# Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting > Event for families in the Columbus area (OH). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Thu, Dec 3 · 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM - Where: Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215 - Ages: Families - Price: No admission fee listed; complimentary cookies - Organizer: Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (Ohio Statehouse) - Official page: https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/calendar/event?id=1760 - Last checked: Sat, Oct 24 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 32 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/ohio-statehouse-holiday-festival-and-tree-lighting--listing-16029055b051d3a05c2cae62 ## About The Ohio Statehouse opens the holiday season with its annual Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting. At 5:30 p.m. Santa Claus and state dignitaries light the Christmas tree in the Statehouse Atrium; afterwards, until 7:30, the building fills with dancers, choirs, mascots and K9 dog demonstrations, plus activity tables run by several organizations and complimentary cookies. Families can get a photo with Santa in front of the Statehouse holiday tree, and the Capitol Cafe and Statehouse Museum Shop are open during the evening. Because it is indoors on a weekday evening downtown, it works well for younger children and strollers; arrive before the lighting to get a view in the Atrium. The program is sponsored by the Capitol Square Foundation and the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board. ## Similar picks in Columbus - [Dublin Tree Lighting Ceremony](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/dublin-tree-lighting-ceremony--listing-fc376eba77f8c9301db0899b) — Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Coffman Park, Dublin · Free · checked Oct 14. Free City of Dublin Tree Lighting Ceremony in Coffman Park. Activities: photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, caroling, trackless train, stilt walkers, holiday characters, dance… - [Westerville Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/westerville-holiday-celebration-and-tree-lighting--listing-23572459a31115b81d2604b4) — Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Westerville City Hall Courtyard · checked Oct 20. Uptown Westerville's holiday evening centers on City Hall. The Parade of Lights rolls down State Street between Home and Plum streets at 6:45 p.m., with City vehicles and… - [Upper Arlington Winter Fest and Tree Lighting](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/upper-arlington-winter-fest-and-tree-lighting--listing-40b9a0905f6c70517e142433) — Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM · Mallway Park, Upper Arlington · All ages · checked Oct 24. Upper Arlington's Winter Fest is the city's community holiday tree lighting, held after dark in Mallway Park on Arlington Avenue. Parks & Recreation runs the evening: the… - [Holiday Gathering and Christmas Tree Lighting in Olde Pickerington Village](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/holiday-gathering-and-christmas-tree-lighting-in-olde-pickerington-vil--listing-7f615e1b758e2b22ea15cfff) — Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM · Olde Pickerington Village (Pickerington Elevate District) · All ages · Free · checked Oct 16. The City of Pickerington and the Pickerington Village Association host a free holiday evening in Olde Pickerington Village, the city's Elevate District, with Pickerington Public… - [First Friday Tree Lighting in Downtown Delaware](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/first-friday-tree-lighting-in-downtown-delaware--listing-ae1e0747b59f02d4cd5369a0) — Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Downtown Delaware (corner of William and Sandusky Streets) · Free · checked Oct 14. Main Street Delaware's First Friday Tree Lighting: main stage performances by local music groups, community vendors and festive activities from 6–9 p.m.; the tree lighting… - [Whitehall Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/whitehall-winter-wonderland-and-tree-lighting--listing-d39560a234909bc8a7c12392) — Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Whitehall City Hall · Free · checked Oct 24. Whitehall's Winter Wonderland is the city's free holiday evening at City Hall on South Yearling Road. The city lists hot chocolate and fresh popcorn, winter crafts for children… ## More for families - [Christmas and holiday events for kids in Columbus](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/christmas) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/columbus/christmas.md) - [This weekend in Columbus](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/columbus/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in Columbus](https://grassyknees.com/columbus) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/columbus.md)