You won’t want to miss the Fifth Annual Light Up Lakewood Festival which is bigger and better than ever this year. Light Up Lakewood festival takes place on Saturday, December 3 from 5:00-8:00 pm. Northeast Ohio residents are invited to the half-mile stretch along closed Detroit Avenue, from Marlowe to Arthur Avenues (Lakewood Hospital to Lakewood Library) which will be transformed into Lakewood’s own holiday Wonderland.
The Light Up Lakewood spectacular will kick-off with a winter festival parade including Santa’s arrival. The parade will begin at Bunts Avenue and proceed to Arthur Avenue down closed Detroit Avenue. The parade is followed by a holiday Lighting Ceremony featuring the crowing of the first Light Up Lakewood Festival King & Queen and a special “Lighting Extravaganza” at Lakewood Hospital. The evening finishes with a street festival including:
• Musical entertainment by choirs and bands from Lakewood public schools, Lakewood Catholic Academy, and dance performances by Silhouette Dance & Fine Art;
• Children’s activities, story time, visits with Santa and a “kids-only” shopping opportunity at a “Twigbee-style” shop at Lakewood Library;
• That “famous reindeer” movie shown outside on the Lakewood Public Library wall;
• Street performers along Detroit Avenue, including the St. Edward Trash Talkers and the St. Ignatius High School Circus Company, Bernese Mountain Dogs and Siberian Husky Sled Dogs;
• Participate in “Christmas Carole Karaoke” on the Panera Bread Stage;
• Mobile video game truck sure to appeal to middle school kids, who will have100+ games to choose from with 20 kids participating at a time, in and outside the trailer;
• Street hockey, ice carvings and pictures with holiday characters including “Buddy the Elf” and the “Grinch”;
• Food trucks including Streat Mobile Bistro & Mad Mouth Gyros;
• Carnival fare including roasted nuts, funnel cakes, and kettle korn;
• Live music on the Five Guys front porch by The Ohio City Singers;
• Free trolley rides; and
• the “Gingerbread House Tour” featuring community created ginger bread houses on display at various merchants throughout the downtown district kicks off with Light Up Lakewood.
In addition, Lakewood will be buzzing throughout the day with activities at Panera Bread, Lakewood Hospital, First Federal of Lakewood and Lakewood Public Library.
On December 3, 2011, Panera Bread (14701 Detroit Avenue) will feature free photos with Santa from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Lakewood Hospital (14519 Detroit Avenue) will feature free photos with Santa, a Hot Chocolate Bar (kids free), live entertainment by Vance Music Jazz Ensemble and by Lakewood Baptist Church’s Judson Belle Choir, Chamber Choir and Praise Team Band. The entertainment will finish with the announcement and crowning of the Light Up Lakewood Festival King & Queen. Lakewood Public Library will host a Holiday Book Sale and Family Weekend Wonders programming in their children’s area. First Federal of Lakewood will host choirs in their main lobby from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Light Up Lakewood is a community event presented by LakewoodAlive in collaboration with the City of Lakewood, Lakewood City Schools, Lakewood Public Library, Lakewood Masonic Temple, Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, Plantation Home, Downtown Lakewood Business Alliance, H2O Volunteers and sponsored by Lakewood Hospital, Coral Company, Target, Panera Bread, Discount Drug Mart, First Federal of Lakewood, University of Akron-Lakewood, Hinkley Lighting, Cleveland Cinemas - Capital Theatre, Renewal by Andersen, Around the Corner and Dollar Bank.
Visit
for a complete listing of events, activities and a list of the merchant locations with gingerbread houses on display.
