Nostalgia. We are drawn to it over the holidays. We like The Christmas Story and memories of Higbee’s windows, and Mister Jingeling from Christmas in the past.
The Pine Tree Barn in Wooster, which looks out over the Killbuck Valley, is all about nostalgia. It’s a great place to hunt for a tree and cut it down yourself. If you’re going to do that drive, linger awhile at the homey Granary Restaurant, which serves scratch-made lunches, desserts and their signature lemon crumb muffins. You’ll have a good chance of finding a tree ornament or gift item inside the Barn where there are three different shopping experiences. The Barn also offers potted and balled Christmas trees at grower-direct prices and pine decorations like wreaths and centerpieces. Located at 4338 Shreve Road, holiday festivities take place from 9am-5pm seven days a week, with the tree farm open through Wednesday December 17. There’s nothing more traditional than the smell of a pine tree during the holidays.
People rave at the light festival at Lorain County Metro Parks’ Carlisle Reservation, located at 12882 Diagonal Road in Lagrange. The Holiday Lights display includes a mile-long drive at the nearby Equestrian Center or a walk along a decorated trail near the visitor’s center. The festival takes place from 5:30-9pm Wednesdays through Sundays, but the trail is closed to visitors on Sundays when kids can ride on the Little Green Choo. Inside the visitor center, folks can purchase popcorn, cookies, and hot chocolate, check out the “Wildlife Giving Tree,” and donate nonperishable food items to Second Harvest Food Bank. If you visit on a Wednesday, you can stop for balloon twisting, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be around on December 11 and 18.
Akron’s Stan Hywet Hall is a gem, and the estate grounds will be decorated with 1.4 million lights during the annual Deck the Hall event. Visit from now through December 23 and when it reopens from December 26-30. The Manor House will bring the beauty of nature indoors, and everything, from the gardens to the conservatory, will be lit up and beautiful. Santa Claus will be in the Carriage House Courtyard until December 23. Stop by Molly’s Café for cookies and drinks, including beer and wine, and shop at Molly’s Shop for unique gift items. Hours are 3-8pm but the grounds are open until 9pm, and you’ll want to stay for at least two hours. Admission is $28 for non-member adults and $22 for members, while children 3-17 will pay $15.
What’s more iconic than Cleveland’s Public Square when it’s decorated and lit up for the holiday season? It’s worth visiting even if there’s only time for a drive-by, but a walk through sarkly Public Square is a dramatic and enchanting experience. There’s an outdoor bar, firepits and s’mores, and in the background, holiday music at Cheer Garden, and for those who want a Rockefeller Center experience, rent skates at the Cheer Garden Rink and take smooth laps from 5-1pm0 on Fridays, noon-10pm on Saturdays, and Sundays noon-8pm until December 21 and from noon-10pm again from December 26-28. Illuminate CLE brings bold, dynamic lighting displays to the heart of Public Square, transforming the cityscape into a vibrant, immersive and illuminating experience every half hour, from 5:30pm until 11:00pm. You won’t go hungry. Really good food is available from Rebol by the ice rink on Fridays and Saturdays until 8pm but what makes Sundays special is the food trucks.
Snow angels and snowmen. Gingerbread houses and strung popcorn garland. Fresh-cut Christmas trees and sleigh rides. Holiday movies. Santa Claus. It’s all fun.