Cleveland for Christmas: A Guide to What’s On
It’s all happening in Cleveland as the city rolls out some festive offerings to visitors, including Holiday events, specialty suites, and some classic attractions.
Cleveland, especially the gayborhood of Lakewood, is one of the most thriving LGBT communities in Ohio. Read all about the things we loved the last time we visited! Now, just in time for Christmas, C-town has many heartwarming offerings for LGBTQ travelers who appreciate Midwestern hospitality and nostalgia.
Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Tired of dragging out your same old Holiday decorations? Imagine checking into the Mr. Kringle Suite and letting someone else do the decor for you! The Kringle suite is filled with two sparkling Christmas trees, tabletop adornments, room decorations, seasonal books and holiday-themed furniture, complete with festive bedding and pillows. Plus, each guest receives a personalized note from Mr. Kringle and a special delivery of milk and cookies.
Visit A Christmas Story House
Step into the house where the holiday classic A Christmas Story was filmed. Scrunch yourself up and hide under the kitchen sink like Randy, try on the bunny pajamas from Aunt Clara or explore the backyard where Ralphie defeated Black Bart and the boys at A Christmas Story.
Fun fact: In the early 1980s, producers of the classic holiday film—based on a story written by author Jean Shepherd—were seeking filming locations for what was supposed to look like an Indiana steel town in the 1940s. They found their answer in a home in the Cleveland neighborhood of Tremont. This year, A Christmas Story celebrates its 40th anniversary, and the House from A Christmas Story stands as a beloved attraction year-round, for visitors and locals alike.
Castle Noel
It’s Christmas year-round at Castle Noel, America’s largest indoor Christmas attraction. Castle Noel is a museum filled with toys from the 1950s through the ’80s, costumes from popular Christmas films, themed rooms, and more! It’s perfect for those looking for a bit of sweet nostalgia around the holidays.
Black Nativity
This December, theatergoers can experience a renowned performance of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity by Karamu House, the oldest African American theater company in the U.S. Legendary playwright and poet Langston Hughes, who some scholars believe to have been gay, was commissioned by Karamu to write the gospel drama in 1961, and the theater presents the soulful retelling of the Christmas story each holiday season through poetry, scripture, dance and plenty of music.
Playhouse Square
Playhouse Square is the country’s largest performing arts center outside of New York City and one of Broadway’s premier touring partners. From November 30th to December 22nd, it will be playing a live performance of the 1980s kids’ classic movie A Christmas Story. Get your tickets here.
Studio West 117
And don’t forget to drop by Cleveland’s LGBTQ precinct, Studio West 117. This first-of-its-kind neighborhood was created for and by the LGBTQ+ community and its allies of Greater Cleveland to provide an entertainment hub and a home away from home for locals and visitors alike. Open to people of all ages and identities, SW117 spans over 300,000 square feet and offers an evolving collection of entertainment, sports, dining, drag, and DJs in addition to housing, identity-affirming businesses, and social services. Check out what they have on this festive season!
For more ideas and to plan your Cleveland trip, go here.
