Columbus Zoo Lighting Event

So I know my blog is about Cleveland events, but I went to this event a couple years ago and will never forget it so I thought I would share it with all of you.  The Columbus Zoo does a fabulous light display every year and its only 2 1/2 hours away from Cleveland.  There is so much to do in Columbus if you want to spend a weekend there.  The Easton Mall and Polaris are both in the center of Columbus and are both great for holiday shopping.  Make sure to bundle up though because the Easton mall is an outside mall and the Zoo lighting is also outside.  The Columbus Zoo is sponsored by American Electric power so you know the lights will be great.  Spend some time with your family, friends, or significant other and go for a walk in the Zoo and see some animals too!  Below are some more detail about this event.  

Wildlights is set to begin November 21 and will be running nightly through January 3. Hours are Sundays through Thursdays 5 pm until 9 pm (10 pm Fridays and Saturdays) and admission is free with your paid Zoo admission. A special member’s only preview is scheduled for November 20. For more information visit http://www.uptake.com/blog/family_vacations/wildlights-columbus-zoo-family-holiday_1256.html

Holiday Lights

Since in my last post I talked about Stan Hywets lights, I thought I would continue to talk about all the Christmas lighting events in Cleveland.  This week the Lolly the Trolley with begin their Tinsel, Tales, and Trees tour around Cleveland Ohio.  This tour will include a history of Cleveland, a stop at Progressive field to view their new event "Snow Days" and the last stop will be at Clevelands Playhouse to view their tree displays. Lolly the Trolley is a classic way to tour Cleveland and I loved it when I was little!  So I definitely encourage you to take your friends and family along for the ride :)  Below is a little more information about this even. Enjoy!
   

Tinsel, Tales, and Trees!

The best of Trolley Tours and the Holiday Season merge as you experience our nationally known narrated One Hour City Sightseeing Tour featuring the past, present and future of Cleveland while viewing the available lights. You will see and learn about North Coast Harbor, Public Square, Downtown, the Warehouse District, Gateway and the Playhouse Square Theater District. Then it’s off to the Cleveland Play House Festival of Trees to stroll indoors among the delightful decorator-designed “themed trees” and to gather ideas for your holiday house! The public tour is approximately 2 hours long. Your tour will also include a stop at Progressive Field to take a quick peek at Indians Snow Days - the newest holiday event in Downtown Cleveland! NOTE: You will not go into the event, but you will see it from the special viewing windows by the entrance gate. (No tours or charters Dec. 24, 25 or 31.)

• Available: Dec. 3-4-5, 10-11-12, 17-18-19 and Dec. 26th
• Departure Time: 7:00 PM (2 hours long) from the Powerhouse @ Nautica
• Adults: $18.50 (Ages 18+) includes tax
• Children: $12.00 (Ages 6-17) includes tax

There are no rides or tours Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. All fares are now subject to a 7.75% State Sales Tax.

Reservations required for all tours.
Call 216-771-4484 or 1-800-848-0173
Press "0" for a friendly voice!

Stan Hywet Halls and Gardens

Thanksgiving is over and I can finally start posting about Christmas events.  One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is driving around and seeing all the Christmas lights.  One of the best displays of Christmas lights is at the old Stan Hywet Mansion located in Cuyahoga Falls.  When I was younger we took a field trip to the mansion to learn about the people who lived their and to observe the architecture, but every year I love to visit and see their fabulous light display.  At the bottom is a little description of the event and which days it will be open.  Don't miss out!  There are so many great holiday events going on, one should never be bored during the Christmas season.


   




Deck the Hall, 5-8 p.m., Nov. 26-28 and Dec. 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 21-23, 26-30. Theme is "A Dickens of a Christmas," with rooms in the Manor House, 714 N. Portage Path, decorated to portray Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Christmas-tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. every evening in the Carriage House Courtyard. Tickets are available at 330-315-3287 or at Stan Hywet. Prices; $16, house and grounds tour; $10, gardens and grounds only; $5, youth and college students with I.D. for the house and grounds tour; $4, youth and students for the gardens and grounds only; free, children 5 and younger with an adult. Member prices are available. For more information please visit http://www.stanhywet.org/dynamic/default.aspx 

How Was Your Thanksgiving?

Since Thanksgiving is such a big event, I wanted to ask all of you how your Thanksgiving went.  How was the food? the company? and atmosphere?  Everything and anything you would like to share about your Thanksgiving.  Any tips for a better Thanksgiving or do you think if something was different you would have had a better Thanksgiving.  Its your turn to give me some tips on planning a great event, so go right ahead :)

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy's Parade is probably one of the biggest events held on Thanksgiving.  This year Macys will be celebrating their 84th Parade and it will be held like always in New York City starting on 77th street near Central Park.  You cannot purchase tickets for the parade and visitors are advised to get to the parade by 7am to get a good seat.  Also make sure to make reservations at any of the restaurants to ensure you have somewhere to ear because the restaurants will be packed after the parade.  The parade will start at 9:00am and will be aired on NBC.  Here is some history to give you a bit of background if you dont know much about the parade. Be sure to tune in an watch while you are preparing Thanksgiving dinner :)  Hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving!!!

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States, tied with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than the 6abc IKEA Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia. In the 1920s many of Macy's department store employees were first-generation immigrants. Proud of their new American heritage, they wanted to celebrate the United States holiday of Thanksgiving with the type of festival their parents had loved in Europe.

In 1924, the inaugural parade (originally known as the Macy's Christmas Parade and later the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Christmas Parade) was staged by the store. Employees and professional entertainers marched from 145th Street in Harlem to Macy's flagship store on 34th Street dressed in vibrant costumes.There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, as has been the case with every parade since, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square. At this first parade, however, the Jolly Old Elf was enthroned on the Macy's balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, where he was then "crowned" "King of the Kiddies. With an audience of over a quarter of a million people the parade was such a success that Macy's declared it would become an annual event.

For more information visit their official website at http://social.macys.com/parade2010/#/home

      

How to Build a Disney Thanksgiving Center Piece

Thanksgiving will be here in 2 days and I cannot believe it! Events are all winding down and Christmas will be here before we know it.  So I just wanted to write about Thanksgiving for a couple more day before Christmas throws up everywhere.  I have mentioned more than a few times that I love Disney and I was wondering what Disney is doing on Thanksgiving. If you did not know Disney World is open 365 days a year and they always celebrate holidays in unique ways.  So I looked up special events in Disney World and was shocked that there are no special events for Thanksgiving.  I did however find the official Disney blog and they posted a video about how to decorate for Thanksgiving.  Its a great video about how to build a centerpiece.  Visit http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/author/jvolante/ to watch the video and learn how to make a Disney centerpiece!!! Enjoy :)

Turkey Trot

Just wanted to remind everyone about the 29th annual Turkey trot in Cleveland on Nov 25.

Registration begins at 7:30AM

1-Mile fun walk begins at 8:45AM

5-Mile chip-timed run begins at 9:30 AM

The 2010 Turkey Trot will begin and end at the Galleria at Erieview, located at 1301 East 9th Street. 

Dress to impress because their are a ton of different prizes you can win for best dressed!

Get more information at http://www.hermescleveland.com/roadracing/turkeytrot/index.php

Register ASAP so you can join in on the fun :)