Santa’s Workshop, Ice Sculptures, and other 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 Merchants Snack & Stroll

Sunday, November 19, 2023, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join the Uptown merchants to kick off the holiday season with a Snack & Stroll. Over a dozen Uptown Westerville merchants are participating in this event to bring you drinks, delicious snacks, and chances to win raffles with qualifying purchases. Details here.

Westerville Tree Lighting Ceremony

Friday, December 1, 2023 at 6- 8:30 pm. Join Uptown Westerville for a Night of Holiday Fun. 

New for 2023! Be dazzled by the Parade of Lights featuring the city’s vehicles all decked out with holiday cheer. The parade starts at 6:30 pm from the Home St parking lot. The holiday tree lighting ceremony will follow at the City Hall courtyard (21 S. State St.), at 7 p.m. led by the Santa himself!

Guests will enjoy strolling performers, cookies and hot chocolate, holiday pop-up vendors, and more. Santa and his elves will be walking around, handing out goodies. See details here.

Shop the Uptown shops and restaurants for the holidays – check out the Uptown Gift Guide for ideas.

PLEASE NOTE: State Street will close between East Park and West Home Streets from 5:30-9 p.m.

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

Annual Westerville Children’s Christmas Parade and Rudolph 5k Run/Walk

Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. The race begins and ends on State St (State Route 3) just south of County Line Rd near St. Paul Catholic Church in Westerville. Sign up here. 

The Westerville Lions Rudolph Run/Walk 5K is a family-encouraged 5K event which will kick off the Westerville Lions Children’s Christmas Parade (taking place directly after the race). Costumes encouraged.

The parade route runs from Westerville South High School, up State St, to St. Paul Church. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance in the parade as well. The parade steps off as the last participants finish the Rudolph Run. 

Model Trains on Display at the Westerville Public Library

December 4-16, 2023
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.

Christmas 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.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 from 7 pm – 9 pm
Saturday, December 9, 2023 10 am – 2 pm

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

Progressive Christmas Concert & Soup for Shelter

Friday, December 8, 2023 from 7-9 p.m.

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: Church of the Master, 24 N. Grove St.; Church of the Messiah, 51 N. State St.; and First Presbyterian Church, 41 W. College Ave. 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.

Photos with Santa with Pearlescent Luxury Portraits

Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 10 am – 12 pm

Come to the studio in Uptown Westerville and meet Santa. Visit with Santa and a 4×6″ souvenir print are $18; digital image included. Cookies and hot cocoa. Extra 4×6″ photos are only $6, so Grandmas can have their own copies too!

Register here.

Pearlescent Portraits, 14 North State Street, Westerville

Evening at the North Pole at Westerville Community Center

Friday, December 15, 2023 from 6-7:30 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 #608603-01 Details here.

Uptown Ice Sculpture Display

Friday, December 15, 2023, 5:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Enjoy up to 30 lighted holiday themed ice sculptures throughout Uptown. Begins December 15th, and lasts until they melt, presented by the Uptown Merchants

21 South State Street, Westerville, Ohio 43081

Noon-Lite Madness at Westerville Community Center

December 29, 2023. 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 #408604-01. 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!

2022 Events – 

Santa and Mrs. Claus in Uptown

Saturday, December tba 2023 from 11:00am-1:00pm
Uptown Westerville
Santa and Mrs. Clause are shopping local! Find them throughout Uptown to let Santa know what you this year for Christmas and take a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Details.

21 South State Street, Westerville, Ohio 43081