Christmas in Downtown Columbus

Downtown Columbus comes alive during the holiday season with dazzling light displays and holiday fun! Check out these fun events for Christmas in Downtown Columbus!

State Auto Christmas Corner and Life Sized Nativity

Christmas Corner Lighting of State Auto Christmas Display and Life-Sized Nativity: Opening night December 3 from 5:30-8 pm, with a performance by the Columbus Children’s Choir. Will be lit nightly at State Auto Downtown through the season, with choir performances on Fridays and Saturdays. There is a Christmas Eve ceremony at 3 pm on December 24. The beautiful display is lighted daily through January 2.

Columbus Commons Holiday Lights

November 22, 2019 – January 5, 2020 from dusk to 11 pm. Check out more than 400,000 LED lights dazzle Columbus Commons park, thanks to a generous contribution from American Electric Power.

Festive Fridays at Columbus Commons on December 6, 13, 20 will be a little extra festive from 5-9 pm, with free hot chocolate and free carousel rides. Plus, you’ll catch carolers roaming around the park so you can sing along to your favorite seasonal songs as you stroll.

Lazarus Building Holiday Display

Bundle up and take a stroll to check out the displays in the Lazarus Building windows along High and Town Streets throughout the season.

Santa at the Lazarus department store in Downtown Columbus: Saturday, December 7, 2019 from 12-6 pm. This event may be one of the most anticipated events for Christmas in Downtown Columbus. Take photos with Santa in the original sleigh from the former Lazarus building, do crafts with OSU Urban Arts Space, and check out Orange Line Holiday Train in The Center for Architecture and Design. Head to Columbus Commons for free carousel rides, hot chocolate, holiday music and more. Holiday lights come on in the park at 5 pm.

Lights at the Scioto Mile and Bicentennial Park

From November 21, 2019 through January 5, 2020, the Scioto Mile and Bicentennial Park with be lit with more than 400,000 lights for the Holiday Light Display. This spectacular display will span Columbus Commons, the Lazarus Building and along the Scioto Mile.

Winterfest at the Bicentennial Park: Saturday, December 7 from 11 am – 4 pm. Festival featuring live music, local craft beer, and food trucks to benefit the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

Shadowbox Live: Holiday Shows

Cratchit: November 17th – December 22nd Shadowbox Live’s original jukebox musical Cratchit, filled with popular rock and holiday music, follows Bob Cratchit on that fateful Christmas Eve. This performance is family-friendly, and appropriate for ages 6 and up! Tickets are $10-$40. Get a 50% off discount code for the show “Cratchit.” with promotion code: “PARENTS50”!
Holiday Hoopla: November 21- December 28: (Slightly) raunchy Christmas Fun and Rock and Roll. Tickets are $25 and up.
Holiday Lunchbox: December 3 – December 20 at 1 p.m. on select weekdays. A 45 minute holiday show featuring music and sketch comedy from the Shadowbox holiday archives featuring holiday fun and antics with The Snow Bunnies! Tickets start at $5.

Huntington Holiday Train at the Main Library

November 20 – January 2. This fixture of the downtown holiday scene has delighted people of all ages since 1992 with its trains, tracks, tunnels, bridges and replicas of historic German homes and castles. See the Huntington Holiday Train display Nov. 18 through Jan. 2 during Main Library’s regular hours. Free one-hour parking in the library garage.

Segaway Holiday Lights Tour

November 29 – December 23, beginning at 6 p.m. or 8:15 p.m., take a festive ride on a segway through downtown Columbus and the Scioto Greenway to enjoy seasonal decorations, lights, and holiday music. Training + tour is about 1.5 hours and costs $49 per rider. Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High Street, Columbus, Ohio.

BYOB Holiday Lights Trolley

November 29 – December 30 at 5:30 p.m. Tour of Columbus to see seasonal attractions, lighting displays and holiday landmarks on a Holiday Trolley. Tickets are remaining for select dates, so book now!