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 6-7, 2024 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!
Great Train Show
January 13-14, 2024 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.
Columbus Winter Beerfest
January 20, 2024 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This delicious and boozy event will have over 350 craft beers available for sampling, and live music.
(614) Magazine Restaurant Week Columbus
January 22-27, 2024. 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).
Buckeye Lake Winterfest
January 27, 2024. 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!
Columbus Winter Carnival with KidsLinked
tba 2024 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!
Winter-themed festivals in Ohio worth the drive!
Mohican Winterfest
Saturday, January 13, 2024. 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.
Marietta Ice Festival
Saturday, January tba 2024. 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.
Annual Logan Frozen Festival
Saturday, January 20, 2024. Downtown Logan will feature ice sculptures, ice games, carving demonstrations, plus dine and shop at local businesses, and enjoy other fun activities.
Fire & Ice Walk
tba 2024 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 $4 per person (children three and under are free).
Meltdown Winter Ice Festival
January 26-27, 2024. 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!
Annual Ice A Fair in Vermilion
Saturday, February 3, 2024, 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!
Medina Ice Festival
tba 2024. 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.
Brite Winter in Cleveland
February 24, 2024 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.
Check out the whole list of festivals coming up this Winter!
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- 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