The best Columbus Christmas lights displays

Columbus LOVES Christmas lights! From free but amazing neighborhood displays, to immersive paid Christmas lights experiences, you’ll find plenty of holiday joy around the city with the best Christmas lights in Columbus. 

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FREE displays of Christmas Lights in Columbus

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Columbus Christmas Lights: All Season. Drive around Columbus and enjoy the display of lights in various neighborhoods – for free!  Check out the Christmas Lights Finder website to search near your neighborhood – or use it to take a tour around Columbus!

Easton Town Center: Easton is beautiful during the holidays! From the giant tree to the train display, and the lights strung up everywhere!  Easton Trolley: Ride around and check out the holiday lights of Easton (it’s beautiful during the season). Hop on at Brio Tuscan Grille, Bon Vie, or at Easton Gateway across from Zoup! The trolley is free to all customers. All tips help fund Easton’s Change for Charity program.  

Lights at the Scioto Mile: From November 21 through January 2, 2019, downtown Columbus with be lit with more than 200,000 lights for the Holiday Light Display.  This spectacular display will span Columbus Commons, the Lazarus Building and along the Scioto Mile.

Columbus Commons Holiday Lights: November 21 – January 2 from dusk to 11 pm. Check out more than 320,000 LED lights dazzle Columbus Commons park, thanks to a generous contribution from American Electric Power. Take a photo and share it on Instagram using #CCHolidayLights for a chance to win a Condado gift card. Festive Fridays on December 7, 14, 21 will be a little extra festive from 5-9 pm, with free hot chocolate at Tortilla Street Food 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. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will be open with a limited menu offering their five seasonal flavors.

Lights of Glenross: November 22 – January 1. Glenross subdivision in Delaware and has around 160 houses with light displays choreographed to Christmas music played on 94.1FM. The displays will run from 5-10pm daily. Check out the website at www.lightsofglenross.com or like Lights of Glenross on facebook for more info. 

Dazzling Christmas Lights in Westerville’s Annehurst neighborhood: November 22 – December 31. Display features 90,000 Christmas Lights that dance to music. The show is every night (weather permitting) from 6:00pm – 10:00pm Sunday thru Thursday and 6:00pm – 11:00pm Friday and Saturday, starting on Thanksgiving night. Turn your car radio to 87.9fm to listen to the lights. 649 Old Coach Rd. Westerville Ohio 43081. There collecting canned food items to be donated to the Westerville Area Resource Ministry.

The Lucy Depp Park Light Show: Runs every night through New Year’s Day. 4pm to 10pm Sunday thru Thursday, 4pm to 11pm Friday and Saturday. Frabell Dr. Powell, OH 43065 features 45,000+lights over 5.5 acres. Make sure you read about the history of Lucy Depp Park – it’s fascinating!

State Auto Christmas Display and Life-Sized Nativity: Opens on December 4 through January 2. Will be lit nightly at State Auto Downtown through the season, with choir performances on Fridays and Saturdays.

Christmas Lights Attractions in Columbus with Admission

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: November 18 –  January 6.  Don’t miss the Columbus Zoo Christmas lights for 2018! Admission $19.99 adult, $14 children 2-9 and adults over 60.  Franklin County residents receive a $5 discount with valid driver’s license, state-issued ID or a current utility bill to receive the Franklin County pricing.  Purchase tickets online to save $1 (plus save time at the gates – can show admission on your smartphone). Parking is $10/car.  

Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Easton Holiday Carriage Rides: Check out the beauty of Easton during the holidays on a Easton Holiday Carriage Ride! Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, November 16 through December 23 in the evenings at Easton Town Center.  Admission is $10, children under 15 ride free with paying adult.  

Dragon Lights Columbus: November 23 – January 6 from 5:30-10 pm everyday, including holidays, at the Ohio Expo Center. Celebration of Chinese culture with exquisite 39 larger-than-life illuminated displays crafted by Chinese artisans, traditional performances, and amazing food!  Tickets are $12-$17.

Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights: November 16 – January 1. Alum Creek light display and Santa’s House.  $20-$30 per car; free cookies and cocoa at the Santa House.

Conservatory Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory: November 17 – January 2.  Admission is $11 – $18.  Holiday displays and activities at the Franklin Park Conservatory, including live entertainment, gingerbread contest, and family fun days.  There are events every weekend and select weekdays.

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: December 2 – 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! 

Take a drive for these out-of-town Christmas Experiences!

Fairfield County Festival of Lights: November 22 – December 25, 2018. Drive Through Holiday Light Display at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Admission: $5 per Car/Mini Van $10 per Shuttle Bus/Passenger Van. Every Friday and Saturday night see Santa & Mrs. Claus. Treats available at Lisa’s Bake Shop & Country Roads Kettle Corn. Sunday – Thursday 5:30pm to 9pm and Friday & Saturday 5:30pm to 10pm. Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 157 E. Fair Avenue, Lancaster, Ohio.  See updates on Facebook.

Kings Island Winterfest: November 23 – December 31 Kings Island Winterfest features all of the sounds, traditions, and activities of the Christmas season, plus the fun of Kinds Island.

Christmas Ranch in Morrow, Ohio: Friday, November 16 and runs through December 23, open every day at 5 pm except Thanksgiving.  Located about an hour and fifteen minutes SW of Columbus, the Christmas Ranch features a Christmas Village with walk through with approximately 1 Million LED lights which dance with the music. Shop in 6 Christmas shops, visit Santa’s Bakery, take photos with Santa (additional charge for photo), and enjoy Train and Wagon rides.  Admission is $20 per personal vehicle; event is a walk-through attraction.  You can have a letter sent to your child from Santa – see details here! Monday night is family night! On this night, we offer 50% off admission for families of 3 or more. Call 513-444-9362 for more information.

Lights at the Brickyard: Lights at the Brickyard, returns Nov. 16 through Dec. 30 and will feature dozens of colorful displays totaling more than three million bright lights on a 2-mile course through the IMS infield and historic oval, including the front stretch and world-famous “Yard of Bricks” start-finish line. The standard lane entrance is Gate 2, off of 16th St. $25 Mon.-Wed., $30 Thurs.-Sun., or purchase a Speedy Pass for quickest access to the course to skip the longer lines and arrive through a special entry near the IMS golf course. Speedy Pass for 1-15 passengers are $50 online or $50-$60 at the gate.

Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill (near Yellow Springs, 40 miles SW of Columbus): November 23 – December 31 from 5 – 9 p.m. (lights turn on at 6 p.m.)  On Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Eve they close at 8 pm. Cost is $10 ages 7 and older; under 6 are free.  Food and drink for sale.  Enjoy 3.5 million lights, outdoor miniature village, Santa Claus Museum, and nostalgic Toy Collection.  No Santa to visit, but peek into Santa’s Workshop to see Santa at work and then, every 15 minutes or so, watch him check his list and go up the chimney to load his sleigh.

Christmas at Kingwood Center: November 24 through December 30, every Thursday through Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Kingwood Center in Mansfield offers a variety of activities such as live music, dozens of uniquely trimmed themed Christmas trees in rooms throughout the hall, a beautifully decorated Greenhouse, and outdoor light displays.  Admission is $5, ages 12 and under free.

Check out these other special event light displays around town!