A magical experience awaits at Horseshoe Casino Cleveland this holiday season as the property launches its second annual Holidays at the Higbee celebration. A variety of events, which kick-off today, will revive the sense of childhood wonder that made the Higbee Building – now home to Horseshoe Cleveland – famous throughout the Midwest.
Inspired by a decades-long tradition by the former Higbee’s department store, which served as one of Ohio’s preeminent retail destinations through the 1980s, Horseshoe Cleveland will again invoke nostalgia through festive decorations, holiday-themed gifts, casino promotions and culinary offerings.
“After the incredible success of our inaugural Holidays at the Higbee celebration last year, there was no question that we had to go even bigger this year,” said Marcus Glover, Horseshoe Cleveland vice president and general manager.
DÉCOR
A major addition to Holidays at the Higbee this year includes beautiful exterior window displays reminiscent of those that once greeted and delighted downtown holiday shoppers. The building’s 15 street-side windows will each feature unique life-like animatronic characters, enveloped by wintry scenes that include nearly 30,000 lights and 360 feet of “snow.”
The scenes were created by world-renowned animatronic artist Lou Nasti, who is no stranger to downtown Cleveland. In fact,
his work has previously been featured at Northeast Ohio’s iconic retail landmarks Higbee’s, May Co. and Halle Bros., as well as across the country and around the world.
Horseshoe Cleveland will host a free, all-ages public tour of the window displays today at 12:30 p.m. Those interested should meet at Tower City’s Public Square entrance at 12:15 p.m., where cookies and hot cocoa will be served prior to the tour. Designer Lou Nasti will be on hand to provide an in-depth tour of the window displays and reminisce about his past experiences designing in downtown Cleveland.
Akron-based interior design firm Room 2 Room has returned this year to create an elegant tribute to the classic Higbee’s department store décor of decades past with a modern twist. Guests will be greeted at Horseshoe Cleveland’s Public Square entrance by an original 22-foot Higbee’s tree, which has been restored and gilded with more than 9,000 new LED lights and photos of the iconic department store.
Guests* will then be drawn into the casino by the allure of twinkling décor, including nearly 20 original Higbee’s trees that have also been restored and decorated with new lights and ornaments. Room 2 Room has recreated Higbee’s eight holly-covered arches and oversized jingle bells, which now hang 22 feet above the main casino floor. A custom twig tree garnished with more than 3,500 lights, branches and ornaments is located near The Spread buffet and Old Man Winter has paid a visit to the Vintage 51 Bar on the second floor, transforming it into a winter wonderland of white branches, icicles and snow-covered trees.
Horseshoe Cleveland also commemorates the Higbee Building’s feature role in the 1983 holiday film, “A Christmas Story.” In honor of the film’s 30th anniversary, Horseshoe is tipping its hat to this timeless classic by placing 17 leg lamps on top of slot machine banks throughout the first floor. A Christmas Story House & Museum, located in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, is hosting a convention and several city-wide events to celebrate the movie’s iconography throughout the holiday season.
*Please note: Visitors of any age are invited to enjoy all exterior décor and window displays; only patrons 21 years of age and older are permitted inside the casino.
CASINO PROMOTIONS & HOLIDAY GIFTS
Now through Sunday, Dec. 29, members of Total Rewards, Caesars Entertainment’s guest loyalty program, may redeem one entry per day for a chance to win one of 40 cash, electronics or free play prizes. Select members will also be eligible to receive a copy of the new book A Higbee History: From Designer Labels to Casino Tables. Published by Cleveland Landmarks Press, the book chronicles the more than 80-year history of the landmark Higbee Building and its recent transformation into Horseshoe Cleveland. Other gifts and promotions include a limited-edition snow globe featuring The Higbee Building, and a collectible ornament series depicting several Cleveland landmarks.
DINING
Horseshoe Cleveland’s buffet restaurant, The Spread, will be serving holiday favorites all season long. Special holiday menus, prepared by Cleveland native Executive Chef Steve Varga, will include traditional dishes and modern interpretations of holiday favorites. The Spread Buffet is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and also offers Sunday brunch. Horseshoe Cleveland’s food court, featuring quick-serve deli, burgers and Italian dishes – from Corky & Lenny’s (open 24/7) and celebrity chefs Michael Symon and Rocco Whalen – is located on the second floor of the casino.
PARKING
Free parking is available at Horseshoe’s Collection Auto Group Centre garage on non-event days downtown 6 p.m. – 4 a.m. A list of free parking days can be found at www.horseshoecleveland.com. Free parking is also available for those who play 30 minutes on a slot machine or earn 15 tier credits.
JOIN TOTAL REWARDS TODAY
Guests must be a member of Total Rewards to enter promotions and qualify for gifts. Guests may visit the Total Rewards Center inside the casino to sign up for the program, or can register online at www.TotalRewards.com.
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