# Christmas and holiday events for kids in Cleveland > 18 Christmas, Hanukkah and holiday events and programs for kids in the Cleveland area through New Year’s Day, each linked to the organizer’s own page with the date we last checked it. Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/christmas Towns with listings: Cleveland (13), Kirtland (3), Brecksville (1), Westlake (1). ## Quick answers ### What free Christmas events are there for kids in Cleveland? 5 listings, the soonest 4: [Map & Compass Snowflake Scavenger Hunt](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/map-and-compass-snowflake-scavenger-hunt--listing-27f8db17efeb89bb510f32e4) (Wed, Dec 2, Free); [Nutcracker Extravaganza — Carnegie West Library](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/nutcracker-extravaganza-carnegie-west-library--listing-37064b51dddb22dd286e2dad) (Fri, Dec 4, Free); [A Blustery Day with the Polar Express — Memorial-Nottingham Library](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/a-blustery-day-with-the-polar-express-memorial-nottingham-library--listing-68cb6d29f95e5a7013cfc8dc) (Sat, Dec 19, Free); [Noon Year's Eve — Jefferson Library](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/noon-year-s-eve-jefferson-library--listing-029b30e136220bd0587b14e6) (Thu, Dec 31, Free). ## Dated events ### Cleveland (13) - [Tropical Holiday at Cleveland Botanical Garden](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/tropical-holiday-at-cleveland-botanical-garden--listing-353eed2323485befd77f1837) — Nov 21 – Jan 3 · Cleveland Botanical Garden · From $15 · checked Oct 24. Cleveland Botanical Garden's new holiday show swaps snow for the tropics. Indoor and outdoor holiday lights run through the gardens, the glasshouses host island-inspired… - [Storytime with Santa at Cleveland Botanical Garden](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/storytime-with-santa-at-cleveland-botanical-garden--listing-5b977077bccdbb274a75c8d2) — Sun, Nov 22 (+3 more dates) · 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · Cleveland Botanical Garden · From $25 · checked Oct 24. A Sunday-morning holiday storytime at the Botanical Garden with a winter story, a holiday craft, cocoa and cookies, and time for photos with Santa. Afterwards families can walk… - [A Christmas Carol — Great Lakes Theater](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/a-christmas-carol-great-lakes-theater--listing-cf758f7de1ef69f17df0c71e) — Nov 27 – Dec 20 · Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square · All ages · From $35 · checked Oct 24. Great Lakes Theater's long-running Dickens adaptation at the Mimi Ohio Theatre, framed by Mother Cleaveland reading the story to her family as her youngest child imagines it… - [Tropical Holiday Kids Craft Classes: Ornaments, Wreaths and Yeti Friends](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/tropical-holiday-kids-craft-classes-ornaments-wreaths-and-yeti-friends--listing-d16402c5ce4068b419f54fac) — Sat, Nov 28 (+6 more dates) · 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Cleveland Botanical Garden · Ages 5–12 · From $10 · checked Oct 24. One-hour holiday craft classes for children during Tropical Holiday. In Nature Ornaments each child makes three ornaments from clay, dried botanicals, pinecones and spices; in… - [Sensory-Friendly A Christmas Carol — Great Lakes Theater](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/sensory-friendly-a-christmas-carol-great-lakes-theater--listing-d2b0f05a8400ac0fe09a6a4e) — Tue, Dec 1 · 11:00 AM – 12:45 PM · Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square · From $15 · checked Oct 24. A relaxed performance of Great Lakes Theater's A Christmas Carol for children and adults on the autism spectrum, their families, and anyone who needs a supportive audience… - [Nutcracker Extravaganza — Carnegie West Library](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/nutcracker-extravaganza-carnegie-west-library--listing-37064b51dddb22dd286e2dad) — Fri, Dec 4 · 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM · Cleveland Public Library Carnegie West Branch · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. A holiday afternoon at the Carnegie West branch on Fulton Road. Children make holiday crafts from 3 p.m., Dance Arts by Regina performs excerpts from The Nutcracker at 4 p.m… - [Holiday Brass Quintet — Music Explorers for Ages 3-6](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/holiday-brass-quintet-music-explorers-for-ages-3-6--listing-b2541299e9375423e05b6fc3) — Fri, Dec 11 (+1 more date) · 11:00 AM · Severance Music Center (Mandel Concert Hall) · Ages 3–6 · With admission · checked Oct 24. A short, hands-on holiday concert in The Cleveland Orchestra's Music Explorers series for children ages 3 to 6. A brass quintet of orchestra musicians (Michael Miller, Lyle… - [The Nutcracker — Cleveland Ballet at Connor Palace](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/the-nutcracker-cleveland-ballet-at-connor-palace--listing-c8c6fe7d4fa32140bea86cc0) — Fri, Dec 11 (+6 more dates) · 7:00 PM · Connor Palace, Playhouse Square · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 24. Cleveland Ballet's full two-act Nutcracker returns to the Connor Palace at Playhouse Square, set to Tchaikovsky's score and based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's story. Clara's gift of a… - [A Blustery Day with the Polar Express — Memorial-Nottingham Library](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/a-blustery-day-with-the-polar-express-memorial-nottingham-library--listing-68cb6d29f95e5a7013cfc8dc) — Sat, Dec 19 · 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM · Cleveland Public Library Memorial-Nottingham Branch · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. The Memorial-Nottingham branch's annual reading of Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express. Families are invited to come with antlers and silver bells, sip hot chocolate, make… - [Breakfast with Santa at Cleveland Botanical Garden](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/breakfast-with-santa-at-cleveland-botanical-garden--listing-7791f3864b41a283fc8d7cd6) — Sun, Dec 20 · 9:00 AM · Cleveland Botanical Garden · From $50 · checked Oct 24. A seated holiday breakfast at Cleveland Botanical Garden followed by a visit with Santa for a photo and a chance to share wish lists. The menu lists baked French toast with Ohio… - [Cookie Cabana: Holiday Cookie Decorating for Kids](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/cookie-cabana-holiday-cookie-decorating-for-kids--listing-8b4a4ef39c43956c4e2f589b) — Tue, Dec 22 (+2 more dates) · 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Cleveland Botanical Garden · Ages 5–10 · From $10 · checked Oct 24. A one-hour winter-break class at Cleveland Botanical Garden where each child decorates three holiday cookies with colorful icing and sprinkles to take home. Suggested for ages 5… - [Noon Year's Eve — Jefferson Library](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/noon-year-s-eve-jefferson-library--listing-029b30e136220bd0587b14e6) — Thu, Dec 31 · 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Cleveland Public Library Jefferson Branch · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. A family New Year's celebration timed for little ones at Cleveland Public Library's Jefferson branch in Tremont. Stories and crafts build up to a balloon drop at noon, and… - [Noon Years Eve Party — Fulton Library](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/noon-years-eve-party-fulton-library--listing-389855f7d0c5a6cb79ae32c8) — Thu, Dec 31 · 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM · Cleveland Public Library Fulton Branch · Free · checked Oct 24. A child-friendly New Year's Eve at Cleveland Public Library's Fulton branch, counting down to noon instead of midnight. Expect dancing, crafts and light refreshments in a… ### Kirtland (3) - [Holiday Ice & Lights Festival at Farmpark](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/holiday-ice-and-lights-festival-at-farmpark--listing-0a1e54961ae2fae89f369579) — Fri, Nov 27 (+8 more dates) · 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Lake Metroparks Farmpark, Kirtland · Paid · checked Oct 24. A holiday evening festival at Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit, children can sit on an ice throne and watch Northeast Ohio ice carvers sculpt… - [Breakfast with Santa at Farmpark](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/breakfast-with-santa-at-farmpark--listing-4ac92a487f8bdcd973908812) — Sat, Nov 28 (+7 more dates) · 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM · Lake Metroparks Farmpark, Kirtland · From $25 · checked Oct 24. Breakfast in the Farmpark café with a visit from Santa, then a second visit with Santa on his sleigh, a winter wagon ride around the park and a holiday-themed horse presentation… - [Country Lights Drive-Thru at Farmpark](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/country-lights-drive-thru-at-farmpark--listing-1d52796007344f44e920eb30) — Fri, Dec 4 (+7 more dates) · 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM · Lake Metroparks Farmpark, Kirtland · From $27.50 · checked Oct 24. Farmpark's holiday light displays seen from the warmth of your own car. Families drive the park's roadways past familiar lighted scenes on timed tickets. Tickets are online only… ### Other towns in the Cleveland area (2) - [Crocker Park Tree Lighting](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/crocker-park-tree-lighting--listing-fe3c6d65094d4456e82d2e2d) — Sat, Nov 21 · 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Crocker Park – Center Circle, Westlake · checked Oct 24. Crocker Park's annual tree lighting in Westlake starts with a 4–8 p.m. holiday block party: live music and dance performances by local groups, local vendors, seasonal food and… - [Map & Compass Snowflake Scavenger Hunt](https://grassyknees.com/cleveland/activities/map-and-compass-snowflake-scavenger-hunt--listing-27f8db17efeb89bb510f32e4) — Wed, Dec 2 · 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM · Trailside Program Center, Brecksville Reservation · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. A winter version of the Metroparks' family map and compass session. After a short lesson in reading a map and using a compass, families head onto the trails near the program… More for families in Cleveland: https://grassyknees.com/cleveland.md