I know…Ohio is cold in the winter. But that doesn’t mean we should stay holed up inside, not emerging until Spring like Punxsutawney Phil. There are too many winter festivals in Columbus to enjoy!
Bundle up and enjoy fun things to do around the city, including both indoor and outdoor festivals!
Featured festivals in Winter around Columbus
Here are some fun festivals you won’t want to miss, no matter what the weather is. See the whole list below!
Brick Fest Live
January 4-5, 2025 at Ohio Expo Center. Brick Fest Live celebrates everything we love about bricks! Check out epic life-size builds and enjoy LIVE Interactive Stage Shows! You’ll be inspired by what the master builders can create! Read more: Brick Fest Live
Great Train Show
January 11-12, 2025 at the Ohio Expo Center. There will be tables of trains for sale, exhibitors from around the country, Model Train displays, and a riding train for kids, plus door prize giveaways. Tickets $10-$11, kids 11 and under are free. Read more: Great Train Show
(614) Restaurant Week Columbus
January 20-25, 2025. Over 150 restaurants offering 3 course prix fixes menus from $15-$40. To-go options also available. (YES, I know it’s not a festival, but it’s just SO good). Read more: 614 Restaurant Week Columbus
Buckeye Lake Winterfest
January 25, 2025. See Benny the Bass predict when spring will arrive, watch fireworks, and enjoy specials at businesses around the Lake. Polar Plunge is at Buckeye Lake Winery on January 28! Read more: Buckeye Lake Winterfest
Columbus Winter Carnival with KidsLinked
February 1, 2025 at Franklin County Fairgrounds. This super fun Winter Carnival has magician, jugglers, big bounce park, carnival games & food, princess & super hero area, and so much more! Read more: KidsLinked Winter Carnival
Winter-themed festivals in Ohio worth the drive!
Mohican Winterfest
Saturday, January 11, 2025. Find 35+ ice sculptures along Main Street, enjoy the Model Train Expo, local businesses, and more. The sculptures will go up on Friday evening, weather depending, and remain through the weekend.
Read more: Mohican Winterfest
Marietta Ice Festival
Saturday, January 18, 2025. Downtown Marietta features 16 ice sculptures on display throughout the historic, commercial district. In addition to ice sculptures, highlights include a live ice sculpture carving, shops & restaurants open, and more.
Read more: Marietta Ice Festival
Annual Logan Frozen Festival
Saturday, January 18, 2025. Downtown Logan will feature ice sculptures, ice games, carving demonstrations, plus dine and shop at local businesses, and enjoy other fun activities.
Read more: Logan Frozen Festival
Fire & Ice Walk
Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Vermilion River Reservation, Mill Hollow
With the beautiful Vermilion River valley as your backdrop, take a wintry walk through extraordinary ice sculptures and warm firepits.
Enjoy ice carving demonstrations, roast s’mores (while supplies last), and visit with Siberian husky sled dogs and fun Frozen characters. Snowshoes will be available for hikes, weather permitting, on a first-come, first-served basis. Food vendors will be selling concessions.
Admission is $5 per person (children three and under are free). Read more: Fire & Ice Walk
Meltdown Winter Ice Festival
January 30-February 1, 2025. Ice Sculpture Festival in Richmond, Indiana (juuuust over the border into Indiana). Professional ice carvers and artists transform over 20,000 pounds of ice into amazing ice sculptures throughout Richmond’s city center.
This free festival has activities for all ages! Read more: Meltdown Winter Ice Festival
Annual Ice A Fair in Vermilion
Saturday, February 1, 2025, 11AM-7PM. Downtown Vermilion features a day of winter family fun with ice sculptures, trolley rides, ice carving demos, Frozen Play Space, Fire & Ice Display, and so much more!
Read more: Annual Ice A Fair
Medina Ice Festival
February 14-17, 2025. Over 120 sculptures on display in and around the Historic Medina Square and South Town District through Monday, February 20 (Presidents Day).
During evening hours and overnight, sculptures are highlighted by color-changing, LED lights. The event is free to attend and open to everyone.
Read more: Medina Ice Festival
Brite Winter in Cleveland
February 22, 2025 at the West Bank of the Flats. The non-profit festival brings together people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds, allowing them to discover new music and art and enjoy their community.
Spanning 13 years, three locations, tens of thousands of guests, hundreds of bands and artists, and temperatures as low as 8 and as high as 69 degrees. Tickets are just $10.
Read more: Brite Winter in Cleveland
Check out the whole list of festivals coming up this Winter!
- Subscribe to Columbus on the Cheap's email list
- Sledding Hills in Columbus
- Indoor and outdoor ice skating in Columbus
- Free Winter Fitness in Columbus
- 85+ Indoor Play Places and Activities
- Metro Parks Annual Winter Hike Series
- Indoor Farmers Markets in Columbus
- Free and Cheap Winter Fun
- Big List of Snow Day Activities for Kids
- Discounted and Free Museum Days around Columbus
- Kids Eat Free (or cheap) in Columbus)
- Fun and Tasty Adventure Trails in Ohio
- 50+ Best Free and Cheap Dates in Columbus
- Huge List of Columbus Happy Hours
Val says
Subscribe to our mailing list so you can see when new free and cheap events are posted! We post a lot of events in and around Downtown Columbus and other public transportation accessible areas.
Lora glover says
Would really like to be able to get out more, I’m in Columbus, can only use public transportation And am on SSI and house assistance