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University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

University Circle was once again named one of the nation's top ten arts districts in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice competition! Vote daily to help us win!

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The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap

Posted on 12/08/22 by Nicole in Winter in the Circle

For the 28th year, we invited the community out to Wade Oval for a festive day of fun with us and at the organizations in the neighborhood. As the kickoff to Winter in the Circle and the Rink at Wade Oval, we love to jam-pack this day with activities for all!

The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap

From open to close, guests were skating on the fresh ice on The Rink and sipping their hot chocolate. We also brought back the Holiday Market where everyone was shopping from local businesses, from snacks to home goods.

Market vendors this year included:

  • Blasian Fusion
  • Positive Vibes by Ty
  • Designs by Sylvia
  • Glacier Concessions
  • Light-It-Up
  • Adoration of Colors
  • The Bom Parties
  • Catlin Naturals
  • Olio Montecalvo
  • Drizzle Me Sweet Gourmet Apples

The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap

Guests lined up for horse-drawn carriage rides around the Oval and to see Santa and friends on RTA’s Holiday Trolley. Mr. Jingeling, the Keeper of the Keys for Santa, also made an appearance to pass out some of those keys to families and take photos.

The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap

At the top of each hour, Elegant Ice Creations carved stunning ice sculptures, including Olaf.

Throughout the afternoon, Sheela & The Others played holiday music and other popular hits from the 60s and 70s.

University Circle’s museums welcomed guests and offered holiday exhibits, activities, performances, and shopping.

  • The Cleveland Museum of Art offered free holiday activities in the Atrium as well as discounted admission to the Impressionism to Modernism: The Keithley Collection
  • Cleveland Botanical Garden offered discounted admission and had a performance by the Cleveland Orchestra’s Children’s Chorus.
  • The Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland History Center offered discounted admission.

The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap

Emily Appelbaum, John Kasunich, Fire Guys LLC
Additional artist credit includes Tom Stoll, Steve Pitman, and The Ingeneers. Created in partnership with Burning River Foundation at IngenuityLabs with Ingenuity Cleveland.

For the big finale to CircleFest, we partnered with Ingenuity Cleveland to bring Phoenix Rising to the Oval. First created as part of the Cuyahoga 50 celebration in remembrance of the 1969 Cuyahoga River Fire, Phoenix Rising is a testament of hope and rebirth. As the final chapter of Holiday CircleFest closes, Phoenix Rising is the perfect symbol for the rebirth of winter at Wade Oval with new experiences and events coming in 2023.

The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap The 28th Annual Holiday CircleFest Recap

None of this could've been done without the help of our amazing sponsors, Cleveland's Department of Public Utilities and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

While Holiday CircleFest will not be returning, we look forward to future events during the winter on Wade Oval!

The Rink at Wade Oval is open through February 26, 2023 and is proudly sponsored by PNC Bank. Learn more and reserve your tickets at universitycircle.org/rink

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