Cleveland Magazine Readers Share Their Favorite Local Holiday Memories

As Christmas comes closer, and the Salvation Army bells ring louder, we asked our readers to get into the holiday spirit by sharing their favorite Cleveland holiday memories on posts on Instagram, Facebook and via email. 

Our favorite was the toy soldier. One year he came over to our little girl and picked her up and twirled around with her! Wish we had phones with cameras then! Wonderful times at Tower City.
-@Jane Snyder on Instagram

Higbee’s FAVORITE PLACE! All 10 glorious floors! Thank you for sharing this photo!
-@Mama.sun4 on Instagram

We loved taking the kids to Tower City! The dancers were so exciting to watch and the talking tree was always fun! Never left without a picture with Santa!
-@Suzanne Zupanovic Stewart on Facebook

Always stopped at St. John’s Cathedral first to see the beautiful crib.  Then went to Sterling Linder, Halles, The May Co., Higbees, Mills Restaurant, Terminal Tower.  Windows were all decorated, seeing Santa Claus in all the stores, getting a free gift from the talking mule.  Mom would take a day of vacation each year, get us dressed up and we headed downtown, on the bus.  Had so much fun eating at Mills Buffet.  She would give us a few dollars so we could shop at the kids store for mom and dad.  The memories are as vivid today as always and much more cherished.  We did this for about five years.  Mom had a lot of patience and it was super special spending a day with her.  As with most people, there wasn’t a lot of money or gifts.  Don’t remember the gift but remember the special day with mom.
-Eileen Kaplan via email

I would come to Cleveland on the train w my friends every Christmas. We would have breakfast at a diner that I think was an old rail car. Then we would shop all day. Higbees was our favorite and Macy’s. No matter how old we got we always finished the day w a visit to Mr. Jingling before the train home. Happy holiday memories
-@Lollymarini on Instagram

My Grandma used to take me (without pesky brothers) to Higbees to do some shopping and lunch. Remember the restaurant there? Those experiences were magical. 1960’s.
-@towdollys on Instagram

The Sterling Linder Christmas Tree 🎄
-@probertsinshakerheights

It was a yearly event to go down there. See the toy soldier -have dinner and stay at a hotel. See the beautiful lights and shop
-@Steve Stahl on Facebook

I remember the Christmas clown at Halle's brunch! He would pop out from behind the Christmas tree!
-@meg_cooper26 on Instagram

Going to Halles 7th floor to see Mr. Jing a Ling and get my cardboard key. May Co. windows at Christmas..........
-@SharonH72693677 on Instagram

These days were amazing!! I miss when tower city was filled with people and stores
-@chelsfrenchfrey on Instagram

It was spectacular! My kids are in their 20s and 30s now but when they were little, they got to enjoy all the magic of Tower city, the toy soldier, the Cleveland Ballet nutcracker performances. It was magical!
-@annmartinez3867 on Instagram

There was something truly magical about Tower City at Christmas.
-@stephplusfour on Instagram

I miss Higbee and May Company doing Christmas 😢😢
-@​​007kenj on Instagram

We brought the kids [to Tower City] every year! Such a special time❤️
-@suestew1 on Instagram