CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Botanical Garden is once again transforming its University Circle oasis into a glowing winter escape as “Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience” returns for its third season.
The popular indoor-outdoor exhibit opened to the public last weekend, running through Jan. 4. The garden’s annual showcase has quickly become one of Northeast Ohio’s favorite seasonal traditions, blending nature, artistry and holiday cheer in a setting that invites visitors to slow down and take in the beauty of the colder months.
This year’s “Frost” promises familiar favorites alongside creative new twists — including a newly renovated Garden Café from Spice Catering. The exhibit continues its evolution toward a more nature-centered celebration, shifting away from traditional holiday motifs and focusing instead on the natural textures, colors and rhythms of winter.
“We’re doing a modern winter show that’s more focused around the plants and the natural world,” Ryan Sandy, the Holden Forests & Garden’s associate director of guest experience at Holden Forests & Gardens, said.
“Over the past couple of years, that story has evolved to be a transition between seasons — where the winter spirit comes out and starts frosting over everything.”
Months of preparation go into the transformation. Outdoor light installations begin in September, followed by weeks of interior decorating.
Throughout the gardens, creative plant displays highlight the diversity of the natural world: living conifers replace cut trees and wreaths combine dried plants with poinsettias and bromeliads. Hallways adorned with season-themed trees decorated by Northeast Ohio garden clubs set the mood around every turn.
With roughly 4.5 acres of outdoor gardens illuminated for evening visitors, Sandy said the result is “super magical.”
The storytelling element continues into the garden’s permanent Glasshouse biomes.
“We made a spirit of the dry season and a spirit of the wet season to show that there are other climates around the world during what we consider wintertime,” Sandy said.
Guests can expect interactive experiences — from marshmallow roasting and ice carving to live music performances — and beloved traditions, including the long-running gingerbread competition.
This year’s entries include gingerbread creations inspired by the Cleveland Browns, the newly released “Wicked: For Good” film and beyond. Two rooms display both adult and children’s entries into the annual competition.
“Everywhere that we can decorate is decorated,” he said. “We spend so much time just trying to make everything look really nice, but also just hiding little details in for people to discover.”
Tickets are available online at holdenfg.org and must be purchased in advance. Nonmember adult tickets range from $24–$28, and child tickets are $15–$17. Member tickets are discounted, with prices varying by day and entry time.
Cleveland Botanical Garden is at 11030 East Boulevard, Cleveland.
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