Downtown Akron is set to kick off its 21st season of winter fun on Friday, Nov. 28, with the annual Santa Parade, ice skating, a holiday market and more as the holiday season moves into high gear.

In a nod to Akron’s past holiday traditions, Archie the Snowman, a relic of Chapel Hill Mall, will also be on hand and the O’Neil’s holiday window displays will return, featuring classics like the Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan, according to a news release from the city. 

This year’s illuminated parade starts at 6 p.m. at Cedar and South Main streets and will make its way north on South Main Street to West Bowery. The parade will showcase vibrant floats, costumed characters and Santa.

Immediately following the parade, the evening will finish with fireworks and the lighting up of Lock 3.  

Here’s information to help you plan your visit, along with a schedule of some of the event highlights.

Signal background

LOCK 3’s winter hours: 

Mondays and Tuesdays — closed
Wednesdays and Thursdays — 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Fridays and Saturdays — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 
Sundays — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

Ice skating and skate rental information

Ice skating includes skate rental — $10

Skate sizes:  child 9 through adult 13  

Skating with your own skates — $5
 
Skating with double-blade buckle skates — $8

No reservations needed.  

Ice bumper cars

Wednesday to Sunday, $12 for 10 minutes. Reservations open Nov. 14 online at Lock3Live.com. 

Evelyn’s Coffee & Banh Mi Cafe:

Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located inside Lock 3.  

Akron's Welcome Santa Parade
METRO’s Santa Bus heads down Main Street during downtown Akron’s Welcome Santa Parade on Nov. 29, 2024. (Christiana Cacciato / Signal Akron)

Archie the Snowman

Talk to Archie and enjoy displays from the former O’Neils and Polsky’s Department Stores displayed in the former O’Neils Basement (enter near the skate rental area).
Free admission.

Check here for hours.  

Archie the Snowman Fan Club Day — Dec. 20, noon to 9 p.m.

Visit with Santa

Sunday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 20 — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.   

Monday, Dec 22 —  5-7 p.m.  

Visit with Santa and bring your camera for photos. Free admission. Registration not required.  

A man selling glow sticks as Friday night temperatures dipped below freezing walks by signage near a renovated Lock 3 on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
A man selling glow sticks as Friday night temperatures dipped below freezing walks by signage near a renovated Lock 3 on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Christiana Cacciato / Signal Akron)

Artists Weekend Holiday Market  

Lock 3, Summit Artspace, and Akron Bazaar have partnered to bring Artists Weekend to downtown Akron on Friday, Nov. 28, from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   

The free event will feature local arts and crafts vendors.

Street Craftery ceramic tree ornaments

Make a keepsake tree ornament in the Lock 3 Commons area between the concessions stand and the Akron Children’s Museum before the parade from 3-6 p.m. or after the parade from 7-9 p.m. Participants will hand-paint ceramic ornaments. $12 per person — reserve a spot and learn more here.

Hands-On Holidays & Hotcakes:  

Hands-On Holidays & Hotcakes at the Akron Children’s Museum is on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Seasonal traditions — including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas — are combined with interactive activities and treats for a day of family fun. Enjoy the hotcake bar, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus along with the Grinch and the Wicked Sisters.

Tickets are on sale now and expected to sell out quickly.

Make Believe Midnight:  

Akron Children’s Museum is hosting its annual Make Believe Midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 30, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., giving families the opportunity to ring in 2026 during the day.  

Tickets are on sale now and expected to sell out quickly. Families are encouraged to reserve their preferred time slot early.   

Akron’s Sauerkraut Ball presented By Stray Dog  

Get ready to toast a beloved Northeast Ohio holiday snack on Saturday, Dec. 13. The sauerkraut ball is taking over Lock 3, inviting food lovers, families and holiday party planners to experience a festive night celebrating sauerkraut balls from a multitude of local restaurants. 

College ID nights

Every Thursday, get $5 off skating. 

Downtown resident days  

Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb. 11 — get $5 off skating. 

Snowball Crawl presented by Thirsty Dog  

Jan. 10, 2-6 p.m.   

Akron breweries

Tickets at the door. $3 for samples or $28 for 10 tickets 

Frost Fest

Saturday, Jan. 24, from noon to 5 p.m. An afternoon of winter fun, including ice sculptures, a hot cocoa crawl, music and more. Learn more at www.Downtownakron.com.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.