The weather outside is finally making its turn into a Winter Wonderland and there are plenty of ways to celebrate it in Columbus this season. With plenty of holiday fun to choose from, we thought we’d give a quick list of some of our favorites.
All of the Lights
Almost everyone can agree that it gets dark way too early this time of year. Maybe that’s why Christmas lights are so appealing. Whether it’s driving past the glowing lights or taking a cold stroll past lit up trees, Columbus bright with Christmas lights each December. Here are some of the best places to find them:
Wildlights at Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Running through the end of December, the Columbus Zoo and AEP have teamed up to decorate the entire zoo with millions of LED Christmas lights. Fun for kids and great for dates, Wildlights is a fun way to spend an evening. Interested? Check out tickets and pricing!
Columbus Commons & The Scioto Mile
The best part of this? It’s free. After a nice dinner at Milestone 229, why not take a walk along the Scioto River? It’s been decorated like nothing else and feels like something from a Dr. Seuss book. Just a few blocks east, you can enjoy even more lights strung up across all of Columbus Commons. While you’re there, stop and see the Christmas displays in the Lazarus window fronts. You can even tour it on a Segway! To sign up for that, click here.
Ohio Chinese Lantern Festival 
This great tradition is unlike any other in Central Ohio. 34 Chinese lantern displays transform the Columbus Expo Center. In addition to its jaw-dropping outdoor visuals, the festivals hosts regular performances in the Donahey Ag/Hort Building. For more information on pricing and times, read here.
Indoor Dates
If you’re not one for the cold, then head inside. Columbus is filled to the brim with small businesses offering Holiday specials. Here are a few ideas!
Meza Wine Shop’s Holiday Tastings
Located in Uptown Westerville, Meza Wine Shop hosts a Holiday Luxury Wine Tasting event to give adults a taste of the season. Each $60 flight includes ten wines from premier producers, along with cheeses and charcuterie. We can’t think of a better date night.
Studio 614
This Christmas, make your own wreath. A holiday classic, a homemade wreath gives a one-of-a-kind way to decorate and celebrate. Let Studio 614 help you do that and more! Whether it’s making a wreath or ornament decorating, December is full of classes that will make your Lykens apartment a Winter Wonderland.
The Columbus Museum of Art
Parents! Or just LEGO fanatics. It might not be specifically Christmas themed, but each winter, the Columbus Museum of Art displays a replica of the city. On Thursdays, you can pay what you want to get in from 5pm-9pm. On Sundays, it’s completely free. When it’s too cold outside to walk around, let yourself marvel at all the fun detail of LEGO Columbus.
Sit Back & Enjoy
When activities aren’t your thing, but you’d still like to enjoy Christmas time, head to a show—maybe one from childhood, or maybe one you’ve never seen before.
BalletMet’s The Nutcracker
Since 1978, BalletMet has given Columbus gift after gift with wonderful performances. From December 8th through Christmas Eve, the dance company performs The Nutcracker alongside the Columbus Sympathy Orchestra. Inside the historic Ohio Theatre, audiences will watch more than 150 cast members put together a memory-making performance of the holiday favorite. To learn more and see about showtimes and buying tickets, click here.
Gateway Film Center’s Holiday Classics
If ballet isn’t your thing, maybe Die Hard, It’s A Wonderful Life, or Love Actually sound better. This season, Gateway Film Center is offering a Holiday Classic almost every day of December. See their full schedule here. Adult tickets are $9. If you can, get there before 5 to enjoy matinee pricing ($7.50/adult). On Super Tuesday, any movie is only $5 anytime of year.
There’s this list, but there’s just so much more we can’t fit in. Columbus knows how to celebrate. In whatever fashion you choose to enjoy this season, we at Lykens wish you warm and happy holidays!
