Guide to Columbus, Ohio, Christmas Events and Holiday Festivals in 2007

The capital of Ohio sparkles with Holiday events and Christmas Festivals throughout Columbus this November and December 2007. From Winter Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo to the popular Gahanna Holiday Lights Parade; from a festive holiday fundraising race in Germantown Village to A Christmas Carol at the Palace Theater, holiday events abound in and around Columbus.

The Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, kicks off the holiday season over Thanksgiving weekend. This family friendly Christmas musical is a full scale production at The Palace Theater. A new elegant venue for A Christmas Carol, The Palace is located at 34 West Broad Street next to LaVeque Tower. Performances for A Christmas Story begin at 7:30pm on Friday, November 23; 2pm and 7:30pm on Saturday, November 24; and 2pm and 7:30pm on Sunday, November 25, 2007.

Winter Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo is the zoo's annual Christmas season event. The Columbus Zoo showcases over 2 million lights at their winter festival. Santa Claus and ice skating are highlights at the holiday festival. Winter Wildlights is celebrated from 5pm to 9pm between November 16, 2007 and January 2, 2008. The holiday event is free with the price of zoo admission.

The Gahanna Holiday Lights! Parade and Festival is a unique Christmas festival featuring an All-lighted Nighttime Parade. Over 50,000 people gather to revel at the more than 100 groups in the holiday parade including floats, marching bands, antique fire engines, horse-drawn carriages, and more. The festival will include holiday crafts and games, entertainment, foods, and more family friendly activities. The Gahanna Holiday Lights Parade is always the Saturday after Thanksgiving and this 2007 Ninth Annual parade and festival is on Saturday, November 24, 2007. The parade route is from Granville to Mill Street in Gahanna, Ohio.

Columbus' art district Short North is a hip urban neighborhood featuring eclectic shops, restaurants, clubs, and art galleries. The first Saturday of every month The Gallery Hop offers energetic crowds a fine selection of food, shopping, art, and entertainment. December features holiday themed gallery walks with 'The Four Hops of Christmas' on each Saturday of the month; December 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2007.

Home for the Holidays is the annual City of Columbus Tree Lighting Ceremony. It is an annual tradition for the tree to stay lit and decorated through the New Year. The Columbus Recreation and Park Department produces the holiday tree lighting ceremony with the help of sponsors, as a free Columbus holiday event. The City of Columbus Tree Lighting Ceremony begins at 5pm at City Hall.

Home for the Holidays is also the name of an annual Christmas event for the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. The Southern Theater presents the Columbus Jazz Orchestra holiday performance on November 29, 2007 at 8pm.

The Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run/Walk is a major annual fundraiser in its 21st holiday season in Columbus. The 2006 Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis raised over $93,000 supporting the Arthritis Foundations' mission and raise awareness about this leading cause of disability in the country. In this festive holiday race some runners and walkers wear holiday costumes. Jingle bells tied to runners' and walkers' shoelaces ring at The Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis in cities from San Diego, California to Lake Como, New Jersey this December. The Columbus neighborhood of Germantown Village hosts the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis holiday race on Sunday, December 2, 2007.

The City of Worthington is Columbus suburb consistently hosting impressive community events. The City of Worthington's Christmas Parade is on Sunday, November 25, 2007. The Worthington Historical Society hosts a Christmas Fair that same Thanksgiving Sunday from 1pm to 5pm at The Old Rectory at 50 West New England Avenue in Worthington. The Christmas Fair will boast a huge selection of holiday crafts, seasonal foods, unique handicrafts, handmade jewelry, art, and much more.

Children's Nights, Christmas in Ohio, is another Christmas event presented by the Worthington Historical Society. This Christmas program is catered towards children grades 3 through 5 and teaches children about old-fashioned holiday traditions including old games, traditional Christmas stories and songs, fireplace cooking, and more. Registration for this very popular children's holiday event is at the Orange Johnson House, 956 High Street on November 13 and 14, 2007, between 7pm and 8pm. Worthington's Christmas program takes place on Saturdays December 1, 8, and 15, 2007 from 5pm until 9pm.