Walking in a winter wonderland

10 hours ago
5 min read

From twinkling lights to ice skating and holiday markets, downtown Cleveland comes alive in the wintertime.

Written by Sage Colón

Winter in Cleveland doesn't have to mean hibernating and hiding from the cold – it can mean bundling up and heading downtown. From twinkling light displays along the lakefront to ice skating under the glow of Public Square, the city turns into its own snow globe once the temperatures drop. Whether you’re planning a family outing, a festive date night or just looking for an excuse to grab hot cocoa and walk around, downtown Cleveland has something going on almost every day of the season.

Winterland

The holiday season officially starts in downtown Cleveland when WinterLand takes over Public Square every year, the weekend after Thanksgiving. From noon to 5:30 p.m., the square turns into a full-day holiday festival with music, food trucks and family-friendly activities leading up to the evening tree lighting and Illuminate CLE light show.

Visitors can roast s’mores by the firepits before hopping on trackless train rides, stopping for photos with Santa and the Grinch and ending the night with a spin around the skating rink, which stays open until 10 p.m.

Lit Christmas tree with a star top, colorful lights in a city square, tall building with snowflake projection on a dark night. Festive mood.

For many Clevelanders, WinterLand is a yearly tradition. Brooke Bechtel, a 20-year-old Cleveland State University student, calls it a must-do with her friends and family.

“When I went last year, it was really fun and pretty packed with people,” Bechtel said. “There were performances leading up to the tree lighting and then fireworks at the end, which were exciting.”

As night falls, the 50-foot tree lights up in sync with the new Illuminate CLE holiday light show, which runs every half hour from 5:30 to 11 p.m., engulfing the surrounding buildings in color and officially kicking off the downtown holiday season.

Cleveland Bazaar helps extend the experience beyond the square. Less than a five-minute walk away, the annual holiday market inside the 5th Street Arcades features local artists and small businesses from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the day of the tree-lighting ceremony – perfect for making WinterLand part of a full day of downtown exploring and shopping.

While the tree lighting marks a highlight of the evening, the WinterLand experience continues throughout the night as visitors stroll through downtown, take loops around the skating rink, walk through glimmering light displays and soak in the holiday atmosphere that makes the event a seasonal must.

Tower City for the Holidays

Just steps from the lights and skating at Public Square, the holiday experience continues indoors at Tower City. Tower City transforms the space into a winter wonderland filled with free, family-friendly experiences designed to capture the joy and nostalgia of the season.

One of the main attractions is Bruce the Spruce’s Forest, a magical woodland built around the beloved talking tree, running until Dec. 21.

Visitors can step into Kringle’s Inventionasium, where guests become honorary elves and help Santa’s inventing team prepare for the season until Dec. 24. Sock skating on an iceless rink during those same dates lets visitors glide in socks without the cold temperatures or the challenge of balancing on ice.

Additional attractions include a 35-foot tree, along with the “Story” Slide – an 8-foot slide inspired by the classic Cleveland filmed “A Christmas Story” – running until Dec. 31.

Cleveland Tower City building in center of frame, low-angle view showcasing it's massive size lit up in red and green on a wintery night.

Public Square Cheer Garden

Public Square adds another layer of winter fun in December with the debut of the Public Square Cheer Garden, a seasonal outdoor bar and firepit experience paired with the Cleveland Foundation Ice Skating Rink. Open during the weekends throughout the end of December, the Cheer Garden invites visitors to skate, warm up by the fire and enjoy classic winter treats in the city’s winter stage.

After a few laps around the rink, guests can gather around the firepits to roast s’mores and enjoy local beer or canned cocktails.

The event is part of Downtown Cleveland’s goal to create an exciting downtown experience. In addition to the Cheer Garden, Food Truck Tuesday is making its first-ever debut at Public Square, featuring three local food trucks each Tuesday in December from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Christmas Lights

Downtown Cleveland’s holiday lights continue shining well beyond December, staying lit through January and turning the city into a glowing winter backdrop. Public Square remains the heart of the display, with its iconic tree, light-wrapped walkways and surrounding buildings shining bright each night – making it one of the most popular spots for photos and evening strolls.

“We’ll park and walk through the lights before going ice skating,” Bechtel said. “The location being in the center of Public Square makes it really fun.”

New lights at Voinovich Park add to the experience, creating a colorful lakeside stop for visitors looking to explore beyond the square. There are additional light displays on the corner of Ontario and Carnegie Avenue near Progressive Field, where visitors can walk through illuminated pathways surrounded by city views and twinkling lights.

With pop-up light installations spread throughout downtown, visitors can wander from one dazzling display to the next, making the Cleveland Christmas lights a simple but memorable way to soak in the season – whether it’s for a romantic date night or a peaceful winter walk.

Chrtistmas tree with lights inside the Cleveland Arcade building. Long, huge room with arches on ceiling and walls.

Ice Skating

Many locals return year after year to enjoy the festive atmosphere of Public Square, especially the ice skating rink.

“For the past two years, I’ve gone ice skating with my friends,” Bechtel said. “It’s not expensive.”

“On the night that my friends and I went, it started snowing, which created a really pretty atmosphere to skate in,” she added.

Ice skating at Public Square is a festive way to enjoy downtown during the winter months, the outdoor rink is open through Feb. 1. Tickets are available at the Skate Rental Kiosk at the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Plaza during rink hours.

Ice skating rink in Cleveland square. Dark outside but filled with lights and people ice skating on red and green lit ice.

Illuminate CLE Holiday Light Show

Illuminate CLE lights up Public Square with colorful, moving displays that transform the area into a bright and immersive holiday experience. The show runs every half hour from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., featuring special holiday-themed sequences throughout the WinterLand season and into the end of January.

Visitors can enjoy the show while strolling through Public Square or taking a break from skating, making it a highlight of any winter evening downtown.

Fireworks going off in Cleveland square with lights all over during night.

Snow Days Sledding

Whenever downtown is blanketed in enough snow to cover the grass, Snow Days pop-ups take place on the Mall B slope, right next to the Hilton Cleveland. Instead of needing to drive on icy roads to find a sledding hill, visitors can enjoy the fun right here in downtown. These winter sledding events occur throughout the season whenever it snows.

Keep an eye on @dwntowncle on social media for the latest update on when Snow Days are happening.

Downtown Cleveland at night with Christmas lights. "The Land" huge letter statue is in middle of frame.

Even if you missed some of the holiday festivities, downtown Cleveland continues to offer ways to enjoy the season in January.

From WinterLand to Snow Days sledding, the city transforms into a true winter wonderland, giving you plenty of opportunities to bundle up, explore and make seasonal memories with friends and family – and of course, there's always next year for even more winter magic.

More photos of downtown Cleveland lit up for winter.

Cleveland State University's Arts and Culture Magazine