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Featured Event:
Caroling and Lighting of the Hudson Green
Friday, November 28, 2025
5pm
On the Gazebo and Clocktower Greens in Downtown Hudson
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Again this year, the entire Hudson community (and all visitors) are invited to gather on the downtown green for our festive holiday caroling and lighting event. It’s free and open to everyone.
To kick things off, the Hudson Community Choruses (and anyone else who loves to sing) will gather at 4:30pm at Old School Park, 34 N. Oviatt Street, walk and carol through the streets of downtown Hudson, ending at the Gazebo at 5pm. Songbooks will be provided.
At 5pm, caroling will continue in front of the gazebo, along with photo opportunities, festive food trucks, candy canes, cookies and more.
From 5pm to 6pm, come to Hudson Community Foundation's office in the Baldwin House (49 East Main St.) for hot chocolate and candy canes on the front porch.
The highlight of the evening comes at nightfall, when we flip the switch to illuminate our beautiful downtown treescape in picture-postcard fashion. The Hudson Visitor Center will be open to sell a new Hudson holiday collectible ornament and other gift items.
This is a collaborative effort of several Hudson community non-profit groups – the Lighting Committee of the Hudson Community Service Association (which funds the purchase of all the lights and decorations), Hudson League for Service and Hudson Community Choruses. Installation of the strands of 10,000+ holiday lights is made possible by the dedicated crews of Hudson Public Power.
| Hudson’s Lighting of the Green is a tradition that was begun in 1948 by Mary Lou Morse, a civic-minded Hudson resident. Over the years, the Hudson Community Service Association (HCSA) picked up responsibility for supplying the lights and decorations. Eventually, as the trees grew large, the Morse family and HCSA turned to Hudson Public Power to use their trucks and equipment to string the lights. The Lighting Committee of HCSA raises money through private donations to furnish materials for decorating – lights, bows, wreaths, etc. To support the Holiday Lighting Fund, donate online at Holiday Lighting Endowment Fund. | |
Hudson Trivia Question #1:
What prominent landmark building still standing in downtown Hudson was once a 22-room hotel and then a nursing home?
(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)
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More Hudson Holiday Season Events
(in chronological order)
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Case Barlow Turkey Tot Trot
Saturday, November 22, 2025
1pm
Case-Barlow Farm, 1931 Barlow Rd., Hudson
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Case-Barlow Farm will host its traditional Turkey Tot Trot for children in five different age groupings under age 12. In-person registration begins at 12:30pm and early registration is available at www.casebarlow.com. Children will trot around the farm on a .05K course for the little ones and a max of two laps around the Big Red Barn for the 8-11 year olds. Heats will be for 2 years old and under; 3 years old; 4-5 years old; 6-7 years old; 8-11 years old (boys); and 8-11 years old (girls). Winners in each heat will go home with a 20-pound frozen turkey donated by Acme Fresh Market. Participants are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the USMC Toys For Tots Christmas program.
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Friends of Hudson Parks Turkey Trot
Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day)
9am
Hudson Springs Park, 7095 Stow Rd., Hudson
Parking at Seton Catholic School, 6923 Stow Rd.
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Friends of Hudson Parks invite you to prepare to digest your Thanksgiving meal by coming for a Turkey Trot, a friendly run/walk/stroll around the scenic Hudson Springs Park lake (the loop trail is about 2 miles). Families, friends, children and pets are invited. Bring one (or more) non-perishable packaged or canned food items to support the Hudson Food Pantry. Pre-registration is not required. Visit www.friendsofhudsonparks.org to print and sign a race waiver.
Also, several other Friends of Hudson Parks events, including Hike Hudson, the fall scavenger hunt and geocaching adventure, continue through November 30. For more information, go to www.friendsofhudsonparks.org.
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Hudson Trivia Question #2:
What Hudson Park is not actually in the City of Hudson?
(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)
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Case-Barlow Farm Winter Wonderland
Thursday, December 4 through Sunday, December 14, 2025
Case-Barlow Farm, 1931 Barlow Rd., Hudson
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Winter Wonderland returns to the historic Case-Barlow Farm with four events:
A Tour of Trees – December 4, 5, 6 and 7 (12noon to 7:30pm): Walk through a forest of holiday trees, each decorated by Hudson community organizations. Vote for your favorite and enjoy a wonderful train display by Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Enjoy nightly entertainment including singalongs, live bands, choir and ballet, plus all kids get to participate in a scavenger hunt for farm items inside the trees while enjoying hot cocoa, cookies and other treats. Food and beverages are available. Tickets sold at the door - $5 per person.
Adult Christmas Tea – December 5 (11am to 2pm): A Victorian-themed Adult Tea served inside Case-Barlow’s cozy Farmhouse. Make a holiday craft, enjoy tea sandwiches and other delights while learning about the farm’s history. $65 per person. Reservations have started and are required.
Gingerbread Tea – December 6 and 7 (11am to 2pm): Enjoy a delightful lunch of soup, tea sandwiches, and a holiday craft! Each tea includes a surprise visit with Santa. $25 per child, $65 per adult. Reservations have started and are required.
Santa in the Barn – December 13 and 14 (10am to 4pm): Visit Santa in his sleigh for photos, with free cookies and cocoa. Reservations have started and are required.
For more information and reservations, go to www.casebarlow.com/winterwonderland
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The Rotary Club of Hudson’s Santa at the Cabin
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Ticket Distribution begins at 8am
Meet and Greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus 9am to 3pm
Rotary Club of Hudson Scout Cabin, Southwest Corner of Rt. 303 and Rt 91
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This “Meet and Greet” event sponsored by The Rotary Club of Hudson offers a cozy visit with Santa in the newly restored scout cabin. Family portraits are encouraged in front of the glowing fireplace surrounding holiday décor with photo assistance from the elves. To avoid long lines, a ticket system has been established and will allow 20 families per hour the opportunity to visit and chat with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Each family will be assigned a time to enjoy festivities.
Promptly at 8am, 120 timed tickets will be available at the Gazebo on the Hudson Green. Tickets are free and distributed on a first come first serve basis. At your designated time, head to the scout cabin (parking is available behind the cabin). Elves will be there to greet you. Small tents with complimentary hot chocolate and candy canes will be outside of the cabin to provide some protection from the elements while people wait to see Santa.
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Hudson Community First: The Holiday Shoppe
Saturday, December 6, 2025
10am to 1pm
Eastwoods School, 120 N. Hayden Parkway, Hudson
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Bring your children (PreK to Age 12) to the annual Holiday Shoppe hosted by Hudson Community First. The kids can shop in secret for everyone on their holiday list! This festive shop is stocked with a delightful variety of gifts (priced $3-$15) for family, friends and teachers. From toys and trinkets to cozy keepsakes, there's something for everyone. Each young shopper is paired with an "Elf" who helps them stay on budget and ensures every person on their pre-written list gets a special gift.
While the kids shop in secret, parents and community members can explore a Community Craft Fair! Featuring about 25 talented local vendors, you’ll find a treasure trove of unique items, including handmade holiday crafts, festive ornaments, stylish clothing, spirit wear, delicious treats and more.
Hudson Community First is a non-profit organization that believes that the health and wellness of our community is directly dependent on developing opportunities, skills, relationships and values that young people need to be healthy, caring and responsible. For more on the robust calendar of events sponsored by Hudson Community First, visit www.hudsoncommunityfirst.com.
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Hudson Trivia Question #3:
How many students attend Hudson City Schools?
(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)
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Hudson Community Choruses Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 6, 2025, 4pm at First Congregational Church, 47 Aurora St., Hudson
Sunday, December 7, 2025, 4pm at First Methodist Church, 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls
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Brighten your holiday season with music that invites us all to “listen for the light” at Hudson Community Choruses’ seasonal concert, Sure on This Shining Night. The concert unfolds in three sections—Nightfall, Stars and Joy & Light—each exploring a different facet of how light is revealed in the night.
Featuring all three HCC ensembles – Adult, Youth, and Children’s choruses – the program includes more than 120 singers and music that spans traditional carols, spirituals, and contemporary choral works. General admission tickets are $20 purchased online in advance at www.hudsonsings.org (or $25 at the door). Students $5. Children 5 and Under are Free.
| | Listen in on a Hudson Community Chorus rehearsal, click here. | | The Hudson Community Chorus was formed in 1988 by Corky Buhler, a long-time Hudson resident, and Frank Longstreth, a faculty member at Western Reserve Academy, to promote choral singing in the area. From its inception as a small group of local voices, the choruses today comprise ensembles totaling more than 120 adults, youth and children. The Hudson Community Choruses are under the direction of Jon C. Peterson, Artistic Director; Angela Perrine, Director of Youth & Children's Choruses; and Anne Dalby and Alissa Mujanovic, Collaborative Pianists. | | |
Hudson Winter Fireworks
Saturday, December 6, 2025
7:30pm
Downtown Hudson
| | Hudson’s annual winter fireworks show offers a magical experience. Bring your own chairs and settle-in on one of the downtown greens for the best view, with free on-street parking available throughout downtown Hudson. Many restaurants and shops will be open before, during and after the fireworks. This year's event is being presented by the City of Hudson in honor of the 25th anniversary of Hudson Community Foundation. The foundation has privately funded Hudson's summer and winter fireworks for more than 15 years under a dedicated endowment that was completed in 2017. The fireworks are orchestrated by Hudson’s own American Fireworks Company. | | |
Hudson Holiday Walk
First & Main and Downtown, Hudson
Sunday, December 7
12noon to 4pm
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Enjoy hot cocoa, a warm-up station, sweet treats, crafts, letters to Santa and our own toy drive for NEOPAT supporting local military families. This event is free and all are welcomed. Enjoy kids' entertainment (balloon twisting, face painting and stilt walking) from 12noon to 3pm and take a horse-drawn wagon ride between 1pm and 4pm - a festive experience benefitting NEOPAT ($5 minimum donation; register at the kiosk starting at 1pm).
From 12noon to 3pm, a live nativity, complete with live animals, will be set up for everyone to visit along Aurora Street on the front lawn of First Congregational Church of Hudson. Among the attractions will be Wilbur, the beloved camel. During the live nativity, the church will be open to anyone wishing to warm up, use the restrooms, or enjoy hot beverages, holiday treats, and a free pillar candle.
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Christkindlmarkt
Friday, December 12, 4pm to 8pm
Saturday, December 13, 12noon to 8pm
Sunday, December 14, 12noon to 4pm
On the Downtown Hudson Clocktower Green
| | Since 2018, Christkindlmarkt, produced by the Hudson Landsberg Sister City program, showcases a festive German holiday tradition. You’ll find food, drink, and seasonal items from open-air booths, accompanied by holiday-themed entertainment. Bring the family to enjoy a stroll through downtown Hudson surrounded by the sights, sounds, and scents of the holiday! | Landsberg am Lech (Landsberg on the river Lech) is a town in southwest Bavaria, Germany, about 40 miles west of Munich. Hudson and Landsberg have been Sister Cities since 1984. This relationship started as just a chance for our two soccer clubs to compete but quickly grew into something more. Today, there is a high school youth exchange and trips for citizens of both cities to visit each other. Learn more at www.Hudson-Landsberg.com. | | |
Hudson Trivia Question #4:
How many different nations’ cuisines are featured every day at restaurants in Hudson?
(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)
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Western Reserve Community Band Holiday Concert
Sunday, December 14, 2025
4pm to 5:30pm
Hudson Middle School, 83 N Oviatt St, Hudson
| | The Western Reserve Community Band’s annual holiday concert is a Hudson tradition. The band, a volunteer music organization sponsored by Hudson Community Education and Recreation, performs 7 to 10 concerts per year that are free to the public. Concerts may feature solo performances by band members. Hudson resident Ralph Meyer who founded the band in 1997 continues in his 28th year as conductor. Learn more at wrcband97.org. | | |
Frosty 5/Mistletoe Mile Run/Walk
Wednesday, December 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve)
8:15am to 10:45am
Corner of East Main Street and Church Street, Downtown Hudson
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Escape from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season at the 12th annual Frosty 5 and Mistletoe Mile.
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Mistletoe Mile (one mile walk/run) is from 8:15am to 8:45am; registration fee is $15
- Frosty Five (five mile walk/run) is from 8:45am to 10:45am; registration fee is $35
Both events are walker and stroller friendly – perfect for all ages and abilities. Dress up, be merry, and join us on Christmas Eve morning. For more information and to register, go to www.westernreserveracing.com/races/frosty.
Many volunteers are needed to help with this race. To volunteer, go to
https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/OH/Hudson/Frosty5MistletoeMile.
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Hudson Trivia Question #5:
What well-known packaged food product sold widely in grocery stores and online says “Hudson, Ohio 44236” on its label?
(scroll to the end of this email to see how you can win a prize by answering this question)
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Peg’s Foundation Gallery – Iterations Rhythm & Reason
Now Through January 31, 2026
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 11am to 4pm
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11am to 7pm
Closed Sundays & Holidays
53 First Street, Hudson
| Peg’s Gallery presents ITERATIONS: Rhythm & Reason, a thought-provoking showcase of contemporary weaving, ceramic, and sculpture by professional artists Peter Christian Johnson, Janice Lessman-Moss, and Brinsley Tyrrell. In this exhibit, they examine patterns of continuity and transformation through their chosen mediums. Their work highlights repetition, labor, and change, uncovering the subtle rhythms that shape both material and meaning. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public. Peg’s Gallery, intertwined with the mission of Peg’s Foundation, is dedicated to cultural enrichment and community engagement. From its inception, the gallery has been a crucial part of this vision, evolving alongside the foundation to better serve our community. | | |
Door2 Art Studio – Open Studio
Most Wednesdays, including November 19, December 3 and December 10, 2025
4pm to 8pm
5374 Darrow Rd, Hudson
| | Door2 Art Studio hosts an Open Studio most Wednesdays from 4pm to 8pm. It is free and open to everyone ages 14+. Door 2 provides artistic opportunities for people to engage with others while being creative. Art can be used to transcend cultural barriers, inspiring unity and hope. We offer free materials and instruction in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and more are available. Adult, college and high school artists are welcome. Beyond these Open Studio dates, Door2 Studio hosts community events, an artist speaker series, art classes, artist forums and more. Find out more at www.Door2Art.com. | | |
Hudson Library:
Genealogy Study Group
Saturday, December 6, 2025
9am
Hudson Library & Historical Society, 96 Library St., Hudson
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Among items on the Hudson Library & Historical Society’s events list is the
Hudson Genealogical Study Group’s annual holiday potluck brunch with a presentation on American Ancestors. Registration is required. Please bring a dish to share. This program is part of the Hudson Genealogical Study Group’s monthly programming series. Anyone is welcome to attend. Register online at www.hudsonlibrary.org or by calling 330-653-6658.
This is one of many events, lectures and programs scheduled for adults and children at the Hudson Library & Historical Society. Find out more at www.hudsonlibrary.org.
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Hudson Trivia Question #6:
What is the longest continually operating retail store on Main Street in downtown Hudson?
(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)
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Looking further ahead into 2026…
The upcoming December issue of Celebrate Hudson! will include a range of community events sponsored by local non-profit organizations early in 2026. Here is a glimpse at several events you can look forward to…
Destination Hudson Chocolate Walk
Saturday, January 24, 2026
11am to 5pm, with a closing event beginning at 4pm at Green Valley Brewing
All Around Hudson
| | Destination Hudson’s 12th annual Chocolate Walk, a popular (and tasty) way to sample sweets and the offerings of the merchants of Hudson is being planned for Saturday, January 24, 2026. Watch the next issue of Celebrate Hudson! for more details. Tickets will go on sale online at www.destinationhudson.com on December 1. | | |
Hudson Players – The Cottage
February 6, 2026, through February 28, 2026
Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30pm with Sunday matinees at 2pm
Barlow Community Center, 41 South Oviatt St., Hudson
| | Coming on the heels of this fall’s very successful production of It Shoulda Been You, The Hudson Players will be back in February as it stages The Cottage by Sandy Rustin. A riotous romantic farce in the spirit of Noël Coward, The Cottage delivers mistaken identities, scandalous secrets, and nonstop hilarity. It’s a whirlwind of witty chaos and charming mischief with love (mostly) conquering all. Admission is $15 and $13 for students and seniors. Season tickets are available for $36. Now in its 81st season, The Hudson Players have performed many acclaimed productions and received multiple Ohio Community Theatre Association awards. For more information, visit www.hudsonplayers.com. | | |
Hudson Heritage Association Speakers
January 8, 2026, and February 12, 2026
7pm
Barlow Community Center, 41 South Oviatt St., Hudson
| Hudson Heritage Association, founded in 1962, hosts speakers at its monthly meeting aligned with its mission to preserve Hudson and its historic character. On January 8, 2026, the speaker will be John Debo, former superintendent of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, on the park’s 50th anniversary. On February 12, 2026, HHA will welcome authors Peg Bobel and Linda Whitman, who will speak on Native Americans of the Cuyahoga Valley. HHA meetings are free and open to the public and generally held at Barlow Community Center. Visit www.hudsonheritage.org to learn more, join HHA or subscribe to its email list. | | |
Hudson Society of Artists
Monday, November 17, 2025
7pm
Barlow Community Center, 41 South Oviatt Street
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The Hudson Society of Artists is already busy planning for the 2026 Art on the Green to be held at the end of August of next year. The big news is that, after four years at the former Joann site, we will be moving back to the Hudson Green.
On November 3, the Hudson Society of Artists held a very special silent auction of 28 works of original art by some very generous donors. Five painters whose works were in the auction are noteworthy in the Hudson area: Lowell Ellsworth Smith, Hilary Sheeter, Marc Moon, Mildred Sands Kratz and Faye Louise Potter.
For more information on the Hudson Society of Artists, visit www.hudsonsocietyofartists.com
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#1: The Brewster Mansion at 9 Aurora St., originally built in 1853 as a family home, became the Park Hotel in the first half of the 1900s and later the original location of The Elms nursing home in 1949. It now contains offices.
#2: Wildlife Woods off Boston Mills Road is actually in Boston Township. That land was offered to Hudson by long-time Hudson resident William Shilts in 1958 for use as a wildlife preserve.
#3: Approximately 4,700 students attend the Hudson City Schools in preK through 12th grade.
#4: The cuisines of 9 different nations are the mainstays of restaurants in Hudson – China/Taiwan, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Thailand and USA. Have you tried them all?
#5: If you think you know the answer, email us at celebratehudson@myhcf.org. A fabulous prize will be awarded to a randomly selected individual from those submitting the correct answer.
#6: Riley’s of Hudson, home to classic men’s and women’s clothing, as well as dry cleaning, opened at 100 North Main Street 1964. It has been a mainstay of downtown ever since.
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To add your Hudson non-profit organization’s event to future issues of Celebrate Hudson!, email us as celebratehudson@myhcf.org
Thank you for reading Celebrate Hudson! For more event information, subscribe to learn more.
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