Christmas in Downtown Columbus features lights, Santa, and entertainment in 2023

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!

Christmas in Columbus

Columbus Commons Holiday Lights

November 17, 2023 through January 1, 2024, EVERY DAY from 5 pm until to 11 pm.

Enjoy the festive lights at Columbus Commons through the season. Stop by after a Downtown dinner to see more than 400,000 LED lights dazzle in the park, thanks to the partnership with the American Electric Power Foundation.

Take a photo and share it on Instagram using #CCHolidayLights!

Dine in or order takeout from local restaurants and enjoy it in the park, or take it to go when you leave! See some area options here.

Festive Fridays at Columbus Commons Holiday Lights

Fridays in December are a little extra festive, with free hot chocolate and carousel rides from 5pm to 9pm. Plus, you’ll hear the music of the season with musicians roaming around the park.

You can find that extra bit of holiday cheer on these dates: December 1, December 8, December 15, and December 22

Lazarus Building Holiday Display 

After you’ve walked through the Commons’ holiday haven, hop across High Street to check out the displays in the Lazarus building windows along High and Town Streets.

Huntington Holiday Train at the Main Library

November 22 through January 7, 2024 during regular library hours. 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.

Holiday open house is November 29 from 6-8 pm. Details here.

Main Library Hours
96 S. Grant Ave.
Free one-hour parking in the library garage.

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving, December 24-26, New Years Eve, and New Years Day 

photo: cotc

Segaway Holiday Lights Tour

November 24 – December 23, 2023, beginning at 6 p.m. or 8:30 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 for the Holiday Lights Tour.

Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High Street, Columbus, Ohio.

Shadowbox Live: Holiday Shows

Holiday Hoopla
November 17- December 23, 2023

(Slightly) raunchy Christmas Fun and Rock and Roll. Tickets for tables range from $45-$270 per table

Not So Silent Night
November 26 – December 23, 2023

Not So Silent Night follows the story of a DJ taking requests and dedications on Christmas Eve, leading to a sweet, fun and song-filled holiday night. Tickets for tables range from $40-$240

photo courtesy of Shadowbox Live

COSI Seasons of Celebrations Exhibit 

November 24 – January 7, 2024

Season of Celebrations is a new seasonal exhibit experience that transforms the museum into a winter wonderland, combining science, education and the festive spirit of the season.

With a grand, 40-foot tree in the iconic COSI Atrium serving as the centerpiece, the experience will captivate visitors with enchanting decorations, 50 community-focused trees, 10 Classic COSI exhibit-themed trees along with specialty food & beverage.

Nativity at Cathedral Square (formerly State Auto Christmas Corner)

November 24, 2023 through early January 2024. This stunning long-standing holiday tradition has been gifted and relocated, and will be lit nightly at St. Joseph Cathedral through the season.

The nativity scene and story of Christmas is a tradition that is loved by many. Read more here.

Nativity at Cathedral Square (formerly State Auto Christmas Corner) – new location!

Lights at the Scioto Mile and Bicentennial Park

From November TBA, 2023 through early January 2024, the Scioto Mile and Bicentennial Park with be lit with more than 400,000 lights for the Holiday Light Display. Look for date updates on the website.

This spectacular display will span Columbus Commons, the Lazarus Building and along the Scioto Mile.

Downtown Holi-DAY in Columbus

Saturday, December 2, 2023 – all day at various locations

SO much holiday fun is happening in Downtown Columbus on Saturday, December 2! From shopping at small businesses, trolley tours, photo ops with Santa, hot boozy beverages and more, this is the Holi-DAY you won’t want to miss Downtown.

Read more about these fun events below!

Winter Fest at Dorrian Green (11 am – 4 pm) 
Discovery District Trolley Hop (1-6 pm)
Short North Galley Hop  (1-8 pm)
CSO Holiday Pops at the Ohio Theatre (3 pm) 
Santa Extravaganza at the Lazarus Building (4-7 pm) 
Festive Saturday at Columbus Commons (4-9 pm)
Good Market Holiday Edition (4-9 pm) 

and so much more!

Winterfest at Dorrian Green

Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 11 am – 4 pm. Festival featuring live music, local craft beer, and food trucks, along with fun activities. See more details here. 

After Winterfest, head to the Lazarus building for Santa and more holiday cheer, followed by Short North Gallery Hop and Columbus Commons Holiday Lights! It’s a big weekend in Columbus!

photo: Columbus Recreation and Parks Department Scioto Mile

Santa at the Lazarus Building in Downtown Columbus

Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 4-7 pm.

This event may be one of the most anticipated events for Christmas in Downtown Columbus. If you grew up in Columbus, you probably remember visiting Santa at The Lazarus Building.

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. There is tons of holiday family fun scheduled for the day.

Read more here.

Head to Columbus Commons for free carousel rides, hot chocolate, holiday music and more. Holiday lights come on in the park at 5 pm.

Ohio Statehouse Holiday Choir Performances

FREE lunchtime holiday choir performances from December 5-19, 2023 at the Ohio Statehouse on weekdays.

Check out for fun in Downtown Columbus!

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Friday, December 8, 2023

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Monday, December 11, 2023

Tuesday, December 12, 2023