Columbus Parent | The Go-To Guide: Family-Favorite Holiday Lights and Events in Columbus

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season in Central Ohio is about to begin.

For families, the month of December can feel like one long list of things to do, places to go, shows to see and events to attend.

To help parents and grandparents plan ahead, we’ve assembled a list of some of the best holiday happenings taking place this year.

The list, presented in chronological order, is grouped by event type. Short-run and single-day shows are in one section. Ongoing events, many of which continue through early January, are listed separately.

Nov. 29

FREE! Holiday Open House, The Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main branch will host a holiday open house with carols, family-friendly activities, live reindeer and a rumored special guest likely to be donning a red hat and suit. 6 to 8 p.m. 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus. columbuslibrary.org

Dec. 1-3

Columbus Symphony Holiday Pops, The Columbus Symphony Orchestra will make merry music in tandem with the Columbus Children’s Choir and the Columbus Symphony Chorus, the latter under the direction of newly hired chorus conductor Stephen Caracciolo. Tickets start at $18.70. 8 p.m. Dec. 1, 3 p.m. Dec. 2-3. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Columbus. columbussymphony.com/events/calendar/profile.dT/holiday-pops-1

Dec. 1-3

FREE! Main Street Delaware’s Home for the Holidays Weekend, Go ice skating, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, meet Santa Claus, participate in a Dash for Dancer scavenger hunt and more. The annual Christmas parade will take place Dec. 3. Check website for times. Downtown Delaware. mainstreetdelaware.com

Dec. 1-2, 8-10

“The Nutcracker,” Young dancers from the New Albany Children’s Ballet Theatre perform the majority of the roles in this family-friendly presentation of the classic ballet. Tickets start at $33.50. Times vary. McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., New Albany. newalbanyballet.com

Dec. 1

FREE! Whitehall Winter Wonderland, An appearance by Santa Claus, train rides, DIY holiday decorations and other activities will be offered prior to a holiday tree lighting. 6 to 8 p.m. The Kelley Green, 105 Norton Park Dr., Whitehall. whitehall-oh.us

Dec. 1-3

Winterfair, Cross off items from your holiday shopping list at this annual sale of locally produced jewelry, ceramics, fine art, glass, soaps, lotions and more. Tickets are $7. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 1-2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3. Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. winterfair.org

Dec. 2-17

Dickens of a Christmas, For this annual holiday program, the Ohio Village—a vivid recreation of an 1890s-era town—will be populated by historical interpreters and filled with arts and crafts activities in the spirit of author Charles Dickens’ vision of the holiday season. Musicians, storytellers and vendors are also part of the event. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and younger. Advance purchase is required. 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Ohio Village, 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. ohiohistory.org

Dec. 2

FREE! Santa Extravaganza at the Lazarus Building, The historic building will be a hub for holiday activities, including letters to Santa, photo ops with Santa, face painting and arts and crafts. 4 to 7 p.m. 50 W. Town St., Columbus. columbuscommons.org/events/holiday-lights

Dec. 2

FREE! Short North Holiday Hop, The Short North is always the place to be on the first Saturday of the month for Gallery Hop, but the art-focused event expands to include special performances and activities for December’s edition, appropriately titled Holiday Hop. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. North High Street from Nationwide Boulevard to Seventh Avenue. shortnorth.org

Dec. 2

FREE! WinterFest, Presented by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, this event offers live music, food trucks and local craft beer and cocktails. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bicentennial Park, Downtown Columbus. sciotomile.com/winterfest

Dec. 3

FREE! Downtown Holiday Trolley Hop, The 10th annual event offers free rides to cultural institutions and stores centered around Columbus’ Discovery District neighborhood, as well as John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons and the Santa Extravaganza at the Lazarus building. Children’s activities, sweet treats and characters also are featured. 1-6 p.m. Start the hop at Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main branch, 96 S. Grant Ave., or the Warehouse District, 256 E. Neilston St. discoverydistrictcolumbus.org

Dec. 3

FREE! Village Lights, Shops and restaurants will keep later-than-usual hours for visitors who wish to let luminaria guide them through German Village as part of this annual event. 5 to 9 p.m. Streets of German Village. germanvillage.com/event/village-lights-2023-2/

Dec. 4

FREE! Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting, Dancers, mascots and historical characters will be on hand for this annual event, but the stars of the show will be Santa and Mrs. Claus. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus. ohiostatehouse.org/calendar/event?id=1548

Dec. 7

“The Hip-Hop Nutcracker,” Returning again to Columbus, this touring production offers an imaginative overhaul of the classic production, substituting ballet with hip-hop dance. The show also features an electric violinist, a DJ and MC Kurtis Blow. Tickets start at $36. 7:30 p.m. Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., Columbus. capa.com

Dec. 7-10, 13-17, 19-23

“The Nutcracker,” For many Central Ohio families, the graceful dancing, majestic music and enchanting storytelling in BalletMet’s “The Nutcracker” makes the production a can’t-miss high point of the holidays. Tickets start at $38.50. Times vary. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Columbus. balletmet.org

Dec. 8

Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour, The saxophonist will be joined by an impressive assortment of musical colleagues, including guitarist Jonathan Butler, singer Rebecca Jade, pianist Justin Lee Schultz and fellow saxophonist Marcus Anderson. Tickets start at $44. 8 p.m. Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., Columbus. capa.com

Dec. 9-10

“The Ebony Nutcracker,” Fulfilling its mission to make dance “accessible to everyone,” Dance E.L.I.T.E. Performance Academy presents its students in a production of the holiday classic. Tickets are $27. 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 9, 3 p.m. Dec. 10. Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St., Columbus. capa.com

Dec. 9-10

“Elf in Concert,” Families can laugh and feel culturally enriched at the same time during this special screening of the Will Ferrell Christmas comedy “Elf.” As the movie is shown, the Columbus Symphony will play the score live. Tickets start at $60. 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 2 p.m. Dec. 10. Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., Columbus. capa.com

Dec. 14-17, 21-23

“A Christmas Carol,” The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio—the organization formerly known as CATCO—will present a one-woman show in which a single performer inhabits all of the characters in Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Tickets are $27. Times vary. Riffe Center’s Studio Two, 77 S. High St., Columbus. thecontemporaryohio.org

Dec. 15

“A Joyful Christmas,” When pianist and Cleveland native Jim Brickman comes to town, the season automatically becomes a bit more joyful. In addition to playing his own compositions, Brickman has been known to play selections from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Tickets start at $34. 7:30 p.m. Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., Columbus. capa.com

Dec. 16

Santa & the Symphony, Families with young children, people on the autism spectrum and adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s are the intended audience for this sensory-friendly holiday concert from the New Albany Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $10. 11:30 a.m. McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., New Albany. newalbanysymphony.com

Dec. 17

Holiday Spectacular, When an organization puts the word “spectacular” in the title of a show, it has to deliver, and the New Albany Symphony Orchestra does year after year. For its annual holiday program, the orchestra will perform sacred and popular works, including “Sleigh Ride,” “O Holy Night” and the suite from “The Polar Express.” Tickets start at $20. 3 p.m. McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., New Albany. newalbanysymphony.com

Dec. 20-21

“My First Nutcracker,” For families with very young children, BalletMet will offer a pair of shortened and simplified—but no less magical—performances of “The Nutcracker.” Tickets are $28. 11 a.m. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Columbus. balletmet.org

Dec. 22-23

“Cirque Dreams Holidaze,” Circus artists, performers appearing as storybook characters, elaborate stagecraft and live music will enliven this holiday extravaganza. Tickets start at $39. 7 p.m. Dec. 22, 3 p.m. Dec. 23. Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., Columbus. capa.com

ONGOING EVENTS

Through Dec. 10

FREE! Oakland Nursery Holiday Celebration, The garden center’s annual holiday event returns, with carriage rides, visits with Santa Claus and reindeer, a holiday village, face painting, balloon artists, live music and more. Activities vary by location. Admission is free, but there is a fee for some activities. oaklandnursery.com

Through Jan. 1

Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights, Pack the family into the car and prepare to be dazzled by this drive-thru lights event, taking place for the 24th year. $20 to $30 per car. 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds, 3311 S. Old State Rd., Delaware. butchbandosfantasyoflights.com

Through Jan. 1

FREE! Holiday Lights at Columbus Commons, The John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons will beam brightly thanks to more than 400,000 LED lights. From 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22, the park will also feature live music, carousel rides and free hot chocolate. Dusk to 11 p.m. daily. Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., Columbus. columbuscommons.org

Through Jan. 3

FREE! Holiday Lights on the Scioto Mile, Enjoy the Downtown Columbus riverfront illuminated by loads of lights. Due to fountain construction, this year’s display takes place along the Promenade, from Rich Street to Broad Street. The display is presented by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. Dusk to dawn nightly. Bicentennial Park, 233 Civic Center Drive, Columbus. sciotomile.com

Through Jan. 6

FREE! State Auto Christmas Corner, The life-size, lighted nativity that has stood outside the Columbus insurance company’s headquarters at holiday time since 1931 is getting a new home this year. State Auto announced in August it had donated the display to the Museum of Catholic Art and History, which will place it for public viewing at St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St.

This year’s display kicks off Dec. 1 with a lighting ceremony, and live music is scheduled on certain days throughout the season. Hours are 6 to 8 a.m. and 5 to 11:30 p.m. daily, until 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Christmas Eve until 8 a.m. Christmas Day. State Auto Insurance Companies, 518 E. Broad St., Columbus. facebook.com/christmascorner

Through Jan. 7

Conservatory Aglow and Holiday Blooms, Night and day during the holiday season, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is one of the most festive places to be in Greater Columbus. Conservatory Aglow, 5 to 9 p.m. weekdays and 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in December, features synchronized lights, immersive light installations and igloos housing tabletop games in addition to the familiar ornament-bedecked trees and a full-size gingerbread house. From Dec. 1-14, ice skating will also be offered.

Holiday Blooms, on view 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, includes winter plants and evergreens along with too many poinsettias to count. Holiday Blooms is included with standard admission. Special engagement rates apply to Conservatory Aglow. 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus. fpconservatory.org

Through Jan. 7

FREE! Huntington Holiday Train, For the 31st year, the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main branch will host a holiday train display to end all holiday train displays. The miniature locomotive will weave through tunnels, bridges and much artificial snow. The attraction is available to watch during library operating hours. 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus. columbuslibrary.org

Through Jan. 7

“Season of Celebrations,” COSI presents the inaugural edition of a new holiday exhibit that will feature a 40-foot tree in its atrium and 50 additional trees representing a variety of community organizations, schools and businesses. The exhibit is included with standard admission. COSI, 333 W. Broad St., Columbus. cosi.org

Through Jan. 7

Wildlights, With millions of LED lights on view, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will be brighter than a Christmas tree during the 35th installment of this annual family favorite. Beyond the sparkling lights, numerous other events will be included, among them meet-and-greets with winter animals, carousel rides and live holiday music from area bands and choirs at 7 p.m. nightly. 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Display and some activities are included with standard admission. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Road, Powell. columbuszoo.org

Through Early January

FREE! Easton Holiday Lights, Shoppers at Easton Town Center will have their paths illuminated by more than 2 million lights spread throughout the shopping complex. Holiday trees and a model train complete the festive flavor. Carriage rides are available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 23 ($10, free for ages 15 and younger with a paying adult). Easton, 160 Easton Town Center, Columbus. eastontowncenter.com

This is an extended version of The Go-To Guide from the Columbus Parent section in the December 2022 issue of Columbus Monthly.

Correction: The print version of this story had an incorrect start time for Holiday Hop.