Prepare to mark your calendars! It’s that special time of year at The Estates at New Albany and we’re here to help you shake off the stress of the season and get into the holiday spirit with 5 fun holiday events that have to be on your to-do list this holiday season. From dazzling light displays, towering Christmas trees, cheerful holiday performances, and many chances to meet the jolliest man of them all, there is no shortage of holiday fun to be had near our apartments in New Albany. Here’s the rundown on five of our favorite holiday events just a few minutes away from The Estates at New Albany.
1. Holidays at Easton Town Center
We all have some holiday shopping to do, so why not cross those items off your list while strolling through a winter wonderland? You can do just that at Easton Town Center, less than 10 minutes away from our New Albany apartments. Every holiday season Easton transforms into a holiday-themed wonderland with musical performances, a giant 56-foot Christmas tree, and dazzling light displays lining the streets. Enjoy holiday musical performances from roaming carolers, a brass quartet, and a professional a cappella group as you complete your holiday shopping. Also be sure to check out The Christmas Tree Show, as the 26,000 lights come to life in a custom light show beginning every evening at dusk with shows every 15 minutes.
Perhaps the most popular holiday attraction at Easton is the holiday carriage rides. Ride through the decorated streets of Easton in a horse-drawn carriage every weekend through December 28th, weather permitting. Rides cost $10 per person and children under 15 ride for free with a paying adult. You can find the carriages outside of Zara on Gramercy Street.
Other holiday events at Easton include complimentary holiday photos on December 7th and 14th, where you can get the perfect holiday photo for the perfect price… free. Stop by on December 21st for Giving is Always in Fashion for an afternoon full of fundraising and entertainment with musical acts and celebrity Salvation Army bell ringers. Also, be sure to stop by on December 28th to celebrate Hanukkah at Easton’s Menorah Celebration.
When: Nov. 16th – Jan. 5th
Where: 160 Easton Town Center, Columbus, OH 43219
More Info: https://eastontowncenter.com/blog/holiday-events-at-easton
2. Holiday Lights at the Scioto Mile and Columbus Commons
In Columbus, we love our Christmas lights, as is evident by the many holiday light displays set up throughout the city each holiday season. Of these light displays, two absolute must-sees are the Scioto Mile and the Columbus Commons. With over 200,000 lights, the Scioto Mile offers visitors dazzling light displays all over the park and is host to one of the area’s best holiday events, Winterfest. Winterfest is quickly becoming a holiday favorite in the Columbus area with live musical performances from local and national artists, seasonal beers and craft cocktails, and some of Columbus’s best food trucks providing delicious holiday-inspired meals.
Just a few blocks away from the Scioto Mile is Columbus Commons park, which comes to life in the holiday season with over festive light displays consisting of over 400,000 lights. Join them on Festive Fridays beginning December 6th for a little extra holiday fun with free hot chocolate, free carousel rides, and roaming carolers singing holiday favorites. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will also be open with a limited menu offering 5 delicious seasonal favorites that are sure to put you in the merriest of moods. Also, be sure to check out the old Lazarus building where the windows will be filled with scenes from the 12 days of Christmas and you can catch a glimpse of the gorgeous Christmas tree in the Galleria. Be sure to stop by the Lazarus building on Dec. 7th to visit Free Lazarus Santa’s Workshop to meet the big man himself and partake and some free arts and crafts the little ones are sure to love.
Scioto Mile
Where: 233 S. Civic Center Dr., Columbus, OH 43215
When: Nov. 21st – Jan. 5th, Dusk – 11:00 pm
More Info: https://www.sciotomile.com/
Winterfest
Where: 233 S. Civic Center Dr., Columbus, OH 43215
When: Dec. 7th, 11:00am – 4:00pm
More Info: https://www.sciotomile.com/winterfest/
Columbus Commons & Lazarus Building
Where: 160 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
When: Nov. 21st – Jan. 5th, Dusk – 11:00 pm
More Info: https://columbuscommons.org/
3. Conservatory Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory
Although beautiful all year round, the Franklin Park Conservatory has one of the most beautiful Holiday displays in the Columbus area with Conservatory Aglow. With special holiday decorations and performances throughout the holiday season, Franklin Park Conservatory is a Columbus Holiday tradition that should not be missed. New for this year, the Holiday displays extend out into the Children’s Garden and the Grand Mallway where you’ll find a new interactive art display that is sure to awe and amaze.
Where: 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, Oh 43203
When: Nov. 16th – Jan. 5th, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
More Info: https://www.fpconservatory.org/exhibitions/conservatory-aglow/
4. Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo
It wouldn’t be the holidays in Columbus without Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo just 20 minutes from our New Albany apartments. Stroll through the zoo and see your favorite animals while millions of LED lights dance throughout the night in the many animated light displays spread throughout the zoo. Meet Santa and his friends and hangout with Rudolph in Rudolph’s 4-D center for some special holiday fun. Wildlights can get very crowded so make sure to plan accordingly. If possible, go during the week to avoid large crowds, but if going on the weekend, make sure to give yourself plenty of time.
Where: 4850 Powell Rd., Powell, OH 43065
When: Nov. 15th – Jan. 5th, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm Sundays – Thursdays, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm Fridays and Saturdays (Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
More Info: https://www.columbuszoo.org/
5. Village Lights
Visit German Village during this holiday season for a night full of holiday magic at Village Lights. Go from shop to shop taking advantage of holiday specials as dazzling light displays fill the night sky. Join Mr. and Mrs. Claus for storytime, enjoy fascinating ice carving demonstrations, and stop by some of the local restaurants for holiday-themed specials that are sure to put you in the spirit. Come see for yourself why Village of Lights is quickly becoming a Columbus holiday favorite.
Where: Throughout German Village
When: Dec. 8th, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
More Info: https://germanvillage.com/villagelights/
Festive fun near our New Albany apartments
When it comes to fun holiday events, we have no shortage of options near our New Albany apartments. With so many fun and festive activities nearby, getting in the holiday spirit is as easy as taking a short drive to Easton Town Center or heading into the city for some dazzling holiday light sight-seeing. And after you get your fill of holiday fun, you can return to your warm home at The Estates at New Albany. Schedule a tour of our apartments in New Albany today to see how The Estates at New Albany is a great place to call home during the holidays.