Holiday fun isn’t canceled with the pandemic, there are a lot of creative options this year. And many activities to choose from based on the level of safety for your family. Make it magical!
State Auto Christmas Corner
518 E. Broad St. Columbus
Starting in early December, you can walk through a life-sized nativity and read the Christmas story. Lighting times
TBD – Jan. 4: Daily from 6 – 8 a.m.; 5:00 – 11:30 p.m.; until 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and SaturdaysChristmas Eve: 3:00 p.m. until 8 a.m. Christmas Day https://www.stateauto.com/christmas
Griswold Delaware
7840 Overland Trail, Delaware
Ohio’s #1 Award Winning Christmas Display featuring over 120,000 lights!!!
If you haven’t been, you’re going to want to make it a tradition starting this year. The house is glowing, the entire house. It’s pretty amazing!
Creekside Gahanna
We love all things Gahanna, especially Creekside. It’s fun walking the winding path by the creek. And the lights make it even more magical.
Clotts Rd. Gahanna
There are two houses that go super hard on Christmas lights. If you are visiting Creekside and Easton, you should swing by and check them out as well. You can’t miss the blinding lights!
Easton Holiday Lights
We enjoy viewing the lights outside of Easton. The large tree, big bulbs and the lights above the train. I always feel like your in a mini city over by the fountains and the main road toward Nordstrom.
Uptown Westerville Ice Sculptures and Lights
12/18, starting at 5 PM
The Uptown Westerville shop windows will be decorated. The ice sculptures will be out starting at 5 PM and lasting until they melt. Weather dependant.
2020 German Village Lights
12/6 5 PM
Hosted by the German Village Society, stroll the streets and enjoy the lights.
Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
Iniswood Metro Gardens is planning to host another lights display this year, as well as several other parks in conjunction with the 2021 Winter Hikes Series. Dates TBD. Last year they had a disco ball in the tall pine trees, family dance party!
Columbus Commons-Holiday Lights
160 S High St. Columbus
This is a fun little adventure downtown. It was a short walk around to see a lot of lights packed into a small area.P
P.S. Parking meters are free on Sundays
Grand Illumination at Scioto Mile
Another great space to view the lights and a city view! The reflection of the lights on the water is pretty too. Check this out at the same time as the Columbus Commons and the State Auto Nativity.
Dickens of a Christmas Drive Thru
Ohio History Connection
Beginning December 5, Ohio History Connection brings you Dickens of a Drive-Thru. Just one of the modified experiences being offered by Ohio History Connection this season, Dickens of a Drive-Thru gives guests a chance to see Charles Dickens’ festive vision of Christmas come to life in Ohio Village.
Visitors will tune into their car radio to hear Christmas songs performed by the Ohio Village Singers while they drive through a bustling village full of joyful townsfolk taking part in holiday traditions. See villagers dancing and singing, decorating Christmas trees, homes and business in Ohio Village, shopping for presents and more! Along the way, you’ll also see 19th-century characters like St. Nick and Krampus, the Ghost of Christmas Present, Jacob Marley, Scrooge and Santa Claus himself.
The pricing is: $25/vehicle; $10/member vehicle; free/premium member vehicle. Tickets can be purchased at ohiohistory.org/dickens.
Butch Bandos Fantasy of Lights
3311 Old State Rd. Delaware
A 3 mile drive through light show, woo hoo jammies! This is a super fun way to enjoy Christmas lights in a warm environment. Pack some cookies and hot chocolate and play your favorite Christmas tunes. And it’s at Alum Creek Park Campgrounds, so a short drive! – Tickets available to purchase in advance- Season passes- New displays!!!!!!!!!
Butchbandosfantasyoflights.com
*And the show benefits Recreation Unlimited and A Kid Again
BalletMet “A Nutcracker Holiday”
Free microsite offers safe way to experience Nutcracker during the holidaysCentral Ohio’s most beloved holiday tradition since 1974 — BalletMet’s The Nutcracker — will not be performed this year due to the pandemic. In its place, BalletMet has created “A Nutcracker Holiday” that will be free online from Dec. 5 to Dec. 27 and will be a hub of all things Nutcracker. “A Nutcracker Holiday” will include:
• Two videos created specifically for A Nutcracker Holiday – Clara’s Nutcracker Prince will feature a teenage Clara dreaming of that night. Her dream will include various production numbers from BalletMet’s Nutcracker. The second video – Dancing With the Nutcracker – is geared to younger children and will replicate the annual event that welcomes hundreds of kids to BalletMet’s studios to meet the Nutcracker and BalletMet company members and join an interactive story time that includes BalletMet 2 performing excerpts from The Nutcracker.
• Re-release of Finding Clara – Justice and BalletMet collaborated on a behind-the-scenes movie following the young dancers cast as The Nutracker’s Clara and their journeys from rehearsals, to auditions, to performances. This is a must-see for any budding ballerinas.
• A Scavenger Hunt via the GooseChase app – BalletMet staff have created Nutcracker-based missions that teams complete throughout downtown Columbus. Each week there will be new missions and clues for teams to compete. Winning teams will be entered into a raffle and final winners will be announced Dec. 27.• Coloring sheets – download Nutcracker themed coloring activities for kids.
• Favorite holiday recipes – various BalletMet company members, staff and board members will share their favorite holiday recipes.
• Spotify holiday music – A curated list of holiday favorites – including Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – will be available to accompany all your favorite holiday activities at home. “While we would much prefer performing on stage, I’m so proud of our team for creating these wonderful holiday experiences to enjoy throughout December BalletMet-style,” said Sue Porter, Executive Director of BalletMet. “We’re excited to offer this to the entire Central Ohio community and beyond free of charge. We encourage our fans and supporters to share ‘A Nutcracker Holiday’ on social media and to friends and family far and wide.” A Nutcracker Holiday will premier online at www.balletmet.org starting Dec 5th.
Conservatory Aglow @Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
1777 E Broad St., Columbus
The Conservatory is decorated with lights, both inside and out. The Children’s Garden is our favorite. Another fun way to experience the lights.
Zoo Lights @ Columbus Zoo
4850 W Powell Rd.
Our festivities wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Zoo lights. Even if it’s bitterly cold, the lights and animals help to distract everyone.
