Take in one of the many magical Christmas theater shows or Christmas concerts in Columbus to get in the holiday spirit.
Start a new annual tradition with one of the regular events, or enjoy a new performance each year!
image: BalletMet the Nutcracker
Columbus is host to many great Christmas theater performances and concerts each year. 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.
2023 Christmas Theater and Christmas Concerts in Columbus
Shadowbox Live: Holiday Hoopla (details)
Holiday Hoopla: November 16 – December 23, 2023: (Slightly) raunchy Christmas Fun and Rock and Roll. Tickets are sold by the table, ranging from $40-$240 per table, depending on table selection and date/time. Great for dates and groups of friends for a night out!!No So Silent Night: Opens 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: prices vary per show; see above
Location: 503 S. Front St. • Suite#260 • Columbus, OH • 43215
photo courtesy of Shadowbox Live
The Nutcracker presented by The Central Ohio Youth Ballet (website)
Dates: November 24-26, 2023. Show times vary by date.
Tickets: $14-$24 (price does not include fees)
Location: Midland Theatre, 36 N Park Pl, Newark, OH 43055
A Christmas Carol (website)
CAPA is proud to present a new version of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol, blending traditional and contemporary stage with local and national performers.
Date: November 24-26, 2023
Tickets: $26 – $44
Location: Ohio Theatre
The Nutcracker with Movement on Main Center for Dance (website)
Dates: November 25-26, 2023 at 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$30
Location: Secrest Auditorium and Music Hall, 334 Shinnick St, Zanesville, Ohio
A Prairie Home Holiday (website)
A holiday event featuring Garrison Keillor, Heather Masse & Richard Dworsky.
Dates: November 28, 2023 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $44 (Limit 4 tickets per person/household)
Location: Southern Theatre
Home for the Holidays with CJO (website)
The Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s annual Home for the Holidays concerts are always festive, heart-warming and totally swingin’. A holiday musical treat featuring Broadway star Mammie Parris.
Dates: November 29 – December 3, 2023
Tickets: $17.33-$85.58
Location: Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Capital University Christmas Festival (website)
The 2023 Christmas Festival in person concerts feature the Chapel Choir, Choral Union, Cantabile, Consort, and a variety of instrumentalists. This festival is a long-standing holiday tradition enjoyed by the university, its friends and the greater Columbus community.
Dates: November 30 – December 3, 2023
Tickets: (2023 TBA) $20 for students/seniors, $35 for adults
Location: Mees Hall at Capital University
WCOL Winter Wonder Jam with Lee Brice (details)
92.3 WCOL, Columbus’s #1 for New Country, brings country music stars together for one incredible night at the 2023 Winter Wonder Jam.
Dates: Friday, December 1, 2023
Tickets: Starting at $35
Location: Celeste Center
NABC 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 1-2 & 8-10, 2023
Tickets: (2023 TBD) $38.50-$65.50
Location: Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin-Granville Road, New Albany, OH 43054
Holiday Pops with CSO (details)
The Columbus Symphony’s holiday tradition is back with spectacular performances of your favorite holiday songs and carols featuring the Columbus Children’s Choir and starring Tony DeSare and your Columbus Symphony.
Dates: December 1-3, 2023
Tickets: $18.70-$68
Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Columbus Children’s Theatre: Mr. Scrooge the Musical (website)
Presented by Columbus Children’s Theatre
Dates: December 1-23, 2023. Performance time vary by date: 1 pm, 4 pm & 7 pm.
Tickets: $19-$24
Location: Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
Holiday Traditions (website)
The Worthington Chorus is proud to present songs from everyone’s favorite Christmas movies.
Dates: December 2, 2023 at 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Tickets: Adults $15, Children 12 and under $5
Location: McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St, Columbus, OH 43085
A Very Merry Holiday Pops with Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra (website)
Ring in the holiday season with the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra’s A Very Merry Holiday Pops! This community tradition features the choirs from Newark and Granville High Schools under the direction of Russell Nutt and Kristen Snyder.
Date: December 3, 2023 at 7:00pm
Tickets: $15-$35
Location: Midland Theatre, 36 N Park Pl, Newark, OH 43055
Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols (website)
Saint Mark’s Choir and the Canterbury Choir will lead the the service of Lessons and Carols, which alternates Advent-themed lessons with beautiful and inspiring music, all in preparation for the Christmas season.
Music will include choral works by Malcom Archer, Gustave Holst, Giovanni Pierlugi da Palestrina, Mark Sirett, Natalie Sleeth, Conrad Susa, and Healy Willin. A reception will follow.
Date: December 3, 2023 at 4 p.m.
Tickets: FREE, donations will be accepted in support of the Special Music Fund at Saint Mark’s.
Location: Saint Mark’s, 2151 Dorset Road, Upper Arlington. Parking is available in the Tremont Shopping Center and the Upper Arlington library lot.
Voctave “It Feels Like Christmas” (website)
Sit back and listen to the incredible harmonies of this 11-member vocal ensemble, as they share favorite tunes from holiday to Disney showstoppers and beyond.
Date: December 6, 2023 at 7:00pm
Tickets: $24-$44 (does not include fees)
Location: Midland Theatre, 36 N Park Pl, Newark, OH 43055
Hip Hop Nutcracker (website)
A holiday mash-up for the entire family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a re-mixed and re-imagined contemporary dance spectacle that transforms E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved story from traditional 19th century Germany to the vibrant sights and sounds of contemporary New York City.
Set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music, this unique and joyful production is performed by a supercharged cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, an electric violinist, and one of hip hop’s founding fathers, MC Kurtis Blow, who opens the show with a short set.
Dates: December 7, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $36-$69
Location: Palace Theatre
image: Balletmet Columbus
BalletMet The Nutcracker (details)
BalletMet The Nutcracker returns to the Ohio Theatre in 2023! This family-friendly performance has become a holiday tradition for all ages. Tickets are limited and will sell out.
Dates: December 7-23, 2023
Tickets: $38.50 to $118.30 (Use online code NUTVP for $10 off at balletmet.org.) Other discounts and My First Nutcracker available. Read more here.
Location: Ohio Theatre
Progressive Christmas Concert & Soup for Shelter (website)
Get in the holiday spirit with a unique Christmas concert. Attend three separate performances at three Uptown Westerville churches located within a block of each other. Costumed guides will lead ticket holders between venues by lanterns. Before the concert from 5-7 p.m., enjoy some warm soup at the annual Soup for Shelter event at the Otterbein Campus Center. After dinner, leave your car parked and walk to your first concert of the night!
Dates: December 8, 2023, Soup for Shelter 5-7 p.m.; Progressive Concert 7-9 p.m.
Tickets: $20 Soup for Shelter; $15 Progressive Concert. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity building projects.
Location: Starting location will be announced with ticket purchase.
Club Lincoln: A Christmas Concert with Quan Howell (website)
Celebrate the holiday season with the musical sounds Quan Howell.
Dates: December 8, 2023 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $27 (Limit 8 tickets per person/household)
Location: Lincoln Theatre Ballroom
Dave Koz & Friends 2023 (website)
More than two decades ago, GRAMMY nominee Dave Koz launched his first-ever Christmas tour. Together, Koz and his remarkable guest artists will perform fresh renditions of Christmas classics as well as a Chanukah medley and hits from their respective catalogs.
Dates: December 8, 2023 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $44
Location: Palace Theatre
Vaud-Villities FaLaLaw (website)
Vaud-Villities Productions, is a non-profit performing arts organization providing over 75 years of vocal and dance entertainment in Columbus, Ohio. “America’s Longest-Running Music and Dance Spectacular.” Witness the jury trial of Grandpa versus Santa Claus in this hilarious holiday original show.
Dates: December 8-10, 2023
Tickets: Ages 18-64, $25/ticket, Ages 6-17, $15/ticket, Ages 5 and under, free, Age 65+, $20/ticket, Student ID, $15/ticket
Location: Ohio Dominican University’s Matesich Theatre, 1216 Sunbury Road, Columbus, OH 43219
Elf in Concert with CSO (website)
Relive the heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as the Columbus Symphony Orchestra plays the wonderful score live to picture in: Elf in Concert!
Dates: December 9-10, 2023 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $60. For every adult ticket, get up to TWO children’s tickets at $25 each (12 and under)
Location: Palace Theatre
Lisa Ferraro: Jazz Up The Holidays (website)
Benefiting non-profit SoulCall Global, Jazz Up the Holidays, will be both LIVE and VIRTUAL CONCERT this year
Dates: December 12, 2023 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $35
Location: McConnell Arts Center, 77 Evening St Worthington, OH 43085
Holiday Favorites with Milo & Cherie Mannino (website)
The Jazz Academy Jam Sessions are a community-focused events held the second Tuesday of each month. Each session will have a theme inviting Jazz musicians of all ages and experience levels to participate in the jam.
This year’s holiday jam session will be co-led by New Orleans natives, Milo & Cherie Mannino, featuring classic holiday favorites. Come listen to the house band or jump on stage and join in the holiday fun.
Dates: December 12, 2023 @ 6 pm
Tickets: Free!
Location: JAZZ ACADEMY, 769 E. Long St, Columbus, OH
Was It All a Rumor? – A Christmas Musical (website)
Worthington Adventist Academy Annual Christmas Musical. Perfect Family event. The Musical will be performed by the schools students ages K- 8. The Musical was written by one of our grade 8 students. The Christmas musical is FREE for all.
Dates: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 7-9 pm
Tickets: FREE
Location: Worthington Seventh-day Adventist Church, 385 E Dublin Granville Rd
Jim Brickman: A Joyful Christmas (website)
Spend an evening enjoying music and laughter with the smooth piano and vocal sounds of yuletide carols, holiday classics performed by Jim Brickman.
Dates: December 15, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $34
Location: Southern Theatre
Holiday Spectacular at Faith Memorial Church (website)
Join the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Lancaster for an evening of holiday songs and carols.
Dates: December 15, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: TBD
Location: Faith Memorial Church, 2610 W. Fair Ave, Lancaster, OH 43130
A Holiday Moosical (website)
Marty the Moose wants to be a reindeer on Santa’s team, but everyone knows moose are too big to fly. Join a cast of holiday characters who learn that Christmas miracles can happen if you only believe.
This production is performed by our Weathervane Theatre Academy students.
Dates: Dec 15-16, 2023
Tickets: $9.50
Location: Weathervane Playhouse, 100 Price Rd, Newark, Ohio 43055
Mad, Mad Men concert Swingin’ Holiday Show (website)
Playing hits from the great American song book as well as Holiday faves from the early 1960s, these talented and seasoned members of the well-known “Phil Dirt and the Dozers” band are sure to turn out another memorable show!
Date: December 15-17, 2023
Tickets: $35 per Adult
Location: McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening Street, Worthington, OH 43085
PBJ & Jazz: Songs of the Season (website)
Get into the holiday spirit with Big Band: Songs of the Season.
PBJ & Jazz concerts are 45-minute long interactive concerts designed to introduce jazz and American music to young children and their families. Featuring some of Columbus’ finest musicians and ensembles, PBJ & Jazz concerts are a great introduction to live music for the youngest audience member.
Date: December 16, 2023 at 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.
Tickets: $5 per person
Location: Lincoln Theatre
image: Jazz Arts Group
Away in the Basement: Church Basement Ladies Christmas Tour (website)
Head back to 1959 and enjoy the heart warming and hilarious musical comedy of church ladies as they prepare for the annual Sunday School Christmas play.
Date: December 16, 2023 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $19-$39 (does not include fees)
Location: Midland Theatre, 36 N Park Pl, Newark, OH 43055
Santa and the Symphony – sensory friendly (details)
These concerts are designed for those on the autism spectrum, our friends in the dementia/Alzheimer’s community, or for those audience members needing a more relaxed concert experience. Performances are never longer than an hour and include pre-concert lobby activities.
Dates: December 16, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.
Tickets: $10
Location: Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin-Granville Road, New Albany, OH 43054
Holiday Spectacular New Albany Symphony Orchestra (details)
The New Albany Symphony Orchestra joins forces with the New Albany Symphony Chorus in a festive performance of holiday favorites. Don’t forget to arrive early for the gift basket fundraiser.
Dates: December 17, 2023 at 3 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$35
Location: Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin-Granville Road, New Albany, OH 43054
Merry TubaChristmas (website)
Dates: Monday, December 18, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
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
Cirque Dreams Holidaze (website)
The world’s greatest entertainers unite for a spell-binding and incredible holiday production – A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS!
Experience the enchantment of Christmas as Magical Hostess Lucy Darling takes you through an evening of dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists, accompanied by your favorite holiday music performed live. Get into the spirit of the season with this merry treat that’s perfect for the entire family.
Dates: December 22-23, 2023
Tickets: starting at $39
Location: Palace Theatre
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (website)
Dates: December 30, 2023 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: starting at $49
Location: Nationwide Arena, 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215
Uptown Scrooge in Westerville (details)
Uptown Scrooge is taking a break for 2023, but will return in 2024 with a whole new look!
This interactive walking tour performance of “A Christmas Carol” takes audience members on Scrooge’s journey, with plenty of laughter, drama and surprises along the way.
Guided through the charming streets and unique shops of Uptown Westerville by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, audiences will enjoy the magic of Dickens’ classic tale like never before.
Dates: Will be back in 2024
Tickets: $22 for adults; $10 for students and seniors.
Location: Tours start at 30 E. College Ave. Westerville
Looking for all of the holiday fun in Columbus? Check out these pages!
- Subscribe to Columbus on the Cheap's email list
- Free and cheap events this weekend in Columbus
- Your Guide to Christmas and Holiday Events in Columbus
- Over 40 Holiday Art and Craft Festivals
- Turkey Trots and Holiday Races
- Christmas Tree Farms and Lots in Columbus
- Christmas Theater and Concerts in Columbus
- Photos with Santa
- Locations of Mailboxes for Letters to Santa
- Community Tree Lightings and Holiday Celebrations in Columbus
- Holiday Train Rides in Ohio: Santa Trains and Polar Express
- Free and Cheap Activities for Winter Break in Columbus
- Columbus Happy Hours
Looking for more Christmas fun?
Here’s the day-by-day list of Christmas events in 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
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Friday, December 15, 2023
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Monday, December 18, 2023
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Currently updating the below for 2023
A Christmas Carol (website)
The Hilliard Arts Council is once again proud to present the holiday classic A Christmas Carol
Dates: tba 2023
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 or five canned food items
Location: Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center, 5425 Center St, Hilliard, OH 43026
More from my site
Shadowbox Live Holiday Shows make a great seasonal night out!
$6 holiday movies Season’s Screenings Retro Series at Marcus Theatres
Experience a Victorian Christmas with Ohio Village Dickens of a Christmas
Franklin Park Conservatory Aglow, Holiday Blooms, and Seasonal fun
BalletMet The Nutcracker discounts and special performances
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