Events to provide holiday cheer
No matter what corner of Greater Columbus you’re exploring, you’ll be able to meet Santa and dazzle your eyes with holiday lights. h Check out longtime favorites such as the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Ohio Village and the Ohio Statehouse. Or head out to community celebrations such as those in Pickerington, Westerville, Canal Winchester, Grove City or Dublin. And if you’re seeking a quieter experience, take a stroll through the illuminated trees at the Dawes Arboretum. h When you get chilly, head inside. You can listen to Christmas stories and sample plum pudding at the Kelton House, get a glimpse of 19th-century life and eat some Christmas cookies at the home of the author of “Up on the House Top” at the Hanby House, and marvel at “A Magical Cirque Christmas.” margaretquamme@hotmail.com
Events are in chronological order: WILDLIGHTS
COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM, 4850 POWELL ROAD, DELAWARE COUNTY
Details: Gaze at the zoo’s seasonal lights, roast a giant marshmallow and watch the light display synchronized to holiday music in and around Conservation Lake. Make reservations online to visit with Santa.
Times: 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; zoo is closed Nov. 15, evening of Dec. 24, and Dec. 25
Admission: free to $21.99, or free to $16.99 for Franklin County residents; free for members; some attractions have an extra fee
Parking: $10
COVID policy: masks highly encouraged when indoors
Contact: 614-645-3400, columbuszoo.org
CONSERVATORY AGLOW
FRANKLIN PARK CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS, 1777 E. BROAD ST.
Details: Colored lights twinkle in the Grand Mallway, Children’s Garden and Topiary Garden. Guests are also welcome inside to warm up and check out the Holiday Blooms display and the gingerbread house competition.
Times: 5 to 9 p.m. through Jan. 9; conservatory is closed Nov. 25, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25
Admission: free to $22, or free to $11 for members; reservations highly recommended
COVID policy: masks required indoors
Contact: 614-715-8000, fpconservatory.org
DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS
OHIO VILLAGE, INTERSTATE 71 AND EAST 17TH AVENUE Details: Celebrate the season with the “residents” of the Ohio Village as you enjoy music, dance and other activities. Be on the lookout for Scrooge, Jacob Marley and more.
Times: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 18, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 19
Admission: free to $16, or free to $11 for members; timed pre-registration is required
COVID policy: masks required indoors
Contact: 614-297-2300, www.ohiohistory.org
TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
SOUTHEAST VILLAGE GREEN, WORTHINGTON
Details: Start the season off right with the lighting of a holiday tree
Time: 5:30 to 6 p.m. Nov. 28
Admission: free
Contact: 614-436-2743, worthington.org
CHRISTMAS CORNER
STATE AUTO, 518 E. BROAD ST. Details: The traditional life-sized Nativity display returns this year. Check the website for times of choir performances on Fridays and Saturdays.
Time: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1 marks the lighting ceremony, accompanied by the Columbus Children’s Choir. The display will be lit until Jan. 3, from 6 to 8 a.m. daily, 5 to 11:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from 3 p.m. Dec. 24 to 8 a.m. Dec. 25.
Admission: free
COVID policy: masks required
Contact: www.stateauto.com/ christmas
HOLIDAY FESTIVAL AND TREE LIGHTING
OHIO STATEHOUSE ATRIUM, 1 CAPITOL SQUARE, DOWNTOWN Details: Meet Santa, historic characters and contemporary dignitaries as you celebrate the beginning of the season with the traditional lighting of the tree.
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2
Admission: free
COVID policy: masks required
Contact: www.ohiostatehouse.org/ calendar
A LITERARY CHRISTMAS
KELTON HOUSE, 586 E. TOWN ST. Details: Listen to costumed docents read seasonal selections from Charles Dickens, O. Henry and Dr. Seuss, and then indulge in some plum pudding and wassail.
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 2
Admission: $14; timed pre-registration is highly recommended
COVID policy: masks required
Contact: 614-464-2022, keltonhouse.com
HOLIDAY GATHERING
COLUMBUS STREET IN PICKERINGTON Details: Catch a ride on a trolley or a horse-drawn carriage, chat with Santa, pet a live reindeer, watch an ice-carving demonstration, observe the lighting of the village tree, and enjoy some free popcorn and hot chocolate.
Time: 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3
Admission: free
Contact: www.pickeringtonvillage.com
CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE
DOWNTOWN CANAL WINCHESTER Details: Visit with Santa, take a hayride, munch some popcorn, peruse the entries in a gingerbread house contest and check out some ice sculptures. On Dec. 3, Santa will be arriving via fire truck; on Dec. 4, he will make a grand entrance as part of the Holiday Lights Parade.
Times: 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4
Admission: free
Contact: 614-834-9915, www.canalwinchesterohio.gov
WINTER WONDER WALKS
THE DAWES ARBOREUM, 7770 JACKSONTOWN ROAD, NEWARK Details: Enjoy a leisurely one-mile stroll down the Parkwoods Trail, where the trees will be strung with lights, during the 4th annual celebration of nature in winter.
Times: 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from Dec. 3 to 18
Admission: free to $10, or free for members; timed pre-registration is required
Contact: 740-323-2355, dawesarb.org
A NIGHT OF HOLIDAY FUN
21 S. STATE ST., WESTERVILLE Details: Keep your eyes peeled for Santa, who will be handing out souvenirs, as you stroll the streets of uptown Westerville, enjoying the performances of carolers and dancers and interacting with costumed characters while taking a peek at the newly lighted holiday tree.
Time: 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3
Admission: free
Contact: www.westerville.org/ holidaysinuptown
GROVE CITY CHRISTMAS PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING
PARK STREET AND BROADWAY IN GROVE CITY
Details: Cheer on the participants in the Christmas Parade, which will be followed by the city’s tree lighting.
Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3
Admission: free
Contact:www.grovecityohio.gov
HOLLY DAYS
HISTORIC DUBLIN
Details: Depending on what day you check out historic Dublin, you might run into Disney characters, Dr. Seuss creations or Santa and his helpers. Don’t miss the chance to search for the 12 elves of Dublin.
Times: 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 4, 11 and 18
Admission: free
Contact: historicdublin.org
CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE
TOWN SQUARE, DOWNTOWN SUNBURY
Details: A lighted Christmas parade will lead the way to a tree lighting ceremony. Follow up with a visit with Santa, or enter a doughnut-eating contest. Watch woodcarving or ice-sculpting, take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage or just relax and enjoy the holiday music.
Time: 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4
Admission: free
Contact: 740-965-2860, business. sunburybigwalnutchamber.com
VILLAGE LIGHTS
GERMAN VILLAGE
Details: Luminarias will light the streets of German Village, where businesses will be open late and musicians will be performing. Stroll over to the Actors’ Theatre space in Schiller Park for a chance to chat with Santa and his elves.
Time: 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5
Admission: free
Contact: 614-221-8888, germanvillage.com
CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
HISTORIC HANBY HOUSE, 160 W. MAIN ST., WESTERVILLE
Details: Tour the festively decorated 1850s home of the Hanby family, including Ben Hanby, who wrote “Up on the House Top.” Listen to live music and enjoy refreshments typical of the period.
Times: 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 and 9, noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 11
Admission: free, donations welcomed
COVID policy: masks required
Contact: 614-891-6289, westervillehistory.org
MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS
PALACE THEATRE, 34 W. BROAD ST. Details: Magician Lucy Darling serves as emcee for a night of circus acts performed to the backing of live holiday music.
Time: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10
Admission: $40.75 to $72.25
COVID policy: masks plus proof of vaccination or negative test
Contact: 614-469-0939, www.capa.com