Cleveland Launched Holiday Storefront Decorating Contest
Local businesses are invited to decorate storefronts for the second annual holiday competition in downtown Cleveland.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Seasonal Events
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Downtown Cleveland Inc. has launched its second annual Holiday Storefront Decorating Contest, inviting businesses to create festive displays. Shoppers will participate by voting for their favorite storefront scenes.
Why it matters
The competition aims to increase foot traffic for local businesses and strengthen relationships between merchants and the public throughout the holiday season.
This marks the 2nd annual edition of the storefront decorating contest hosted by Downtown Cleveland Inc. The program continues to utilize consumer voting to determine the winning displays.
The players
Downtown Cleveland Inc.
This is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a vibrant downtown environment through economic development and public events.
The details
Businesses may participate by installing lights, ornaments, 3D displays, and window scenes to attract shoppers. Once the decorations are finalized, the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite storefronts to help select the winners of the cash prizes.
Timeline
October 30, 2026: Entry deadline for participating businesses.
November 2, 2026: Deadline for storefronts to be fully decorated.
November 28, 2026: WinterLand Kickoff event at Public Square.
Industry Dynamics
This event follows the pattern set by the 2025 Holiday Storefront Decorating Contest, marking the second year of this local seasonal tradition. Such initiatives reflect broader trends in urban revitalization where business associations use interactive seasonal programming to maintain commercial engagement.
Shoppers in downtown Cleveland will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite holiday displays to help determine the contest winners. Residents and visitors can view these storefronts throughout the season, with the festivities culminating at the WinterLand Kickoff.
The takeaway
Engaging with local holiday displays offers a simple way for residents to support their community businesses during the busiest shopping period of the year. Visitors should plan to visit downtown early in November to ensure they see the full range of entries before the voting period concludes.
What happens next
The WinterLand Kickoff event is scheduled to take place at Public Square on November 28, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more local festive activities on the Seasonal Events page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News 5 Cleveland WEWS.
Live Poll
Do holiday-themed promotional contests effectively encourage you to visit local downtown businesses?
