# Christmas break with kids in Cleveland, 2026

> What to do with kids in Cleveland over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by five museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus eight dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-21
- 5 places’ holiday hours; 14 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/cleveland/christmas-break/
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## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Children’s Museum of Cleveland**: Christmas Eve closed; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day closed. Their page says: “Closed December 24-25 (Christmas Eve & Day) Closed December 31- January 1 (New Year’s Eve & Day)” Source: https://cmcleveland.org/hours-admission/ (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Great Lakes Science Center**: Christmas Eve closed; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “December 24, 2026 (Christmas Eve): Closed December 25, 2026 (Christmas Day): Closed” Source: https://greatscience.com/hours (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Cleveland Museum of Art**: Christmas Eve Closes at 4 p.m.; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day closed. Their page says: “December 24 and December 31: Closed at 4:00 p.m. December 25: Closed January 1: Closed” Source: https://www.clevelandart.org/visit (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Rock & Roll Hall of Fame**: Christmas Eve 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “Thurs Dec 24: 10am - 3pm Christmas: Closed” Source: https://rockhall.com/visit/ (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Get Air Middleburg Heights**: Christmas Eve Closed 5–10 p.m.; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “Thursday, December 24, 2026: Closed 5:00 PM–10:00 PM · Christmas Eve Friday, December 25, 2026: Closed all day · Christmas Day” Source: https://getairsports.com/middleburg-heights/ (checked 2026-10-21)

## Christmas Eve

- **Santa Photos at Beachwood Place** at Beachwood Place, 26300 Cedar Road, Beachwood, OH 44122. When: Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 2–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page. Price: See photo packages on the booking page. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/0583 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Santa Photos at SouthPark** at SouthPark, 500 Southpark Center, Strongsville, OH 44136. When: Nov 6–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page. Price: See photo packages on the booking page. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 2 evenings (Nov 22, Nov 29). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/1118 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Santa Photos at Great Lakes Mall** at Great Lakes Mall, 7850 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH 44060. When: Nov 13–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 2–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page. Price: See photo packages on the booking page. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 1 evening (Dec 7). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/1335 (checked 2026-10-19)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Deck the Hall: Holidays Through the Decades** at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 North Portage Path, Akron, OH 44303. When: Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026. Time: 3–9 p.m.; last admission 8 p.m. Price: Adult $28, youth 3–17 $15 (members $22/$12); value nights Dec 7–9, 14–16: $24/$13. No drive-through tickets; plan about 2 hours; nonrefundable. Official page: https://stanhywet.org/events/deck-hall-0 (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Wild Lights (10-Year Celebration)** at Akron Zoo, Akron, OH. When: Nov 20–21, 27–28; Dec 4–5, 11–13, 18–23, 26–27, 2026. Time: 5–9 p.m. Price: Adult $20–27; child $16–23; member child free. Official page: https://www.akronzoo.org/wild-lights (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Wild Winter Lights** at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109. When: Select evenings, Nov 18 – Dec 30, 2026. Time: 5–9 p.m. Price: Walk-through $27 ($24 members); drive-through $59 per vehicle ($49 members); under 2 free. More than 1.5 million lights, with the Twinkly Trail and Gingerbread Lane on walking nights and Santa at the North Pole Lodge. Official page: https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo/program-events/wild-winter-lights-presented-by-nopec (checked 2026-10-31)
- **Country Lights Drive-Thru** at Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd. (Rt. 6), Kirtland, OH 44094. When: Dec 4–6, 11–13, 26–27, 2026. Time: Timed entries 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30 p.m. Price: $27.50 per carload; advance online only (sold from Mon Nov 2, 8 a.m.). May sell out; max three tickets per family; arrive no more than 15 minutes early; final sale. Official page: https://www.lakemetroparks.com/events-activities/events/country-lights-2020-2/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Tropical Holiday** at Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland, OH. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Daytime; Thu–Sat until 9 p.m. Price: Included with general admission; timed tickets required online. 20-ft living tree with champagne lights, storybook trail, evening marshmallow roasting; daytime option for early bedtimes. Not a big outdoor light show. Krampusnacht Dec 5 6–9 p.m. may scare little ones. Official page: https://www.holdenfg.org/news/cleveland-botanical-garden-unveils-new-holiday-exhibit-tropical-holiday-presented-by-jpmorganchase/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Happy "Noon" Year Party at Mentor Public Library** at Mentor Public Library, Main Branch (Village Room), 8215 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Price: Free; registration opens Dec 17. For ages 3 to 10, with music, games, snacks and a balloon drop at noon, and kids are encouraged to dress up. Registration opens Thursday, Dec 17. Official page: https://mentorpl.libcal.com/event/15148226 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Noon Year's Eve at Jefferson Branch Library** at Cleveland Public Library, Jefferson Branch (Community Space 1), 850 Jefferson Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Price: Free. The Tremont branch is bringing in Twister Girl and an ice carver, so this is the one with the most to watch. Stories and crafts fill the morning before a balloon drop at noon. It's billed for all ages. Official page: https://cpl.libcal.com/event/15528706 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Noon Years Eve Party at Rice Branch Library** at Cleveland Public Library, Rice Branch (Children's Room), 11535 Shaker Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Price: Free. It takes place in the children's room, with story time, games, crafts and snacks across a two-hour window, so you don't have to arrive on the dot. Ages 0–5 are on the audience list. Official page: https://cpl.libcal.com/event/15305230 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Noon Years Eve Party at Fulton Branch Library** at Cleveland Public Library, Fulton Branch (Meeting Room), 3545 Fulton Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Price: Free. A west-side hour of dancing, crafts and light refreshments, built around a 5-4-3-2-1 countdown to noon. No registration is listed. Official page: https://cpl.libcal.com/event/15337985 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Noon Year's Eve Party at Bainbridge Library** at Geauga County Public Library, Bainbridge Branch, Bainbridge Township. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–12:30pm. Price: Free. A family program with games and crafts that ends in a noon countdown. Official page: https://geaugalibrary.libcal.com/event/17594841 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Tropical Holiday** at Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland, OH. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Daytime; Thu–Sat until 9 p.m. Price: Included with general admission; timed tickets required online. 20-ft living tree with champagne lights, storybook trail, evening marshmallow roasting; daytime option for early bedtimes. Not a big outdoor light show. Krampusnacht Dec 5 6–9 p.m. may scare little ones. Official page: https://www.holdenfg.org/news/cleveland-botanical-garden-unveils-new-holiday-exhibit-tropical-holiday-presented-by-jpmorganchase/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Cleveland with kids?
Of the five places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Children’s Museum of Cleveland, Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland Museum of Art and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Cleveland?
Open with posted hours: Cleveland Museum of Art (Closes at 4 p.m.), Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (10 a.m.–3 p.m.), Get Air Middleburg Heights (Closed 5–10 p.m.). On the calendar: Santa Photos at Beachwood Place, Santa Photos at SouthPark and Santa Photos at Great Lakes Mall.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Cleveland?
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Cleveland?
On the calendar for Jan 1: Tropical Holiday. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### Where can kids go sledding or snow tubing near Cleveland?
Toboggan chutes at The Chalet. All of them need snow, so check the park’s status page first.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Cleveland?
Deck the Hall: Holidays Through the Decades, Wild Lights (10-Year Celebration), Wild Winter Lights, Country Lights Drive-Thru and Tropical Holiday. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).