Let the countdown to the holiday season begin! The Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Twinkle in the 216 will celebrate the historic character of Cleveland’s neighborhoods as they sparkle and shine to add warmth and joy to the cold winter months. The winter show opens Saturday, November 19, and runs through Saturday, December 31.
The indoor and outdoor gardens will pay a festive holiday homage to the beautiful blocks that knit neighborhoods, people and plants and trees together. In the Ellipse, visitors will be greeted by postcard vignettes of iconic Cleveland landmarks and a 20-foot-tall “living” tree built from live and dried plant material. Guests seeking a holiday escape a little farther from home can enter the Madagascar and Costa Rica Glasshouses, transformed in the spirit of the season with special horticultural displays, lights and postcard vignettes referencing iconic towns within the spiny desert and cloud forest.
“Holidays are about coming together — as family, as friends, as a community. This year’s winter show at the Cleveland Botanical Garden will celebrate Cleveland neighborhoods by featuring vignettes of iconic local architecture, as well as holiday favorites such as handmade gingerbread houses, lighted outdoor trails, festive horticultural displays, and decorated trees,” says exhibitions manager Ryan Sandy.
Visitors will be surrounded by holiday plants and trees from evergreen conifers to poinsettias in shades of white, pink, and red. Popular traditions return including dozens of trees decorated by more than 30 Affiliate Garden Clubs from Northeast Ohio and candy-coated gingerbread houses assembled by bakers from across the community.
On weekends during the show and every day between Dec. 20 – Dec 31, outdoor activities will include hot cocoa story time, marshmallow roasting, community crafts, and more.
Additional Twinkle in the 216 events include:
Krampus Night with Krampus of Cleveland
On Saturday, December 3 from 6 – 8:30 p.m., Krampus returns to the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Keep an eye out for Krampus as he lurks about searching for deviant attendees throughout the night. Enjoy various vendors selling Krampus swag, make your own mulling spices, sip on a fun cocktail from our outdoor bar, and listen to the sweet sounds of Erin Nicole Neal and the Chill Factors as Krampus sneaks around the garden. This event is $5 per member and nonmember. A portion of the proceeds from this event goes to W.A.G.S. 4 Kids.
Breakfast with Santa
Sunday, December 11, and Sunday, December 18 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. a holiday tradition returns: Breakfast with Santa. This event is $28 per member adult, $22 per member child, $38 per nonmember adult, and $25 per nonmember child. Advance ticket purchase is required. Check holdenfg.org for updated ticket information.
Twinkle in the 216 hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sundays noon – 5 p.m. The Botanical Garden will be closed on Mondays except for Dec. 19 and 26 when Twinkle in the 216 will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Botanical Garden is closed on November 24 (Thanksgiving), December 25 (Christmas Day), and January 1 (New Year’s Day). Additionally, the Botanical Garden will close at 3 p.m. on December 24 and December 31. Please check holdenfg.org for updated information.
Twinkle in the 216 admission is $20 per adult, and $14 per child ages three to 12 (free for children 2 and under). Admission is free for Holden Forests & Gardens members. Tickets are available for purchase on-site at the visitor’s welcome desk, or online, at holdenfg.org. The Botanical Garden is located at 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio. Indoor parking is available for a fee based on availability.
