Walking Observations: Christmas in the CLE

It's been a busy last few weeks for the Woodster and me. From getting ready for the holidays to taking Woody on walks before the ice and snow make it unbearable, this December has been jam-packed. The other night we were able to walk through Playhouse Square, the temporary home for Cleveland's Christmas tree and light display.

Woody is wearing a stylish scarlet & grey fleece while I wore sparkly sweatpants and my best coat to get in the holiday spirit. We couldn't get a picture of the big tree because the other lights were drowning out the holiday lights, but you get the point.

I've only lived in Cleveland for a couple years, so I don't know if I can pinpoint a Cleveland holiday tradition just yet, but I do have one that's starting to become a thing that merges Cleveland with a family Christmas memory. You probably know that A Christmas Story was filmed in Cleveland. You probably also know that there is a 24-hour marathon devoted to it on TBS (which I LOVED to watch with my uncle, who recently passed away this year). But I bet you didn't know that, beginning last year, A Christmas Story House Foundation hosts a 5K/10K race to support the restoration of the house, the museum, and the neighborhood. I've now ran in it both years and will probably continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The race begins downtown, and the distance to the house is an exact 3.1 miles. The people watching is fantastic, as Pink Nightmares, leg lamps, robbers and elves go running through the streets of Cleveland.

It's a major award!

Oh, and did I mention you can run with your dogs?? Woody can easily run a 5K but unfortunately his paws are a little too sensitive in cold weather for this type of race.

I've shown you a little of what I've been up to so I have to ask - what's your favorite Cleveland Christmas tradition (both dog or non-dog friendly) and what should I definitely make a point to do before the season is over, or even next year?