WinterLand Tree Lighting Ceremony Cleveland officially ushers in the holiday season with a full schedule of events and activities on Public Square. Enjoy live music, food trucks, ice skating and appearances by your favorite holiday characters. The fun peaks with the lighting of the big Christmas tree and a fireworks show. Public Square Cleveland. 4-6:30 p.m., Nov. 30. DETAILS Great Lakes Theater’s “A Christmas Carol” Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas after being visited by a series of ghosts in this Cleveland holiday tradition entering its 36th year at Playhouse Square’s Mimi Ohio Theatre. Tickets $40-$89. 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Now through Dec. 22. DETAILS Cleveland Play House presents “A Christmas Story” Returning to the CPH stage at the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square for the first time in five years, this play is a nostalgia-filled adaptation of the 1983 classic movie. Tickets $37.50-$85. 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Nov. 30-Dec. 22. DETAILS Illuminate the Circle Wade Oval in University Circle turns into a festive frostscape with dazzling holiday displays and immersive light shows every night. Free. Wade Oval, Cleveland. Now through Jan. 26. DETAILS Cleveland Bazaar Holiday Markets Northeast Ohio’s longest-running indie craft show celebrates 20 years with four holiday markets across the region showcasing local and handmade products. Nov. 30, WinterLand at 5th Street Arcades, 530 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Nov. 29-Dec. 1, Akron Bazaar at Summit Artspace, 140 E Market St., and Events on Main, 159 S. Main St. Dec. 7, Lake Affect Studios, 1615 E. 25th St., Cleveland. Dec. 13-15, 20th Anniversary Show at 78th Street Studios, 1305 W. 80th St., Cleveland. DETAILS Music & Friends Garage Sale Holiday Edition Get your Christmas shopping done early as the Music Box Supper Club hosts this annual event with over 20 vendors selling concert photos, music memorabilia, vintage concert tees, vinyl and more. Free. 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Nov. 30. DETAILS Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity” A Karamu House holiday tradition returns, this time at Playhouse Square’s Hanna Theatre. The inspiring production combines gospel music, dramatic dance and biblical narrative to tell the story of Jesus’ birth. Tickets $25-$65. 2067 E. 14th St., Cleveland. Nov. 30-Dec. 15. DETAILS A Jolly Holiday with the Pops The Cleveland Pops Orchestra and Pops Chorus are joined by the Dancing Santas for their annual holiday concert at Playhouse Square. Arrive early to snap a photo with Santa and meet adorable, adoptable puppies and kittens in the lobby. Tickets $35-$60. 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 2 p.m. & 7 p.m., Dec. 1. DETAILS TubaChristmas Cleveland This Cleveland holiday tradition since 1997 invites you to sing along to your favorite Christmas carols and holiday songs, accompanied by a big brass ensemble. The group will play two concerts, each featuring more than 50 tuba and euphonium players. Tickets $10. Dec. 1, First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland, 3630 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland. Dec. 21, E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. DETAILS Candy Land: It’s Wild in Ohio Experience the magic and whimsy of a life-sized gameboard and discover colorful habitats - forests, fields and wetlands - as well as animal displays. Hot chocolate will be available in Snowshoe Lodge, and you can shop for nature-themed gifts in The Nature Store. Plus there will be crafts, scavenger hunts and other interactive exhibits. Free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through Jan. 1. (Nature Center is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). Penitentiary Glen Nature Center, 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road, Kirtland. DETAILS Wild Winter Lights at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo The zoo is transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland as 1.5 million lights illuminate five holiday-themed areas: Enchanted Forest, Swan Lake, Candy Lane, Polar Pathway and Santa’s North Pole Lodge. The experience includes a musical light show, train rides and photo ops with Santa. Drive-thru option available on select nights. Tickets start at $24 per person or $55 per vehicle. 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland. Now through Dec. 30. DETAILS North Pole Adventure Embark on a magical journey to the North Pole on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, where you’ll pass through the Christmas Tree Forest, see a Candy Cane Farm and maybe, just maybe, meet Santa. Tickets start at $50. CVSR Rockside Station, 7900 Old Rockside Rd., Independence. Through Dec. 21. DETAILS Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics The white-hot Cavs are burning up the court. After a thrilling 15-0 undefeated run to start the season – one of the longest in NBA history! – we are hosting the former NBA Champion Boston Celtics. Both benches are deep and fired up. Roundball fans get excited. 6 p.m., Dec. 1. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 1 Center Ct., Cleveland. DETAILS Cleveland Monsters vs. Toronto Marlies Your AHL hockey team takes on the affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) and Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) in a frozen face-off. The Marlies have lost some players to the Leafs this season and are playing extra hungry, so it should be a fast-skating game. 7 p.m., Nov. 29. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 1 Center Ct., Cleveland. DETAILS Mary Santora The comedian’s dark observational style and snark draws from real life experience, while pulling members of the audience into the fray, Santora’s comedy albums “Hillbilly Boujee” and “Nothing Matters” have been hot sellers on Amazon and iTunes. P.S.: She’s the former co-host of “The Alan Cox Show” on WMMS-FM. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., November 29-30. Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, E 4th St., Cleveland. DETAILS Cleveland Orchestra The Cleveland Orchestra, led by guest conductor David Robertson and accompanied by pianist Marc-André Hamelin, deliver performances of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Duke Ellington’s “New World A-Comin’” and Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring and Suite from The Tender Land. Tickets starting at $25. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29; 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1. Mandel Concert Hall, Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. DETAILS |
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Deck the Hall at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens The holidays are the best time to visit this historic estate in Akron as 1.4 million twinkling lights illuminate the scenic gardens while the manor house is decorated in stunning holiday fashion. Don’t forget the hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies, too. Tickets $9-$24. 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. Nov. 29-Dec. 30. DETAILS Frost at Cleveland Botanical Garden Cleveland Botanical Garden is transformed into a captivating frosty haven with sparkling light installations and beautiful botanical displays across a dozen indoor and outdoor rooms. Tickets $14-$26. 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland. Now through Jan. 5, 2025. DETAILS Magic of Lights Enjoy this drive-through lights experience from the comfort of your vehicle as the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds is turned into a holiday wonderland. Disembark at the Jolly Holiday Village for a photo with Santa, ice skating, bounce house and more fun. Admission $23-$50 per vehicle. 19201 Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights. Nov. 27-Jan. 4, 2025 (closed Dec. 1-3). DETAILS House from A Christmas Story One of Cleveland’s most popular tourist attractions, the Tremont house used in the movie has been meticulously restored to its on-screen glory. Across the street, a museum showcases original props, costumes and memorabilia, while the gift shop sells leg lamps of all shapes and sizes. Admission $20. 3159 W. 11th St, Cleveland. Tours daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. DETAILS Wild Lights at Akron Zoo This annual event features a new look with over one million shimmering lights, plus warm beverages and appearances by Santa Claus and the Grinch. For an added fee, Wild Lights Safari Tours include a 45-minute staff-led tour on a golf cart, light-up necklace and s’mores kit. Admission $8-$24. 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron. Nov. 29-Dec. 30. DETAILS Winter Toyland at Cleveland History Center The centerpiece of the Cleveland History Center’s holiday experience is “HollyDays,” a winter village created by Dennis Hoert that features over 350 miniature buildings, nine trains and scenes depicting Macy’s Parade, Lake Erie and more. Admission $8-$15. 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland. Nov. 29-Jan. 12, 2025. DETAILS Breakfast with Santa at Lake Metroparks Farmpark Enjoy a classic breakfast as Santa and Mrs. Claus visit your table. Then head to Santa’s sleigh to pick up a wooden toy kit or explore Farmpark attractions such as wagon rides, encounters with farm animals and more. Tickets $5-$25. 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland. Weekends through Dec. 22. DETAILS Kringle’s Inventionasium Experience This immersive experience at Tower City Center lets kids tour Mr. Kringle’s top-secret inventing laboratory and help create toys. Each visit concludes with a private audience with Santa himself. Tickets start at $35. 230 W. Huron Rd., Cleveland. Now through Dec. 24. DETAILS Christmas Around the World at Crushers Stadium Celebrate global holiday traditions at Lake Erie Crushers Stadium in Avon. Highlights include international foods, live music, character appearances, vendor booths, a 150-foot snow tube hill, a mini-golf course, fireworks and more. Tickets start at $16. 2009 Baseball Blvd., Avon. Nov. 29-Jan. 4. DETAILS Tobogganing at the Chalet Feel the thrill of winter at Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, whooshing down a 700-foot refrigerated ice chute on a classic toboggan. Tickets $13-$15. Reservations required. 16200 Valley Parkway, Strongsville. Nov. 29 through Feb. 23 (weather permitting). DETAILS Christkindlmarkt at Sanctuary on Green Experience the ambiance of European Christmas markets at Koehn Sculptors’ Sanctuary on Green. This unique shopping village specializes in unique gifts like nutcrackers, ornaments, handmade jewelry, linens and leather goods. Free. 1936 S. Green Rd., South Euclid. Now through Dec. 27. DETAILS Country Lights Drive-Thru Drive through Lake Metroparks Farmpark’s winding roadways and immerse yourself in a yuletide landscape illuminated by over 300,000 twinkling lights. Admission $27.50 per car. 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland. Nov. 30-Dec. 29. DETAILS Lorain Winterfest Lorain’s hometown holiday celebration includes a parade, lighting ceremony and fireworks at Veteran’s Park. The celebration extends to Black River Landing where you’ll find Santa, a live reindeer exhibit, festive Christmas displays and more. Free. Veteran’s Park, Downtown Lorain. Black River Landing, 421 Black River Lane, Lorain. 4:30 p.m., Nov. 30. DETAILS Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows Cross people off your Christmas shopping list at a pair of Avant-Garde Art & Craft shows this holiday season. Each event features dozens of artists and crafters selling original handmade items. Admission $3. Nov. 30, Emerald Event Center, 33040 Just Imagine Dr., Avon. Dec. 14, City of Solon Recreation Center, 35000 Portz Parkway, Solon. DETAILS Apollo’s Fire presents “Wassail!” Cleveland’s baroque orchestra invites you to celebrate an Irish-Appalachian Christmas at this spellbinding concert full of music, dancing and storytelling. Tickets $10-$83. Dec. 3, St. Noel Catholic Church, 35200 Chardon Rd., Willoughby Hills. Dec. 4, The Bath Church, 3980 West Bath Rd, Bath. Dec. 7, Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Center, 400 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls. Dec. 8, Avon Performing Arts Center, 37545 Detroit Rd., Avon. DETAILS Cleveland Museum of Art presents Chamber Music in the Atrium The museum’s intimate concert series continues with a festive program featuring musicians from Musical Upcoming Stars in the Classics, graduates of the Cleveland Institute of Music and dancers from the Cleveland Ballet. Free. 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. 6 p.m., Dec. 4. DETAILS “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” Experience a fresh twist on the classic ballet. This reimagined show at Playhouse Square fuses hip-hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music into an exhilarating modern dance spectacle. Tickets $30-$73. 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 7 p.m., Dec. 4. DETAILS “‘Twas the Night Before” by Cirque Du Soleil Cirque Du Soleil’s first Christmas show comes to Playhouse Square, taking the audience to a magical realm inspired by the famous poem, where acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and tricksters await. Tickets $35-$130. 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Dec. 4-15. DETAILS Castle Noel America’s largest year-round indoor Christmas attraction decks the halls everyday with enchanting displays, including props and costumes from beloved holiday movies, animated window scenes from iconic New York City department stores and the slide from “A Christmas Story.” It even snows inside! Admission $23.95-$29.95. Reservations required. 260 S. Court St., Medina. Open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. through holidays except closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day). DETAILS Mood Swing Curated by Marcella Hackbardt, “Mood Swing” finds artists questioning notions of power, race, colonialism, social cruelty, reproduction through visually striking work that celebrates cultural diversity and fosters an inclusive audience. Opens Nov. 27, running through Jan. 10. The Sculpture Center, 1834 E. 123rd St., Cleveland. DETAILS Rose B. Simpson: Strata Inspired by time spent in Cleveland, “the architecture of the museum, the possibility of the space, tumbled stones from the shores of Lake Erie,” Indigenous heritage and the landscape of her ancestral homelands of Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, Simpson’s figural sculpture is on offer beginning this week. Through April 12. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. DETAILS 'Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford’s Mustang' The Crawford-Auto Aviation Museum is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic Mustang automobile with a new exhibit. Titled “Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford’s Mustang,” it features 20 examples of the Mustang, from the little coupe launched by Lee Iacocca to the 2024 Dark Horse and it’s 500-horsepower Coyote V-8 engine. Tickets $10 to $15. Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland. Through May 2025. DETAILS Western Reserve Historical Society Doll show Cleveland History Center's new exhibit, “All Dolled Up: 200 Years of Dolls and Miniatures,” presents the museum’s collection of dolls, doll houses, miniatures, and toys. WRHS members are free. All others included with general admission. Through August 2025. 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland. DETAILS GLOW: Neon and Light GLOW: Neon & Light premiered at the end of September at Akron Art Museum’s Arnstein Galleries and runs through early February. The sculptural exhibit uses glass, neon tubes, light bulbs and more for an immersive experience. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. Through February 9. DETAILS |
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FOOD & DRINK Hot chocolate trail launched at 11 NE Ohio locations The inaugural Tour Lake County Hot Chocolate Trail is under way. The digital-passport tour allows participants to explore cafes and businesses across the county, comparing decadent hot chocolates. Participants can download a free passport, and those who check in and try hot chocolates at eight of 11 featured locations will earn a limited-edition #TourLakeCOcoa mug. The trail runs through Tuesday, Dec. 31. READ MORE Holidays at Hofbräuhaus Cleveland Celebrate the season at this popular German beer hall in downtown Cleveland. Events include brunch with St. Nicholas & Krampus on Dec. 1; Doppelbock (a German Christmas bier) keg tapping on Dec. 4; and Christmas Eve with the Hermit Orchestra on Dec. 24. 1550 Chester Ave., Cleveland. Dec. 1-Dec. 24. DETAILS Fat Head’s Brewery Black Friday event features beer release, donation drive Fat Head’s Brewery is holding a Black Friday event where the brewery will debut its Barrel-Aged Pimp My Sleigh plus offer customers a chance to donate to several area charities and be entered into a raffle. The Middleburg Heights brewery made a very limited amount of the barrel-aged ale. READ MORE Via Roma to hold holiday wine tasting Royal Park Fine Wine and Via Roma Event Center and Ristorante are teaming up for a holiday wine tasting Sunday, Dec. 1, in Via Roma’s grand ballroom. More than 40 wines – sparkling and still – will be included in the tasting in the North Royalton restaurant. READ MORE Corleone’s to screen movie at special dinner Corleone's Ristorante is screening “Godfather II” at a special wine-themed dinner featuring wines of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. The movie is one of the greatest sequels of all time. The multicourse dinner is Monday, Dec. 2. READ MORE |
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TV & MOVIES 'Moana 2' It’s back to the water for our titular island heroine, voiced again by Auliʻi Cravalho, in this sequel to the 2016 hit from Walt Disney Animation Studios. She’ll reunite with her big pal Maui (a likewise returning Dwayne Johnson) for this adventure, with storyboard artist David Derrick Jr. making his feature directorial debut. He also co-wrote the film, set three years after the events of the first. We’re bummed that, unlike its predecessor, “Moana 2” does not boast any songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. (We’re still unabashedly smitten with the Miranda-penned “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana.”) DETAILS ‘The Madness’ Colman Domingo stars in a new conspiracy thriller series "The Madness" as a CNN pundit who is framed for the murder of a white supremacist. It deals with misinformation and disinformation spread online about Domingo's Muncie Daniels character, and the damage it can do to an individual and community. "The Madness" hits Netflix on Thursday. DETAILS ‘The Agency’ When a CIA agent who goes by "Martian" (played by Michael Fassbender) returns to the London office after a long undercover job, the transition to real life is not an easy one in "The Agency." The espionage thriller also stars Jodie Turner-Smith as a former love who complicates matters. "It's the battle of his soul between what he does for a living and the relationships he has," Fassbender told the AP. George Clooney is an executive producer. The story is based on a 2015 French espionage series called "The Bureau." Jeffrey Wright, Katherine Waterston and Richard Gere also star. "The Agency" premieres Friday, Nov. 29 on Paramount+ with Showtime. DETAILS ‘The Later Daters’ America first fell for the notion of people of a certain age finding love on ABC's "The Golden Bachelor" and most recently "The Golden Bachelorette." Netflix — and Michelle Obama, who is an executive producer — have jumped on the trend with a docuseries called "The Later Daters" debuting Friday, Nov. 29. Cameras follow six silver singles as they go on a series of blind dates to find love and companionship. DETAILS ‘Robot Dreams’ "Robot Dreams," the Oscar-nominated animated charmer about a dog and a robot, comes to Hulu on this week. Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle called it "one of the best New York movies in years, not to mention a surprisingly mature tale of loving and losing for a movie where the effects of rust are quite central to the narrative." DETAILS ‘Nutcrackers’ Also arriving on Hulu on Friday, Nov. 29, is the family comedy "Nutcrackers." Ben Stiller plays a city guy who must go to the country to take care of his unruly orphaned nephews. It's a return to comedy for "Pineapple Express" filmmaker David Gordon Green. DETAILS ‘Sweethearts’ "When Harry Met Sally" gets a modern update in the new romantic comedy "Sweethearts," about childhood best friends whose relationship gets a little complicated in college. Starring Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga "Sweethearts," debuting on Max on Thursday, is the feature directorial debut of "Dollhouse" creator Jordan Weiss. DETAILS ‘Our Little Secret’ If you're wondering why Lindsay Lohan seems to be everywhere lately, Netflix is the answer. The streamer has a new Christmas romantic comedy on the way, "Our Little Secret," on Wednesday. The idea is that Lohan's character is spending the holiday with her boyfriend's family, only to discover that his sister is dating her ex. DETAILS A Traveler’s Needs A “fish-out-of-water” comedy finds “Iris,” a woman adrift in Seoul unable to make ends meet and turning to teaching French via a peculiar method. The film reflects on meaning, feeling, and connection – not “It’s a Wonderful Life” with subtitles, but a moving Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize winner at Berlinale that will make you think. Cleveland premiere at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. 2 p.m., Dec. 1. 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. DETAILS |
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‘64’ The Beatles' first trip to America is chronicled in a new movie produced by Martin Scorsese, "Beatles '64," which streams on Disney+ on Friday, Nov. 29. The documentary uses never-before-seen and rare footage and drills down on the Fab Four's milestone American visit, which included appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show," concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Washington Colosseum, and a meeting with Muhammad Ali. It offers interviews with David Lynch and Ronnie Spector as well as some of the women who as girls screamed outside the Beatles' New York hotel. Its backbone is rare footage filmed by documentarians Albert and David Maysles of John, Paul, George and Ringo being exceedingly silly. DETAILS ‘Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary’ Grab your captain's hat and fake mustache for a tour of yacht rock, the once dismissed musical genre that has found new love of late. HBO's revealing "Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary" traces the rise of the music style — elevated pop music infused with jazz and R&B — from the perspective of its makers, including Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Christopher Cross. The documentary nicely connects yacht rock to the culture and music heritage, adding the creators of the web series who coined the label. Sail away on Friday, Nov. 29. DETAILS Welshly Arms After dropping the anthemic “Legendary” in 2017, these CLE alt-rockers have been delivering the emotion-packed goods. Soulful performances abound. Welshly Arms have amassed quite a following in Europe and do this holiday-timed homecoming every year. 7 p.m., Nov. 29. House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. DETAILS Papadosio The ensemble founded in Athens, Ohio has built a word-of-mouth following that shows no signs of slowing down. Progressive rock, “livetronica” and jazz delivered with spirited, jam-band ethos and an unconventional (read: not-guitar-forward) approach. Two nights! 7 p.m., Nov-29-30. TempleLive Cleveland Masonic 3615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. DETAILS Ekoostik Hookah Speaking of Ohio jam bands, these Columbus legends are celebrating 30-plus years with their one-night-only “Danksgiving” event at House of Blues! Grateful Dead-inspired, but unique unto themselves, this all-ages gig features openers Aliver Hall and Land of Panda. 6:30 p.m., Nov. 30. House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. DETAILS Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN Grog Shop presents the Italian composer’s prog-rock band. Simonetti has written and recorded many influential scores and soundtracks in horror – including “Suspiria,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Demons,” “Tenebre” and more. His “The Ultimate Anthology” happens live at Heights Theater. Consider it your nightmare before Christmas. All ages. 7 p.m., Dec. 3. 2781 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights. DETAILS Rumpke Mountain Boys Crazylegs Productions presents the bluegrass inflected act at the Beachland Ballroom with special guests Dupree’s Dead Band and the Whiskey Drinks. It’s Appalachian campfire music – “Trashgrass” as they call it – live and direct from Cincinnati! 7 p.m., Nov 29. 15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland. DETAILS Eric Clapton Eric Clapton has a new live album and concert film, "Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2023," which captured the shows on Sept. 23-24, 2023, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Only Clapton could attract this level of musical talent to join him: Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, H.E.R., Los Lobos, John Mayer, Santana and The Wallflowers. The master of ceremonies is Bill Murray. This was the seventh installment of the festival after a four-year break. Guitar World hailed it as "a six-string celebration." DETAILS |
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