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Tower City in Cleveland kicks off holiday season with festive lights and family-friendly events

The historic venue kicked off Holidays at Tower City on Friday and the fun is slated to continue through the end of the year.

CLEVELAND — 'Tis the Season!

RELATED: Holidays at Tower City Center in Cleveland to kick off Thursday, Nov. 17: See the list of events

The holidays have quickly arrived, and if you're not quite feeling the jolliest just yet, a historic venue is hoping to bring joy to the world, or in this case, Cleveland. 

On Friday, Tower City kicked off "Holidays at Tower City," illuminating its exterior, concourse, and hallways with festive décor. Tower City is set to host a full line-up of family-friendly events from now through the New Year. The holiday schedule also features unique pop-ups, old traditions and live music. 

New to the venue this year, Bruce the Spruce is returning to the concourse. The talking holiday tree is a Cleveland tradition dating back to the 1960s. 

RELATED: Holiday events happening near you in Northeast Ohio: 2022 guide

On Go! Sunday Morning, 3News reporter Kierra Cotton visited one of the unique pop-up shops: Magical Wonderland Adventure. The business, located in the old Bath and Body Works storefront, offers a festive shopping experience to all guests. It's co-owned by Tondria Suggs who told 3News that she and her sister opened the business, hoping to restore the feeling they had as children visiting Tower City and traveling to see Christmas lights throughout Northeast Ohio.

In its first year, at Magical Wonderland Adventure, you can find holiday gifts and goods—such as ornaments, candles, toys, and puzzles. It's also a place for kids to purchase presents for friends and family. 

Here's a list of just a few of the upcoming events at Tower City: 

WinterLand at Tower City 

  • Start the holiday season right at Tower City during WinterLand with a host of festive activities! Celebrate Small Business Saturday by shopping for gifts at the Cleveland Bazaar Holiday Market or take part in face painting, balloon twisters, and a craft station. Warm up with hot chocolate and cookies, holiday movie screenings with popcorn, roaming carolers and more!
  • Saturday, November 26th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Skylight Park, Tower City

Tower City Bingo Night at Holiday Spirits: Poured by Nuevo

  • Grab your coworkers, friends and family and head over to Holiday Spirits: Poured by Nuevo for bingo and giveaways! Holiday Spirits: Poured by Nuevo will expand into Skylight Park with a variety of food and alcoholic beverage offerings available for purchase while you play bingo.
  • Every Thursday in December from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Skylight Park, Tower City

Tower City Lunchtime Music Series

  • Enjoy holiday themed, live music performances from the Skylight Park at Tower City! Each Thursday during lunchtime hours, stop by The Eatery to pick up lunch, get some holiday shopping done or just take a break from your day and listen to the festive sounds from a variety of local artists.
  • Every Thursday in December from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Skylight Park, Tower City

Cleveland Police Children’s Holiday Party 

  • The Cleveland Police Department will host its annual holiday party at Tower City’s Skylight Park. All are welcome to attend this free event which features face painting, magicians, mascots, games and the Cleveland Police K9 Unit and Mounted Unit.
  • Sunday, December 4th from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Skylight Park, Tower City

Donte’s Giving Express

  • Donte’s Giving Express will celebrate its tenth anniversary at Tower City with a performance by the Shaw High School Marching Band, live holiday soul vocalists, a selfie station, hot cocoa stands, holiday card writing station, gift wrapping stations, ornament decoration station and a pop-up shop.
  • Saturday, December 10th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Skylight Park, Tower City

Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s “Read with a Ranger” at Tower City 

  • Join the Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Rangers for a reading of Polar Express from Tower City’s giant storybook! Guests are invited to mingle with elves and make holiday crafts!
  • Saturday, December 10th from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Tower Court, Tower City

Tower City Center’s Kids Shopping Day

  • Some of your favorite holiday characters will be at Tower City for a holiday gift shopping and wrapping day. Join us as the characters help kids pick out presents for everyone on their lists!
  •  Sunday, December 11, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Skylight Park, Tower City

Cleveland Bazaar Holiday Market Pop-up 

  • Shop local at small businesses popping-up across Tower City! Enjoy live music, balloon artists, face painters and giveaways.
  • Saturday, December 17th and Sunday, December 18 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Skylight Park, Tower City

Tower City Center’s Noon Year’s Eve

  • Bring your family to celebrate the new year at Tower City! This NOON Year’s Eve event will feature a balloon drop at 12 p.m., character meet and greets, dance parties, New Year wearables, balloon twisters, face painters and more!
  • Saturday, December 31st from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Skylight Park, Tower City

Tower City is pulling out all of the stops this holiday season, grab the entire family and head to the heart of downtown Cleveland to experience the most wonderful time of the year. 

For more information on Tower City's holiday festivities, click here

EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above previously aired on 3News on Nov. 18, 2022.

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