Holiday tree lightings, carriage rides and more bring Christmas cheer to Greater Columbus
Grab your overcoat, bring your mittens and prepare to be dazzled by an incredible number of bright, sparkling lights.
Throughout Greater Columbus this month and into early December, numerous cities, towns and districts will be lighting their publicly displayed Christmas trees.
The fun, festive celebrations often include other family-friendly holiday-themed events in addition to the tree lightings, and several promise visits from a certain jolly old elf hailing from the North Pole.
Here, The Dispatch has assembled listings of a number of the most notable tree lighting ceremonies, including details on when, where and other particulars. Please consult individual websites for further details.∙ Grand Illumination, Easton Town Center; lighting at 7 p.m. Nov. 18, other events starting at 6 p.m. Music, carols and Santa Claus will precede the illumination: Two million lights will light up the entirety of Easton Town Center. Activities are located throughout the shopping complex, including the Central Park Fountain, Fenlon Square, Town Square and the Yard. Admission: free. Also at Easton Town Center are holiday carriage rides beginning Nov. 19 and continuing during afternoon and evening hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 23 ($10, or free for age 15 and younger with a paying adult). https://eastontowncenter.com/event/eastons-grand-illumination/
∙ Gahanna's Holiday Lights Celebration, Creekside Plaza and Creekside District, Gahanna; celebration from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20; tree lighting at 6:15 p.m. Carriage rides, train rides, balloon artists, an interactive light display, stilt walkers, singers and dancers will keep families entertained before Santa arrives to light the tree, accompanied by the Gahanna Lincoln High School Marching Band. Admission: free. www.visitgahanna.com∙ Granville Village Tree Lighting, Broadway and Main, Granville; 5 p.m. Nov. 27. Watch the lighting of the tree and enjoy free cookies and hot chocolate. Admission: free. www.facebook.com/GranvilleCandlelightWalkingTour∙ Dublin Tree Lighting, Riverside Crossing Park, 6625 Riverside Drive. 5 p.m. Dec. 1. As the tree sparkles in Riverside Park, visitors can write letters to Santa, make crafts and skate on the ice rink. Admission: free. http://bit.ly/3NU7H8u
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∙ Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting, Atrium, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square; festival from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. Tree lighting will be followed by a festival sure to get you in the holiday spirit, including complimentary cookies, dance performances and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Admission: free. www.ohiostatehouse.org
∙ Pickerington Holiday Gathering and City Tree Lighting at the Gazebo, Columbus Street and Olde Pickerington Village; 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2, tree lighting at 6 p.m. Besides the City Tree Lighting, the event features a holiday stroll, businesses offering free activities and treats, horse-drawn wagon rides, ice-carving demonstrations, a visit with Santa, free popcorn and hot chocolate, and a chance to pet a visiting reindeer. Admission: free. www.pickeringtonvillage.com∙ Westerville Tree Lighting, Courtyard, City Hall, 21 S. State St., Westerville; Events start at 6 p.m. Dec. 2, tree lighting at 7 p.m. The tree lighting ceremony will also include performers from a local production of “Uptown Scrooge” and holiday goodies dispensed by Santa and various elves. Admission: free. http://bit.ly/3V3cib1
∙ Upper Arlington Winter Festival, Mallway Park, 2096 Arlington Ave.; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. Ice-sculpting and horse-drawn carriage rides are among the events that surround the city’s tree lighting ceremony — not to mention a visit from Santa. Admission: free. https://upperarlingtonoh.gov/event/winter-festival/
∙ Christmas in the Village Tree Lighting, downtown Canal Winchester; from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2-3, tree lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 2-3. Watch Santa light the Village Tree and then take the opportunity to visit with him later. On Dec. 2, Santa will arrive for the lighting on a fire truck, and on Dec. 3, he will lead a parade beginning at 5 p.m. Later in the evening, visit with reindeer, take a hayride, check out the gingerbread house contest and enjoy free popcorn, cookies and hot chocolate. Admission: free. www.canalwinchesterohio.gov∙ Grove City Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting and Christmas Celebration, Park Street and Broadway, Grove City; 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2 and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 3. After a parade stepping off at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at Park Street Middle School (3191 Park St., Grove City) and proceeding downtown, the tree will be lit. Other festive activities include visits and photos with Santa, live entertainment, shopping, and a Historical Society open house. Admission: free. www.grovecityohio.gov
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∙ Delaware Tree Lighting, William and Sandusky streets, Delaware; 6 p.m. Dec. 2. Join Santa as he lights the tree. Admission: free. www.mainstreetdelaware.com∙ Plain City Tree Lighting, Uptown Plain City; activities from 4 p.m. Dec. 3 to midnight Dec. 4; tree lighting approximately 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3. The tree lighting will be followed by Santa's Parade at 7 p.m. Visit with Santa, watch entertainment acts, take carriage rides and then, after the parade, take part in the “Route 42 Holiday Hop.” Winners of the Christmas Under the Clock coloring contest will help Santa light the tree. Admission: free. www.plain-city.com∙ Powell Tree Lighting, Village Green Park, 47 Hall St.; activities from 4 to 9 p.m. Dec, 3, tree lighting at 6 p.m. Take a free carriage ride from 4 to 9 p.m. and listen to the Powell Community Band. Hot chocolate, hot cider, kettle corn and cotton candy will be available for purchase. Admission: free. cityofpowell.us
∙ Lancaster Tree Lighting and Winterfest, bandstand, Broad and High, Lancaster; noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 3, tree lighting at 4:45 p.m. Relax on a free horse-drawn carriage ride, visit with Santa, take part in a scavenger hunt, listen to holiday music and more before the tree lighting at dusk. Admission: free. www.destinationdowntownlancaster.com∙ Christmas on the Square Tree Lighting, Town Square, downtown Sunbury; tree lighting at 7 p.m. Dec. 3, Christmas on the Square from 4 to 8 p.m. Take in the lighted holiday parade, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m., listen to holiday music, enter your dog in a Santa dog contest or yourself in a doughnut-eating contest. Admission: free. business.sunburybigwalnutchamber.com∙ Reynoldsburg Tree Lighting, Reynoldsburg Senior Center, 1520 Davidson Drirve; tree lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 3, festivities from 4 to 6 p.m. Santa will arrive at 4:05 p.m. by firetruck for pictures. Enjoy entertainment by school choirs and the high school orchestra, along with face painting, balloon twisting, juggling elves, a frozen bounce house and a magic reindeer food station. Admission: free. www.facebook.com/CityofReynoldsburg∙ Bexley Tree Lighting, Drexel Circle; 4:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Singing from the Bexley High School Vocal Ensemble will provide melodic accompaniment — and cookies, hot chocolate and candy canes will provide nourishment — to the ceremony. Santa will make an appearance, too. Admission: free. https://bexley.org/treelighting/
∙ Hilliard Tree Lighting, Station Park, 4021 Main St.; 4 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4. There will be a multitude of merry things to do and see at the event, including ice carving, balloon twisting and face painting. A trolley will take guests to the Hilliard Historical Village, where live reindeer, a live snow globe and a DJ will be present. Admission: free. https://hilliardohio.gov/treelighting/
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∙ Village Lights, German Village; 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4. Luminaries will guide visitors to numerous shops open during the event. Also present will be Santa and assorted elves for storytelling and pictures at the amphitheater at Schiller Park. Admission: free. https://germanvillage.com/event/village-lights-2022/
∙ Grandview Heights Tree Lighting, Grandview Avenue, between 1st and 3rd avenues; tree lighting at 7 p.m. Dec. 6, Holiday in the Heights from 4 to 8 p.m. An iceless ice rink and a trackless train are two of the features of Holiday in the Heights. Enter the Snowball Fight Arena, if you dare, or just hang out with the visiting reindeer or shop at vendors around the Heights. Admission: free. www.grandviewheights.gov/335/Holiday-in-the-Heights
∙ Christmas Corner, State Auto, 518 E. Broad St., Downtown; 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7. State Auto’s annual Christmas display will be lit at the ceremony. Admission: free. www.stateauto.com/christmas