The holiday season is such a festive time of year to explore different communities as they become illuminated with lights and decorations. Many communities host free tree lighting ceremonies. Please check their websites often as changes may occur as the events become closer.
Tree Lighting Ceremonies Around Columbus
Tanger Outlets Santa’s Wonderland
Date: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Details: Kick off the holiday season during the 7th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival Celebration in the Center Courtyard! Enjoy Starbucks hot cocoa, snap a photo with Santa, and make memories starting your holiday shopping. Santa will arrive at approximately 5:15 PM by horse-drawn carriage parade.
Website: Tanger Outlets
Easton Town Center
Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Details: Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. around the Center and continue throughout the evening with live music, fun for the family, costumed characters and more bringing holiday cheer! No matter where you are, take your eyes to the sky at 7 p.m. and watch as over two-million lights simultaneously illuminate Easton for the season.
Website: Easton Town Center

Market Square Holiday Tree Lighting in New Albany
Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Details: Free family fun includes pictures with Santa, horse and carriage rides, live entertainment, bounce houses, stilt-walker, juggler, face painters, and balloon twisters. Mayor Spalding will lead the countdown to light the holiday tree at sunset, approximately 5:25 p.m.
Website: New Albany Chamber of Commerce
Gahanna Holiday Lights Celebration
Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Details: This event will feature a holiday stage with live entertainment, the tree lighting, a processional, decorating a tow truck, and Santa arriving by firetruck to light the tree! Activities include strolling holiday-themed characters, carriage rides, train rides, live nativity, the light show and more. The light display throughout Creekside Park totals 300,000 lights! Accompanied with music, the light show will begin on Sunday, November 24 and run through January 5, 2025.
Website: Gahanna Holiday Lights Celebration
Worthington Tree Illumination Ceremony and Open House
Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024
Time: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Details: Old Worthington will host its annual Holiday Open House on Sunday, December 1 (always the Sunday after Thanksgiving) from noon until 5:00 p.m. Bring the family to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season, including, horse-drawn carriage rides, live music and a photo opportunity with Santa. Tree Lighting at 5:30!
Website: Worthington Tree Illumination Ceremony
Holiday Hop in Hilliard and Tree Lighting
Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Details: Ring in the holiday season in Old Hilliard and Weaver Park. There are fun holiday activities for kids, to include live music for Hilliard City School students, Cram the Cruiser, Santa appearance and the tree lighting that ends the event.
Uptown Christmas Walk & Tree Lighting: Marysville
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Details: Experience musical performances, dance troupes, costumed characters, horse-drawn carriage rides, Holly’s Jolly Scavenger Hunt, ornament making, and even Saint Nick himself at Santa’s Village!
At 6:00 pm, the countdown begins as the switch is flipped on the Community Christmas Tree, located at Partners Park.
Website: Uptown Christmas Walk & Tree Lighting Marysville
Holiday Tree Lighting: Grandview Heights
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Details: Come out and enjoy the fun!
Website: Grandview Heights
Dublin Tree Lighting Ceremony & Festivities
Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Details: The City of Dublin will mark the official start of the 2024 holiday season by hosting its annual Tree Lighting Thursday, December 5. To get in the holiday spirit, guests may enjoy caroling, dance performances, roaming holiday stilt walkers, ice sculpting, letters to Santa, reindeer and more seasonal activities and entertainment. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance to officially light the 30-foot-tall Christmas Tree and opportunities for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus will take place after the tree is lit.
Website: Dublin Tree Lighting Ceremony
The Ohio Statehouse
Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Details: Enjoy complimentary cookies, music, activity tables, dance performances and demonstrations. You can even get your photo taken in front of the Ohio Statehouse holiday tree with the jolly man himself.
5:30-5:45 p.m. Tree Lighting in the Atrium
5:45-7:30 p.m. Holiday Festival at the Ohio Statehouse
Website: The Ohio Statehouse
Olde Pickerington Village Holiday
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: Dusk
Details: This is a family-friendly event with activities all around the Pickerington Village. Many participating businesses provide a place to warm up and offering free activities and treats. There’s a lighted Holiday Stroll featuring more than a block of lighted holiday inflatables. 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Website: Olde Pickerington Village Holiday
Tree Lighting Ceremony in Westerville
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Details: Watch the 2024 Tree Lighting and visit area shops and restaurants for a holiday treat! Community members are invited to attend the City’s annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration. The festivities will include special holiday installations and the Parade of Lights beginning at 6:45 p.m. on State Street between Home and Plum Streets. Uptown shops will be open late.
Website: Westerville Parks & Recreation
Annual Tree Ceremony: Reynoldsburg
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2023
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Details: Come celebrate at Huber Park!
Website: Reynoldsburg Tree Lighting Ceremony
Winter Festival & Tree Lighting Ceremony: Upper Arlington
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Details: Horse-drawn carriage rides, visit with Santa, live reindeer display, ice sculpting demonstrations, bonfire and S’mores. Tree lighting at 7:30 p.m.
Website: Winter Festival and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Main Street Delaware First Friday
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Details: Bring your Christmas cheer to this festive event. Be sure to check the website for updates on the details of this event!
Website: Main Street Delaware Christmas in Downtown
Grove City Christmas Celebration
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Details: The parade will make its way through the heart of the Town Center, with festive floats, twinkling lights, and holiday spirit filling the air. After the parade, gather at Park Street & Broadway for the official Town Center Tree Lighting, featuring a special appearance by Santa Claus.
Website: Grove City Christmas Celebration
Holidays in Powell
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Details: See website for information!
Website: Holidays in Powell
Christmas on the Square in Sunbury
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Time: All Day
Details: See website for information and updates!
Website: Christmas on the Square
Short North Holiday Hop
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Details: Until 6 pm part of the streets will be closed for pedestrian-only traffic so people can walk to the 150 creative street vendors along with the 300 Short North brick and mortar businesses.
Website: Short North
Thank you for this list of Holiday Tree Lighting events and activities. It is appreciated! Please note that the library event on November 23rd is in Columbus Wisconsin NOT Columbus Ohio. Have a very Happy Holidays!! 🙂
Glad you find the list helpful. We have removed the library event. Thanks for letting us know! It takes a village. 🙂
The 10th annual Clintonville (Columbus, OH) Tree Lighting will be held Sunday, December 9 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Music by Whetstone High School choir, hot chocolate and cookies, kids’ crafts, and photo opps with Santa will be indoors at the Whetstone Community Center (3923, N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43214). Parade to tree at adjacent Whetstone Library for the lighting ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Clintonville Rotary. Flyer is available.
Marilyn Clark
Chair – 2018 Clintonville Tree Lighting
Clintonville Rotarian
614/266-1859 cell
[email protected]
The Reynoldsburg Tree Lighting ceremony is on Friday, December 1st from 5:30-8pm