Upcoming Holiday fun in Gahanna

There are so many fun events going on in the Creekside District and around Gahanna all year long! From music to movies to holidays – and so much more!

See what Gahanna has to offer all year with so many outdoor activities and festivals!

Visit the district, grab some food and/or adult beverage, and explore the district and nature of Creekside.

Gahanna Herbal Cocktail Trail

It’s time to enjoy some seasonal cocktails in Gahanna! The Herb Capital of Ohio is Gahanna, and local restaurants, pubs, and distilleries have created some special herbal-based recipes for the Gahanna Herbal Cocktail Trail!

Grab a passport and visit 6 of the establishments during each season to try the featured cocktails. Once you’ve collected 6 passport stamps, you can turn it in for a prize! 

Try these seasonal drinks on the Gahanna Herbal Cocktail Trail

CORA in Gahanna

CORA (Creekside Outdoor Refreshment Area, like DORA in other cities in Ohio) is in effect from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.

Visitors in Olde Gahanna can enjoy an alcoholic beverage while walking within designated areas. The boundaries are Big Walnut Creek to the west, High Street to the east, Granville Street to the south and North Street to the north. The designated areas will be clearly marked.

Drinks must be purchased only from participating establishments, and be contained within the CORA-specific cups during the designated hours. You must also have a designated CORA wristband and remain outside. 

Follow along with Creekside District Alliance  and Visit Gahanna to stay up-to-date on events and ways to support local business!

Annual and Seasonal Events in Gahanna

Gahanna Holiday Lights Celebration

Sunday, November 24, 2024 from 3 pm – 6:30 pm

Gahanna’s annual Holiday Lights Celebration promises one magical afternoon of free family fun for all ages! Held in the beautiful Creekside District, the event will feature a Holiday Stage, the Tree Lighting, a parade, AND Santa arriving by Firetruck!

Activities include strolling holiday-themed characters, carriage rides, train rides, live nativity, the light show and more. Details here.

Creekside Park Lights Display

Creekside Park in Gahanna is lit up for the season each night with a quarter of a million lights through January 5, 2024. The light display plays along to music, and includes a Gingerbread Village.

Creekside Park is within CORA limits, so grab a festive beverage and stroll through the Holiday Wonderland.

Lights are programmed to change with the music from 5pm-8:30pm Sun-Thur and 5p-10p Fri & Sat.

Santa Race 5K and Little Reindeer Dash

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Get some exercise along with holiday cheer at the Santa Race 5K and Little Reindeer Dash in Gahanna. Festive dress is encouraged! Registration is $25-$45 through Race Day if not sold out. Registration is limited to 500 for the 5k, so sign up now to claim your spot and to guarantee a medal, Santa hat, and a t-shirt. 

The Little Reindeer Dash will begin at 9 a.m. and is $15-$18. Reindeer Dashers will receive their own colorful youth shirt, a finishers ribbon and a one of a kind gift.

Victorian Christmas Celebration!

Saturday, December 7th, 2024 at 12-3PM at Gahanna Historical Society

Step back in time and experience the magic of a Victorian Christmas with the Gahanna Historical Society. Enjoy festive activities including:

• A vintage Santa for photos
• Tree decorating and craft-making
• Traditional wassail and holiday music
• Photo opportunities

Details here. 

Letters to Santa in Gahanna

WHERE: Right in front of the Christmas Tree in the Creekside District
WHEN: Throughout the holiday season
HOW: Drop off Santa letters at the mailbox; we aren’t aware if any responses are sent.

2024 Gahanna Holiday Lights Celebration and Creekside Park Lights Display

More fun in Gahanna

Past events in Gahanna; tba for 2024

Gahanna’s Eggs-hilarating Egg Hunt

Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Thousands of eggs filled with candy or toys hidden throughout Hannah Park, kid-friendly activities, including visits with Mr. Cottontail, face painting, clown entertainment, arts and crafts, and food truck vendors, this will surely be an eggs-iting eggs-perience!

This event is open to participants of all ages, but the event will be sectioned by age group. Sensory-friendly hunt starts at 10:30 am. Register here. 

Gahanna Herb Day

May 4, 2024 from 10:00am-3:00pm at Creekside Plaza

Gahanna is the the Herb Capital of Ohio! Celebrate Gahanna’s Herb Capital status and enjoy the plant sale, herb and plant-themed activities, and support local artists and herb-based vendors.​

Details here. 

Herb Day in Gahanna, the Herb Capital of Ohio

Gahanna Splash Pad at the Pool

Opens May 3. This amenity to the pool includes over 3,100 square feet of spray area and 41 different features designed for toddlers to teens, as well as shaded picnic areas, additional benches and a year-round restroom that is also accessible to the Big Walnut Trail.

The splash pad at Gahanna Swimming Pool is open daily May – October, weather permitting. During the pool season, the Splash Pad is open from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. for free use by the community.

During pool open hours, visitors must access the splash pad through the GSP entry gate and pay regular admission or hold a pool membership.

Details here.

Gahanna Swimming Pools

Gahanna Swimming Pool and Hunters Ridge Pool

Both pools facilities open annually on Memorial Day weekend.

Pools will be open 12 – 8 p.m. daily during the pool season. Gahanna Swimming Pool will close when Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools resume the school year on August 17, 2023. Hunters Ridge Pool will remain open from 12 – 7 p.m. on the weekends through Labor Day.

See full details.

Paddle Gahanna

Paddleboats and kayaking rentals are at Creekside Park May 24 – Summer.

Reservations at PaddleGahanna.com, and are available in 30-minute blocks. Walk-up based on availability. Rental requires an adult 18+ to be present. No dogs permitted. Life jackets are available, or bring your own. M-F: 4 – 8pm, Sat: 12 – 8pm, Sun: 12 – 5pm

Creekside Gahanna Paddle 117 Mill St. 614-342-4250

Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival

June 14-16, 2024 at Creekside Park (123 Mill St, Gahanna)

The award-winning Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, presented by Visit Gahanna offers the Best Blues & Jazz in Ohio. Located in Gahanna’s Creekside District, the annual Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival returns this year, celebrating over two decades of outstanding blues and jazz music!

Find more details here!

Midweek at the Creek(side)

Wednesdays, 6-8 pm. Catch FREE, live music at Creekside Plaza in Gahanna. Check out the great lineup below to enjoy with local food and drink during CORA hours! Details on website. 

June 5 – Tyy Perkins
June 19 – Jeff McCargish
June 26 – Long Tall Deb and Colin John
July 10 – Lucky Penny Sisters
July 17 – Honey and Blue
July 24 – Joey and Jessica
July 31 – Blue Spectrum
August 7 – Bourbon Legend

Gahanna Creekside Live

Select Fridays during Summer. Family friendly entertainment, dancing and adult beverage sales at Creekside, Gahanna. Live music will be playing at Creekside Plaza & Rotary Stage from 5pm to 7pm, headliner starts at 7 p.m.

Those of legal drinking age can enjoy a chilled beverage from one of the wonderful establishments within the CORA limits. No tickets or reservations required. See details on the website. 

Fri Jun 7 Opening: Lucky Penny Sisters, Headliner: Hangtime
Fri Jun 28 Opening: E & D, Headliner: Trae Myers
Fri Jul 12 Opening: Blue Spectrum, Headliner: Radio City
Fri Jul 26 Opening: Gravity’s Pull, Headliner: Session Five
Fri Aug 9 Creekside Live: Celebrate Gahanna, Headliner: Pop Gun
Fri Aug 23 Opening: Chaz & Nicki, Headliner: Andy Shaw: Bob Marley Tribute

Cinema Under the Stars

Make it a fun night out with themed outdoor activities before a unique cinematic experience at your local park!

Fun may include yard games, bounce houses and inflatables, craft stations, and petting zoo. Food and drink are available for purchase at food trucks.

Events are 7 pm – 11 pm at Friendship Park. Details here.

Fri Jun 21 – The Super Mario Brothers
Fri Jul 19 – Soul
Fri Aug 16 – The Little Mermaid

Gahanna Independence Day Celebration and Parade

See full details on Gahanna Parks and Rec website.

July 3, 2024
5 pm – 11 pm Celebration with food trucks and live music at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course (220 Olde Ridenour Rd.) Music begins at 5:30 pm with Honey & Blue, followed by headliners, Wet Bandits. Fireworks are at 10 pm. Event is free.
10 p.m. Fireworks at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course

July 4, 2024
10:30 am Lion’s Club 4th of July Parade. The parade route will commence at Clark Hall (380 Granville St.), will then proceed west on Granville St. and will conclude at Royal Plaza (northwest corner of Agler Rd. and Stygler Rd. intersection).

Gahanna 175 anniversary

The City of Gahanna is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2024, a momentous milestone in history. Join us in commemorating the City’s history and future together with special programming

Gahanna’s 175th Anniversary Jubilee

Saturday, August 10 at Creekside District
This jubilee will include fun activities, live entertainment, and different ways to learn and celebrate Gahanna’s unique history

Come Together Gahanna

Sunday, August 11
Come together as a community by volunteering throughout Gahanna. For more information about opportunities visit: VolunteerGahanna.org

Muddy Miler

August 18, 2024 from 1pm-4pm at Gahanna Swimming Pool. Gahanna Parks and Recreation Department presents the FREE Muddy Miler Family Adventure. The Muddy Miler is a themed adventure run offering the entire family obstacles, mud and more!

WARNING: You will get muddy from head to toe if you want to conquer the Muddy Miler!

Join us to explore the outdoors on our nature trail that winds through the Southwest Flood Plain (near the Gahanna Swimming Pool). Online pre-registration required. 

Creekside Hops & Vines Festival

September 7, 2o24 from 6:00 – 11:00pm at Creekside Park (123 Mill St, Gahanna)

Join the Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation (GPRF) for the Annual Creekside Hops & Vines Festival. Sample popular Columbus craft beers, wine, and liquor from Central Ohio breweries, Ohio and National wineries and Ohio distilleries.

The event also includes live music and complimentary food from local restaurants. Read more here. 

This annual event raises funds to help sustain city youth programs like the Community Scholarship Program for Camp Friendship and Gahanna’s Youth Sports program.

Gahanna Creekside Hops and Vines Fest

Basset Fest

September 28, 2024 from 11 AM – 3 PM! 

 The Ohio Basset Hound Rescue hosts a Basset Fest in Gahanna’s Pizzurro Park (940 Pizzuro Park Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230). The event consists of raffle baskets, auctions, a costume contest, biggest paw and longest ear contests, calendar and T-shirt sales and Basset races. Details. 

Campfire at the Park 

Wednesdays in October, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Gahanna Parks & Rec is setting up camp in select neighborhood parks for s’more fun! They will provide the campfire, s’mores, and supplies for you and your family to enjoy.

October 2 @ Rice Avenue Park
October 9 @ Veteran’s Memorial Park
October 16 @ Bryn Mawr Park
October 30 @ Woodside Green Park

Bring chairs & your neighbors! Please note restrooms are not available at all locations. This is a free event! Details.

Oktoberfest at Edison Brewing Company

October 27-28, 2024 at Edison Brewing Company, 785 Science Blvd, Gahanna, OH 43230. Details here. 

Spooky Shuffle 5k Fun Run

October 19, 2024 at 8 am. 

The Spooky Shuffle is a family friendly 5K run/walk on the Saturday morning of Halloween Weekend in Gahanna at Creekside. A Monster Mash Dash for kids 10 and younger will occur shortly before the 5K.

Each participant will receive a Spooky Shuffle shirt and post-race refreshments. Details/registration.

Great Gahanna Goblin Fest

Friday, October 25, 2024 Academy Park, 1201 Cherry Bottom Rd. 

This Halloween experience features all-things-Halloween, including a choreographed light show, fire performers, stilt walkers, animated projections, trick-or-treating, and many more surprises along the way!

Registration required. Details here.

The Great Gahanna Goblin Fest

Gahanna Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat is held in Gahanna on Thursday, October 31 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.