It's the first week of November and my Halloween stuff is put away and yes, my Christmas bins are coming out! I know this is polarizing but I just adore this time of year and want it to last as long as possible! So as you can imagine, I love all of the festivities and events that come with the holidays. And Central Ohio is not lacking in fun and festive things to do! Here are some of my top picks, where to go, what to watch and how to make the most of the holiday season this year!
1. Stay at home and watch the classics! 
As much as I love to get out and about, I also love staying home, with all of the twinkling lights, a fire, eggnog and a cat (or two) on my lap. Here is a list of the classics and where to find them streaming: https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/holiday-programming-guide-2024/
2. Wanderlights in Downtown Columbus
If you haven't been to downtown Columbus in the last couple of years to see all of the light displays, you need to make a trip to see Wanderlights this year! The Columbus Commons, Town Street and Bicentennial Park are absolutely beautiful. Enjoy the lights, music, hot chocolate and a carousel ride right in the heart of the city. While you are there, hop over to German Village and walk the cobblestone streets and see the incredible homes decorated for the holidays. And make sure to grab a drink and a snack while you are there!
3. Conservatory Aglow at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
This is hands down one of my absolute favorite displays! If you love plants, flowers, trees and festive lights, this is the place! The annual Conservatory Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens features thousands of lights twinkling and glowing in stunning displays, and new this year is a completely reimagined Topiary Collection. Accompanying the lights are familiar holiday favorites – such as the rainbow tunnel, ornament trees, gingerbread competition and more! Plus, the whole Conservatory is open during Conservatory Aglow so guests can check out the seasonal displays of their Holiday Blooms exhibit as well.
4. Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The holiday season is just not complete in my opinion without a trip to the zoo for their Wildlights display. Not only do you get to see the animals in a whole new light, but you get to experience their incredible light show! There are always a ton of activities, special displays and musically timed light shows. While not all of the animals will be out and about to see, it's always fun to experience something that you normally only do during the summer, but in the winter. And along with the animals, Santa hangs out at the zoo too. Pro tip: I highly recommend getting there early, even before dark so that you don't have to deal with quite as much traffic. And in year's past, we have had better luck seeing more animals right before the sun goes down.
5. Cookie baking at home
This is up there for me and it has been since I was a kid and my mom and I would spend all day and night baking cookies to give to our friends and family. So I have carried on this tradition with my family. We turn on the holiday music and roll up our sleeves. We have a few recipes that we make every year and we make enough to give out as gifts for our neighbors. If you need inspiration on cookie recipes, All Recipes has a ton of great recipes! Pro tip: Do make these favorites: Sugar Cookies, (with and without decorations), Shortbread Thumbprints, (roll in sugar before baking) Peanut Blossoms and my absolute favorites, Russian Tea Cakes!
5. Take a Segue tour around downtown Columbus
Other than the fact that we really didn't prepare ourselves for how cold our hands would get, this experience was so much fun! My mom, my daughter and myself took to the streets with a guide to see all the lights from a different perspective. They give you a lesson in riding for the first 30 minutes and then off you go. It was easier than I thought it would be and definitely a blast. Do wear very warm gloves if it is cold out so you don't have frozen hands by the end of the ride!
6. Gallery Hop in the Short North
I absolutely love the Short North district any time of year but especially during the holidays. The unique shops, restaurants and art galleries are always amazing. But during the holiday hop they go all out. They have a special Christmas tree lot, a holiday trail to explore, special street performers, a centralized market and so much more. This lively event is a can't miss in Columbus. This year the hop will be held on Saturday, December 7th from 12:00 until 8:00 pm with open streets closures taking place from E. Second Ave to Russell. And if you visit their website there is a discount code for Lyft if you prefer not to mess around with parking. https://shortnorth.org/2024-hops-on-high/
These are just some of the things I love to do around the holidays. I love living in Central Ohio, it is vibrant, lively and full of things to do. Get out there and enjoy the holiday season! For more holiday events in Central Ohio, check out the Experience Columbus website.