27 Nostalgic Photos of Downtown Cleveland at Christmastime

Who doesn't love and remember Christmastime in Cleveland as a kid, that magical season when schools would close, city streets would light up, and decorated trees would adorn nearly every park or plaza? With the help of these nostalgic photos, collected from Cleveland Memory Project and Cleveland Press, take a walk down memory lane to time when holiday consumerism meant shopping at the local department store and Google wasn't around to tell your 7-year-old that Santa Claus doesn't exist. What's your favorite Cleveland holiday memory?

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Cheery lights greet drivers in downtown Cleveland, 1980.
Cheery lights greet drivers in downtown Cleveland, 1980.
Cleveland State University Christmas tree display, 1972.
Cleveland State University Christmas tree display, 1972.
Public Square decorated for Christmas, 1977.
Public Square decorated for Christmas, 1977.
Christmas tree at Playhouse Square in 1934.
Christmas tree at Playhouse Square in 1934.
Christmas tree at Public Square, 1973.
Christmas tree at Public Square, 1973.
Christmas shoppers on Ontario Street, 1971.
Christmas shoppers on Ontario Street, 1971.
Santa Claus at Public Square, 1956.
Santa Claus at Public Square, 1956.
Evening Christmas shoppers downtown on Euclid Avenue, 1967.
Evening Christmas shoppers downtown on Euclid Avenue, 1967.
Christmas decorations at Public Square, 1956.
Christmas decorations at Public Square, 1956.
Elephant and floats in Cleveland Christmas parade, 1963.
Elephant and floats in Cleveland Christmas parade, 1963.