Cleveland, OH
Your guide to holiday activities across Northeast Ohio
Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays, which is why you’ll want to check out these fun activities happening across Northeast Ohio.
We break down all the different types of events happening in the area.
Tree lightings
Wade Oval
Wade Oval will be hosting Illuminate the Circle on Nov. 23 from 5-8 p.m.
The lights will be turned on daily from Nov. 24 until Jan. 26.
NELA Park
NELA Park Holiday Lighting Ceremony showcases GE Lighting ‘Holiday Delighter’
NELA Park Holiday Lighting Ceremony will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year.
The ceremony will take place on Dec. 6.
WinterLAND
Brian Sobolewski
On Nov. 30, make sure you head down to Public Square to watch the lights turn on across Cleveland.
The annual tree-lighting will be part of a day of celebrations and family-friendly experiences across Cleveland.
For more information, click here.
Annual traditions
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
All aboard!
The holiday season is here, which means the North Pole Adventure on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has returned.
The event that runs through December 20 has something to offer for the entire family and guest appearances from Santa Claus and his elves.
For more information and tickets, click here.
Wild Winter Lights
Wild Winter Lights returns next month
The popular Wild Winter Lights event will take over the zoo from Nov. 12 until Dec. 30.
The event features more than one and a half million lights strung across multiple holiday-themed areas in the zoo.
For more information, click here.
Magic of Lights
Magic of Lights drive-thru more than doubles traffic as families safely celebrate holiday season
Magic of Lights is returning to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds this holiday season.
The light show opens on Nov. 27 and closes on Jan. 4.
Click here for more information.
Performances
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Carsten Steinhausen
It wouldn’t be the holidays without the Trans-Siberian Orchestra coming to town.
This year, their concert is on Dec. 27 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
To learn more, click here.
Cleveland Orchestra
Roger Mastroianni/Roger Mastroianni
The Cleveland Orchestra
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHORUS,
MEMBERS OF THE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL CHORUS
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHILDREN’S CHORUS
Brett Mitchell, conductor
Lisa Wong, conductor
CAPATHIA JENKINS, vocal
Photo by Roger Mastroianni
The Cleveland Orchestra might perform concerts year-round, but during the month of December, they perform sounds of the holiday season.
The holiday concerts are performed from Dec. 11 through the 22.
For more information, click here.
The Nutcracker
The beloved holiday show, The Nutcracker, will be taking over Playhouse Square.
Come and watch the Cleveland Ballet perform the holiday classic.
For more information, click here.
A Christmas Carol
Even if you’re a Scrooge, you will enjoy this show.
A Christmas Carol will be performed at Playhouse Square from Nov. 24 until Dec. 23.
For more information, click here.
Winter break camps
Great Lakes Science Center
Great Lakes Science Center 
The Science Center will be hosting STEM camps from Dec. 23 until Dec. 37 and from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3.
Kids will learn about space, chemistry, engineering and more.
Click hereto learn more.
Indoor activities
Cleveland Museum of Art
Photo by Kaylyn Hlavaty.
Looking for something fun and free to do while your kids are off school?
Head to the Cleveland Museum of Art to check out their new exhibits.
For more information, click here.
Natural History Museum
Drew Scofield | News 5 Cleveland
Have you missed going to the history museum? They reopen on Dec. 15.
For more information, click here.
News 5 currently has sponsorship agreements with University Circle, Inc., organizer of the Wade Oval holidays events; Live Nation, organizer of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert; and the Great Lakes Science Center, host of the holiday camps.
Cleveland, OH
Wanted sex offender arrested at the same Cleveland home where missing Tennessee mother found dead
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – U.S. Marshals say a wanted sex offender was arrested early Friday morning at the same home where a missing Tennessee mother was found dead on July 3.
Matthew Hensley, 43, was wanted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department for failing to register his address after a conviction of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
“Today along with Cleveland Police SWAT, Deputy Sheriffs from Cuyahoga County and my Deputy Marshals, we hit that house and we found Hensley in that house hiding in a bench area and a wall and a secret compartment that he had constructed,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott
According to the U.S. Marshals, he had additional charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor from an indictment in 2022.
Law enforcement has been searching for Hensley for over two months, according to a release.
Hensley was featured on Cuyahoga’s Most Wanted on Thursday.
The task force said it received numerous tips about Hensley’s whereabouts all across the Cleveland area.
He was found hiding in a cabinet at a home located at 3490 Bosworth Road and taken into custody without incident.
On July 3, Amber Graham, 37, of Spring Hill, Tennessee, was found dead outside at the same address.
Police and fire personnel discovered her body covered in a sheet.
In the Cleveland police report connected to Graham’s death, Hensley is listed as a involved person.
Child found alone at fire station
Graham’s friend told 19 News she had brought her 8-year-old daughter with her on a trip to meet a man she had been communicating with through an online video game.
On July 1, the child walked into a Cleveland fire station alone.
Officials would not confirm the child’s relation to Graham but confirmed an 8-year-old did arrive at the fire station last week.
“They assessed her for any medical issues that she would have. She appeared uninjured, but she had a phone number in her pocket for her grandmother in Tennessee. It’s my understanding. But in that situation, we called police. They called Child Protective Services,” said Lt. Mike Norman of the Cleveland Fire Department.
A friend of the victim’s said the child was Graham’s.
Friends raise alarm
Joshua LaCroix, a friend of Graham’s who lives in Franklin, Tennessee, said Graham had told him and his wife she was planning the trip to Cleveland to meet a man she had connected with through a video game.
During the trip, Graham called LaCroix, saying he heard a man in the background who was angry with her.
“That was the last conversation that me and my wife had with her,” LaCroix said.
When Graham stopped responding, friends and family grew concerned.
“She never misses a shift. No one can reach her. Last thing we know, she was in Cleveland. So like, something’s not right. She’s supposed to be here at work and she’s not,” LaCroix said.
Graham’s family reported her missing to authorities on July 2.
Facebook group helps locate home
LaCroix said he reached out to a Cleveland Facebook page for help tracking down Graham. Members of the group identified a home they believed she may have visited.
“The police were able to get to the house and, you know, discover what they discovered,” LaCroix said.
LaCroix described Graham as someone who cared for others.
“She’s just a genuine person. And she’s a good person. She’s the kind of person who will care for you without much reason to do so,” he said.
Investigation ongoing
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner is investigating Graham’s cause of death. No arrests or charges have been made.
Cleveland police said they are awaiting the medical examiner’s ruling before potentially opening a criminal investigation.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) -This week’s Cuyahoga’s Most Wanted features a Cleveland man on the run for failing to maintain his sex offender registry.
According to Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County, Matthew Hensley was convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in a 2002 case.
It’s reported his victim was under the age of 16-years-old.
He has failed to register, and failed to notify the sheriff’s department of his change of address.
He is now facing the following charges:
• Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
• Failure to provide notice of change of address
Hensley is 5’8” and 159 lbs. and has a tattoo of Jesus on his neck as well as a tribal dragon on his left arm and praying hands with roses on his right arm.
He was last known to be staying in the 1200 block of W. 65th Street in Cleveland.
If anyone knows where Hensley is, call Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County.
All calls to 216-252-7463 can remain completely anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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