Ohio City Holiday Festival and Light Up Lakewood

Many cities have already celebrated the start of the Christmas season with tree lighting ceremonies and holiday-themed events. But a few cities are waiting until the start of December to kick off the holiday season. Ohio City and Lakewood are two of these cities, and both towns will be welcoming hundreds of visitors this weekend as they ring in the holiday season.

Saturday's events start out with the Ohio City Holiday Festival in Market Square. Market Avenue will be closed to traffic and instead of being filled with cars, the street will be filled with vendors selling holiday goods, chocolates and ornaments. Horse and carriage rides will be available to patrons, and a select assortment of Christmas trees will be available for purchase. When you're done shopping, head over to Great Lakes Brewing Co. for a pint of Christmas ale.

Ohio City Holiday Festival hours:
Saturday, Dec. 1 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.


The festivities continue into the evening with the annual Light Up Lakewood event. Light Up Lakewood is the city's annual Christmas lighting ceremony and holiday kickoff. The event starts at 5 p.m. with a parade on Detroit Avenue. The attention then shifts to Lakewood Hospital for the lighting of the hospital grounds and a fireworks show. The evening concludes with musical performances, screening of holiday movies on a big screen at the Lakewood library, and the selling of goods by a number of street vendors.

Light Up Lakewood hours:
Saturday, Dec. 1 from 5-8 p.m.

Both events are free and open to the public.

For more information, visit Ohio City and Arts In Ohio.