Looking for things to do in Columbus, Ohio this weekend? Here are over 80 family-friendly events happening in Columbus, and Central Ohio this weekend!
Family Friendly Events in Columbus Ohio This Weekend:
FRIDAY
9:00 AM – Family Gingerbread House Decorating at Young Chefs Academy of Gahanna – families can decorate a gingerbread house together! Everything you need will be provided in the cost.
10:00 AM – Conservatory Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory – visit the Conservatory while it’s decked out for the season! Enjoy special performances and activities and this year the event extends into the Children’s Garden!
10:00 AM – Snow Day – Theatre for the Very Young at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a one act musical play about a young girl’s first snow day recommended for ages 2-6 performed at Park Street Theatre.
10:00 AM – Santa Photos at Easton Town Center – get your family’s picture with Santa between 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM (with 2 break periods (see link)). Get a professional 5×7 for $5 or take a photo with your own camera. Reservations are available!
11:30 AM – Snow Day – Theatre for the Very Young at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a one act musical play about a young girl’s first snow day recommended for ages 2-6 performed at Park Street Theatre.
5:00 PM – Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo – Wildlights is included in your admission (or membership) to the Zoo and features special activities, amazing lights, light shows, Rudolph and friends in Asia Quest, Santa’s Holiday Home in the Battelle Ice Bear Outpost, Jingle Ball light display and much more!
5:30 PM – Parents Night Out at Tree of Life Play + Cafe Drop the kids off for open play and dinner! Open to kids who are potty trained up through age 12. Register online.
5:30 PM – Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek Campground – families can enjoy a 3 mile drive through holiday light show with over 140 LED light displays! $30/car on the weekends.
5:30 PM – Dragon Lights Columbus – walk through an amazing display of Chinese lanterns and holiday light sculptures. Special cultural performances, food and shopping will also be available. Save money by purchasing your tickets online.
6:00 PM – Parents’ Night Out at Code Ninjas (Hilliard, OH) – Drop your kids off for a night of Code Ninja games, building robots and more! Pizza and drinks will be provided. Register online.
6:00 PM – Winter Festival in Upper Arlington This holiday event includes ice sculpting, horse drawn carriage rides, visits with Santa and his reindeer and the tree lighting ceremony! Plus caroling, a giant human snow globe, s’mores and more!
6:00 PM – Holiday Carriage Rides at Easton Town Center – carriage rides are available every weekend through December 23 for $10/person. Children under 15 are free with a paying adult. Get on the carriage outside of Zara on Gramercy Street. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM and Sundays from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
6:00 PM – Home for the Holidays Weekend in Downtown Delaware – this is a weekend long celebration featuring a tree lighting, Santa, reindeer, horse drawn carriage rides, a scavenger hunt for Dasher, special holiday deals and a parade on Sunday at 3:00 PM.
6:00 PM – November Parents Night Out at We Rock the Spectrum – Columbus Parents night out at We Rock The Spectrum is for kids 3 years and older and includes pizza, snacks, open play, crafts and more! Register online.
6:30 PM – Family Night Out at Goldfish Swim School – enjoy an open swim in 90 degree water at all Goldfish Swim School locations! Cost for non-members is $5/person or $15/family. First come first served!
6:30 PM – A Heritage Holiday at Heritage Park Groveport Ohio – this event includes music from the Groveport Madison High School Band, crafts for kids, carriage rides, ice carving, refreshments, and Santa arrives by fire truck at 6:30!
7:00 PM – Westerville Tree Lighting Ceremony – this tree lighting ceremony includes live music, a candle lighting celebration, cookies, and visits with Santa!
A BIG Thank You to Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights for sponsoring this post!
Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is an annual holiday 3 mile drive thru light show, with over 140 LED brilliant light displays during the 25 minute drive, admired in the comfort of your own car. Butch’s children honor his legacy through this annual tradition that has been around for decades, giving thousands of other families the opportunity to create traditions of their own.
From their family to thousands of others, they want to provide a chance for people to take time to make memories during the drive thru the light show. The Fantasy of Lights benefits many local charities such as Recreation Unlimited, A Kid Again, Autism Speaks, among others, and honors current and former military through specialized evenings. This show truly brings light to this world, giving moments that will create memories that will last in families forever.
Located at the Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds at 3311 South Old State Rd., Delaware, OH 43015
Hours are Sunday-Thursday 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Friday and Saturday 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Want to sponsor What Should We Do This Weekend? Click here.
SATURDAY
9:00 AM – Kids Clay Saturdays – Coil Winter Holiday Trees at Picktown Arts with Ellie Mescher-Miller – kids can learn how to make a holiday tree out of clay! Recommended for ages 4 and up. Register online.
9:00 AM – Breakfast with Santa at Polaris Fashion Place – meet and greet Santa while having a breakfast catered by California Pizza Kitchen. Purchase tickets ($8/person) at the Mall Management Office.
9:00 AM – Family Gingerbread House Decorating at Young Chefs Academy of Gahanna – families can decorate a gingerbread house together! Everything you need will be provided in the cost.
9:00 AM – Christmas In The Garden at Hoover Gardens & Gift Center – each weekend in December you can shop for a Christmas tree and other gifts while enjoying cookies and hot chocolate. There will also be ornament painting!
9:00 AM – Christmas Prelude, Breakfast with Santa and Craft Fair at THE GRAND of Dublin – this event includes breakfast with Santa ($3/person), silent auction, bake sale, craft vendors, live entertainment and more. Breakfast tickets are first come first served and purchased at the door.
9:30 AM – Squats & Tots Saturday Classes! at piccadilly – exercise WITH your kids at this class designed just for parents and their kids – crawlers through preschoolers.
10:00 AM – Holiday Hoot at Gateway Film Center – watch family friendly short films on the big screen and enjoy live music from The Shazzbots! There are also activities in the lobby before the show! This is a free event when you bring a canned good to donate to The Open Shelter.
10:00 AM – Home for the Holidays Weekend in Downtown Delaware – this is a weekend long celebration featuring a tree lighting, Santa, reindeer, horse drawn carriage rides, a scavenger hunt for Dasher, special holiday deals and a parade on Sunday at 3:00 PM.
10:00 AM – Holiday Toy Drive 2018 at Nationwide Children’s Hospital – drop off toys and books for patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital at this annual Toy Drive. Staff can take your donation from your car. Check the link for Wish List of ideas.
10:00 AM – Christmas on the Towne in Downtown Reynoldsburg – this event includes a visit with Santa, a Secret Santa Shop, carriage rides, and specials available at the local merchants.
10:00 AM – Conservatory Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory – visit the Conservatory while it’s decked out for the season! Enjoy special performances and activities and this year the event extends into the Children’s Garden!
10:00 AM – Snow Day – Theatre for the Very Young at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a one act musical play about a young girl’s first snow day recommended for ages 2-6 performed at Park Street Theatre.
10:00 AM – Free Pictures With Santa at Antry/Isaacs Team at Saxton Real Estate – free pictures with Santa with a donation of an unwrapped toy for families in need!
10:00 AM – 2018 Grove City Christmas Celebration – this event in Grove City Town Center includes visits with Santa, live entertainment, shopping, a parade, the Heart of Grove City Mistletoe Market and the tree lighting.
10:00 AM – Sensitive Santa at Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities – get your picture with Santa in a sensory friendly environment, enjoy treats and a take home craft. This is a free event but they are accepting donations of a new hat or pari of gloves to the Common Grounds Free Store. RSVP online.
10:00 AM – Holiday Happiness at Upper Arlington Public Library – this event includes crafts for kids, live music, a gingerbread display, refreshments, a visit from Santa, face painting and more! See the complete schedule at the link.
10:00 AM – Santa Photos at Easton Town Center – get your family’s picture with Santa between 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM (with 2 break periods (see link)). Get a professional 5×7 for $5 or take a photo with your own camera. Reservations are available!
10:00 AM – Cheryl’s 2018 Annual Holiday Party at Cheryl’s Cookies and Brownies – shop at the Secret Santa Shop, enjoy cookie deals, frost a cookie with Mrs. Claus and visit with Santa!
11:00 AM – WinterFest at Bicentennial Park Scioto Mile – WinterFest includes live music, food trucks, seasonal ales and the opportunity to purchase a hand-crafted bowl to support the Empty Bowls initiative.
11:00 AM – Sensory Storytime at Pickerington Public Library – this is a story time just for kids with special needs including sensory activities, dim lights, quieter music and more sensory friendly accommodations. Families can use the library before it opens! Registration is required.
11:00 AM – Meet Santa at Transcend Coffee + Roastery, USA – meet Santa and enjoy free coffee and hot chocolate. This is a free event but donations are being accepted for A Kid Again.
11:00 AM – Free Lazarus Santa’s Workshop at the Lazarus Building – visit with Santa at The Lazarus Building! Take your own photos with Santa, enjoy crafts, a Holiday Train display, and wander around Columbus Commons enjoying the holiday lights and free carousel rides, face painting and hot chocolate! Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Firefighters 4 Kids.
11:00 AM – Holiday Photos at HOOT Studio – register for a 20 minute portrait time and receive an hour of play time, a treat and your choice of prints from professional photographer Aaron Taylor. This is especially perfect for families of children with special needs. Email to RSVP for a time.
11:30 AM – Snow Day – Theatre for the Very Young at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a one act musical play about a young girl’s first snow day recommended for ages 2-6 performed at Park Street Theatre.
12:00 PM – A Heritage Holiday at Heritage Park Groveport Ohio – this event includes crafts for kids, carriage rides, ice carving, refreshments, and visits with Santa, reindeer and other farm animals!
12:00 PM – WinterFest in Downtown Lancaster – WinterFest includes horse drawn wagon rides, Santa, cookies, live entertainment and special activities at participating business.
12:00 PM – Toys For Tots DRIVE THRU Toy Drive at Late Night Slice Short North – drive thru to drop off a toy donation and receive a coupon from Mikey’s Late Night Slice!
12:00 PM – Kids Christmas at the Market at Lynd Fruit Farm – meet Santa, do a take home craft, enjoy food trucks and lots of Christmas goodies to purchase in the shop.
1:00 PM – Holly Days in Historic Dublin – Holly Days in Dublin includes activities at various participating businesses in downtown Dublin such as visits with Santa, carolers, sending letters to Santa, the 12 Elves of Dublin Hunt, crafts for kids, story time and more!
1:00 PM – Snow Day – Theatre for the Very Young at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a one act musical play about a young girl’s first snow day recommended for ages 2-6 performed at Park Street Theatre.
1:00 PM – Holiday Cookie Decorating Event at C. Krueger’s – visit the new C. Krueger’s store in the Short North for a cookie decorating event for kids!
2:00 PM – Holidays in Powell – this event includes crafts, activities, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and the lighting of the city’s Christmas Tree.
3:00 PM – Winter Evening on the Farm at Gallant Farm Park – enjoy seasonal activities on the farm including live music, roasting chestnuts, cookies and family friendly activities.
3:00 PM – 2018 Cookie Walk in Downtown Pataskala – this event is open to the first 400 families and includes a walking tour of 50 local businesses collecting a cookie from each one! Minimum donation of $10 is requested.
5:00 PM – Christmas Under the Clock in Uptown Plain City – Plain City’s holiday event includes a free lighting, live entertainment, a visit from Santa, and open houses at the local businesses.
5:00 PM – Christmas on the Square in Sunbury – Sunbury’s holiday event includes holiday open houses at local businesses, a craft and gift fair, a lighted Christmas Parade, a Chrismas Tree sale, model train display and visit from Santa and much more! Click the link for all the details.
5:00 PM – Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo – Wildlights is included in your admission (or membership) to the Zoo and features special activities, amazing lights, light shows, Rudolph and friends in Asia Quest, Santa’s Holiday Home in the Battelle Ice Bear Outpost, Jingle Ball light display and much more!
5:30 PM – Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek Campground – families can enjoy a 3 mile drive through holiday light show with over 140 LED light displays! $30/car on the weekends.
5:30 PM – Dragon Lights Columbus – walk through an amazing display of Chinese lanterns and holiday light sculptures. Special cultural performances, food and shopping will also be available. Save money by purchasing your tickets online.
6:00 PM- Hilltop Art Hop – explore the most artsy block of the Hilltop including artists in residence at 3060 Artworks, classes at Clay Street Ceramics, a Holiday Artisan Market, live music, a book signing at Third Way Cafe and live music and refreshments at The Design Refinery. There will also be a food truck, Curbside Dish, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
6:00 PM – Grand Opening! at The Design Refinery – my husband and I invite you to the Grand Opening of our design studio and event space! This space will be available to rent for parties, showers, pop up shops, meetings and other events! We will have live music, refreshments and raffle prizes from Third Way Cafe, Clay Street Ceramics, Sarah Harste Weavings and The Design Refinery!
6:00 PM – Holiday Carriage Rides at Easton Town Center – carriage rides are available every weekend through December 23 for $10/person. Children under 15 are free with a paying adult. Get on the carriage outside of Zara on Gramercy Street. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM and Sundays from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
SUNDAY
9:00 AM – Family Gingerbread House Decorating at Young Chefs Academy of Gahanna – families can decorate a gingerbread house together! Everything you need will be provided in the cost.
9:00 AM – Sensitive Santa at Polaris Fashion Place – enjoy a sensory friendly visit with Santa with a calm environment and special activities. Registration is recommended but not required.
10:00 AM – Christmas In The Garden at Hoover Gardens & Gift Center – each weekend in December you can shop for a Christmas tree and other gifts while enjoying cookies and hot chocolate. There will also be ornament painting!
10:00 AM – Conservatory Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory – visit the Conservatory while it’s decked out for the season! Enjoy special performances and activities and this year the event extends into the Children’s Garden! Don’t forget that on the first Sunday of each month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the City of Columbus (with valid ID)!
11:00 AM – Santa Photos at Easton Town Center – get your family’s picture with Santa between 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM (with 2 break periods (see link)). Get a professional 5×7 for $5 or take a photo with your own camera. Reservations are available!
11:00 AM – Santa Visits Cub Shrub – visit with Santa at the Short North location of Cub Shrub! Register online.
- Related: Saturday Morning in the Short North
12:00 PM – HolidayVille 2018 in Clintonville – explore Clintonville with free Jolly Trolley rides through the neighborhood! There will be activities at neighboring businesses including make and take ornaments, s’mores, samples and more!
12:00 PM – Free Princess Meet and Greet at Montrose Elementary School – meet your favorite princesses during the Bexley Holiday Hop. This is free but check the times for each individual princess’ appearance.
12:00 PM – Holiday Enchantment at Land-Grant Brewing Company – this festive event includes a visit from Santa, wreath making workshops, activities for kids, live music cocktails and treats, caroling and more!
12:00 PM – Holiday Hop 2018 in Bexley – Bexley’s Holiday Hop includes special events at local stores, prizes, giveaways, treats, visits from Santa and more!
1:00 PM – Snow Day – Theatre for the Very Young at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a one act musical play about a young girl’s first snow day recommended for ages 2-6 performed at Park Street Theatre.
1:00 PM – Kid’s Gift Making Workshop at Sunbury Urban Farm – kids can make up to 5 of their own holiday gifts for friends and family. Recommended for ages 5-12 an cost is $20. Register in advance.
1:00 PM – Cram The Cruiser Toy Drive at Grove City UMC – drop off a new, unwrapped toy, visit with Santa and enjoy festive goodies.
2:30 PM – Snow Day – Theatre for the Very Young at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a one act musical play about a young girl’s first snow day recommended for ages 2-6 performed at Park Street Theatre.
3:00 PM – Holiday Carriage Rides at Easton Town Center – carriage rides are available every weekend through December 23 for $10/person. Children under 15 are free with a paying adult. Get on the carriage outside of Zara on Gramercy Street. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM and Sundays from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
3:00 PM – Home for the Holidays Weekend in Downtown Delaware – this is a weekend long celebration featuring a tree lighting, Santa, reindeer, horse drawn carriage rides, a scavenger hunt for Dasher, special holiday deals and a parade on Sunday at 3:00 PM.
4:00 PM – Tree Lighting at Prairie Township Community Center – countdown to the lighting of the tree, visit with Santa and enjoy a musical program.
4:00 PM – Menorah Lighting at Polaris Fashion Place – enjoy doughnuts, cider and family activities at the Menorah lighting on the lower level near Saks Fifth Ave.
4:00 PM – Holiday Hop & 29th Annual Tree Lighting in Hilliard – Hilliard’s holiday celebration includes fun events at several locations around town. There will be live music, food trucks, horse and carriage rides, hot chocolate and live reindeer, balloon twisting, face painting, visits with Santa and much more! See the link for all the details.
4:30 PM – Gingerbread House Decorating at The Morgan House – families can decorate a gingerbread house! $40. Call to register.
5:00 PM – Village Lights 2018 in German Village – stroll around German Village following the path lit with lanterns, visiting local businesses, enjoying live music and lots of goodies from local businesses. Also this year you can visit the German Village Makers Market and Not Your Mama’s Craft Market during the event!
5:00 PM – Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo – Wildlights is included in your admission (or membership) to the Zoo and features special activities, amazing lights, light shows, Rudolph and friends in Asia Quest, Santa’s Holiday Home in the Battelle Ice Bear Outpost, Jingle Ball light display and much more!
5:30 PM – Dragon Lights Columbus – walk through an amazing display of Chinese lanterns and holiday light sculptures. Special cultural performances, food and shopping will also be available. Save money by purchasing your tickets online.
5:30 PM – Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek Campground – families can enjoy a 3 mile drive through holiday light show with over 140 LED light displays! $30/car on the weekends.
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*Please be aware, information is gathered from multiple community sources. Times, dates and locations are subject to change. There may be a fee to participate in a featured activity. Please call ahead or check links to confirm activities. Enjoy what you do today!*
