Event Dates
From: Saturday, November 29, 2025
To: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Cleveland Winterfest 2025
Winterfest is Cleveland’s official kick-off to the holiday season each year. The event is hosted by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance
Cleveland Winterfest 2025
Winterfest is Cleveland’s official kick-off to the holiday season each year. The event is hosted by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.
- Visiting Cleveland for the Holiday Season? Stay in the Downtown Cleveland area, close to all the Christmas activities. The Drury Plaza Hotel is rated “Fabulous” by guests, just steps from the festival featuring spacious rooms and delicious breakfast options.
The Winter Festival
- Next Edition: November 29th, 2025 – January 6th 2026.
- Held the first Saturday after Thanksgiving (Nov 27th 2025), Downtown Cleveland’s annual Winterfest is everything you want out of a holiday season kickoff: twinkling lights, festive holiday trees, horse-drawn carriage rides, hot cocoa and caroling.
- Since this is Cleveland, add in some live music, a beer festival and a massive fireworks display.
The Lighting of the Christmas Tree
- Winterfest marks the official beginning of the holiday season in Cleveland. The event ends with the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree.
- Events take place in Public Square and are inspired by traditional European Christmas markets. There’s ice skating, a Christmas village and live music.
- After dark, after the tree lighting, stay for the fireworks show and a visit from Santa Claus. Have you been naughty? Food trucks are always on hand to give visitors a taste of the best that Cleveland has to offer with traditional Christmas Dishes and mulled wine.
Nightly Light Shows
- Don’t worry if you miss the Christmas lighting of the tree. Head down to Public Square to enjoy nightly light shows from 5pm – 11pm.
Other events
- The Cleveland Bazaar, an indie craft favorite, opens a holiday-themed pop-up shop at a designated location (more recently at the 5th Street Arcades).
The after party
Don’t forget the after-party! Whether it’s enjoying cookies and hot chocolate after the tree is lit, or heading to the gay districts for some adult beverages, Cleveland makes sure there’s a whole sleigh full of chances to unwind after the cold and eventful day.
- Twist Social Club (11633 Clifton Blvd.). An upscale lounge at the Cleveland/Lakewood border, Twist is especially nice during summer months when its giant windows are opened and the crowds spill out onto the patio.
- The Hawk (11217 Detroit Ave.) A down-to-earth,cozy bar serving the LGBTQ community for nearly 40 years in Cleveland’s west side Cudell neighborhood. A local fave.
- Cocktails Cleveland (9208 Detroit Ave.) The basement bar opens in the evenings, Wednesday through Sunday.
- Vibe Bar + Patio (11633 Lorain Ave.) Voted the best LGBTQ bar in Cleveland, this west side hot spot features a large outdoor patio and daily Happy Hour. Open to everyone – gay, lesbian, transgender or straight – come as you are.
- Leather Stallion (2205 St. Clair Ave.). Cleveland’s oldest leather bar features regular theme parties that have built a community feel. But it’s best known for its patio, a huge draw on summer Sunday evenings, when even those who don’t have an interest in leather can’t resist.
- G2H2 (various locations). By far the most happening LGBTQ happy hour in town, this gathering moves around to different restaurants and bars the third Friday of each month from 5:30-9pm. Mostly men, however everyone is welcome.
Recommended Hotels in Cleveland
The following hotels are close to the Christmas markets and a short ride to the gay bars:
The Westin, Hilton Cleveland, Drury Plaza Hotel, Hampton Inn
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Where we stay!
The Westin is our editors choice
when we are in Cleveland
Official Website
For further information and advice on
Cleveland Winterfest The Website
Gay Map of CLEVELAND
100 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
At the hotel, rooms are equipped with a desk. Each room is fitted with a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hairdryer. All units include a wardrobe. A buffet breakfast can be enjoyed in the breakfast area.
777 Saint Clair Avenue Northeast, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Each room at the hotel provides a flat-screen cable TV and refrigerator. Complete with a bath or shower, private bathrooms also include a hairdryer and free toiletries. A seating area and iPod dock are also provided in every room.
1460 E 9th St, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Guests at the city centre Cleveland Hampton Inn can enjoy a restful night’s sleep on the hotel’s signature Cloud Nine beds. The hotel also provides a free hot breakfast as well as free wireless internet access.
1380 E 6th St, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Guests can enjoy the indoor pool, hot tub and 24-hour fitness centre at the hotel. Complimentary hot breakfast and afternoon popcorn and soda are offered daily. On-site guest laundry and a guest pantry are also available
Cleveland, Ohio 44102
Air-conditioned accommodation with a patio and free WiFi. The apartment is equipped with 1 bedroom, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a microwave.
4300 Apple Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113
The apartment has 1 bedroom, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine, and 1 bathroom with a shower. Private parking available on site and free WiFi
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
The air-conditioned units come with a kitchen that includes a microwave, a private bathroom with free toiletries, and a living room with a flat-screen TV. A fridge and coffee machine are also featured. Free WiFi.
15625 Delaware Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107
This property offers access to a patio, free private parking and free WiFi. 2 bedrooms, a kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a flat-screen TV, a seating area and 1 bathroom equipped with a shower.
5801 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44102
Mixed gay friendly
The Happy Dog is a neighborhood corner bar in the best sense of the term. We've got hot dogs and beer, and lots of live music, from rock and country to punk and polka.
The bartenders are friendly and the bar itself is open and inviting - a racetrack oval wood bar, with plenty of old chrome barstools. It's not retro because it's pretty much unchanged from the time the Socotch family built the place back in the late 40's.
4693 State Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109, United States
Shade Nightclub is a friendly neighborhood bar that caters to LGBT+
11217 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44102
A down to earth gay bar located in Clevelands eclectic Cudell neighborhood.
Featuring a pool table, internet jukebox, TVs, gaming machines, free WiFi, air-conditioning, and a smoking area on the patio.'
The Hawk is a great place to relax and have fun with friends or meet new people
9208 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH 44102, United States
Lively neighborhood gay bar with a casual vibe offering happy hour, karaoke & weekend drag shows.
11633 Clifton Blvd, Cleveland, Ohio 44102
Twist Social Club is a neighborhood bar and night club focused on serving the LGBT community of greater Cleveland.
We have a robust entertainment schedule including monthly theme parties and Cleveland's best DJ's. In addition each day of the week has it own unique activity or theme from Trivia Tuesday to Karaoke or FreePlay on our video JukeBox.
11633 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44111
Vibe Gay Bar & Patio has a great crowd. Friendly staff great drinks and prices with a large outdoor patio for you to relax.
With regular events, like Djs and Shows
2205 Saint Clair Avenue Northeast, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
The Leather Stallion Saloon is Cleveland’s premier Bear & Leather bar. Established in 1970, it is one of the oldest running leather bars in the Midwest.
Rich in tradition as the “home bar” for the Leather Community, a fun neighborhood bar where everyone is welcomed – in or out of leather!
Recommended Hotels in Cleveland By Booking
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Booking.com
We have chosen hotels in Cleveland that keep you close to all the shops, restaurants & bars
The Westin Cleveland
4 Star – Central Location
- 4 Star – iPod Dock in Every Room
- A short taxi ride to the gay bars
- Flat-screen TV, refrigerator
- Central location with rooms featuring flat-screen cable TV, refrigerators, & iPod docks.
Hilton Cleveland
4 Star, Luxury
- 4 Star, Essential Business Amenities
- A short taxi ride to the gay bars
- Desk, private bathroom, wardrobe
- Ideal for business travelers with desks in rooms, private bathrooms, & a buffet breakfast area.
Drury Plaza Hotel
3 Star – Great Amenities
- 3 Star – Indoor Pool and Hot Tub
- A short taxi ride to the gay bars
- Pool, hot tub, fitness center
- Offers an indoor pool, hot tub, 24-hour fitness center, & complimentary hot breakfast.
Hampton Inn Cleveland
3 Star – Perfect Location
- 3 Star – Signature Cloud Nine Beds
- A short taxi ride to the gay bars
- Cloud Nine beds, free WiFi
- Perfect for a comfortable stay with signature Cloud Nine beds, free hot breakfast, & wireless internet.
Video Of Cleveland Winterfest
Winterfest 2020 Terminal Tower & Public Square Light Show
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