Celebrate the season at Akron Children’s 45th annual Holiday Tree Festival

10-14-2026 (Ohio)

Akron Children’s 45th annual Holiday Tree Festival is set to sparkle Nov. 14 through 22, 2026, promising nine days of beautifully-decorated, themed trees, sparkling lights, seasonal entertainment and holiday cheer.

The free event, a beloved tradition for many Northeast Ohio families, raises money for the hospital through the sale of the trees, wreaths and holiday décor.

Presented by the volunteers of Akron Children’s, the festival will be held at the John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill Street in downtown Akron.

This year’s festival will feature 154 decorated trees, 84 wreaths and 179 holiday gifts for purchase. The selection of trees is sure to surprise and delight, running the gamut from classic themes featuring angels, gingerbread men, candy canes, snowmen and woodland animals to those tying in with popular culture icons like Dolly Parton, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Charlie Brown, Dory and the Grinch.

Santa Claus will be on hand, and several dozen choirs, orchestras and instrumentalists will perform holiday favorites throughout the festival.

“Our Holiday Tree Festival seems to grow more popular every year and we love keeping it free for the community,” said Susan Berk, event chair. “That’s made possible because of the dedication of our sponsors, decorators, hundreds of volunteers and those who buy the trees and décor. These incredible trees are brought to life by local businesses, non-profits, scout troops, and individuals, some willing to share the special stories behind their trees that will touch our hearts. It truly is a community-wide endeavor.”

The Holiday Tree Festival is Akron Children’s single biggest fundraising event. Since its beginning, the festival has raised over $7.9 million to benefit the continued efforts of medical research, education and patient care programs at Akron Children’s.

Hours for this year’s festival are:

• Saturday, Nov. 14: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 15: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 16: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 17: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 18: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 19: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 20: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 21: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 22: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The festival ribbon cutting is Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. and the popular Breakfasts with Santa are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 14 and 21. Registration for the breakfasts is now online. For more information, visit: akronchildrens.org/treefestival