Anticipating holiday joy in Hilliard? Our guide will lead you to all the festive events! From Hilliard regulars to first-time tourists, this guide highlights the season's top events.
Popular Events: Experience the enchanting Columbus Zoo Wildlights, where the zoo transforms into a winter wonderland with millions of twinkling lights and festive displays. Similarly, the TWIG Bazaar benefiting Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers a delightful array of local crafts and holiday goodies, perfect for finding unique gifts. And the Christmas Corner at the Fairgrounds is something you definitely don't want to miss, showcasing a charming market filled with seasonal treats and holiday cheer. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Hilliard
- Columbus Zoo Wildlights (Powell)
- TWIG Bazaar benefiting Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Columbus)
- Columbus Winterfair (Columbus)
- Grove City High School Band Holiday Craft and Gift Bazaar (Grove City)
- Gifts of the Craftsman Sale (Columbus)
- Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
- Christmas Corner at the Fairgrounds
- A Carillon Christmas (Dayton)
- Short North Holiday Hop (Columbus)
- Franklinton 400 Market (Columbus)
See these and even more events listed below!
Hilliard Holiday Light Displays
Columbus Zoo Wildlights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
The Columbus Zoo's Wildlights features millions of LED lights, animated musical light shows, and various holiday festivities, creating a vibrant winter experience.
Where: Powell | More Info: Columbus Zoo Wildlights
Sensory Friendly Lights Stroll at the Zoo
What to Expect:
Sensory-friendly holiday light experience with reduced background sounds.
Description:
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers a Sensory-Friendly Light Stroll during Wildlights, featuring limited background sounds, smaller crowds, and access to sensory kits and a calming room. This event provides a less stimulating experience for guests to enjoy select attractions.
Where: Columbus | More Info: Sensory Friendly Lights Stroll at the Zoo
Holiday in Lights
What to Expect:
Over 1 million lights and 250 displays.
Description:
Holiday in Lights is an outdoor light display at Armco Park in Warren County, featuring over 1 million lights and 250 displays, showcasing holiday themes from Santa Claus to every animal on the ark.
Where: Lebanon | More Info: Holiday in Lights
WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio
What to Expect:
Synchronized LED lights and music for a festive drive-through experience.
Description:
Over 1 million LED lights synchronized to traditional and newer, rocking Christmas music played through your car stereo. The event features shooting stars, floating snowflakes, dancing candy canes, giant Christmas trees, and three drive-through tunnels of lights.
Where: Hartford | More Info: WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio
Magic of Lights
What to Expect:
Interactive augmented reality experience with over 2 million sparkling lights.
Description:
Magic of Lights is a dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience featuring spectacular light displays, digital animations, and beloved holiday characters. Enjoy classic scenes like Winter Wonderland and the 12 Days of Christmas, along with new and exciting displays.
Where: Middleburg Heights | More Info: Magic of Lights
A Carillon Christmas
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday celebration with historical exhibits and activities.
Description:
Carillon Historical Park transforms into a vibrant holiday destination with thousands of lights, live music, historical craft demonstrations, and festive activities like Santa visits, model train rides, and holiday shopping.
Where: Dayton | More Info: A Carillon Christmas
Hilliard Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christmas Corner at the Fairgrounds
What to Expect:
Local artisans selling handmade soaps, lotions, and fabrics.
Description:
The Makapen Show Christmas Corner at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, Ohio, features a variety of handmade soaps, lotions, and fabrics. This event offers a unique opportunity to shop for high-quality, locally crafted items.
Where: Hilliard | More Info: Christmas Corner at the Fairgrounds
HollyFest at Hilliard Davidson
What to Expect:
Unique holiday finds from local crafters.
Description:
The 41st Annual Hollyfest Arts & Crafts Show at Hilliard Davidson High School features 118 local crafters offering handmade items, including toys, jewelry, and holiday decorations. Attendees can also enjoy pet photos with Santa and support local businesses.
Where: Hilliard | More Info: HollyFest at Hilliard Davidson
Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
What to Expect:
Unique holiday shopping experience with local artisans.
Description:
The Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show at Makoy Event Center features local artists and crafters selling their original handmade items. Admission is $3 for the public, with children under 12 free. The event includes a full concession stand and benefits the local non-profit, Hope Hollow.
Where: Hilliard | More Info: Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
TWIG Bazaar benefiting Nationwide Children’s Hospital
What to Expect:
Unique handmade items and holiday gift ideas.
Description:
The 102nd Annual TWIG Bazaar is a single-day event sponsored by TWIG of Nationwide Children's Hospital, featuring handmade items, a silent auction, raffles, and the TWIG Cafe. Members craft traditional and unique items including home decor, seasonal items, children's collectibles, and holiday gift ideas.
Where: Columbus | More Info: TWIG Bazaar benefiting Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Holiday Craft & Gift Show at Worthington Christian Village
What to Expect:
Unique handmade treasures supporting local artisans.
Description:
The Holiday Craft & Gift Show at Worthington Christian Village features unique handmade crafts and gifts, supporting local artisans and businesses. Enjoy holiday shopping with decorations, jewelry, and tasty treats.
Where: Columbus | More Info: Holiday Craft & Gift Show at Worthington Christian Village
Gifts of the Craftsman Sale
What to Expect:
Unique gifts handcrafted by nearly 200 artists.
Description:
The Gifts of the Craftsmen Sale at the Ohio Craft Museum features unique, handcrafted gifts from nearly 200 artists across the country, including jewelry, glassware, pottery, plush animals, and winter accessories.
Where: Columbus | More Info: Gifts of the Craftsman Sale
Grove City High School Band Holiday Craft and Gift Bazaar
What to Expect:
Unique handmade crafts and gifts benefiting the Grove City High School Band.
Description:
The Grove City High School Band Holiday Craft and Gift Bazaar features over 200 unique vendors offering handmade crafts and gifts, along with fabulous homemade food served all day. The event benefits the Grove City High School Band and takes place inside Grove City High School.
Where: Grove City | More Info: Grove City High School Band Holiday Craft and Gift Bazaar
Columbus Winterfair
What to Expect:
Unique, handcrafted items from 375 artists.
Description:
Columbus Winterfair is an annual arts fair featuring unique, handcrafted items from 375 artists across the country. The event includes a Gourmet Marketplace with finely crafted soaps, lotions, chocolates, and more. Perfect for finding unique gifts for everyone on your list.
Where: Columbus | More Info: Columbus Winterfair
Short North Holiday Hop
What to Expect:
Pedestrian-only High Street with diverse street vendors and local artisans.
Description:
The Short North Holiday Hop is a vibrant celebration featuring local artisans, street vendors, live music, and festive activities along High Street in Columbus, Ohio. Enjoy holiday tree sales, free gift wrapping, toys for tots drives, ice carving, and community sing-alongs amidst the bustling atmosphere of the Short North Arts District.
Where: Columbus | More Info: Short North Holiday Hop
Hilliard Other Holiday Activities
Franklinton 400 Market
What to Expect:
Neighborhood-wide celebration of art, performance, and community.
Description:
Franklinton Fridays is a neighborhood-wide celebration of art, performance, and community, held every second Friday of the month from 6-10 pm. The event invites all Franklinton neighbors to open their doors, offering unique experiences with food, entertainment, and local art.
Where: Columbus | More Info: Franklinton 400 Market
Huntington Holiday Train
What to Expect:
Intricately crafted miniature buildings and a large waterfall.
Description:
The Huntington Holiday Train is a 600-square-foot display featuring multiple miniature trains, over 280 feet of track, and more than 50 pounds of artificial snow. The exhibit includes replicas of historic German homes and castles, crafted from natural elements like leaves, bark, pinecones, and moss. It also features a 6-foot-tall cathedral, an 8-foot-tall castle, and a waterfall that pumps 600 gallons of water per hour.
Where: Columbus | More Info: Huntington Holiday Train
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Dublin (5 miles)
- Upper Arlington (6 miles)
- Columbus (10 miles)
- Grove City (11 miles)
- Westerville (14 miles)
- Gahanna (15 miles)
- Marysville (18 miles)
- Delaware (19 miles)
- Reynoldsburg (19 miles)
- Springfield (35 miles)
- Lancaster (37 miles)
- Marion (38 miles)
- Newark (40 miles)