![The Rink at Wade Oval is open for skating in University Circle starting Friday. [University Circle Inc.]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d930453/2147483647/strip/true/crop/980x551+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F11%2F29%2FUCI%20Winterfest%20HERO.jpg)
There are lots of ways to celebrate the holiday season from outdoor ice skating to a virtual Chanukah show to various Nutcrackers across Northeast Ohio. Here are five seasonal suggestions for you and your family this week.
Holiday Circlefest
University Circle institutions celebrate the season with a series of free events including ice skating on the Rink at Wade Oval for its annual Holiday Circlefest. Live music, ice carvers and horse-drawn carriages are some of the other activities taking place Sunday, Dec. 5, noon to 7 p.m.
Nutcrackers
Productions of "The Nutcracker" from a variety of dance companies take the stage in places like Akron, Cleveland, Canton, Lorainand Ashtabulathis month. Whether it's the Sugarplum Fairy from the Ballet Theatre of Ohio or North Pointe Ballet's Uncle Drosselmeyer, this classic holiday tradition returns to fill up your dance card.
"Chanukah Hoopla"
The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage hosts the virtual celebration "Chanukah Hoopla" featuring a menorah lighting by Rabbi Josh Foster of the B'nai Jeshurun Congregation. Music and song as well as a holiday family show and take place Sunday, Dec. 5, starting at 1:30 p.m.
"Black Nativity"
Karamu House brings back its classic holiday pageant " Black Nativity" to the corner of East 89 Street and Quincy Avenue in Cleveland. Written by Cleveland poet and Karamu alumnus Langston Hughes, the "Gospel Song-Play" takes the stage Dec. 2- 24.
"10 Minutes to Midnight"
Cleveland Public Theatre presents nine quirky plays for the holidays, " 10 Minutes to Midnight." Part variety show and part cabaret, the series of 10-minute plays gets its world premiere Dec. 2-18.
