22 Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season in Columbus

Columbus’ best holiday lights, shopping and festivities start at Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens for Conservatory Aglow, where more than 500,000 lights offer a new perspective on the capital-city favorite. Columbus Commons brightens the season with sparkling archways and a 40-foot holiday tree with a display that extends this year to the city’s Scioto Mile along the riverfront. Just a short drive away, Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers millions of twinkling lights and special encounters with holiday characters. Beyond the lights, neighborhoods like the Short North Arts District and German Village offer places to find unique gifts, and when it’s time to get festive, Columbus’ holiday-themed bars delivers a hearty dose of holiday cheer.

Dazzling Displays

Situated in Columbus’s Old Towne East neighborhood, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens celebrates the holidays each year with Conservatory Aglow. From 5 to 9 p.m. every day between Nov. 23 and Jan. 5, see over 500,000 lights in the outdoor gardens and indoor biomes. From light shows to dance parties to amazing gingerbread creations, the event is the perfect way to ring in the season. Don’t miss the chance to unwind in some cozy festive igloos at the all-new Ahlum & Arbor Arctic Terrace. When it’s time to warm up, step inside to see the Holiday Blooms exhibition, featuring holiday vignettes and a gorgeous poinsettia tree.

See Columbus in a new light this year with expanded, free downtown light displays. From Nov. 22 to Jan. 1, Columbus Commons features lighted archways, a 40-foot holiday tree and whimsical photo opportunities. The city is expanding its public light displays this year as well.

“It’s not just the Columbus Commons this year,” says Amy Taylor, president of Downtown Columbus Inc. “We’re really excited to be debuting over half a million lights in [a] little urban walking tour.” 

As you exit Columbus Commons, let the penguins on Town Street guide you to Bicentennial Park and the Scioto Mile, where the spectacle of  lights continues.

The holiday season in Central Ohio wouldn’t be the same without Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, located about 20 miles from downtown in the suburb of Powell. From Nov. 22 through Jan. 5, the Zoo transforms into a festive wonderland. Grab a seasonal snack before gazing at the millions of lights and meeting Santa, Rudolph and other beloved characters. Be sure to stay and check out the three animated musical light displays. While animal sightings depend on weather and the animals’ well-being, many indoor habitats will be open during the evening hours. 


Holiday Shopping

From runway gowns to accessories and flower arrangements, Common Thread Shops on 3rd (above) offers a curated downtown shopping experience. With a focus on supporting emerging brands, finding a one-of-a-kind gift on this Columbus block is an easy — and enjoyable — task. 

“We’ve gotten so used to shopping online,” says Taylor, who, in her role with Downtown Columbus Inc., partnered with the Columbus Fashion Council in 2022 to bring shopping back to downtown Columbus through Common Thread. “This is about exploring… and finding things that surprise you.”

Columbus has no shortage of neighborhoods to visit for unique holiday shopping experiences. Try the Short North Arts District for vintage clothing, books, jewelry and everything in between. For the creative folks on your list, purchase a gift card from one of the district’s experience-based businesses, where they can learn to paint or pour candles. To the west of downtown in Grandview Heights, find streets of fun restaurants and local shops that sell everything from beauty products and home decor to sweet treats. 

Farther north, the Clintonville neighborhood boasts a variety of local favorite restaurants and cafes along High Street, as well as shops that sell an eclectic mix of giftable items. Be sure to walk through Olde Towne East and stop by the East Market food hall before checking out the area’s selection of locally owned shops.

When it’s time to shop favorite national retailers, Polaris Fashion Place has you covered. Grab a bite to eat before diving into the mall’s two floors of shops and department stores or let out your playful side in an arcade or escape room.

With an abundance of retailers specializing in fashion and great dining choices, Easton Town Center is another favorite for holiday shopping in Columbus. The shopping center is also home to a Legoland Discovery Center, which offers themed indoor rides and experiences perfect for entertaining the family on a cold day. 


Christmas Bars

You don’t have to be Scrooge to enjoy Ebenezer’s at The Bottle Shop, but it certainly helps. Inspired by his time in the service industry, owner Greg Stokes aims to create an alternative holiday experience. Those who have had enough of the same-old holiday music and festive decorations can visit The Bottle Shop in December for dark, Victorian decor and photo opportunities with Krampus. 

Visitors can even try Charles Dickens’ Personal Punch, made from a recipe shared by the author of A Christmas Carol. 

“We wanted to create something that was really fun… for everyone to get into the holiday spirit in an anti-Santa Claus kind of way,” Stokes says. 

After you’ve been visited by the ghosts of Christmas, you’ll want to check out what has come to be known as the tacky Christmas bar at BrewDog Short North (above). Each December brings a new cocktail menu and unique, over-the-top decor.

The Citizens Trust also decks the halls this year to host the Miracle pop-up bar from Nov. 29 through Dec. 28. Stop in for twists on classic cocktails, such as a Snowball Old Fashioned or Christmopolitan. While there are Miracle pop-ups throughout the country, each puts its own spin on the experience, and The Citizens Trust’s delivers  the upscale service for which the establishment is known.

For more information about these and other holiday season destinations throughout Columbus, visit experiencecolumbus.com. 

---


Holiday Events in Columbus
Plan your travels around one of these happenings between now and early 2025. 

Nov. 22: Grand Illumination, Easton Town Center
Watch as the shopping center simultaneously lights its displays of over
2 million glowing bulbs, then stay for a musical performance and fun for the family with costumed characters and more. eastontowncenter.com

Nov. 23–Jan 5: Season of Celebrations, COSI 
Walk through a forest of holiday trees decorated by local organizations and watch seasonal science demonstrations as COSI’s classic exhibits like “Life” and “Ocean” are transformed for the holidays. cosi.org

Nov 23: One Light 2024 
This night of song and dance, put on by the nonprofit OYO Dance Company brings its One Light show to the Harmony Project in Columbus, with performances that honor the holiday traditions of Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and more. oyodancecompany.org 

Dec. 6, 13 & 20: Festive Fridays
Listen to live music, sip on free hot chocolate and pose for photos as you stroll among the light displays in Columbus Commons and along the Scioto Mile on the city’s downtown riverfront. columbuscommons.org

Dec. 3: Holiday in the Heights, Grandview Heights 
Make your way to Grandview Avenue, west of the Short North Arts District, for ice skating, hot chocolate, a tree-lighting ceremony and more as local shops stay open late for holiday shopping. grandviewheights.gov

Dec. 6–8: Holiday Pops
Listen to some of your favorite holiday tunes as performed by the Columbus Symphony, Columbus Symphony Chorus and Columbus Children’s Choir during a weekend of shows at the iconic Ohio Theatre. columbussymphony.com

Dec. 8: Village Lights, German Village
Explore the shops and restaurants of Columbus’s picturesque German Village under the glow of holiday lights and stroll through their new Striezlemarkt (or Christmas market) to pick up treasures to take home. germanvillage.com

Dec. 17: Pre-Hanukkah Celebration
Prepare for Hanukkah with special programming during Franklin Park’s Conservatory Aglow. Partnering with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus, enjoy activities for kids and entertainment centered around the Festival of Lights. fpconservatory.org

Dec. 26–Jan. 1: Kwanzaa 614 
Celebrate Kwanzaa and African culture with this week of free events happening throughout the city, including two days of programming held at the Ohio History Center that includes authentic food and music. ohiohistory.org

Dec. 30: Menorah Lighting 
Stand under the lights at Easton Town Center as a giant menorah casts the shopping center in a warm glow. Plus, enjoy raffle prizes, food and more. eastontowncenter.com

For more Ohio travel inspiration, sign up for our Ohio Magazine newsletters.

Ohio Magazine is available in a beautifully designed print issue that is published 7 times a year, along with Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter editions of LongWeekends magazine. Subscribe to Ohio Magazine and stay connected to beauty, adventure and fun across our state.