Cleveland Winterfest 2008

I’ll be out of town visiting the in-laws this Thanksgiving, but for anyone who’ll be around in the Cleveland area, Winterfest seems to get more and more activity going on around Public Square each year.   Plus, you may want to think about taking the RTA rapid downtown for this event, the toddler absolutely loves the experience of “taking the train!”

More info, including free pics with Santa in the downtown Cleveland Visitors Center (if you bring your own camera):

Saturday, November 29th
25th Annual Winterfest Holiday Carriage Parade in and around Public Square

Festive, magical sights awaken Public Square at the 25th Annual Winterfest Carriage Parade and Tree Lighting on Saturday, November 29th from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Before the parade, take a stroll and enjoy events at one of ten participating downtown venues featuring art, music, dance, entertainment and refreshments. Watch in amazement as over 50 Vintage horse-drawn carriages make a memorable trip through the heart of the city. Awe-inspiring and magnificent Clydesdales, as well as a wonderful collection of adorable miniatures and other horses, in every color and size, will be marching proudly while displaying their best holiday attire.

This year, the parade will travel down Ontario through Public Square and move down Superior Avenue and West 6th Street in the historic Warehouse District. This year’s Grand Marshal will be Rosalyn Sumners, the silver medalist in Women’s Figure Skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Sumners turned professional after the Olympics, first touring with Disney on Ice and then with Stars on Ice. Cleveland’s own Michael Stanley, 98.5 WNCX Afternoon Drive Host and Musician, will be the evening’s emcee.

Cleveland’s own Michael Stanley will be performing after the parade, bringing us the familiar soulful sound that we’ve felt deep in our souls since the early 1980’s. As Clevelanders, we’ve enjoyed such Michael Stanley Band favorites as “He Can’t Love You”, “My Town” and “Lover”. MSB played at many venues throughout Cleveland, and even managed to shatter attendance records at Blossom Music Center in 1984. His love of music has him still performing today with The Resonators as well as the Midlife Chryslers. Please visit http://www.linelevelmusic.com for more information.

Luckily, the fun doesn’t end there! Join us for a public after-party at the Positively Cleveland Visitor’s Center in the Higbee Building, where musical entertainment will be provided by Up Ensemble. Santa will be there too! (Please bring your own camera to capture precious moments of your kids with the man in the red suit.) Other post-fireworks events are being held at venues throughout the city, including an Ice Sculpting demonstration and display on East Fourth, Choral groups in the Old Stone Church, and musical entertainment in Tower City.

For info on more Winterfest activities throughout the holidays as well as a map of the parade route, go to http://www.cleveland.com/winterfest

And if you do go, I want to hear about it!