CLEVELAND, Ohio – As children played games, ate popcorn, sipped on hot drinks and explored Wade Oval Park Saturday night, a surprise guest appeared to start the countdown to bring the park to life.
To kick off the season, University Circle Inc. held its very first “Illuminate the Circle,” which included a tree lighting ceremony. Santa Claus was the grand finale as the crowd counted down with him from 10 to zero to light up the 30-foot Christmas tree in the park. Everyone yelled “Wow,” “Ooh” and “Cool” as the tree displayed different colors, from white to blue to even a candy cane pattern, too.
The tree lighting was accompanied by live music and activities including cornhole, holiday crafts, Jenga and a snowball toss. Children stood very close to the tree after it was lit, looking at it with awe. People took pictures and videos with their phones to capture what University Circle Inc. hopes becomes a tradition for many families.
For many years Wade, Oval had an ice-skating rink that was inexpensive to use, said Heidi Clevinger, chief marketing and experience officer for University Circle Inc., which manages events at Wade Oval. But over the years, there has been a decline in attendance at the rink, she said.
“We’re really excited to present this to the community,” Clevinger said. “It’s such a fun time of year and we really just wanted to make the space feel really inviting and really warm.”
While nothing can compare to Public Square’s tree lighting every year, the Wade Oval Park tree lighting is more of a way to be the “connective tissue” to the surrounding institutions including the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Severance Music Center, the Cleveland Botanical Garden and more, she said. It’s also a way to liven and brighten up the space during the winter, Clevinger added.
For Phillip Adams, 62, a lifelong Cleveland resident, these kinds of events are about making memories with his grandchildren and other family members.
“Wade Oval is a great place to be,” he said. “Me and my family come to the concerts in the summertime. Memories are the greatest gift you could ever give.”
Caitilin Moscato, 36, of Mentor-on-the-Lake, and her extended family came to the tree lighting donned in Christmas sweaters, headbands, Santa hats and so much more. It’s a family affair for all of them and they try to go to as many tree lightings as possible.
“It really does make me feel so happy and excited,” she said with a big smile. “I love making memories with my three boys.”
Moscato said she loves how much Wade Oval has developed, and it’s become such a big attraction for people near and far.
Edward Sajovic, owner of EJS Design, which helped put together the lights for the tree, thanked his “incredible team” and said the collaboration between EJS Design and University Circle Inc. has been a joy.
“One favorite thing that I’ve always thought of, or a favorite memory is looking at Christmas lights with my family as a child,” he told the crowd at Wade Oval. “I’m a Christmas junkie by heart. I love it all. I love all the wonder.”
Sajovic hopes everyone brings their family and friends to Wade Oval this holiday season to see the lights.
Clevinger’s goal for the event is to continue to grow and expand it every year.
“I would love to see other partners come in and bring holiday lights beyond just Wade Oval Park and start bringing maybe holiday lights towards East Boulevard and the Euclid Corridor,” she said. “These are all longer-term visions of making University Circle feel like this magical holiday destination.”
The holiday lights display at Wade Oval will be turned on from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Sunday, Nov. 24 to Tuesday, Dec. 31, according to University Circle Inc. The light show and music will play every 20 minutes from 5 to 8 p.m. and the white lights are on from 8 to 11 p.m.
From New Year’s Day to Sunday, Jan. 26, the white lights will be on from 5 to 11 p.m.
Kaylee Remington is the shopping and entertainment commerce reporter and metro reporter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Read her work online.