things to do in central ohio

LINKS:
How to Celebrate Valentine's Day (Experience Columbus) - https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/how-to-celebrate-valentines...
Black History Month (Experience Columbus) - https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/how-to-honor-black-history-...
Columbus Love Letter - https://cbustoday.6amcity.com/culture/what-would-you-put-in-your-love-le...
ValleyDance at Valley Dale - https://valleydaleballroom.com/events/valentines-dance/
Oscar Screenings Near You - https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/how-to-see-oscar-nominate...

Events Include:
The Ohio/Michigan Men's Basketball Game between the Ohio B*ckeyes and # 20 ranked Michigan Wolverines; 1PM at The Schottenstein Center, Nationally Telecast on CBS/WBNS 10TV
West Side Story at The Ohio Theatre, a collaboration between CAPA, BalletMet, Opera Columbus, and the Columbus Symphony, this weekend ONLY
Franklinton Fridays on Valentine's Day, also the City of Columbus's birthday
Get Loud at the Westerville Library on Monday (https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/event/library-gets-loud!/86254/)

It is the final weekend for Nine at Short North Stage, and the Wander Lights at Columbus Commons & Scioto Mile.

Events this weekend include:
First Friday in Downtown Delaware (Friday February 7)
Ganthers Place "House Sweet It Is: Death By Chocolate" (Saturday February 8th)
The Awesome Gallery - Lathan Barksdale & Timothy Blackwell (opening Saturday February 8th)
Columbus City Schools Summer Resource Fair (Saturday February 8th at East High School)

Theater Roundup:
Full Frontal Nudity at MadLab
The Queen of Inishnane at Curtain Players (Galena)
Nine at Short North Stage

Columbus Public Health/King Arts Complex Black History Month (February 8th at King Arts Complex)
Experience Columbus Black History Month - https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/how-to-honor-black-history-...
Columbus Metropolitan Library Black History Month - https://www.columbuslibrary.org/black-history-month/

Here is the Weekend Warrior for January 21, 2025. Events include Wonderball at the Columbus Museum, Nine at Short North Stage, plus more screenings and sports ball.

Experience Columbus/AFAR - https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/articles/post/afar-names-columbus-to-...
Exp Cols/25 Reasons to Visit - https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/reasons-to-visit-columbus-t...
Exp Cols/Winter in Columbus - https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/winter/
Exp Cols/Conde Nast Top 10 - https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/articles/post/columbus-earns-a-spot-i...
Downtown Columbus - 25 Things to Do in '25 - https://downtowncolumbus.com/blog/things-to-do-in-2025/

Basketball:
- Harlem Globetrotters at Schottenstein Center (December 27, Ohio State Campus)
- Holiday Hoopla (December 27 through 29 at Battelle Grand Ballroom at The Greater Columbus Convention Center)
- Smokey Ballenger Classic (December 29 & 30 at The Rike Center, Otterbein University, Westerville)
- Ohio State vs. Indiana State (December 29 at Value City Arena/Schottenstein Center)

NOON DAY BALLS:
December 30 -
BEXLEY: Bexley Public Library (http://www.bexleylibrary.org) (BUS - # 2)

December 31 -
COLUMBUS ZOO: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (http://www.columbuszoo.org)
COSI: Center of Science and Industry (http://www.cosi.org)
HILLIARD: Hilliard's Station Park (http://www.destinationhilliard.org)
PICKERINGTON: Sycamore Plaza (Refugee Road) Library (http://www.pickeringtonlibrary.org)
UPPER ARLINGTON: Upper Arlington Main (Tremont Road) Library (http://www.ualibrary.org)

REFERENCES:
Last Mega Weekend of 2024: https://columbusunderground.com/mega-weekend-dance-parties-sgt-peppercor...
Last Minute Local Shopping Guide: https://columbusunderground.com/final-holiday-gift-guide-for-you-last-mi...
Restaurants open on Christmas Day (NBC4): https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/restaurants-open-christma...
Restaurants open on Christmas Day (Columbus on the Cheap): https://www.columbusonthecheap.com/columbus-restaurant-holiday-hours/
Winter Date Ideas: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/columbus-winter-date-ideas/
Columbus Restaurant Holiday Meals: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/holiday-meals-from-columbus...
Columbus Holiday Pop-Up Bars: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/holiday-pop-up-bars-restaur...
Columbus Boutique Shopping Districts: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/boutique-shopping-districts...

Twas the Weekend Warrior before Christmas.

REFERENCES:
Winter Date Ideas: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/columbus-winter-date-ideas/
Columbus Restaurant Holiday Meals: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/holiday-meals-from-columbus...
Columbus Holiday Pop-Up Bars: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/holiday-pop-up-bars-restaur...
Columbus Boutique Shopping Districts: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/boutique-shopping-districts...
Columbus Area Thanksgiving Races/Turkey Trots: https://www.columbussports.org/blog/post/columbus-thanksgiving-day-races...
Columbus Holiday Performances: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/your-guide-to-holiday-perfo...
Can't Miss Holiday Events in Columbus: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/cant-miss-holiday-events-in...
Experience Columbus Holiday Landing Page: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/holidays/
COSI Season of Celebrations: https://cosi.org/Season-of-Celebrations
Franklin Park Conservatory Aglow: https://www.fpconservatory.org/exhibitions/conservatory-aglow/
Columbus Zoo Wildlights: https://www.columbuszoo.org/wildlights
Huntington Holiday Train - Main Library: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/huntington-holiday-train/
Dublin Holiday Events (2024): https://www.visitdublinohio.com/blog/post/holidays-events-dublin/
Holiday Lights (Experience Columbus): https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/illuminate-the-night-with-h...

In the Weekend Warrior, there are holiday events galore, plus:
GalaxyCon at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (https://galaxycon.com/pages/galaxycon-columbus)

Tree Lighting Roundup
Extended List: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/central-ohio-news/2024-holiday-tre...

THURSDAY December 5:
Dublin - Coffman Park, 5PM
Ohio Statehouse - 5:30PM (COTA - Various Routes)

FRIDAY December 6:
Canal Winchester - Stradley Place, 6PM
Delaware - William & Sandusky Streets, 6:30PM
German Village - Frank Fetch Park, 7PM
Grove City - Town Center, 7PM
XSU Gateway - 5:30PM, Gateway Plaza outside Gateway Film Center (COTA - Lines 1, 2, 8, and 22)
Otterbein University - 5:30PM, Towers Plaza (rain location Roush Hall)
Pickerington - 5PM, Olde Pickerington Village
Reynoldsburg - Huber Park, 5:30PM
Upper Arlington - Mallway Park, 6PM
Westerville - City Hall, 6:30PM
Whitehall - The Kelley Green at Norton Crossing Park, 6PM (COTA - Line 10 or 24)

SATURDAY December 7:
Carroll - "A Christmas Carroll" at Bessie Benson Park, 5:30PM (https://visitfairfieldcounty.org/events/fairfield-county-festival-of-lig...)
Obetz - Junction Park, 4:30PM (https://obetz.oh.us/2024/11/2024-christmas-kickoff-and-parade/)
Lancaster - 104 North Broad Street, 5:30PM
Plain City - Uptown District, 4PM
Powell - Village Green Park, 6PM
Sunbury - Town Square, 4PM

SUNDAY December 8 -
Bexley - Drexel Circle, 5PM (COTA - Line # 10)
Clintonville - Whetstone Community Center & outside Whetstone Library (COTA - Lines 2 or 102)
Groveport - Heritage Park, 4:30PM

Thursday December 12
Easton - Drone Show at Easton Yard

Holiday Festivals:
CANAL WINCHESTER - Christmas in the Village (December 6 & 7, Historic Downtown Canal Winchester; http://www.destinationcw.org)
CLINTONVILLE - HolidayVille (December 8, 12-4PM, throughout Clintonville; http://www.experienceclintonville.com)