Central Ohio during November offers so many amazing things to do! We’ve gathered some activities for you and your family to explore around the Columbus area. From outdoor adventures to Dragon’s Donuts and then off to the theater for some holiday cheer, there’s no lack of fun this festive time of year. Here are 10-family fun activities around central Ohio in November that you can enjoy.
Happy November!
WILDLIGHTS at the Zoo
Starting on November 20th the Columbus Zoo becomes a Wildlight extravaganza. Christmas music will be playing, hot cocoa will be ready to sip and the carousel will be waiting for your family to ride, this makes the zoo lights a top family destination in Delaware County!
Let’s not forget that Santa will be there waiting for your little ones to share their Christmas list!
FOR THE 2021 WILD LIGHT SEASON:
To manage the number of guests entering the Zoo during Wildlights, beginning on Member Night (Thursday, November 18) and for the remainder of the Wildlights season, Members can enjoy the Zoo BEFORE 3 p.m. without a reservation.
Members will then be required to reserve an entry time for admission after 3 p.m. to enjoy Wildlights. All of our other guests will continue to be required to make advance reservations for timed entry throughout the entire day/evening.
Wildlights will begin for the general public on Friday, November 19, and run through Sunday, January 2, 2021.
This holiday season give the gift of a Reindeer experience to your child or yourself!
Location:
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
4850 POWELL RD,
POWELL, OH 43065
Columbus Metro Parks
With so many parks and activities to do within the Metro Parks system, we recommend that you head to their search link and check out what your family would be interested in!
A few Gleason Family suggestions for 2021 would be:
A Hike at Highbanks Metro Park
Explore the creeks and rivers edges
Search for Geo Caches
We love spending time in nature and Columbus Metro Parks offer something for everyone. Nature Centers, hikes, and bird watching are just a few other things you can come and do on your own.
COSI
Head to COSI for a getaway that will enlighten the family and encourage exploration for the kids! This November they welcome Marvel: Universe of Super Heros for the winter season. Don’t miss the chance to see more than 300 original artifacts, including some of Marvel’s most iconic costumes, props, and original art, much of which has never before been put on public display. Watch this video for an exclusive sneak peek into Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes!
Click here to purchase tickets
COSI has COVID-19 protocol in place:
Advanced ticket purchase
Face coverings are required
Hours Thurs-Sunday 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Location
333 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio
614.228.2674
Ohio History Center
Take a day to stroll through history and learn more about what history has made Ohio. See the HUGE mastodon, check out the primitive past, and browse through the beautiful gift shop. You’ll want to enjoy a moment in the woods where the little’s can play in the nature display!
Experience a Dickens of a Christmas at the Ohio Village
Bring your family to our 19th-century holiday celebration and see Charles Dickens’s festive vision of Christmas come to life!
- Meet and interact with Ohio Village residents to learn how they celebrate the holiday season.
- Interact with Scrooge, Jacob Marley, and other characters from Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol”.
- Enjoy music and dance of the period and partake in various activities in the village buildings.
Each weekend they post what is happening at the link for events and exhibits.
Click here to purchase tickets Tickets must be purchased in advance
COVID-19 protocols are in place and masks are required indoors.
Location:
800 E. 17th Ave.,
Columbus Ohio, 43211
Irish Fairy Door Trail
Take a family walk through beautiful Old Dublin searching for the fairy doors on this updated fairy trail! You’ll visit 11 quaint shops and eateries along the way as you collect marks in your passport. You’ll not only enjoy the sights of Old Dublin but you’ll be able to check out the stunning decorations coming out for the holiday season. Make sure to grab a cup of cocoa at one of the local coffee shops!
How it works:
Find the name of each resident fairy, fill in your passport and return your completed passport to the Dublin Visitor & Information Center (9 S. High St.) for a FREE Fairy Doors of Dublin t-shirt.
More info here –> Irish Fairy Door Trail
Scene 75
While it isn’t a fairy trail, it is the newest addition to indoor entertainment for the fall and winter season. Scene 75 is the largest indoor entertainment center in the COUNTRY and with all this space, they’ve got room for 12 indoor attractions, 200+ arcade games, a full-service restaurant, and so much more. There is fun for the whole family with indoor go-karts, laser tag, arcade, bounce inflatables, mini-golf. These are the perfect activities for friends and family of all ages, all year round.
So bundle up and head out to Scene 75 for the hottest new attraction for families!
Location:
Grove City, Ohio
Take the day and make an #altogetheradventure in Grove City, Ohio! Head to Dragons Donuts where you can create your own custom donut creation from a classic glaze to a fluffer nutter. Located at 2806 London-Groveport Road, Grove City, OH 43123
Go for the Pizza Trek in Grove City!
What’s the pizza trek? It’s a fun way to get rewarded for eating at your favorite pizza places while discovering new ones along the way!
Participation is easy, just follow these simple instructions:
- Print out or pick up a “Trek Guide” from the Grove City Visitors Center/Grove City Guide + Gear or a participating restaurant.
- Visit a restaurant on the Pizza Trek and make a purchase of at least $5 per person. (ie, If you’re in a group of 5 and you’re sharing a $20 pizza, you’ll each get a stamp!)
- Let the restaurant know you’re participating in the Pizza Trek and get your Trek Guide stamped before you leave.
- Get a stamp for purchasing from 5 different Pizza Trek restaurants to earn your prize! (Note: Only 1 stamp allowed per business, if you visit 2 locations of the same business, or the same business more than once, you will only receive 1 stamp.)
- Call us at 614.539.8747 to set-up an appointment to turn in your guide at Grove City Visitors Center/Grove City Guide + Gear and get your Pizza Trek prize!
Be sure to use #GCPizzaTrek and #PizzaTrek as you set out on your Grove City pizza adventure!
Then head over to Battelle Darby Metro park to explore the diverse trails around the Big Darby National Scenic River. Battelle Darby Metro Park
Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights
2021 $5.00 discount code is ADVENTURE
Alum Creek State Park Campground is transformed into a wonderland of lights, Christmas music, and family fun, starting on November 19th! This delightful holiday light show drive-thru is sure to become a family tradition once you’ve experienced the Christmas joy. After you’ve enjoyed the fantastic light show, head over to Cross Creek Campground to see Santa at Santa’s House! Head over there so you can continue the holiday cheer.
November 19th – January 2rd
HOURS
Sunday-Thursday → 5:30pm-9:30pm
Friday and Saturday → 5:30pm-10:30pm
(Gates close 30 minutes prior to nightly show close time)
Open Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day
Open rain, snow, or shine!
Location:
Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds at
3311 South Old State Road
Delaware, OH 43015
Franklin Park Conservatory
Conservatory Aglow returns for the biggest and brightest holiday show in the history of the Conservatory! Sparkling holiday lights take center stage, it is here where you can see all the inspiration that was drawn from the Conservatory’s plant collection and displays. Strolling through the Conservatory brings about a deeper love for nature and the beauty of Christmas intertwined with it.
This is a perfect family night in Downtown Columbus!
November 20th – January 9th
10am – 9pm
NOTES FOR 2021:
- Visiting | Guests should still visit another day if they do not feel well and continue to use everyday preventative measures (e.g. wash hands, cover coughs, etc.) before, during, and after their visit.
- Face Coverings | In accordance with the City of Columbus, all guests are required to wear face coverings while indoors. Unvaccinated guests should wear face coverings both indoors and outdoors.
- Free disposable face masks are available at the Visitor Center.
- Ticketing | Reserving tickets before visiting is encouraged for the best check-in experience.
- Special Engagements (Chihuly Nights, Pumpkins Aglow, Conservatory Aglow, etc.) require separate admission tickets from general admission.
- Capacity | The facility’s capacity limit has been relaxed. One-way traffic restrictions have been lifted.
- Sanitization | The Conservatory will continue to practice thorough sanitization procedures and utilize air purification systems that neutralize harmful pollutants and kills airborne viruses.
- Hand sanitizer stations are placed throughout the facility.
CAPA: CHARLES DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Due to the pandemic, this is not happening in 2021
Preservation Parks of Delaware County
With 9 amazing parks scattered throughout the county, Preservation Parks is a perfect destination for some family fun this November. Shale Hollow offers a stunning view of concretions and Deer Haven Park is where the bird viewing is over the top.
We recommend hikes at
Shale Hollow
Blues Creek Park
November is a perfect time to stroll through these parks for FREE family fun!
Central Ohio is FULL of amazing fall activities as the holiday season is ushered in. We hope you have a wonderful November and Thanksgiving! Make memories and Be Merry!
Happy Adventures,
The Gleason’s
Gleason Family Approved locations
