Christmas Theater and Concerts in Columbus

Take in one of the many magical Christmas theater shows or Christmas concerts in Columbus to get in the holiday spirit. Whether its a date, or a family outing, you’ll make memories that will last through the years. Start a new annual tradition with one of the regular events, or enjoy a new performance each year!

BalletMet the Nutcracker

Columbus is host to many great Christmas theater performances and concerts this season, so there are plenty to choose from at all price points! If you know of other great performances, please email info@columbusonthecheap.com to be included!

Looking for all of the holiday fun in Columbus? Check out these pages!

2018 Christmas Theater and Christmas Concerts in Columbus

photo credit: CAPA

Shadowbox Live: Holiday Hoopla and Holiday Lunchbox (website)
Dates: Holiday Hoopla: November 15- December 29: (Slightly) raunchy Christmas Fun and Rock and Roll. Tickets are $25 and up.
Holiday Lunchbox: December 4 – December 21 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.
Tickets: $5 for Lunchbox, starting at $25 for Holiday Hoopla
Location: 503 S. Front St. • Suite#260 • Columbus, OH • 43215

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (website)
This celebrated Charles Jones adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol from Nebraska Theatre Caravan is rich with thrilling ensemble music, alive with color and movement and is created to tell this great and enduring tale in a manner that people of all ages will enjoy.
Dates: November 23, 2018 @ 7:30pm, November 24, 2018 @ 2:00pm, November 24, 2018 @ 7:30pm, November 25, 2018 @ 2:00pm, November 25, 2018 @ 7:30pm
Tickets: starting at $25
Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215

The Nutcracker with Central Ohio Youth Ballet (website)
Presented by The Central Ohio Youth Ballet. Enter into the Land of Sweets and come see Central Ohio Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Thanksgiving weekend. The magic is ever expanding: now with new costumes, backdrops, and choreography! Come dream with us!
Dates: November 23, 2018 @ 8:00pm, November 24, 2018 @ 2:30pm, November 24, 2018 @ 7:30pm, November 25, 2018 @ 2:30pm
Tickets: $13-$24
Location: The Midland Theatre – 36 North Park Place – Newark, OH 43055

Home for the Holidays with CJO (website)
Featuring vocalist Niki Haris, daughter of soul-jazz piano great, Gene Harris, performing seasonal favorites and jazz standards for the CJO’s Home for the Holidays concerts.
Dates: November 28-December 2, 2018
Tickets: starting at $15
Location: Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main Street, Columbus,OH 43215

The Christmas Schooner (website)
Co-production with CATCO and CATCO is Kids. The crew of a Great Lakes schooner risks everything to bring the Christmas spirit to German immigrants in Chicago homesick for their motherland during the late 19th century. Families and kids of all ages will be touched by this heartwarming musical that reveals the real meaning of Christmas.
Dates: November 28–December 16, 2018
Tickets: $20-$40
Location: Shedd Theatre, CPAC, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215

Abide With Us Capital University Christmas Festival 2018 (website)
Capital University Conservatory of Music will present its annual Christmas Festival, featuring the Chapel Choir, Choral Union, Women’s Chorus, The Chordsmen, Philomel and a variety of instrumentalists.
Dates: November 29 through December 2, 2018
Tickets: starting at $20
Location: Mees Hall, Capital University, E Mound St, Bexley, OH 43209

Holiday Pops with CSO (website)
A great annual Columbus tradition continues as Ronald J. Jenkins leads the Columbus Symphony and Chorus in some of the season’s most-loved holiday songs and carols. Santa will also stop by to help spread the holiday cheer!
Dates: November 30 – December 2, 2018
Tickets: starting at $20
Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215

A Christmas Carol (website)
Presented by Curtain Players. Adapted to the stage by Romulus Linney, from the Charles Dickens novel. An adaptation of the story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey from an embittered, ungenerous creature into a giving, caring human being at the hands of three spirits, who, one Christmas Eve, show him what life means.
Dates: Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, & 15, 2018 at 8:00PM
Dec. 2, 9 & 16, 2018 at 2:00PM
Tickets: Adults: $17.00, Seniors: $15.00, Students: $15.00
Location: Curtain Players, 5691 Harlem Road, Galena, Ohio 43021

The Celtic Nutcracker (website)
Dates: December 1, 2018 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets: starting at $14
Location: Lincoln Theatre, 769 E Long St, Columbus, OH 43203

Very Merry Holiday Pops! (website)
Treat your entire family to an evening of your favorite Holiday Classics. Join the NGSO along with choirs from Newark and Granville High School for this annual NGSO tradition.
Dates: December 2, 2018 | 7:00pm
Tickets: $15-$30
Location: The Midland Theatre – 36 North Park Place – Newark, OH 43055

The Nutcracker (website)
Presented by the New Albany Children’s Ballet Theatre. Experience the delightful orchestral sounds, colorful costuming and graceful dancing of over 220 youth and professional dancers with the NACBT’s production of The Nutcracker.
Dates: December 6, 7, 8 & 9
Tickets: starting at $16 via Ticketmaster
Location: Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin-Granville Road, New Albany, OH 43054

Messiah Side-by-Side Singalong (website)
Join the orchestra, community members, and the Ohio State University’s Director of Choral Studies Robert Ward for a beloved holiday tradition! Raise your voice in song with friends, families, and church choirs, and sing selections from Handel’s Messiah.
Dates: Friday, December 7, 2018 at 7:30 PM
Tickets: starting at $23
Location: Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main Street, Columbus,OH 43215

BalletMet The Nutcracker (website)
Witness magic in the making at The Nutcracker, a beloved holiday tradition that has stood the test of time.
Dates: December 7-23, 2018
Tickets: starting at $29
Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215

A Christmas Carol (website)
The Hilliard Arts Council is once again proud to present the holiday classic A Christmas Carol
Dates: Friday, December 7th at 7 pm Saturday, December 8th at 11 am, 2 pm and 7 pm
Tickets: Please bring one of the following per person attending: A minimum cash donation of $5 (feel free to donate more if the spirit moves you) A new, unwrapped toy Five canned food items
Location: Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center, 5425 Center St, Hilliard, OH 43026

Hip Hop Nutcracker with Special Guest MC Kurtis Blow (website)
A holiday mash-up for the entire family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a contemporary re-imagining of Tchaikovsky’s timeless music performed by a supercharged cast of a dozen all-star dancers, an on-stage DJ, and an electric violinist.
Dates: December 8, 2018 at 8:00 PM
Tickets: starting at $30
Location: Palace Theatre, 34 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215

An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas (website)
Starring Evan Tyrone Martin and students from Advanced Performance Academy
Dates: December 8th at 8:00pm & 9th at 2:00pm
Tickets: starting at $21.50
Location: Lincoln Theatre, 769 E Long St, Columbus, OH 43203

Worthington Civic Band Holiday Concert (website)
The program will include a variety of holiday standard and classic pieces: “Sleigh Ride,” “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “March of the Toys,” “Charlie Brown Christmas,” and many more.
Date: Monday, December 10, 2018 from 7-8 pm
Tickets: Free, donations accepted
Location: McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening Street, Worthington, OH 43085

An Ohio Christmas Carol (website)
The Grandview Carriage Place Players present “An Ohio Christmas Carol” based on Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol.”
Dates: December 14-16
Tickets: starting at $21.50
Location: CPAC, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker (website)
Christmas is coming and so is the one and only Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Presenting world class Russian artists, hand-painted sets, Russian Snow Maidens, and jubilant Nesting Dolls-Great Russian Nutcracker brings the Christmas spirit to life for all ages.
Dates: December 15 at 2 pm and 6 pm
Tickets: starting at $28
Location: Express Live, 405 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215

A Clint Black Christmas (website)
Prolific singer-songwriter Clint Black has long been heralded as one of Country music’s brightest stars. His many talents have taken him even further, as Black has transcended genres to become one of the most successful artists in all the music benchmark in any artist’s career.
Date: December 15 at 8:00pm
Tickets: $47-$87
Location: The Midland Theatre – 36 North Park Place – Newark, OH 43055

An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine (website)
Performing three-part harmonies and making an intimate and holy ruckus of Christmas music and tunes from their many records along the way
Dates: December 15 at 8 pm
Tickets: starting at $35
Location: Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main Street, Columbus,OH 43215

A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage (website)
The classic animated television special comes to life in this faithful stage adaptation featuring all your favorite characters and classic Vince Guaraldi score. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang as they mount a play, save a tree, and uncover the true meaning of Christmas.
Dates: December 16 at 2 pm and 5 pm
Tickets: $35-$50
Location: Palace Theatre, 34 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215

A Very Electric Christmas Story (website)
Brighten your holidays with Lightwire Theater’s A Very Electric Christmas! Audiences of all ages will treasure this magical and captivating tale of family, friendship and hope set to timeless holiday hits.
Dates: December 16 at 4:00pm
Tickets: $7-$15
Location: The Midland Theatre – 36 North Park Place – Newark, OH 43055

Holiday Spectacular New Albany Symphony Orchestra (website)
Celebrate the holidays at home in New Albany, featuring local guest artists from Opera Columbus and the heartwarming songs and traditions that make this the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Don’t forget to arrive early for our fabulous Holiday Gift Basket Fundraiser.
Dates: Sunday, December 16 at 3 pm
Tickets: tickets start at $20
Location: Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin-Granville Road, New Albany, OH 43054

Merry TubaChristmas (website)
Dates: Monday, December 17, 2018 at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Tickets: Participants welcome to register to play for $10. Free for audience, but they are collecting canned goods for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
Location: Mees Hall at Capital University

The Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, The Drifters and The Platters Holiday Show (website)
Music legends and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members The Drifters, The Platters and The Cornell Gunter Coasters will be performing at holiday show at the Midland Theatre
Dates: December 20, 2018 @ 7:30pm
Tickets: $30-$60
Location: The Midland Theatre – 36 North Park Place – Newark, OH 43055

Jim Brickman A Joyful Christmas (website)
His 22nd annual holiday tour, A Joyful Christmas, delivers the sounds and spirit of the season with carols, classics, and original songs, bringing yuletide memories to life and keeping days merry and bright.
Dates: December 23 at 3 pm
Tickets: starting at $33
Location: Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main Street, Columbus,OH 43215

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (website)
Innovators of the neo-classical genre for over 40 years, blending the finest orchestral sections with electronic elements and a hint of rock to arrive at their remarkably unique sound. Not only are their live performances sonically robust, but they’re visually stimulating as well, featuring an incredible light show and illustrations that dance across giant projection screens.
Dates: December 23 at 7:30 PM
Tickets: starting at $38
Location: Palace Theatre, 34 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215

Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2018 Presented By Hallmark Channel
Dates: December 26 at 3 pm and 8 pm
Tickets: starting at $49
Location: Nationwide Arena, 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215

Looking for more Christmas fun? Here’s the day-by-day list of Christmas events in Columbus!