Cleveland Botanical Garden Unveils New Holiday Exhibit, Tropical Holiday, presented by JPMorganChase
October 14, 2026
(CLEVELAND) October 14, 2026 – Swap winter blues for island hues at the Cleveland Botanical Garden this holiday season. Tropical Holiday, presented by JPMorganChase, invites guests to explore tropical-inspired adventures and plant-powered displays alongside beloved holiday traditions, including dozens of imaginative gingerbread houses and the return of our 20-foot-tall, decorated living tree, a picture-perfect backdrop for family photos.
Photos – Courtesy of Holden Forests & Gardens
Tropical Holiday, presented by JPMorganChase, will open to the public on Saturday, November 21 at 10 a.m. and will run through Sunday, January 3. Tropical Holiday is included with general admission and free for Holden Forests & Gardens members. Advance purchase of timed tickets online is required. Tickets are on sale now at cbgarden.org.
“We’re excited to invite visitors to Tropical Holiday, a truly unique holiday experience.” Ryan Sandy, Associate Director of Guest Experience at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. “This year we’re combining vintage Christmas and tropical tiki aesthetics to bring a new kind of warmth and wonder to the holidays.”
SHOW DETAILS
Tropical Holiday will whisk guests away from the icy Ohio winter to a botanical world of wonder. Journey through reimagined indoor and outdoor scenes, following the story of a shipwrecked crew making their way through the desert and jungle to find their way to the Holiday Bazaar.
Gingerbread creations from the 20th annual gingerbread competition will line the walls of Eppig Gallery.
In the Madagascar and Costa Rica Glasshouse biomes, guests can follow the Tropical Holiday storybook trail scavenger hunt, searching for plants and other natural features that help them survive a journey through the desert and jungle. Each discovery earns a stamp, and participants who complete the adventure can turn in their scavenger hunt to receive a free postcard.
At the heart of Tropical Holiday is a stunning 20-foot-tall living tree in the Ellipse, surrounded by vibrant bromeliads, ferns, monstera, and fan palms. Sparkling champagne lights and jewel-toned ornaments create a festive tropical centerpiece, while hundreds of poinsettias and unique tropical plants fill the indoor gardens.
Family favorites abound, with the Garden Room and Perennial Playspace offering extra seating and an expanded kids’ play zone, including an oversized slide, back by popular demand.
Outdoors, the gardens sparkle with beautifully lit displays and plenty of photo opportunities including a light tunnel extending from the Geis Terrace to the Rose Garden. Indoors, the Japanese Overlook and Clark Hall will host our annual stunning display of decorated trees and wreaths by our affiliate garden clubs.
Holiday Bazaar in Clark Hall
Holiday Bazaar vendors will rotate throughout the season on select high-traffic days from Nov. 21 through Jan. 3. Vendors will be featured on weekends, select Thursdays and Fridays in December, and daily during the peak holiday week leading up to Christmas. Offerings will include daytime and evening shopping sessions, giving visitors multiple opportunities to discover unique gifts, seasonal goods, and local artisans throughout the holiday season.
PROGRAMMING
Family-friendly activities, interactive displays, storybook trail, and marshmallow roasting in the evenings are just the beginning. Kids of all ages will be immersed in the joy and wonder of the winter season!
The six-week experience will include a full calendar of solstice season educational activities and events. Special nighttime hours will be Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 9 p.m., featuring live performances from a variety of local musicians reflecting the holiday spirit. On Sundays, Tropical Holiday will have special performances from 2 – 4 p.m.
KRAMPUSNACHT, Saturday, December 5 from 6 – 9 p.m.
Krampusnacht is a folklore-filled evening with Krampuses seeking out deviant attendees throughout the night. Attendees will meet costumed Krampuses roaming around decorated indoor and outdoor gardens as guests shop from local vendors selling Krampus swag and enjoy live music by The DarpleGangers, all surrounded by the beauty of Tropical Holiday, presented by JPMorganChase. Swing by the Garden Café for delicious food and drink specials available for purchase. A portion of proceeds from Krampusnacht supports Buddy Strong Academy. Price: $35 per nonmember, $30 per member. Advance registration is required. Krampusnacht registration.
STORYTIME WITH SANTA, Sundays, November 22 & 29, December 6 & 13, 10 a.m. – Noon
Join us for a magical holiday event where Santa himself will read a festive story and take photos with each guest. While waiting for your table’s turn to capture a picture with Santa, enjoy crafting at the table with fun holiday-themed activities. Light refreshments will be provided to keep the holiday spirit going. After the event, stay and experience Tropical Holiday, presented by JPMorganChase. Cost: $30 per nonmember adult, $25 per nonmember child, $20 per member adult, $20 per member child. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 16. Storytime with Santa Registration.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA, Sunday, December 20, 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. seatings
Join us for a magical breakfast experience! Look forward to a special visit from Santa himself as he stops by each table. You’ll have plenty of time to take photos with Santa after he’s made his rounds, ensuring everyone gets a memorable moment during each seating. Tickets will go on sale soon. Breakfast with Santa Registration.
ANNUAL GINGERBREAD COMPETITION
The Gingerbread Competition is in its 20th year and will have openings for approximately 100 gingerbread houses from local bakeries, families, and kids of all ages. Registration deadline is Sunday, November 8. Gingerbread drop-off is Tuesday, November 17 and Wednesday, November 18 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Gingerbread creations will be on display during the duration of Tropical Holiday. Registration for Gingerbread Competition.
CHILDREN’S CLASSES & INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES
Each day offers a different experience that blends creativity, learning, and seasonal fun. Children can discover the importance of ginger in holiday traditions, craft a peppermint-scented wooden bead, or mix their own cinnamon mulling spices to take home. On Sundays, little ones can also gather for a cozy story time, making the season even more magical. Activities rotate daily, giving families something new to explore with each visit.
Activity Add On: Keep the holiday excitement going with special activity add-ons just for kids. Available for purchase on-site at the Guest Services Desk and the Holiday Bazaar in Clark Hall. Cost: $3 per member, $5 per nonmember, and $1 per access member.
- Tropical Wishes: Layer vibrant colored sand into a keepsake bottle and add tropical-inspired decorations such as seashells. Create a one-of-a-kind souvenir while imagining your own tropical holiday wishes.
- Coconut Shell Oasis: Transform a real coconut shell into an air plant’s tropical paradise. Add an air plant, stones, and natural accents to give your new plant buddy an awesome new home for the holidays and beyond.
- Cacao Challenge: Think you know chocolate? Taste a variety of chocolates and cacao products, then see if you can match each sample to its correct cacao percentage. Discover the journey from cacao bean to chocolate bar while putting your taste buds to the ultimate test!
Children’s Classes:
From hands-on crafts to festive activities, Tropical Holiday children’s classes offer fun learning experiences for young guests. Cost: $8 per member child, $10 per nonmember child, $6 per access member child. One complimentary adult ticket is included for each child ticket purchased. Registration is required.
- Deck the Palms: Tropical Paper Wreaths – Saturdays, December 5 & 19, 3 – 4 p.m. Craft a stunning, evergreen tropical holiday wreath with vibrant paper blossoms and leaves! Dive into the world of tropical plants as you design a festive masterpiece to proudly display all season long. Suggested ages: 7 to 12.
- Creating From the Canopy: Nature Ornaments – Saturdays, November 28 & December 19, 3 – 4 p.m. Whip up one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments with a delightful mix of clay, dried botanicals, pinecones, and aromatic spices. Guests will unleash their inner artist, crafting personalized treasures for their holiday decor, all inspired by nature’s finest wonders. Suggested ages: 6 to 10.
- Yeti, Set, Stuff: Making a Yeti Friend – Saturday, December 12, 3 – 4 p.m.; Monday, December 21 & Tuesday, December 29, 1 – 2 p.m. Craft your very own snuggly yeti pillow to cuddle up with, then unleash your creativity by giving your frosty friend a quirky name and personality! This delightful DIY adventure comes with a whimsical winter tale that’ll tickle your imagination and spark creative magic. Suggested ages: 5 to 10.
- Cookie Cabana: Holiday Cookie Decorating – Tuesday, December 22, 1 – 2 p.m., Saturday, December 26 & Sunday, December 27, 3 – 4 p.m. Jazz up your holiday cookies with a splash of colorful icing and a shower of sprinkles! Guests will master the art of simple cookie decorating while whipping up scrumptious creations to savor or share with loved ones. Suggested ages: 6 to 10.
ADULT CLASSES
Winter Wonderland Paint & Sip – Friday, December 4 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Unwind with a beginner-friendly evening of art at Cleveland Botanical Garden! Local artist M.E. Kuzma will guide participants through acrylic painting techniques while highlighting the benefits of creative engagement and mindfulness. Enjoy a drink, light refreshments, and fun conversation as you complete a beautiful painting (16×20″ canvas) inspired by our winter exhibit! Class fee includes supplies, light snacks, and 1 complimentary drink at our Garden Cafe. Adult, 21+. Cost: $49 per member, $64 per nonmember. Winter Wonderland Paint & Sip Registration.
Botanical Wreath Workshop – Sunday, December 4 from 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Get inspired this winter season as you create with evergreens and other natural botanicals! Join Design Horticulturist Sommer Tolan to experiment with form and function, while creating a unique wreath using a grapevine form. All materials are provided. Cost: $48 per member, $63 per nonmember. Botanical Wreath Workship Registration.
Serenity Sundays – Sundays, December 27, January 30, & February 28 from 1 – 2 p.m.
Carve out an hour of absolute quiet for your nervous system and turn inward during Serenity Sundays, a 60-minute immersive winter sound bath series led by Julie Hutter, RN, of Foundational Energy and Sound Healing. As an intuitive sound healing practitioner, Julie guides participants through a restorative journey that blends pure 432 Hz crystal, Tibetan metal singing bowls and other instruments along with some gentle somatic breathwork to quiet mental chatter, ease tension, and mirror nature’s winter dormancy across three seasonal dates. Please bring a yoga mat, a cozy blanket, and comfortable layers to fully settle into the experience (chairs will also be available if needed). Cost: Prices vary Serenity Sundays Registration.
ART ON DISPLAY
Jann Dieringer – Ohio’s Winter Embrace: A Frozen Encaustic Photography Exhibition
Through the innovative medium of encaustic photography, the artist transforms photographs of Ohio’s trees, landscapes, and native plants into luminous, painterly works by layering molten beeswax, natural resin, pigments, and mixed media. Inspired by the quiet beauty of winter, these textured images capture the fleeting nature of the landscape while inviting reflection on impermanence, stillness, and the transformative power of nature.
HOURS & ADMISSION
Tropical Holiday is included with general admission and free to Holden Forests & Gardens members. Admission is $21 for adults, $15 for children ages 3 – 12. Children ages 2 and under are free. Advance online timed ticket purchase is required. Tickets are on sale now at cbgarden.org.
Tropical Holiday hours are Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. The Botanical Garden will be open on Sundays from noon – 6 p.m. except for Dec. 20 & 27 when Tropical Holiday will be open from noon – 9 p.m. The Botanical Garden will be closed on Mondays except for Dec. 21 & Dec 28 when Tropical Holiday will be open from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. The Botanical Garden is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Additionally, the Botanical Garden will close at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Please check cbgarden.org for updated information.
