. Tickets start at $16. 2009 Baseball Blvd., Avon. Through Jan. 4. DETAILS
Tobogganing at the Chalet
Feel the thrill of winter at Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, whooshing down a 700-foot refrigerated ice chute on a classic toboggan. Tickets $13-$15. Reservations required. 16200 Valley Parkway, Strongsville. Through Feb. 23 (weather permitting). DETAILS
Christkindlmarkt at Sanctuary on Green
Experience the ambiance of European Christmas markets at Koehn Sculptors’ Sanctuary on Green. This unique shopping village specializes in unique gifts like nutcrackers, ornaments, handmade jewelry, linens and leather goods. Free. 1936 S. Green Rd., South Euclid. Through Dec. 27. DETAILS
Country Lights Drive-Thru
Drive through Lake Metroparks Farmpark’s winding roadways and immerse yourself in a yuletide landscape illuminated by over 300,000 twinkling lights. Admission $27.50 per car. 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland. Through Dec. 29. DETAILS
Apollo’s Fire presents “Wassail!”
Cleveland’s baroque orchestra invites you to celebrate an Irish-Appalachian Christmas at this spellbinding concert full of music, dancing and storytelling. Tickets $10-$83. Dec. 7, Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Center, 400 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls. Dec. 8, Avon Performing Arts Center, 37545 Detroit Rd., Avon. DETAILS
“A Christmas Carol: The Musical”
Boom! Theater presents the Broadway adaptation of this Dickens’ classic. Tickets $25. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 7 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays & 2 p.m., Sundays through Dec. 22. DETAILS
“Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet”
This international production of the Christmas favorite at Cleveland Public Auditorium blends classical ballet with avant-garde circus techniques. You’ve never seen “The Nutcracker” quite like this before. Tickets start at $26. 500 Lakeside Ave E., Cleveland. 3 p.m., Dec. 7. DETAILS
“Annie”
Broadway classic returns to Northeast Ohio. Tickets $22 for adults, $17 for students and seniors. Cassidy Theatre, 6200 Pearl Rd., Parma Heights. Now through Dec. 22. DETAILS
“Matilda: The Musical”
The Fine Arts Association presents this musical based on the book by Roald Dahl. December 15 show is a sensory-friendly performance. Tickets $29 adults, $27 for students and seniors and $19 for children 10 & under. Corning Auditorium, 38660 Mentor Ave., Willoughby. Now through Dec. 22. DETAILS
“The Sound of Music”
Rogers & Hammerstein classic has returned to the Chagrin Valley Little Theater for the first time in decades. Tickets $23, $20 for students, seniors and military. 40 River St., Chagrin Falls. Through Dec. 15. DETAILS
“Scrooge!”
Timeless adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic wraps up its run at Near West Theatre this weekend. Tickets $20. Pay What You Choose ticketing available. 6702 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5 - 7; 2 p.m., Dec. 8. DETAILS
“The Black Rose Xperience”
Featuring music from Church of Starry Wisdom, this multimedia event combines theatrical rock with an immersive cinematic narrative. Tickets $50. Reserved tables and General Admission “choose what you pay” options also available. Gordon Square Theater, 6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 6-8. DETAILS
North Pointe Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
This production of the holiday classic is unique, integrating live narration with the dazzling choreography, thrilling theatrical elements, larger-than-life sets and colorful costumes. Tickets $22-$26. There is a 2 p.m. sensory-friendly performance on Dec. 7. Berea-Midpark High School Performing Arts Center,165 E. Bagley Rd., Berea. 7 p.m., Dec. 6 & 7; 2 p.m., Dec. 8. DETAILS
“Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley”
Clague Playhouse presents A sequel to Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” set two years after the novel ends with a focus on middle sister Mary. Tickets $21, $20 for seniors and $13 for students with valid ID. 1371 Clague Rd., Westlake. 8 p.m., Dec. 6-7; 2 p.m., Dec. 8. DETAILS
‘Tis the Season Craft and Vendor Show
Take care of some holiday shopping as you browse through more than 60 local small business owners wares featuring home goods, jewelry, crafts and much more. Admission is free. Lorain County Community College, 1005 N. Abbe Road, Elyria. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Dec. 7-8. DETAILS
Holiday Art Show
Artists at the Twists invites guests to its 36th annual show featuring the works of more than 50 artists in different mediums.
Twist Drill Building, 1242 E. 49th St., Cleveland 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Dec. 7. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Dec. 8. DETAILS
Sip & Shop Holiday Market
Browse more than 30 local vendors while enjoying holiday music, food and drink. Admission and parking are free. One Club Dr., Highland Heights
10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Dec. 7. DETAILS
E.J. Thomas Christmas Arts & Crafts Show
Find unique gifts at E.J. Thomas Hall at the University of Akron. Now in its 44th year, this annual show features the work of 110 talented professional artists and craftspeople, primarily from the local area. Admission $5. 198 Hill St., Akron. Dec. 6-8. DETAILS
Castle Noel
America’s largest year-round indoor Christmas attraction decks the halls everyday with enchanting displays, including props and costumes from beloved holiday movies, animated window scenes from iconic New York City department stores and the slide from “A Christmas Story.” It even snows inside! Admission $23.95-$29.95. Reservations required. 260 S. Court St., Medina. Open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. through holidays except closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day). DETAILS
Mood Swing
Curated by Marcella Hackbardt, “Mood Swing” finds artists questioning notions of power, race, colonialism, social cruelty, reproduction through visually striking work that celebrates cultural diversity and fosters an inclusive audience. Running through Jan. 10. The Sculpture Center, 1834 E. 123rd St., Cleveland. DETAILS
Rose B. Simpson: Strata
Inspired by time spent in Cleveland, “the architecture of the museum, the possibility of the space, tumbled stones from the shores of Lake Erie,” Indigenous heritage and the landscape of her ancestral homelands of Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, Simpson’s figural sculpture is on offer beginning this week. Through April 12. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. DETAILS
'Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford’s Mustang'
The Crawford-Auto Aviation Museum is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic Mustang automobile with a new exhibit. Titled “Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford’s Mustang,” it features 20 examples of the Mustang, from the little coupe launched by Lee Iacocca to the 2024 Dark Horse and it’s 500-horsepower Coyote V-8 engine. Tickets $10 to $15. Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland. Through May 2025. DETAILS
Western Reserve Historical Society Doll show
Cleveland History Center's new exhibit, “All Dolled Up: 200 Years of Dolls and Miniatures,” presents the museum’s collection of dolls, doll houses, miniatures, and toys. WRHS members are free. All others included with general admission. Through August 2025. 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland. DETAILS
GLOW: Neon and Light
GLOW: Neon & Light premiered at the end of September at Akron Art Museum’s Arnstein Galleries and runs through early February. The sculptural exhibit uses glass, neon tubes, light bulbs and more for an immersive experience. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. Through February 9. DETAILS
