60 Magical Things to do This Holiday Season in Columbus

The holiday season is upon us and the anticipation to create magical moments is real. I have compiled a list of ideas that include some of our favorite holiday traditions and some that we have been waiting to try out.

One Time Holiday Events

Holiday Open House at the Main Library Stop by the Columbus Public Library – Main Branch on Wednesday, November 29th from 6 to 9 pm for festive family fun with activities, crafts, refreshments and live reindeer outside! Enjoy music from Columbus Rings, performances from Momentum-Excellence, plus the official launch of the Huntington Holiday Train with a little help from special guests.

Columbus Metro Parks Winter Hike Kick-Off. Visit Homestead Metro Park on December 1 from 5 to 7 pm for hot chocolate and a walk through the park under the twinkling lights.

Downtown Holi-Day Come Downtown on Saturday, December 2nd for a flurry of special festive activities Downtown to help get you in the holiday mood! From shopping at small businesses, trolley tours, photo opps with the big man himself, hot boozy beverages and more, this is the Holi–DAY you won’t want to miss Downtown. Enjoy some extra-festivities at the following events happening throughout the season:

Events to get excited for on December 2:

Santa Extravaganza at the Lazarus Building (4-7 pm)
Festive Saturday at Columbus Commons (4-9 pm)
Good Market Holiday Edition (4-9 pm)
Winter Fest (11 am – 4 pm)
CSO Holiday Pops at the Ohio Theatre (3 pm)
Discovery District Trolley Hop (1-6 pm)

Sounds of the Season at the Holiday Pops Concert Take in the sounds of the season at a Holiday Pops Concert. Holiday magic transforms the historic Ohio Theatre, filling it with beautiful decorations, wonderful music, and seasonal cheer! There are three show times offered on December 1st through December 3rd so click the link to grab your tickets. Also, bring a new toy and receive a voucher for one free lawn seat at an upcoming summer 2023 Picnic with the Pops outdoor performance.

Village Lights in German Village Stroll the luminary lined brick streets in German Village during the annual Village Lights event. This year Village Lights falls on Sunday, December 3rd from 5 pm to 9 pm. Businesses stay open late with holiday specials and festive surprises.

Jingle Mingle at the Shops on Lane Ave is happening on December 9th from 12 pm to 2 pm. Stop by the Shops on Lane Ave for a free, family friendly event.

Columbus Metro Parks Evening Lantern Walks Visit Chestnut Ridge Metro Park for a special evening lantern walk and hot chocolate on Friday, December 8 and Saturday, December 9, from 5–6:30pm.

Throughout the Season Events

The Nutcracker with BalletMet Attend a performance of BalletMet’s The Nutcracker. This production of The Nutcracker is performed at the Ohio Theatre by professional dancers and students from the academy. The ballet lasts approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes with a twenty minute information.

12 Elves of Dublin Scavenger Hunt Make your way to 12 Historic Dublin spots to find each elf and get your card signed! When your kiddo finds the elf at each stop, they will get a little prize. Collect them all and return your completed card at any participating business before December 23rd to be entered to win the grand prize basket. The hunt kicks off on December 4th and runs through December 23rd.

Dickens of a Christmas Bring your family to a 19th century holiday celebration and see Charles Dickens’ festive vision of Christmas come to life. Meet and interact with Ohio Village residents to learn how they celebrate the holiday season. All visitors can delight in meeting Santa Claus and other characters, exploring the various vendors and crafts spread around town, and listening to enchanting music and stories. The holiday celebration takes place on Saturday, December 2nd, 9th, and 16th from 530 p.m. to 900 p.m. and Sunday, December 3rd, 10th, and 17th from 1 pm to 5 pm.

Holidays in Worthington Experience the magic of the season this year in Worthington through shopping, dining, and one of a kind events. The Holiday Open House on November 27th from noon to 5 and illuminated shopping on December 7th from 6 pm to 9 pm. Worthington is a magical place to visit throughout the season with twinkly lights, Christmas trees, and holiday themed window displays.

Holidays at Easton Town Center Visit Easton Town Center to complete your holiday shopping and find some holiday cheer. Easton’s Grand Illumination takes place on Friday, November 17th from 6 to 9 p.m. In addition to shopping, Easton has plenty of family-friendly holiday activities to enjoy, including the Holiday Lighting Ceremony and fun activities with Santa to carriage rides and more.

Experience the Season at Oakland Park Nursery’s Experience the season at one of Oakland Park Nursery’s four convenient locations. Each location features different activities including Santa visits, horse drawn carriage rides, live music, tasty treats, and so much more.

Season of Celebration at COSI is a new seasonal exhibit experience, starting on Friday, November 24, 2023 through January 7th, 2024, that will transform the museum into a winter wonderland, combining science, education and the festive spirit of the season. With a grand, 40-foot tree in the iconic COSI Atrium serving as the centerpiece, the experience will captivate visitors with enchanting decorations, 50 community-focused trees, 10 Classic COSI exhibit-themed trees along with specialty food & beverage. Included with COSI general admission.

All Aboard the Huntington Holiday Train The Huntington Holiday Train has been a holiday tradition since 1992 and is on display at the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library from November 22nd through January 7th. The Holiday Train features trains, tracks, a waterfall, tunnels, bridges, mini homes and a castle. All of these pieces and parts make for a fantastic game of eye spy!

Walk Through Light Shows

Holiday Lights at the Columbus Commons Holiday lights will be twinkling at the Columbus Commons from November 17th through January 1st from 5 pm until 11 p.m. A 50 ft tall holiday tree has been installed along with more than 400,000 lights throughout the park. Stop by Fridays during the holiday season (November 18th, December 1, 8, 15, 22) from 5:30 pm to 9 pm for Festive Fridays to enjoy free hot chocolate, live music, a traveling photo booth, carousel rides and a bar offering a hot boozy beverages.

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo Experience the Columbus Zoo completely transformed into a winter wonderland covered in millions of LED lights from November 17th through January 7th. Experience animated light shows, meet and greets with some of your favorite characters, and seasonal treats.

Holiday Lights at the Columbus Metro Parks The Columbus Metro Parks will be illuminated again this holiday season from the first weekend of December and remain lit every evening from dark until close, through the end of the month.

The following Metro Parks will be participating:

Battle Darby Creek
Blacklick Woods
Highbanks
Homestead Metro Parks
Inniswoods Metro Gardens

Holiday Lights at Creekside in Gahanna Gahanna kicks off the season with their annual Holiday Lights event on November 19th from 3 to 6:30 pm. The event will feature live performances on the Holiday Stage, arts and crafts, Touch-a-Truck, decorating a snow plow, fun photo opps in a Giant Snow Globe, and so much more fun! Santa arrives by fire truck at 6:20 PM to light the Tree and set off the Holiday Fireworks! The light display throughout Creekside Park totals 300,000 lights and will run Sunday, November 20th through January 7th.

Winter Wonder Walks at Dawes Arboretum Enjoy the beauty of nature by taking a walk on the paved Parkwoods Trail surrounded by illuminated trees for the 4th annual Winter Wonder Walks at Dawes Arboretum. The weekend walks are scheduled from 6 pm to 9 pm on December 2nd & 3rd, 9th & 10th, and the 16th and 17th. Both members and non-members must register and reserve a time slot for the Winter Wonder Walks at www.dawesarb.org.

Easton Town Center Holiday Tree Shows

Enjoy the show! Beginning November 18, our 56-foot holiday tree on the Town Square will feature special shows every five minutes from 5-11PM daily.

Franklin Park Conservatory Aglow Visit the Franklin Park Conservatory for the annual Conservatory Aglow from November 18th through January 7th. Check out the conservatory as the gardens and interior biomes transform into a wonderland of lights and experiences. Explore captivating new displays, including mesmerizing lights synchronized with holiday melodies, immersive light installations, outdoor illuminated games, a lively dance celebration, and a retreat to festive igloos for an assortment of tabletop games. These fun new additions are featured alongside returning favorites, including the ornament trees, the Whirly Tree by Tork Inc., the life-size gingerbread house, and the magical train display of the Paul Busse Garden Railway.

Light Up the Lawn, Light Up a Life “Light Up the Lawn, Light Up a Life” is Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s new holiday tradition that builds hope and joy for hospitalized children, families and the health care heroes caring for them. The lawn along Livingston Avenue in front of Nationwide Children’s will be transformed with a butterfly-themed light display that illuminates with a flutter effect each time a donation is made, visible to pediatric patients and their families in the hospital tower as they look out at the lawn below. It’s easy to participate! Through the end of the year, starting with a gift of just $10, you can instantly light up butterflies on the lawn and through patient units by making a donation to Nationwide Childrens.

The McCoy Cabin Located in Pataskala, Ohio, head to the McCoy Cabin property to enjoy a 1/4 mile walk to take in the lights displays and a beautiful display of synchronized lights.

Scioto Mile Holiday Lights Holiday lights will be returning to the Scioto riverfront from November 24th through January 3rd. Bundle up and spend some time outdoors taking in the lights.

State Auto’s Christmas Corner The State Auto’s Christmas Corner is located at 518 E. Broad St. and features a life sized Nativity Display. The annual lighting ceremony takes place on December 7th at 530 p.m. and features the Columbus Children’s Choir. The display will then be lit daily through Christmas Day. Check out the website for updated choir concert dates and time.

Drive-Through Light Shows

Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights Make this 3-mile drive through light show part of your holiday tradition. The light show is located at the Alum Creek Campgrounds in Delaware, Ohio and will run from November 17th through January 1st. Tune in to the radio channel that synchronizes to the light displays and take in the light displays featuring light displays and familiar characters.

Lights of Glenross Over 300 houses in the Glenross neighborhood have holiday lights choreographed to holiday music. The show begins Christmas Day and runs Sunday – Thurdays from 5 pm to 9 pm and on Friday and Saturday from 5 pm to 11 pm. For the best light show experience, begin at the entrances of Ballater Dr, Eagle Walk Road, Sycamore Lane, or Braumiller Crossing Drive.

Lucy Depp Park Light Show 6 houses in Powell have joined together to put on a free, drive-through light show on 7.5 acres of land. The show runs from Black Friday to the first week of January, dusk until 10pm Sun-Thurs and until 11 on Friday and Saturday. Because the roads are so narrow and traffic is a concern, there is a loop around the show. There are signs directing traffic, but to find the lights put 9360 Frabell Dr, Powell OH 43065 into the GPS.

Wonderlight’s Christmas Experience WonderLight’s Christmas, a drive thru holiday light show, at the Hartford Fairgrounds in Hartford, Ohio, from November 10th through December 31st – rain, shine, or snow. The show features over 1 million LED lights synchronized to traditional and newer, rocking Christmas music played through your own car stereo.