Holiday Light Displays Around Columbus

0

Each year our family looks forward to the tradition of driving through neighborhoods and looking at the wonderful Christmas decorations and lights. Some of these are so impressive!  We also love heading to various businesses that get all decked out in the holiday spirit.  Here’s a list of Holiday Light Displays Around Columbus that you don’t want to miss!

Holiday Light Displays Around Columbus

Fantasy of Lights: Alum Creek

Dates: November 18, 2016 – January 1, 2017

Location: Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds (2911 S. Old State Rd., Delaware, Ohio 43015) and Santa House with free hot chocolate and cookies- located at Cross Creek Camping Resort (3190 South Old State Rd. Delaware, OH 43015)

Details: Stay warm and toasty in your car as you travel through this drive-thru light show spectacular.

Website: Fantasy of Lights

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Dates: Thursday, November 17th (Member Preview Night)- January 1st, 2017 (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas)

Location: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Details: Millions of lights illuminate the zoo.  Watch an animated light show, see Santa and experience special festivities.

Website: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Ohio Chinese Lantern Festival

Dates: November 25, 2016 – January 2, 2017

Location: Ohio Expo Center & Ohio State Fairgrounds (The event is held outdoors)

Details: The pictures look breathtaking for this event.  There will be 39 lantern displays including a tulip-lined walkway and 200-foot illuminated dragon.  There will be a variety of performances and artists showcasing traditional Chinese crafts.

Website: Ohio Chinese Lantern Festival

Holiday Lights at the Columbus Commons

Dates: begins in late November and continues through early January

Location: Columbus Commons 

Details: From dusk until 11 pm you can stroll through Columbus Commons and enjoy the lights.

Website: Columbus Commons

Columbus Commons Holiday Lights
                                       Columbus Commons Holiday Lights

Grand Illumination at Scioto Mile

Dates: December 2, 2016 – January 8, 2017 from dusk until dawn.

Location: Scioto Mile

Details: Walk along the Scioto Mile and view the lights on 150 trees.

Website: Scioto Mile

Easton Town Center

Location: Easton Town Center

Details: There are lights decorating the streets, a 50-ft Christmas tree, outdoor train display, carriage rides (for a fee), photos with Santa (for a fee) and live musical groups offering entertainment on select evenings.

Website: Easton Town Center

Merry & Bright at the Franklin Park Conservatory

Location: Franklin Park Conservatory

Details: Franklin Park Conservatory gets decked out for the holidays.  There are large poinesttia displays, creative gingerbread houses, Paul Busse model garden railway, special holiday activities, entertainment and evening lights.  Be sure to check the website for dates and times of the various events.

Website: Merry & Bright

State Auto’s Christmas Corner

Dates: The display is lighted daily until January 2nd. 

Location: 518 E Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215

Details: A life Sized Nativity Scene can be found at State Auto Headquarters.  Through December 17th, local choirs will offer free performances on the weekends. 

Website: State Auto’s Christmas Corner

Segaway Holiday Lights Tour

Dates: December 2 – December 23 (6:00 & 8:15 pm)

Location: Begin at The Greater Columbus Convention Center (400 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215) 

Details: Listen to holiday music and look at the lights as you glide around Columbus on a segway.

Website: Segaway Tours of Columbus

Collison’s Festival of Lights

Dates: November 24, 2016 – January 1, 2017

Location: Lancaster (5601 Westfall Rd SW, Lancaster, Ohio)

Details: Stay in your car and drive through this light display.

Facebook Page: Collison’s Festival of Lights


Locations Outside of Columbus….

The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill

  • This is a bit farther away, but so worth the drive!

Dates: Starts the day after Thanksgiving and continues through December 31st. (Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas.  Closes at 8 pm on New Year’s Eve.)

Location: Clifton Mill (75 Water Street, Clifton, Ohio)

Details: You will be in awe as you watch the musical twinkling light show along the gorge.  There’s also a miniature village for model trains, a Santa Claus Museum with a wide variety of trinkets dating back to the 1800’s and a restaurant.

  • Nominated for USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award 2014 travel award contest!

Website: Clifton Mill

Clifton Mill
                                                                     Clifton Mill

The Christmas Ranch

  • Located North of Cincinnati

Dates: November 25 – December 31, 2016 (Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas)

Location: The Christmas Ranch (3205 S. Waynesville Road in Morrow, Ohio 45152)

Details: 1 million lights are set to synchronized holiday music.  Besides the lights, you’ll find a bakery, 6 shops, pictures with Santa, and train & wagon rides (be sure to check the website for dates and times of these.)

  • Seen on HGTV, Good Morning America, Extreme Home Makeover, Country Living, Ohio magazine and more!

Website: The Christmas Ranch

Roscoe Christmas

  • Located in Coshocton

Date: December 3, December 10 and December 17

Location: Roscoe Village (600 N. Whitewoman St., Coshocton, OH 43812)

Details: Daytime activities include strolling carolers, Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides and other festivities.   In the evening, there’s the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Website: Roscoe Village

Christmas at Kingwood

  • Located in Mansfield, Ohio

Dates: Thursday-Sunday from November 26th – December 30th

Location: Kingwood Center Gardens (50 N. Trimble Rd. • Mansfield, Ohio 44906)

Details: The rooms of Kingwood Hall are decorated to depict various Christmas carols.  Outside you’ll find thousands of lights.  

Website: Kingwood Center Gardens

Dickens Victorian Village: Courthouse Light Show

  • Located in Cambridge, Ohio

Dates: November 1, 2016 – January 1, 2017

Location: Guernsey County Courthouse lawn, Wheeling Avenue

Details: The historic courthouse comes alive with an interactive light and sound show.  Cambridge is such a charming city.  After, take a stroll and see various life-size, hand-crafted mannequins that are arranged along Wheeling Avenue.  Read more here about Dickens Victorian Village.

Hope these Holiday Light Displays bring you some cheer this season!

Previous articleBreakfast with Santa Events in Columbus
Next articleSweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
Amy Onifer
Amy is an "on the go momma" to two spunky and fun loving kids (ages 9 & 8). She came to Columbus to pursue a career in elementary education and decided this was home. She’s an avid traveler, yet can’t master the art of packing. Her philosophy is bring it all because you don’t know if you’re going to need it. If you ever decide to take a trip with her, don’t worry about bringing a camera because she’ll take enough photos of the experience that it will likely crash your hard drive. Before kids, you could find everything neatly organized and straight vacuum lines in her carpet, but these days she's not bothered with worrying about the small stuff. You can catch her belting out her favorite song, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and using her two left feet to bust a move with her family during their frequent impromptu dance parties. She loves living in such a family-friendly city!