by Erin LaBuda
It’s always inevitable that I’ll want to do something “festive” on a whim but then I’ll have to search multiple websites and news publications trying to find just one thing to do on that particular evening. So, I thought that the best thing to do would be to compile a list of ALL of the December community events happening in and around Columbus Ohio so that should I feel like doing something sometime I have to look only one place.
 
December 1st: 
Dublin Community Rec Center Fall Showcase (through Dec. 13)
Grove City Merry Monday Advent Lighting 875-7298
Grandview – CCT presents “Ebenezer” 224-6672 (through Dec. 21)
Downtown Newark @ The Works, Garlands of Glass by Paul Stankard (through Jan. 10)
Reynoldsburg Tree Lighting Ceremony – 7PM @ City Hall
December 2nd:
Bexley Middle School Holidaze Shop & Dine 5PM – 6PM
Gahanna Jaycees Annual Food Drive @ Gahanna Library 9AM-10AM (through Dec. 18)
Grandview Library Holiday Cards/Gift/Ornament Making 481-3778
Grandview Community Tree Lighting Ceremony – 6:30PM @ Grandview Center
Westerville YP Holiday Mixer @ Martini Park 5PM-7PM
Worthington Hills County Club Holiday Luncheon – 11AM – 1PM
December 3rd:
Grove City – Christmas in Rattler Canyon – E.L. Evans Center
December 4th:
Bexley – Capital University’s Christmas Festival @ Mees Hall 236-6938 7:30-9:30PM
Delaware – Otterbein College Concert Choir @ Asbury Methodist Church 7:30-8:30PM
Dublin Arts Council Noel Nights 5PM – 9PM (AND December 5th)
Hilliard Community Tree Lighting – 6PM @ Roger Reynolds Municipal Park
December 5th:
Canal Winchester Holiday in the Village
Grove City Frosty & Friends Show – 6PM @ City Hall
Grove City Winter Lights Parade – 7:30PM in Downtown Grove City
Newark Holiday Luminary Tour – 5:30PM @ Dawes Arboretum
Upper Arlington Tree Lighting Ceremony – 5:30PM @ Mallway Park
Westerville Tree Lighting Ceremony –6PM @ Westerville Municipal Building Courtyard
December 6th:
Berlin – Christmas Down on the Farm 11AM – 7PM @ Schrock’s Amish Farm
Clintonville Cat Welfare Jewelry Sale 299-9985– 9AM – 3PM
Short North Gallery Hop 4PM – 10PM
Merion Village Annual Cookie Sale 11AM – 2PM @ Gates and Fourth Street
Grandview – Santa’s Annual visit to the Library 10AM – 11AM
Grove City High School Community Winds Concert 378-6908 11AM to 12PM
Grove City Christmas Homes Tour 4PM-8PM – tickets at Sommer House Gallery
Gahanna DanceCentre Christmas of Enchantment 1PM-3:30PM @Gahanna DanceCentre
BalletMet Columbus Nutcracker Ball – 7PM – Midnight @ Port Columbus
Hilliard McCoy Center Sing Joy Concert 6:30 – 7:30PM 876-4933
Hilliard Davidson H.S. Hollyfest Arts & Crafts Show 9AM – 4PM
Hilliard K-5 Ministry Christmas Craft Shop 10:30 – 11:30AM
Johnstown Christmas Parade 10AM – 11AM in downtown Johnstown
Johnstown – Santa visits his home at Bigelow Park 6:30-8PM ( 6th, 8-12th, 13th & 15-19th)
Powell – Holidays in Powell 12Noon – 5PM at the Village Green
Pickerington Holiday Crafts Show – 10AM – 4PM @ Echo Manor
Pickerington Holiday Home Tour 10AM – 4PM 837-4217
Sunbury Christmas on the Square
Upper Arlington Brunch with Santa 10AM – 12:30PM @ Moretti’s Restaurant
December 7th
Bexley Holiday Tree Lighting – 4:30PM @ Drexel Circle
German Village – Village Lights Tour 6PM – 10PM
Merion Village Holiday Homes Tour 6PM – 8PM – Maps @ United Methodist Church
Olde Town East Holiday Homes Tour – 1PM – 7PM 866-234-0414
Pataskala Holiday Homes Tour 1PM – 6PM
Olentangy Men’s Christmas Concert – 7PM – 8PM All Shepherds Lutheran Church
Pickerington Victorian Holiday & Tree Lighting 1PM – 6:30PM in Olde Pickerington
Westerville’s Children Christmas Parade 1PM – 3PM
Westerville – Otterbein College Concert Choir Holiday Tour 7PM – 8PM
Worthington – Christmas Open House 1PM – 5PM @ the Orange Johnson House
December 8th
Marble Cliff Holiday Party 6:30PM – 8PM @ Our Lady of Victory Parish Life Center
Grandview Singers - 7PM – 8PM @ the Grandview Heights Library
December 9th
Grove City High School Choir & Orchestra 7PM – 8PM @ Capital University
December 10th
Grove City Gingerbread House Holiday Event 5:30PM – 8PM @ Pinnacle Golf Club
December 11th
Grandview Scrooge & Santa on Broadway 7PM – 8PM @ Grandview Heights Library
December 13th
Alexandria Christmas Festival – All Day in Downtown Alexandria
Holiday Happening 9AM – 4PM @ Gender Road Christian Church
German Village Singers Holiday Concert 7PM – 8:30PM @ The Meeting Haus
Grandview – Dangerous Dan Steal Christmas 1:30PM – 2:30PM @ Grandview Library
Franklin Heights Holiday Crafts Bazaar 9AM – 4PM @ Franklin Heights H.S.
New Albany Turkey Dinner 4PM – 7PM @ Franklin Church
Reynoldsburg Christmas Concert 6:30PM – 8:30PM @ Grace Apostolic Church
December 14th
Delaware – Central Ohio Symphony’s Holiday Concert 2PM – 3PM @ Ohio Wesleyan
Dublin New Hope Concert 3PM – 5PM @ New Hope Church
Hilliard – 34th Annual Candlelight Christmas Concert 4:30PM – 6PM @ North Campus
Northland Dinner & Concert for the Holidays 5:30PM – 6:30PM @ North Community    Lutheran Church
Reynoldsburg Christmas Concert 6:30PM – 8:30PM @ Grace Apostolic Church
Westerville Symphony Sounds of the Season 3PM – 5PM @ Otterbein College
December 15th
Worthington Holiday Open House 10AM – 4PM @ All Shepherd’s Lutheran Church
December 21st
New Albany Symphony Orchestra Concert 3PM –4PM @Community Center for the Arts
December 23rd
Grandview – Crafts Museum Holiday Exhibition 1PM – 4PM @ 1665 W. Fifth Ave.
 
AND,
A Dickens of a Christmas
From plum pudding to humbug pie, Ohio Village / Ohio Historical Center recreate a Dickens-style Victorian Christmas with cooking demos, caroling, readings by candlelight, and other traditions. Call (614) 297-2300 for more information.
First Night Columbus
First Night Columbus is Central Ohio’s largest, New Year’s Eve celebration, alcohol-free, it’s a fun for all ages, safe, and interactive indoor experience with diverse entertainment at dozens of indoor venues downtown. Call (614) 481-0020 for more information.
Homes for the Holidays
Holiday lighting and decorated interiors warm the season with this tour of historic homes in Columbus. Call (614) 434-8080 for more information.
Once Upon A Life Christmas Program
In mid-December, Faith Life Church in New Albany presents an artistic holiday program. Call (614) 855-4848 for more information.
Wildlights
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium brightens the holiday season with Wildlights, a spectacular winter celebration, from mid-November through early January, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Call (800) MONKEYS for more information.