Free or Low-Cost Family Fun:
Affordable, family-friendly fun here in Columbus, Ohio! Click on the links for event details, registration may be required. Scroll down for more!
- Dec. 6-8: Home for the Holidays Tree Lighting & Holiday Festivities in Downtown Delaware
- Friday, Dec. 6: Festive Friday at Columbus Commons – Free hot chocolate, music, and carousel rides, and holiday lights
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Winter Open House at Kaleidoscope Youth Center
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Winterfest and Tree Lighting in Downtown Lancaster
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Winterfest Columbus Free Festival in Bicentennial Park and Downtown Holiday Trolley Hop
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Circleville Christmas Parade
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Silent Disco with Santa with Columbus Speech and Hearing
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Winter Holiday Fest at Hilltop Library
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Holiday Histories at Ohio History Center
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Downtown Newark Wonderland Walk & Holiday Activities with Santa and The Grinch
- Sunday, Dec. 8: Village Lights 2024 in German Village
- Sunday, Dec. 8: Visit Sensitive Santa at Polaris Fashion Place with Sensory-Friendly Activities
- Sunday, Dec. 8: Sensory-Friendly Santa Experience at Columbus Zoo
- Tuesday, Dec. 10: Jazz Academy Community Holiday Jam Session
- Tuesday, Dec. 10: Registration Opens for Highland Youth Garden Winter Garden Club!
- Dec. 12 thru Jan. 5: Merry on Main: Free Iceless Skating in Marysville (Various dates and hours)
- Wednesday, Dec. 11: Maker Mania: Holiday 2024 at PAST Innovation Lab (Event is free, registration is required)
- Thursday, Dec. 12: Bring the Farm to You- Make Homemade Apple Cider at Linden Library
- Thursday, Dec. 12: Holiday Drone Show at Easton Town Center
- Thursday, Dec. 12: Winter Wonderland: Free Cocoa, Crafts, and Santa at Lifestyle Communities Locations
- Thursday, Dec. 12: Sensory-Friendly Winter Wonders Walk at Dawes Arboretum (Tickets $0-15)
- Dec. 13 & 14: Free Films & Activities for Families at The Wexner Center for the Arts
- Friday, Dec. 13: Christmas in the Park in West Jefferson
- Friday, Dec. 13: Free Donuts with Dasher and Pictures with Santa at CrossLink Community Church
- Friday, Dec. 13: Sensory-Friendly Winter Wonderland at Thompson Park North Shelter House (Registration required)
- Friday, Dec. 13: Festive Friday at Columbus Commons – Free hot chocolate, music, and carousel rides, and holiday lights
- Friday, Dec. 13: Kaleidoscope Youth Center Holiday Party (Ages 12-20)
- Friday, Dec. 13: Holiday Party at Worthington Community Center
- Saturday, Dec. 14: Holiday Histories at Ohio History Center
- Saturday, Dec. 14: Youth Christmas Party at St. Philip Episcopal Church
- Saturday, Dec. 14: Auntie Founty’s Pop-Up Bookstore at Community Grounds (Free Books & Activities)
- Sunday, Dec. 15: KidsLinked Westerville WinterFest
- Sunday, Dec. 15: Family Library Concert with ProMusica at Main Library
- Sunday, Dec. 15: Holiday Ornaments at Blendon Woods Metropark
- Tuesday, Dec. 17: Free Children’s Book Giveaway Event with Columbus Kids’ Book Bank in Worthington
- Tuesday, Dec. 17: Holiday Open House at Mount Carmel Healthy Living Center (Register by 12/12)
- Tuesday, Dec. 17: Pre-Hanukkah Celebration at Franklin Park Conservatory
- Wednesday, Dec. 18: Holiday Open House at Whitehall Library for All Ages
- Saturday, Dec. 21: Free Family Christmas Craft with Trades of Faith (Registration required)
- Dec. 28 & 29: Kwanzaa 614 Celebration at Ohio History Center
- Monday, Dec. 30: Urban Strings Columbus Youth Orchestra Kwanzaa Celebration at Martin Luther King Library
- Monday, Dec. 30: Menorah Lighting at Easton Town Center
- All December: Advent Window Walk in Downtown Lancaster
- Now thru Dec. 12: Santa’s Mailbox at Pickerington City Hall
- Now thru Dec. 18: Santa’s Mailbox at Hilliard Station Park
- Now thru Dec. 19: Season’s Screenings at Marcus Theatres – $6 Tickets, Family-Friendly Holiday Movies
- Now thru Dec. 24: Santa’s Wonderland and Free Photo with Santa at Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops
- Now thru Dec. 25: Call the Santa Hotline to Hear Santa’s Daily Message: (614) 478-1061
- Now thru Jan. 5: Wildlights at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
- Now thru Jan. 5: Conservatory Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory
- Now thru Jan. 5: Free Dazzling Christmas Lights Show in Westerville
- Now thru Jan. 5: Season of Celebrations at COSI
- Now thru Feb. 16: Free Wanderlights Display in Downtown Columbus
- Official Ohio Fall 2024 Events Guide
- Official 2024 Ohio Holiday Events Guide
- 2024 Ohio Holiday Lights Trail
- Registration is Open for School’s Out Winter (Dec. 23 – Jan. 3)
- CAP4Kids 2024 Holiday Help List- Free Meals, Toys, and More!
More Fun & Free Resources from CAP4Kids!
Informational Events for Parents/Caregivers & Young Adults:
Free or low-cost parenting classes, job help, new community resources, and more! Click the links for event & registration details.
- Friday, Dec. 6: Applications DUE for Kaleidoscope Youth Center Youth Leadership Committees (Ages 12-24)
- Saturday, Dec. 7: LINC Academy Open House
- Tuesday, Dec. 10: Master Behavioral Interview Questions with Jewish Family Services (Free Webinar for Job-Seekers)
- Wednesday, Dec. 11: Free Parenting Class: Dealing with Disobedience
- Wednesday, Dec. 11: Q&A with A Career Coach with Jewish Family Services (Free Webinar for Job-Seekers)
- Wednesday, Dec. 11: Charting the LifeCourse & Person-Centered Thinking Open Session for Families & People with Disabilities (Free, Online)
- Thursday, Dec. 12: Free Parenting Class: Developing Good Bedtime Routines
- Saturday, Dec. 14: Free Breastfeeding Class at Southeast Branch Library
- Saturday, Dec. 14: Birth Certificate & Name Change Clinic at ADAMH Franklin County (Financial assistance available)
- Monday, Dec. 16: In-Person Safe Sleep Ally Class & Crib Pick-up with Columbus Public Health
- Tuesday, Dec. 17: Tap In Center at Whitehall Library for Non-violent Misdemeanors (Call to Schedule an Appointment)
- Tuesday, Dec. 17: Free Parenting Class: Managing Fighting and Aggression
- Thursday, Dec. 19: Introduction to Charting the LifeCourse for People & Families with Disabilities (Free, Online)
- Friday, Dec. 20: Harm Reduction Pop-Up at Netcare
- Tuesday, Dec. 31: Applications DUE for Linden Exterior Home Repair Program
- Boost: Free Work Readiness Training & Coaching with Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Free Financial LifeSkills Program for Franklin County Residents
- Free Brochures and Fact Sheets on Mental Health Topics from NIMH
- Free Job and Career Help and Columbus Metropolitan Library
- HB68 Trans Community Resource Guide
- FREE Exercise, Wellness, and Parenting Classes and More at Mount Carmel Healthy Living Center
Essential Needs & Resources:
