14 Free Holiday Attractions in Columbus and Central Ohio

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy holiday activities in Columbus! This list of free holiday attractions will give you tons of things to do without breaking the bank!

This list does not consist of events, but of ongoing attractions that will be available for you to visit at your convenience! If you’re looking for holiday events, you can always sign up for my weekly newsletter where I will send out a list of one-time, family-friendly events for each weekend!

Browse this list of free holiday attractions in Columbus to plan your fun! Scroll to the bottom of this post for a listing of ALL of my holiday blog posts!

1. Wanderlights at Columbus Commons

Holiday lights at Columbus Commons in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

Dates: November 22, 2024 – February 16, 2025
Hours: Dusk until dawn; Festive Fridays will take place the first 3 Fridays in December from 5:00 – 9:00 PM.
Where: 160 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Website and More Info

Columbus Commons is part of Wanderlights! This path starts at Columbus Commons and ends at Bicentennial Park, connected by lights on Town Street! Enjoy lights, a mural and special displays along the way!

Festive Fridays will take place the first 3 Fridays in December from 5:00 – 9:00 PM featuring free hot chocolate, live music carousel rides and more!

2. Wanderlights at Bicentennial Park and Scioto Mile

Dates: November 22, 2024 – February 16, 2025
Hours: Dusk until dawn
Where: 233 S Civic Center Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
Website and More Info

In 2024, the city has introduced Wanderlights! The path includes Columbus Commons, a seasonal mural on Town Street, 32 penguins along the path and over 40 sculptural lights at the Scioto Mile Fountain!

3. Huntington Holiday Train at Main Library

The Huntington Holiday Train at Columbus Metropolitan Library.

When: November 18, 2024 – January 18, 2025
Where: 96 S. Grant Ave. Columbus, OH 43215
Website

Main Library is home to the Huntington Holiday Train and every year this amazing display is set up during the holiday season! The library typically begins set up of the train in November and it is usually up through New Years!

Every year they also host a Holiday Open House with special activities! This year’s event will be on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 from 6-8 pm.

4. Holiday Festivities at Easton Town Center

When: beginning November 22, 2024
Where: 160 Easton Town Center, Columbus, OH 43219
Website

We always enjoy going to Easton at Christmastime – and not just to do our Christmas shopping! There is a life-sized nativity and a humongous Christmas tree with 28, 680 RGB LED lights!

There are lights and decorations throughout Easton Town Center, carriage rides on the weekends, live music performances and visits with Santa!

5. Nativity at Cathedral Square

Christmas Corner Nativity in Columbus, Ohio.

When: November 29, 2024 – January 6, 2025
Hours: Lit nightly.
Where: 212 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215
Facebook Page

Walking through this Nativity is something we love to do close to Christmas Eve! You can walk through a life-sized nativity following the Christmas story!

In 2023, this larger than life nativity was donated by State Auto to The Museum of Catholic Art and History and is now located at St. Joseph’s Cathedral at 212 E. Broad St. in downtown Columbus, OH. The nativity will be lit nightly through January 6, 2025. There is parking lot behind the St. Joseph Cathedral. The link above will take you to their Facebook page so you can stay in the know about upcoming events!

6. Dazzling Christmas Lights in Westerville, Ohio

Dates: November 29th to January 5th 2025
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 6pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat: 6pm to 11pm
Where: 649 Old Coach Rd Westerville, OH 43081
Website

The Dazzling Christmas Light display is a synchronized Christmas Lights show that takes place every night in a Westerville neighborhood. There are 90,000 Christmas Lights that dance to music.

The show is every night (weather permitting) from 6:00pm – 10:00pm Sunday thru Thursday and 6:00pm – 11:00pm Friday and Saturday. Tune your car radio to 90.1 FM to hear the music!

7. Lucy Depp Park Light Show in Powell, Ohio

Dates: nightly beginning Black Friday 2024 through January 5, 2025
Hours: Dusk until 10pm Sun-Thurs and until 11 on Friday and Saturday.
Where: 9360 Frabell Dr Powell OH 43065
Website

This 7 acre drive through display is put together by a group of neighbors on private property in Powell, Ohio! The show covers 1/2 mile, 6 houses and features over 60,000 lights. Tune to 87.9 FM to “hear” the lights!

The drive through is one way. Enter on Frabell Dr. and loop around to Springdale. Weekends can get busy so it is suggested that you come on a weeknight if possible! You can drive through as many times as you like as time and traffic allows!

Donations to Feed the Kids Columbus are accepted at a donation box at the entrance of the show.

8. Lights of Glenross in Delaware, Ohio

Dates: Show begins on Thanksgiving Day
Hours: 5:00 PM-9:00 PM Sunday-Thursday, 5:00 PM-11:00 PM Friday and Saturday
Where: Glenross, Glenross North, and Braumiller subdivisions, located between US 23 and South Old State Rd., Delaware, OH (See directions.)
Website

This show includes over 250 houses decorated with lights and choreographed to Christmas music which you can access through your radio on 88.5 FM. There are 3 neighborhood subdivisions included in the show! The light show is free to drive through.

For extra fun, check out the scavenger hunt they have developed so you can look for 20 different items as you drive through!

9. 12 Elves of Dublin

Dates: December 2, 2024 – December 23, 2024
Hours: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Where: Historic Dublin
Website

Hunt for the 12 elves hiding amongst local shops in Historic Dublin. Fill out your elf card and return it to win a grand prize! This event can be done anytime businesses are open through the end of December (exact date coming soon)!

10. Twinkling Lights at Select Metro Parks

Twinkling Lights at Inniswood Metro Gardens.

Dates: December 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Hours: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Multiple Metro Parks
Website

Enjoy the twinkling lights displays at Battelle Darby Creek, Blacklick Woods, Highbanks, Homestead and Inniswood Metro Gardens during the month of December from dark – 8:00 PM each night.

11. Wonderful Window Displays and Holiday Photo Spots in Old Worthington

Two boys standing in a candy cane decorated alleyway in Old Worthington.

Dates: November 7 – December 31, 2024
Hours: 24/7
Where: Old Worthington
Website

Stroll through Old Worthington to check out the neighborhood merchants who create window displays filled with holiday magic. Window designs are installed in early November and remain decorated through the New Year.

There are several photo spots throughout Old Worthington, too!

CANDY CANE LANE: a red and white candy wonderland between Old Bag of Nails and Oasis Face Bar.
WORTHINGTON SHINES: a giant gift box on Dewey’s Pizza plaza
THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: 12 musical favorites in a stunning swinging holiday wonderland
GINGERBREAD HOUSE: a decorated gingerbread house at the entrance to the Kilbourne Shops

12. Elf Trail in the Short North

Dates: Nov. 29 -Dec. 31, 2024
Hours: during business hours
Where: Short North Arts District
Website

From Nov. 29 -Dec. 31, 2024 kids under 12 can look for elves hidden on the shelves of three participating businesses to earn stickers. Grab a trail card from a participating Short North business or print at home here. Redeem your completed Elf Trail card for one of the following offers:

An exclusive 8-oz holiday scented candle from Vella & Co. (1128 N High St)
One 12-oz or 16-oz drip coffee or hot chocolate from Mission Coffee (11 Price Ave)
A Northstar Hot Chocolate or Hot Apple Cider from Northstar Cafe (951 N High St)
A 12-oz Peppermint Mocha, 16-oz Hot Chocolate or 16-oz Peppermint Bark Iced Coffee from Winan’s Coffee & Chocolates (611 N High St)

13. Holiday Lights Display at Creekside Gahanna

Dates: Nov. 24, 2024 -January 7, 2025
Hours: after dark
Where: 117 Mill St, Gahanna, OH 43230
Website

Walk through Creekside Gahanna to enjoy a dazzling light display featuring more than 300,000 lights! Lights will be on nightly at dark.

14. Grove City Nutcracker Hunt

Dates: December 6, 2024 – January 6, 2025
Hours: any time
Where: Grove City Town Center
Website

Hunt for up to 47 nutcrackers throughout Grove City’s Historic Town Center! Each nutcracker has a number. Write down the number assigned to each nutcracker with its location on your Nutcracker Guide.
Drop off the completed entry card to receive prizes at: Grove City Welcome Center and Museum or
Kingston Center, Grove City Parks and Recreation.

Plan your holiday fun! Browse these blog posts for the best family-friendly holiday events in Columbus!

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