knock, knock

Cleveland Pops Orchestra

CPO Facebook


www.playhousesquare.org

Alqonquin Mill Fall Festival

Carroll County, Ohio

234 Autumn Rd SW
Carrollton, OH 44615



Held Rain or Shine

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday

Old Fashioned Crafters
Pioneer Village




Oglebay Resort in West Virginia

Website
facebook page

header


Offers Resort, Zoo, Oglebay Fall Fest, annual holiday light show

Special Laser Shows at the Good Zoo, Benedum Theater









The Winter Festival of Lights
        


A per car donation is requested and is valid for the entire festival season. Trolley tours are offered several times each night beginning at Wilson Lodge. 



Our 2015 review.
We have never gone to this area before and found out it's quite a drive, I'm glad we took the trip when there wasn't any snow or ice on the streets.  It's just another 5 miles south to the Cabela's shopping center which has a neat aquarium for the kiddos to check out.

-There are separate fees for the drive tour and the Festival of lights.  The drive through light display is a per car fee and covers two separate parts of the part while the Festival of Lights is a per person fee that includes a laser show, outdoor musical light display, train display, and small animals.



an image projected onto wall after laser show, the snowflakes don't show up :-(



the outdoor musical light show, there are seats in the gazebo to sit and watch display (but not best viewpoint)





The indoor animal area includes hands on activities like an animal hospital and train table








Winter Break Ideas


Here's some ideas to keep those kiddos busy for this 2015-2016 Winter Break




Connect with Santa




Monday, December 21st
Tuesday, December 22nd
Columbiana County Joy of Christmas


Wednesday, December 23rd

Thursday, December 24th

Friday, December 25th
Saturday, December 26th
Kids-crusade

Sunday, December 27th



Monday, December 28th
Tuesday, December 29th
Wednesday, December 30th
Thursday, December 31st
Friday, January 1st
Saturday, January 2nd




Sunday, January 3rd
Wonderstruck animal craft Poland



Cleveland/NE Ohio Day Trip ideas

Crocker Park light display, train rides

Rock-n-roll-hall-of-fame
Summit-metroparks
Medina-county-parks
Indoor Play in Medina Romp & Stomp, Rinky Dink, Amazone
Cleveland-botantical-gardens
Great-lakes-science-center
Cleveland-zoo
Mckinley museum-in-canton
Greater-cleveland-aquarium
Akron-zoo
Cleveland-museum-of-art
Clevelands-childrens-museum
Canton-football-hall-of-fame
Western-reserve-historical-society/Hale Farm
Baseball-heritage-museum
Cleveland-fed-and-learning
Indian-museum
Fire-museum-in-cleveland.html
Akron-art-museum
Museum of Contemporary Art
International-womens-air-space-museum
MAPS air-museum
Cleveland-police-museum
Hollywood-movieland
Akron-fossil

Pittsburgh Day Trip Ideas
Carnegie-museum-of-art-natural-history
Phipps-conservatory
The-national-aviary-in-pittsburgh
Carnegie Science Center
Pittsburgh-zoo-events
PS trolley-museum
Childrens-museum-of-Pittsburgh
Harlansburg-station-museum
Splash-lagoon

Cascade of Lights

New Castle Cascade of Lights

$ per carload donation







Drive through display, the park reminds me a little of Harding park in Hubbard, the displays are similar to Boardman park, there is music playing but the lights are not synchronized to it.


Hermitage/New Castle/Sharon, Holiday, light display,






Connecting with the North Pole, Santa & other holiday fun

 Local spots (photo ops!)

Macy's.com
stores set up a mailbox, website offers a digital letter writing option



Mespotamia mail box
 4370 Kinsman Rd, Mesopotamia, OH 44439

Mailbox downtown Warren 
in front of the log cabin on Courthouse square



Boardman Park has hosted Santa phone calls, watch their website and facebook page for sign-up info




USPS's 2012 info about sending a good ol'fashoned letter to Santa (with a response from the big guy)
 Letter to Santa template from Santaclausmuseum.org






 


thanks Mary!
 
 
 Christmas Dialer

 Packagefromsanta.com
phone call, video, letter

 Easy Free Santa letter

Free letters from Santa
download template

Barbara Holiday Workshop  

the PNP - Portable North Pole Website  allows you to deliver a message from Santa to your child. FREE video, extra charge for additional items

Email Santa.com offers lots of things (there's footage of a Reindeer on a roof, Rudolph Nose Cam footage).  Not sure about costs or fees


The Santa Video set up a video $, discount codes & specials posted on their facebook page


A freevideofromsantaclaus.packagefromsanta.com

North Pole Videos offers a free basic video greeting, fee for personalization $32



Hellosanta.com 
live video chat
 
Santa Claus house letters & deeds


Submit a letter to Santa online through aletter4santa.com

"free" postcard from Santa



Other Online Holiday fun
 Jib Jab's Elf yourself insert your photo and create fun videos!

I spot Santa 
video footage sightings of Santa around the world 

 
Reindeer Cam watch the reindeer get fed, there's even an app!



NORAD tracks Santa follow Santa's path around the world.  Website starts on 12/1 but the action takes place on Christmas eve
 The Santa Video
catch Santa in your home



Local elves

Mrs. Claus
does storytimes at the Upton house, Eastwood Mall, etc

Jimmy Claus
officially trained, Cleveland area

Mr. Jingeling
This local character is the keeper of the keys, his facebook page lists area (mostly Cleveland) appearances.



Life Sized Games!

Newton-falls-public-library
12/30/15 ONLY
Candyland






Wilddaysofwinter
Candyland
Penitentiary
 Penitentiary Glen
FREE
Now thru 1/3


Wolf Creek Environmental Center in Medina 
Life sized blast through past game
now thru 1/10


November 21 through January 3
Noon to 5 pm • Free admission
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas & New Year's Eve

Penitentiary Glen Nature Center
8668 Kirtland-Chardon Rd
Kirtland, OH 44094
440-256-1404 - See more at: http://www.lakemetroparks.com/events/wilddaysofwinter.shtml#sthash.mSuAXO2d.dpuf
November 21 through January 3
Noon to 5 pm • Free admission
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas & New Year's Eve

Penitentiary Glen Nature Center
8668 Kirtland-Chardon Rd
Kirtland, OH 44094
440-256-1404 - See more at: http://www.lakemetroparks.com/events/wilddaysofwinter.shtml#sthash.mSuAXO2d.dpuf

Easy No Bake Chocolate Covered Pretzel Treat




We got a tub of holiday shaped pretzels from Aldi's (I like to use the stars and trees for the Pretzel Rolo cookie), melted some chocolate, dipped the shapes and added festival sprinkles and crushed candy canes.  After the chocolate sets, they were packaged up in a simple baggie and topped with the
FREE printable bag topper from Love From the Oven
(it was the easiest to print for us).  Done & Yum

~*~ Jolly Holiday! ~*~






TV shows


arts & crafts
those Home Depot make and takes, your kiddo can make these as gifts!

Nativity scenes, tree lighting, etc

Shows/Performances
Packard Music Hall, Nutcracker performances

Parades


Light displays
 
Visits with Santa

North Pole connections (links for Reindeer cam, elf yourself, Santa's phone number & email, etc)


Winter Break activity ideas 
indoor play spots & road trips


Winter Activities
sledding, skating