Holiday Events – December 8 – 10

December 8 

Toddler Time with Santa Claus : Fri 9:30 AMSky Zone Columbus · Lewis Center

Santa Claus is coming… to Sky Zone! Join them  for Toddler Time to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus! Toddler Time is for ages 5 and under only. This is a special event and pricing will be $15 per toddler. Find more details + schedule here.

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play : Dec 8 – Dec 10Westerville South High School

This beloved American classic comes to life as a 1940s radio broadcast featuring the players from Westerville’s fictional vintage radio station, WVLR. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. Reserved seating tickets are available for purchase at the Westerville Community Center and online at www.westerville.org/registration. Tickets are $10 each.

Dave Koz Christmas Tour : Fri 8 PMPalace Theatre · Columbus

The Dave Koz 20th Anniversary Christmas Tour promises to be extra-special, reuniting Koz with two members of the original lineup–David Benoit and Peter White–and Rick Braun, a guest on many of Dave’s holiday jaunts dating back to the early years. Newcomer Selina Albright will also join in the festivities. Together, the five remarkable artists will perform fresh renditions of Christmas classics as well as a Chanukah medley and hits from their respective catalogs.

Christmas Corner Choir Series : Fri 6 PMChristmas Corner · Columbus

Join State Auto Christmas Corner for a night of holiday music by the Cristo Rey High School Choir and Worthington Chorus.

400 Market : Oct 13, 2017 – Sep 14, 2018400 Market · Columbus

December 9 

Holiday Open House:  Dec 9 – Dec 10Hoover Gardens & Gift Center · Westerville

Enjoy holiday classics while warming yourself with hot apple cider and cookies while you pick out your family’s live Christmas tree! Stroll through the gardens and take in the wonderful sights and smells of the holiday season!

Breakfast with Santa: Sat 8:30 AMRusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern · UA

Join Rusty Bucket to celebrate another Breakfast with Santa, benefitting the 2nd & 7 Foundation. Breakfast is $5 a person and will feature scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, and fruit. They encourage guests to call and make reservations for the breakfast!  For more information and to see all 15 participating locations, check out our website: https://www.myrustybucket.com/breakfast-with-santa

Breakfast with Santa Cow: Sat 9 AMChick-Fil-A, Grove City · Grove City

It’s that time of year again, BREAKFAST WITH SANTA COW! Head to Chick-Fil-A Grove City and have a delicious breakfast and enjoy a hot chocolate bar with crafts! Bring family, friends and an appetite!

Visit with Santa at the Herb Center: Sat 9 AMOhio Herb Education Center · Gahanna

The height of the holiday season is here! Santa, that jolly old elf, has taken time out of his busy toy-making schedule to meet with the little ones. Join him at the local North Pole Annex (formerly the Ohio Herb Education Center), to share visions of sugar plums, toy soldiers and ponies! As you enter, you will be greeted by Santa’s elves and guided to the letter writing station as you wait to sit on Santa’s knee and pose for a keepsake photo. After, step into Mrs. Claus’ Parlor for a special make-and-take gift experience. All ages are welcome!

13th Annual Midnight Madness Sale: Sat 7 PMWholly Craft · Columbus

13th Annual Midnight Madness Sale is back and it is   bigger than ever! The doors open at 7pm for the best holiday shopping event in town!! Join the for free swag bags stuffed with sweet surprises for the first 50 customers, 10% off all holiday cards and ornaments all night, rotating hourly sales, free pizza sampling with Outsiders pizza from 7-8pm, free photos with the Holiday Ape from 8-10pm and MORE.

Holiday Toy Drive: Sat 10 AM

Help spread holiday cheer this season at Nationwide Children’s Hospital! Donate new toys and books during the annual Nationwide Children’s Toy Drive.  Details: http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/holiday-toy-drive

Jack Hanna’s Home for the Holidays, featuring Santa Paws: Sat 10 AMColumbus Zoo and Aquarium · Powell

Join the Columbus Zoo for a flurry of fun before Wildlights, efficiently powered by AEP Ohio, illuminates the park. Get in the spirit of the season and bring any of the approved enrichment gifts for our animals and in return, you will receive one free admission to the Wildlights this evening. (See the Zoo Wish List below for accepted items.)
During the day, head over  for Santa Paws, their animal enrichment activity that keeps the animals in the holiday spirit by giving them specially wrapped treats using materials that are safe for each animal. Click here for full details and schedule. 

Santa Visit: Sat 11 AMThe Grandview Library · Columbus

Ho, ho, ho! Bring your camera and take a picture of your little ones with Santa while they discuss their holiday wishes. Children can also make a holiday craft and visit with Rosie the Comfort Dog from Atonement Lutheran Church. NEW THIS YEAR: TICKETS ARE REQUIRED for this event. Tickets are free, but must be picked up from the Youth Services Desk beginning Saturday, December 2, at 10 am. Tickets are handed out on a first-come first-serve basis. Presented by the Grandview Parks and Recreation Department and the Library.

Home for the Holidays – Family Fun Day: Sat 11 AMUptown Westerville – Shopuptown · Westerville

Join the Uptown merchants for a day of kid-friendly fun! Shops will offer crafts, cookie decorating, Santa letters, and more!

Letters To Santa 2017 – Day 1: Sat 12 PMOhio Railway Museum · Columbus

2017 Holiday Trolley Hop: Sat 1 PMThe Discovery District · Columbus

Enjoy a Complimentary trolley ride through The Discovery Districts hottest spots! There will be fun activities, crafts, tours, shopping and more along the way. Our event is extremely family friendly and I heard Santa may even be stopping by!  Discover the hot spots and support a good cause for fellow Columbus locals. Support Faith Mission and the Center for Healthy Families by donating and dropping off socks, gloves, or baby sleepers at one of our participating locations! We greatly thank you for helping fellow locals who are in need as the weather turns cold for the season.

Kid’s Cookie Decorating: Sat 1 PMLucky’s Market Columbus · Columbus

Bring your kiddos in for cookie decorating! They’ll have fresh baked cookies, icing, and fun toppings.
This event is free, but please RSVP to elisabethw@luckysmarket.com so we know how many kids are coming.

Holiday Jam for Mid Ohio Food Bank: Sat 2 PMAnnie’s Wine Cottage · Powell

Did you know that Mid Ohio Food Bank provides 4 meals for every dollar donated? Join Brian Batridge with the Hess Collection Winery,  Salumi Couture, and Bob Hale, customer superiore and amazing cake pop maker, for a fun filled wine, jam, and charcuterie tasting to benefit the Mid Ohio Food Bank. Find some great holiday wines, appetizers, and yummy cake pop stocking stuffers all while supporting this essential local charity. $5.00 from every tasting, $1 from every jar of jam sold, and 100% of the proceeds from the cakepops will go directly to the Mid Ohio Food Bank. You won’t want to miss this ‘jammin’ holiday extravaganza!! $20 to taste some great Hess Wines, Jam, and Charcuterie. Come anytime between 2-5pm; no reservations needed, just bring your holiday spirit!

Historic Christmas Tour: Sat 4 PMGrove City Ohio Government · Grove City

Experience the sights of community history and holiday traditions. Celebrate an evening of old-style holiday fun on the Historic Christmas Tour from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9. Stop by Century Village, 4185 Orders Road; the Grant-Sawyer Home, 4126 Haughn Road; or the Grove City Museum, 3378 Park St., to enjoy a ride to each destination. Tours end at 7:30 p.m.

Holiday Punches with Watershed Distillery: Sat 5 PMWest Egg · Columbus

Looking for a way to spice up your holiday gatherings? Join West Egg and Grant Bain of Watershed Distillery as we guide you through making 3 different punch recipes. 3 cocktails per person, light hors d’oeuvres included, 21+ only

December 10

Cookies with Santa: Sun 1 PMCoffee Connections of Hilliard, LLC · Hilliard

Tis the Season to see Santa! Join us at the shop for a chance to sit with Santa, snap a picture and decorate a delicious cookie! Cookies are just $1.50 each.

Short North Scavenger Hunt: Sun 1:30 PMColumbus Food Adventures · Columbus

A fun Sunday scavenger hunt in the Short North Arts District. Get prepared for the holidays by learning about local businesses in a fun interactive way with tastes, challenges and a super secret happy hour!

Sensory Friendly Visit with Santa: Sun 3 PMOhio Herb Education Center · Gahanna

Santa and his helpers are offering this special event for children and their families who may need a more relaxed environment with less sensory input. Santa and his elves are ready to meet your child however your child is most comfortable. The Herb Center has accessibility for wheelchairs or mobility issues. A limited number of
appointments available and price includes a photo. Pre-registration is required.

Uptown Scrooge Nov. 25-Dec. 17

Experience Dickens’ classic holiday tale like never before in this interactive walking tour performance of A Christmas Carol. Uptown Scrooge is a theatrical performance spectacle that utilizes innovative storytelling, improvisation, music, puppetry, theater and audience interaction to share this very LOCAL version of Dickens’ holiday tale, The Christmas Carol.  Guided through the streets and shops of Uptown Westerville by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, audience members are led in small groups to various businesses in Uptown Westerville where short, interactive performances occur related to the story. Audience members go on Scrooge’s journey, experiencing the magic and wonder of his holiday adventure first-hand. A unique holiday experience for the whole family.

Orange Johnson House Christmas Open House: Dec 3 – Dec 17Worthington Historical Society · Columbus

Enjoy “An Old Time Christmas”  at the Orange Johnson House this year!! The Worthington Historical Society invites you to visit the Orange Johnson House at 956 High Street in Worthington. Each Sunday, music will be performed by a different musical ensemble in the sitting room. Once again the Society will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Worthington Resource Pantry. In lieu of an admission cost, they  invite guests to donate one or more items to this valuable community program.

Carriage Rides: Sun 3 PMEaston Town Center · Columbus

Pick up starts by Rusty Bucket and is first come first served. $10.00 per person 16 and over. 15 and under ride fee with paying adult.