Cleveland · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Cleveland
18 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Cleveland, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 5 are free.
Updated Oct 24. Every listing links to its organizer’s page.
Don’t miss
- Christmas
Through Jan 1
Tropical Holiday at Cleveland Botanical Garden
Cleveland Botanical Garden
From $15
- Nutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 4 · 3:00 PM
Nutcracker Extravaganza — Carnegie West Library
Cleveland Public Library Carnegie West Branch
FreeAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Through Dec 20
A Christmas Carol — Great Lakes Theater
Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
From $35All ages
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Tree lightings
Sat, Nov 21 · 4:00 PM
Crocker Park Tree Lighting
Crocker Park – Center Circle
- Santa visits
Sun, Nov 22 · 10:00 AM
Storytime with Santa at Cleveland Botanical Garden
Cleveland Botanical Garden
From $25
- Light displays
Fri, Nov 27 · 4:00 PM
Holiday Ice & Lights Festival at Farmpark
Lake Metroparks Farmpark
Paid
- Santa visits
Sat, Nov 28 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa at Farmpark
Lake Metroparks Farmpark
From $25
- Crafts and cookies
Sat, Nov 28 · 3:00 PM
Tropical Holiday Kids Craft Classes: Ornaments, Wreaths and Yeti Friends
Cleveland Botanical Garden
From $10Ages 5–12
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Nutcracker and shows
Tue, Dec 1 · 11:00 AM
Sensory-Friendly A Christmas Carol — Great Lakes Theater
Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
From $15
- Christmas
Wed, Dec 2 · 4:00 PM
Map & Compass Snowflake Scavenger Hunt
Trailside Program Center, Brecksville Reservation
FreeAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 4 · 3:00 PM
Nutcracker Extravaganza — Carnegie West Library
Cleveland Public Library Carnegie West Branch
FreeAll ages
- Light displays
Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM
Country Lights Drive-Thru at Farmpark
Lake Metroparks Farmpark
From $27.50
- Christmas
Fri, Dec 11 · 11:00 AM
Holiday Brass Quintet — Music Explorers for Ages 3-6
Severance Music Center (Mandel Concert Hall)
With admissionAges 3–6
- Nutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 11 · 7:00 PM
The Nutcracker — Cleveland Ballet at Connor Palace
Connor Palace, Playhouse Square
PaidAll ages
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Train rides
Sat, Dec 19 · 12:00 PM
A Blustery Day with the Polar Express — Memorial-Nottingham Library
Cleveland Public Library Memorial-Nottingham Branch
FreeAll ages
- Santa visits
Sun, Dec 20 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa at Cleveland Botanical Garden
Cleveland Botanical Garden
From $50
- Crafts and cookies
Tue, Dec 22 · 1:00 PM
Cookie Cabana: Holiday Cookie Decorating for Kids
Cleveland Botanical Garden
From $10Ages 5–10
- New Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:00 AM
Noon Year's Eve — Jefferson Library
Cleveland Public Library Jefferson Branch
FreeAll ages
- New Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:30 AM
Noon Years Eve Party — Fulton Library
Cleveland Public Library Fulton Branch
Free
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
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Quick answers
What free Christmas events are there for kids in Cleveland?
5 listed. Coming up:
- Map & Compass Snowflake Scavenger Hunt · Wed, Dec 2 · Trailside Program Center, Brecksville Reservation
- Nutcracker Extravaganza — Carnegie West Library · Fri, Dec 4 · Cleveland Public Library Carnegie West Branch
- A Blustery Day with the Polar Express — Memorial-Nottingham Library · Sat, Dec 19 · Cleveland Public Library Memorial-Nottingham Branch
- Noon Year's Eve — Jefferson Library · Thu, Dec 31 · Cleveland Public Library Jefferson Branch
For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Cleveland?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Cleveland listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 18 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Eastern Time.