Festivities get underway Saturday at 3 p.m., with the tree lighting at 6 p.m. and fireworks immediately after.
Cleveland marks the start of the holiday season on Saturday with the WinterLand Tree Lighting Festival at Public Square. The event offers a day of festive joy, old-fashioned reminiscences, and bright decorations.
The celebrations kick off at 3 p.m. with family-friendly activities, including food, skating, live music, and more. As the sun sets, the main event begins. At 6 p.m., the lights of Public Square will come alive, transforming the downtown space into a glowing winter wonderland. The festivities culminate with a fireworks display lighting up Cleveland’s skies.
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For Clevelanders, the holiday season is about more than just lights and festivities — it’s a time to reflect on the traditions that have shaped our city’s Christmas spirit. 3News’ Leon Bibb has his own memories of downtown’s magical holidays of decades past.
“Mom and Dad plopped me on Santa’s knee,” Bibb recalls. “Back then, downtown was the place to be. Tens of thousands of shoppers bustled through streets decked with tinsel, creating a festive energy unique to that era.”
While the iconic department stores of yesteryear may no longer line the streets, the holiday spirit endures. The twinkling lights of Public Square serve as a bridge between generations, connecting the cherished memories of the past to the joyous moments of today.
“The boyhood Christmas memories of long ago always surface when Public Square dons its holiday coat of light,” says Bibb. “It covers us all like a warm coat, reminding us of what truly matters during the season.”
Whether you’re reliving the magic of Christmases past or creating new traditions, the WinterLand Tree Lighting Festival is a reminder of the enduring joy and light that define the holidays in Cleveland.
