What to do with kids in Columbus over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus six dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
The Mall at Tuttle Crossing · 5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, Dublin, OH 43016
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot).
Riverside Crossing Park, lower plaza · Downtown Dublin
Good to know: Opens Saturday, Nov 21 at 5 p.m. for the 2026–27 season and runs through March 14. A small outdoor rink (3,200 sq ft) by The Dublin Link bridge; it closes when the ice is unsafe, including rain or temps near 60.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium · Powell, OH
Good to know: Train ride, reindeer, free carousel and Yule Tide boat ride.
Franklin Park Conservatory · Columbus, OH
Good to know: 100-foot light tunnel, life-size Candyland, igloos, garden railway. Good indoor option in bad weather.
Delaware, OH
Good to know: Santa's House (run by a former neighboring campground) is not part of this show.
Hartford Fairgrounds · 14028 Fairgrounds Road, Hartford, OH 43013
Good to know: 1M+ LEDs synced to music on car radio; no RVs or vehicles over 25 ft.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium · Powell
Good to know: Zoo character ambassadors, music and activities, then the rest of the zoo opens at noon.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens · 1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43203
Good to know: Make a party hat, play games and dance, then count down to noon with a bubble stomp. Countdowns are included in admission.
Pickerington Public Library – Sycamore Plaza · Pickerington
Good to know: Face painters, balloon twisters, crafts and games lead up to a big balloon drop at noon. A dance party with light refreshments follows.
Licking County Library, Johnstown branch (Mary E. Babcock) · Johnstown
Good to know: Festive crafts and music, then a countdown to welcome 2027. Snacks may be served, and the library can't promise they're free of tree nuts or soy.
Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Library · 96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
Good to know: Held a day early, on Dec 30, which helps families whose New Year's Eve is already booked. Kids do crafts and activities before counting down to noon. It's open to toddlers through age 11.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium · Powell, OH
Good to know: Train ride, reindeer, free carousel and Yule Tide boat ride.
Franklin Park Conservatory · Columbus, OH
Good to know: 100-foot light tunnel, life-size Candyland, igloos, garden railway. Good indoor option in bad weather.
Delaware, OH
Good to know: Santa's House (run by a former neighboring campground) is not part of this show.
Hartford Fairgrounds · 14028 Fairgrounds Road, Hartford, OH 43013
Good to know: 1M+ LEDs synced to music on car radio; no RVs or vehicles over 25 ft.
If it snows
Every hill here depends on snow, so check the park’s status page the morning you go. Tubing hills set height minimums, listed on each card.
7377 Riverside Dr, Dublin
7:30am to dusk
Restrooms on site. Weather permitting.
Official page ↗
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in ColumbusEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ColumbusEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in ColumbusFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in ColumbusFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in ColumbusIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in ColumbusBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in ColumbusHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in ColumbusParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in ColumbusKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in ColumbusParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in ColumbusPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in ColumbusBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in ColumbusChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Splash pads in ColumbusSpraygrounds with addresses and last season’s hoursBirthday party places in ColumbusStarting prices, ages and what’s included
This week in ColumbusDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Of the four places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Museum of Art and Get Air Columbus are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.
Open with posted hours: Get Air Columbus (Closed 5–10 p.m.). On the calendar: Santa Photos at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing and Riverside Crossing Park Ice Rink.
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.
On the calendar for Jan 1: Wildlights, Conservatory Aglow, Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights and WonderLight's Christmas. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Scioto Park sledding hill (Dublin). All of them need snow, so check the park’s status page first.
Wildlights, Conservatory Aglow, Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights and WonderLight's Christmas. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Columbus, through the holidays.
