Tree Lighting, Parades, Santa, Ice Sculptures and Holiday fun in Uptown Westerville

Find holiday fun throughout the season in Uptown Westerville. From Santa sightings, to tree lightings, local shopping and more, there’s a lot going on this holiday season!

Uptown Scrooge Abridged!  

December 7, 14, 21, 2025

Take a seat for an interactive performance of “A Christmas Carol” where the audience members go on Scrooge’s journey, with plenty of laughter, drama and surprises along the way. The twist? You are the star of the show and can control the story. Join the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, to share the magic of Dickens’ classic tale like never before. Details here.  Tickets cost $26 for adults; $16 for students and seniors.

Java Central, 20 E. College Ave. Westerville

Uptown Scrooge brings interactive holiday spirit to historic Uptown Westerville

Model Trains on Display at the Westerville Public Library

December 1-14, 2025
Choo, choo! Train enthusiasts of all ages will love this display of electric model trains – some operated by hand and some by an app.
On Display in the Activity Center from 10am-5pm.

Volunteer “conductors” from the Columbus Area N-Scalers will often be available to answer questions, talk about the trains, and demonstrate how to operate them. No registration required. For all ages. Details here.

Holiday Open House at Hanby House in Westerville

During the holiday season, tour the home of Benjamin Hanby, composer of the Christmas carol “Up on the Housetop”. Enjoy continuous live music in the parlor, hot cider and cookies. Details here.

Reservations are not required.

December 2 and 4, 2025 from 7 pm – 9 pm
December 6, 2025 from 10 am – 2 pm

Hanby House, 160 West Main St., Westerville, OH 43081

Westerville Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights

Friday, December 5, 2025 at 6 p.m. – 8 pm. Join Uptown Westerville for the Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights.

The Parade of Lights procession will begin at 6:30 p.m. from the Home Street parking lot and will travel south on State Street to Walnut Street.  The Parade of Lights will include a procession of City Fire Division, Electric Department and Service Division vehicles decked out in holiday decorations.

Santa will light the tree (7 p.m.) with a touch of holiday magic at City Hall, 21 S. State St. Hot chocolate and cookies will be offered for attendees. Uptown merchants and restaurants will be open for your holiday shopping needs. See details here.

See other holiday events on Uptown Westerville Inc.’s website.

Annual Westerville Christmas Parade 

Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 10 am. 

The parade will step off from St. Paul Church, 303 N. State St., and conclude at Walnut Street. Organizers ask parade-goers to bring along canned or dry good food donation for the Westerville Area Resource Ministry food pantry.

Hot cocoa stations and donation boxes for the food donations to WARM will dot the parade route. Santa will ride on a vintage fire truck at the end of the procession, and families are invited to get photos with Santa afterward at COhatch Westerville, 240 S. State St. Details.

Santa and Mrs. Claus in Uptown

Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 11:00am-2:00pm

Santa and Mrs. Clause are shopping local!

Pick up “It’s a Wonderful Westerville” Uptown Scavenger Hunt map at a local business and let the fun begin in the historic business district. Stop Howard Hanna Real Estate Services/The McCurdy Team, 42 N. State St., to visit and and take a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Details.

Westerville Lions Club 5k Rudolph Run/Walk and Winter Fest

Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. This year, the race will be held at the Westerville Sports Complex and run through the Sports Complex and around Heritage Park. Sign up here. 

The Westerville Lions Rudolph Run/Walk 5K is a family-encouraged 5K event with Santa, food trucks, and activities for all. Costumes encouraged. 

Evening at the North Pole at Westerville Community Center

Thursday, December 11, 2025 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Santa’s elves will serve a light meal with a special dessert and beverages. Santa will share great stories from the North Pole! Christmas crafts and a sing-a-long will get everyone in the holiday spirit! Ages 8 and under with parent, $15 per child; $10 per adult, free for under 1. Pre-registration required.

Registration required; no walk-ins! Activity #608603. Details here. (will fill up)

Progressive Christmas Concert & Soup for Shelter

Friday, December 12, 2025 from 7-9 p.m.

Get in the holiday spirit with a unique Christmas concert. Attend performances at Uptown Westerville churches. 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. Ticket holders will receive a bowl of soup, bread, cookie, and beverage, plus a beautiful handcrafted bowl to take home (created by Columbus Academy students). After dinner, leave your car parked and walk to the first concert of the night!

All proceeds from both events benefit local Habitat for Humanity building projects. Separate tickets are required for each event and can be purchased online. Details here.

Uptown Ice Sculpture Display

Friday, December 19, 2025, 6:00 pm – 11:59 pm

Enjoy up to 30 lighted holiday themed ice sculptures throughout Uptown. Begins December 19, and lasts until they melt, presented by the Uptown Merchants

21 South State Street, Westerville, Ohio 43081

Ugly Sweater Snack and Stroll

December 20, 2025 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Take part in the inaugural Uptown Ugly Sweater Snack and Stroll! Get out to Uptown in your ugliest holiday sweater to “Shop Small” to support local businesses.

The fun will take place all across the Uptown district, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. Businesses throughout will welcome the be-sweatered with holiday snacks.

Stroll the shops to wrap up your holiday shopping, grab a meal at one of Uptown’s great restaurants or pubs … and check out all the other ugly sweaters on display. Details here. 

Noon-Lite Madness at Westerville Community Center

December 30, 2025 from 11 am – 12:15 pm. Celebrate New Year’s Eve preschool style with crafts and entertainment, and a countdown at Noon to celebrate the New Year for kids ages 3-5. $10 per child; registration required. Activity #608604-01. Details here.

Uptown Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA)

When you visit Uptown Westerville, you can enjoy the Uptown shopping district and a drink on Thursday, Friday evenings from 5 pm – 10 pm and Saturdays from 12pm – 10pm. Beer, wine, & cocktails can be consumed inside DORA boundaries by purchasing drinks from participating DORA establishments.

You can take DORA drinks in most retail establishments and on the streets within the boundaries, but you can’t take drinks from one liquor establishment into another. See full details about Westerville Uptown DORA. 

Find more fun in Westerville!