Christmas in Downtown Columbus features Wanderlights, Santa, and entertainment

Downtown Columbus comes alive during the holiday season with dazzling light displays and holiday fun! Check out these fun events for Christmas in Downtown Columbus!

Wanderlights shines bright in Downtown Columbus

November 22 – February 16

Downtown Columbus is getting a glow-up this winter with the new Wanderlights program. The large-scale light display will stretch across downtown from November 22, 2024 through February 16, 2025.

Over half a million lights will illuminate popular locations like Columbus Commons, Town Street, and Bicentennial Park. The city will be aglow from 5 pm – 10 pm during the holidays and through winter.

Wanderlights path

Wander your way through over half a million glowing connected lights from Columbus Commons down West Town Street to Bicentennial Park.

Columbus Commons, 160 S High St
Starting at Columbus Commons, visitors can experience a vibrant scene with a 40-foot Christmas tree, decorated garden beds, and a tunnel of six illuminated arches. Don’t miss the snow globe photo-op

Town Street, 50 W Town St
As guests continue along West Town Street, they’ll discover expanded lights, seasonal decorations, and even a playful mural. Don’t miss the hidden details—there are 32 penguins waiting to be spotted along this path!

Bicentennial Park, 233 S Civic Center Dr
The route leads along the Downtown riverfront, where the Scioto Mile Fountain and surrounding area will dazzle with sculptural lights, creating a picture-perfect backdrop for visitors and diners at Milestone 229.

Visitors can park at the Columbus Commons Main Garage (55 E Rich Street) to start the Wanderlights experience and support free programming at Columbus Commons year-round.

Get Boozy & Bright with Center City DORA

Don’t forget – it’s the first year of DORA in Downtown Columbus & Franklinton. This means that from 11 am – 10 pm, you can stroll through holiday festivities and Wanderlights while enjoying an adult beverage in a DORA cup from one of 40+ participating locations. Read more about DORA in Downtown here. 

Festive Fridays at Columbus Commons

Columbus Commons will be aglow with Wanderlights, and it’ll be extra festive on Friday. 

Fridays, December 6, 13 and 20, 2024 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

On the first three Fridays in December, enjoy free hot chocolate,  live music, a traveling photo booth, carousel rides, and a bar offering hot boozy beverages while wandering amongst the lights. 

Wanderlights Trolley Tour

Fridays, December 6, 13 and 20, 2024 | 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

Hop on and explore all the Wanderlights destinations, plus an extra-special stop at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to see the light show on their front lawn. This tour is free but donations to Nationwide Children’s Hospital are encouraged.  

Downtown Holiday Extravaganza

Visitors can enjoy holiday shopping, craft stations, and photo opportunities with Santa at the Lazarus Building, Columbus Commons, and local boutiques along Third Street on December 7, 2024.

Santa at the Lazarus Building
50 W Town St, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Relive those old holiday memories when Santa and Mrs. Claus return to Downtown Columbus. Enjoy strolling characters, balloon artists, facepainting, arts and crafts, and write your letter to Santa. Kids can shop for someone special at the Secret Santa shopping area.

Columbus Commons
160 S High St, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Santa heads to the Columbus Commons at 7 pm for the evening celebration. Enjoy free hot chocolate, live music, a traveling photo booth, carousel rides, and a bar offering hot boozy beverages for purchase.

Start your holiday shopping with a market featuring nearly 40 local vendors and get your gifts wrapped at the station supporting Nationwide Children’s Hospital (donations encouraged).

Common Thread
249 – 275 S Third St, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Five local boutiques along third will feature an ultra-festive atmosphere including a DJ, light bites, decorations and more.

• Kuma Vida x Delana Muse
• T.Bears Florals
• Ludie Senatus Gallery
• Muse Med Spa – coming soon!
• VitaliTea Juice Lounge– coming soon!
• Pop-up shop experience

More information is available at downtowncolumbus.com/wanderlights, making it easy for residents and visitors alike to plan their holiday lights adventure.

Yuletide on Gay

December 7, 2024
Gay and High Streets will be a winter wonderland complete with an iceless skating rink, food trucks, DORA beverages, and a live DJ.

Lazarus Building Holiday Display 

After you’ve walked through the Commons’ holiday haven, hop across High Street to check out the displays in the Lazarus building windows along High and Town Streets.

Huntington Holiday Train at the Main Library

November 18 through January 18, 2025 during regular library hours. This fixture of the downtown holiday scene has delighted people of all ages since 1992 with its trains, tracks, tunnels, bridges and replicas of historic German homes and castles.

Holiday open house is November 20 from 6-8 pm. Details here.

Huntington Holiday Train at Columbus Metropolitan Library

Segaway Holiday Lights Tour

November 29 – December 23, 2024, beginning at 6 p.m. or 8:30 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 for the Holiday Lights Tour.

Shadowbox Live: Holiday Shows

Holiday Hoopla
November 21 – December 28, 2024

(Slightly) raunchy Christmas Fun and Rock and Roll.

Not So Silent Night
December 1 – December 22, 2024

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. 

COSI Seasons of Celebrations Exhibit 

November 23 – January 5, 2025

Season of Celebrations is a new seasonal exhibit experience that transforms the museum into a winter wonderland, combining science, education and the festive spirit of the season.

With a grand, 40-foot tree in the iconic COSI Atrium serving as the centerpiece, the experience will captivate visitors with enchanting decorations, 50 community-focused trees, 10 Classic COSI exhibit-themed trees along with specialty food & beverage.

Nativity at Cathedral Square (formerly State Auto Christmas Corner)

November 29, 2024 – January 6, 2025. This stunning long-standing holiday tradition has been gifted and relocated, and will be lit nightly at St. Joseph Cathedral through the season.

The nativity scene and story of Christmas is a tradition that is loved by many. Read more here.

Nativity at Cathedral Square (formerly State Auto Christmas Corner)

The DAY of Holiday fun in Columbus

Saturday, December 7, 2024 – all day at various locations

SO much holiday fun is happening in Downtown Columbus on Saturday, December 7! From shopping at small businesses, trolley tours, photo ops with Santa, hot boozy beverages and more, this is the Holi-DAY you won’t want to miss Downtown.

Read more about these fun events below!

Winter Fest at Dorrian Green (11 am – 4 pm) 
Discovery District Trolley Hop (1-6 pm)
Short North Galley Hop  (1-8 pm)
CSO Holiday Pops at the Ohio Theatre (3 pm) 
Holiday Extravaganza at the Lazarus Building (4-7 pm) 
Santa and festivities at Columbus Commons (4-9 pm)
Common Thread Holiday Shopping (3-9 pm) 
Yuletide on Gay (3-8 pm)

Winterfest at Dorrian Green

Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 11 am – 4 pm. Festival featuring live music, local craft beer, and food trucks, along with fun activities. See more details here. 

Ohio Statehouse Holiday Choir Performances

FREE lunchtime holiday choir performances from December 9-20, 2024 at the Ohio Statehouse on weekdays.

Check out for fun in Downtown Columbus!