The Best Christmas Light Displays and Events in Columbus, Ohio

So, you've had Thanksgiving and made it through Black Friday. You've probably also began decorating for Christmas, especially if you have children or are a child at heart yourself. So what to do now? Why not relax for a night and go out to see the Christmas light displays around the city? If you live in or around Columbus, Ohio then here are some of the great displays you may want to see this year. Some displays are free, but some also charge a small fee. Enjoy, but try to lay off the eggnog until you get back home.

-Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. When: November 22nd - January 1st. What time: 11/22 - 12/17 Sunday - Thursday only, 5pm until 9pm. 12/18 - 1/1 Sunday - Thursday only, 5pm until 10 pm. 11/22 - 12/30 Friday and Saturday, 5pm until 11pm. Price: The same price as regular zoo admission since the zoo will be open during the day as well. Adults 12-59 are $10, Children 2-11 are $6, Children 2 and under are Free, and Seniors 60 and older are $8. If you are a zoo member then Wildlights is Free. Don't forget the $3.00 parking fee as well. And, you can get tickets ½ price at Discount Drugmart in November.

Activities: Model trains, ice skating, Santa (through 12/23), pictures with Santa starting at $11, Mrs. Klaus' Kitchen where you can decorate your own Christmas cookie for $1.75 (they will also have milk or hot chocolate available), reindeer in the North American barn exhibit, carolers, and the normal zoo activities such as the carousel and reptiles. They will also have special events on 12/8 and 12/9, so go to their website for details.

-Holidays at the Conservatory. Franklin Park Conservatory will have a light display with holiday trees and over 100 kinds of poinsettias. They will also have breakfast with Santa, the annual poinsettia tree, candlelight nights, and family activities. When: 11/24 - 1/1. Tuesday - Sunday from 10am until 5pm. Wednesday from 10am until 8pm. They say they are open holiday Mondays, but no time frame was given. Christmas eve they will be open from 10am - 5pm. Price: Adults are $7.50, children 2 - 12 are $4.00, children under 2 are Free, and Seniors and students are $6.00. For more details call 614-645-8733.

-The Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek Marina. This is a drive through lights show. They will also have Santa's house where you can also get your picture taken with Santa, Free cookies and hot chocolate, and they will also be selling Christmas merchandise. When: 11/17 - 12/30. Monday - Thursday from 5:30pm until 9:30 pm. Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm until 10:30pm. Sunday from 5:30pm until 9:30pm. Prices: Monday - Thursday $10.00 per car. Friday and Saturday $15.00 per car. Sunday $15.00 per car. They also have special pricing for various commercial vehicles such as campers and limos. For more information, please call 740-369-2900 or 740-548-6056(during show hours).

-Annual Tree Lighting and Firework Show in Dublin, OH. This will take place on November 30th, but they have festivities set for 12/1, 12/2, and 12/6 as well. In the historic part of Dublin, at 6pm, Santa will arrive on a fire truck while fireworks are lighting the sky. Afterwards, you can get your picture taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and Tim Horton's will be giving out free hot chocolate and coffee. Price: Absolutely Free. The special events scheduled for the other days may require a fee, depending on what the activity is. For more information you can call 614-410-4545.

-Holidays in Powell, OH. This even will take place in the Village Green Park, the Municipal building, and downtown Powell. When: December 2 from noon until 5:30pm. Price: Absolutely Free.

Holiday and Food activities: From noon until 5:30pm they will have various things such as carriage rides, Santa's reindeer, a gingerbread house and cookie decorating contest, carolers, a miniature Polar Express train to ride, a miniature indoor shopping "depot", gift shopping, kettle corn, hotdogs, deserts, and other various treats.

They will have various performances from noon until 5 and from 2 until 5:30 you can visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and their elves. The tree lighting will take place at 5:30pm. For more information call 614-885-5380.

-If all else fails, take a drive to the big neighborhoods around Columbus such as Highland Lakes which is on Rt 3 just north of Westerville. There are so many different large communities around Columbus to list, so finding them would be easy. You could also go out to Easton. They always have things decorated for Christmas and they will be having various activities throughout the season.

So that just about sums it up. There are going to be way too many light displays to actually list, but I hope this sheds a little "light" on the subject for you. If you are strapped for money and still want to take the kids out to see the lights, do what I suggested in the above paragraph and just drive through the big housing communities. I mentioned Highland Lakes since it is one of the biggest and more upscale communities, so they should have a fairly good display this year. I hope you have a merry Christmas and happy Holidays. And now that you've gotten your light fix, it's back home to the eggnog.