"I would expect they would stay in the center of the perfect quintessential town, Medina, Ohio." Dana Klaus, owner of Castle Noel, said that to Cleveland.com in October. She was talking about the visitors who come to her year-round Christmas attraction from out of town. Those visitors have usually booked rooms along the highway or in Akron or Strongsville.
Medina households hosting family this season face the same choice. Your guests can stay at your place, or they can stay out by the interstate and drive in. This year a third option is coming. It changes how December visits can work, though the timing matters for Candlelight Walk weekend, which falls just eight days after this post goes up.
Where Medina's visitors have been sleeping
Downtown Medina hasn't had a hotel since the 1950s. That's when the American House, near the corner of Liberty and Court streets, was torn down to make room for a bank drive-up window, according to the Medina County Historical Society as cited by Cleveland.com. The county has 14 hotels. The same article says many of them sit along Interstate 71 at Ohio 18.
That gap matters because the square draws a lot of people from out of town. The Medina Gazette reported that Falls Hollow Fest on Aug. 15 drew an estimated 14,300 people, and 91% of them came from outside Medina. Jodi Robbins, executive director of the Medina County Convention and Visitors Bureau, told Cleveland.com that prospective visitors often ask her which downtown hotel to stay at. Until now, the honest answer has been that there wasn't one.
What The Legacy puts on South Court Street
The Legacy is a 77-room hotel just off the square. It's part of Marriott's Tribute Portfolio, a collection of independent boutique hotels. Developer Jason Stevenson, a Medina native, put together about half a block. That includes two parcels on S. Court Street plus a third off Elmwood Avenue that added an event center and more parking. Stevenson told Cleveland.com that his grandparents once owned the land the hotel sits on.
Here's the date for hosts to plan around. Marriott's booking site accepts reservations starting Dec. 14, and rooms were listed at about $220 a night when Cleveland.com reported in October. That makes the hotel a fit for relatives coming for the weeks around Christmas and New Year's. The developer told Cleveland.com that first guests were expected weeks before that booking date. He didn't give an exact opening date, citing the possibility of delays.
The hotel's dining and event spaces matter to people who live here, too. Lily Jean's says it welcomes "guests and locals alike." These are the hours the hotel has posted for its three outlets:
| Outlet | What it serves | Posted hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lily Jean's Coffee & Cocktails | Coffee, juices, pastries, cocktails | 6 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon–Sat; 6 a.m.–2 p.m. Sun |
| Privato | Italian steakhouse: chops, seafood, Italian dishes | Breakfast 7–10 a.m. weekdays, 7–11 a.m. weekends; lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m. weekdays; dinner 4–10 p.m. Mon–Thu, 4–11 p.m. Fri–Sat, 4–9 p.m. Sun |
| La Vista | Rooftop coastal Italian, raw bar | Dinner 4–10 p.m. Mon–Thu, 4–11 p.m. Fri–Sat, 4–9 p.m. Sun; lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Fri–Sun; happy hour 3–5 p.m. Mon–Thu |
If you're hosting a larger family dinner, Privato's page takes inquiries for private and semi-private dining, and it has a note for parties of 10 or more. The property's event venue, Locale, has 2,750 square feet for weddings, meetings and other events. Hotel operations are handled by Medina-based Riley Hotel Group.
Candlelight Walk weekend still runs on cars and shuttles
The 42nd Candlelight Walk is Nov. 20–22. Main Street Medina, the City of Medina and Root Candle Co. present it. Marriott's online booking for The Legacy opens Dec. 14, so for most guests coming this weekend, the realistic options are staying with you or driving in. That makes parking the first thing to sort out.
Two details shape the drive. The City of Medina's Court Street construction alert says US42/Court Street paving is underway and there's no parking along the route during the work. The same alert says all events on and around the square are still scheduled. The city's uptown parking page lists free parking on downtown streets, in public lots and in two public parking decks, though some spots have time limits. Main Street Medina posts shuttle service from 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Here's how each day lays out, using Main Street Medina's 2026 schedule:
Friday, Nov. 20: Tree and community lighting
- 4 p.m.: Scout Troop 501 and the Medina Odd Fellows light the luminaries
- 5–9 p.m.: Holiday markets on Broadway Street and in the Root Candles Community Room, plus a Holiday Night Market at Common Ground, 220 N. State Rd.
- 5:30–7:30 p.m.: Crafts and cocoa at the Medina County District Library, 210 S. Broadway St.
- 6–9 p.m.: Ten Towns Church's 6th Annual Tour of Gingerbread Homes and Miniature Village, 215 W. Liberty St.
- 6–10 p.m.: PJ Marley's Outdoor Christmas Bar, 119 Public Sq.
- 7 p.m.: Tree lighting at the gazebo with Mayor Shields, City Council members and the Root family, then the square lighting and a Medina Chorus sing-along at 7:15
- 7–10 p.m.: Holiday Express train rides, with the line forming across from the Engine House Museum
Saturday, Nov. 21: Parade and fireworks
- 1–4 p.m.: Santa's Workshop at Huntington Bank
- 5:30 p.m.: The Holiday Parade of Lights leaves Medina High School and reaches the square around 6 p.m. It follows East Liberty to North Court to East Washington.
- 6:30 p.m.: Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the Broadway Street Santa House, with visits and photos until 9 p.m.
- Around 6:45 p.m.: Fireworks after the parade, weather permitting
Sunday, Nov. 22: Santa photos and holiday activities
- Noon–2 p.m.: Live reindeer at Broadway and the Square
- 1–4 p.m.: Santa and Mrs. Claus visits and photos; Elsa at the gazebo from 1 to 2 p.m.
- 3–5 p.m.: Horse-and-carriage rides from 144 North Broadway Street
Friday has the most going on in one evening. For guests driving in, Friday and Sunday may be easier days to show them, since the shuttle covers only Saturday and Sunday.
December visits built around the square
Once The Legacy is taking guests, visitors can do something Medina visitors haven't been able to do in roughly 70 years. They can stay downtown and walk to most of a holiday itinerary.
Castle Noel sits at 260 S. Court St., on the same street as the hotel. It requires reservations, and its hours change from week to week, so the booking calendar is the place to find time slots. Tours average about two hours. Leave room in the day for that.
Another dining option may be ready by then. The Medina Gazette reported that Boss ChickNBeer plans its fifth location on the square, next to Jane's Diner, and co-owners Emily Moes and Heather Brown hope to open before Christmas. The counter-service spot started in Berea. It serves dry-rub wings with house-made sauces on the side, and the whole food menu is gluten-free, with plant-based options cooked in two dedicated vegan fryers. Drinks include rotating local and gluten-free beers, local sodas and Kool-Aid cocktails, and the décor leans on 1990s nostalgia. Moes told the Gazette, "We always want everyone to be able to eat together, no matter what their diet is." That could matter if you're feeding a holiday group with different dietary needs.
Between those two weekends there's Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28. Main Street Medina's storefront window contest is open to businesses in the Historic and South Town districts, and the winners will be announced and promoted that day. If guests come for Thanksgiving week and stay through the weekend, the decorated windows give everyone a reason to walk the square after the turkey.
The Barbara Wilson Team has spent more than three decades in Medina, and we enjoy helping neighbors plan a visit their relatives will remember. If family is in town this season and wants to see the neighborhoods around the square during their stay, The Barbara Wilson Team is happy to show them around. Contact Us.
