# Things to do with kids at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

> 6 upcoming family events and 3 ongoing programs and visits at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, OH 43065, in the Columbus area. Dates and times are Eastern Time. Today is Sun, Oct 25.

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 42 metro areas as of Oct 25, 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/venues/columbus-zoo-and-aquarium

## Events ahead

- [Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/columbus-zoo-lantern-festival--listing-bcc223526cc347af1311a56f) — Sun, Oct 25 · 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM · Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell · Paid · checked Oct 14. After-hours family event with over 70 sets of Asian lanterns showing wildlife scenes, new for 2026 dinosaur lanterns, performances, character meet-and-greets, rides and access to…
- [Little Explorers' Base Camp at the Columbus Zoo](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/little-explorers-base-camp-at-the-columbus-zoo--listing-ab9803c19532461899cb2f39) — Tue, Oct 27 (+5 more dates) · 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell · With admission · checked Oct 20. Little Explorers' Base Camp is a drop-in play-and-learn station for preschoolers and toddlers set up at different spots around the Columbus Zoo on Tuesday and Thursday mornings…
- [Sensory-Friendly Light Stroll at Wildlights](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/sensory-friendly-light-stroll-at-wildlights--listing-12d770256be36454235f7ff8) — Tue, Nov 17 · 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM · Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell · All ages · With admission · checked Oct 16. Before the full Wildlights season, the Columbus Zoo opens select Wildlights attractions for a sensory-friendly evening with smaller crowds, reduced background music and no…
- [Wildlights 2026](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/wildlights-2026--listing-f057c1acd2d113d705816bf4) — Nov 20 – Jan 3 · 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell · With admission · checked Oct 14. Holiday light event with millions of LED lights, animated musical light shows, Starlight Safari sculptures, Bricktopia LEGO builds by OhioLUG, free 12 Days of Wildlights train…
- [1-Day Winter Break Camps (Grades K-5) at the Columbus Zoo](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/1-day-winter-break-camps-grades-k-5-at-the-columbus-zoo--listing-69f31bb3ddf9965d202420f4) — Mon, Dec 21 (+5 more dates) · 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell · From $95 · checked Oct 20. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium runs six single-day winter break camps for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, each built around one habitat and the animals that live…
- [Zoo Year's Eve Noon Celebration](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/zoo-year-s-eve-noon-celebration--listing-5713dfbdf244cbd3eed7b361) — Thu, Dec 31 · 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM · Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell · With admission · checked Oct 16. The Columbus Zoo hosts a family New Year's countdown to noon for kids who won't make it to midnight. Guests are admitted at 11 a.m. to meet the Zoo's character ambassadors, enjoy…

## Ongoing programs and visits

- [Columbus Zoo and Aquarium](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/columbus-zoo-and-aquarium--listing-b2fed45f4c23ea402c3e1ba9) — Open on its own schedule · Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell · From $18.95 · checked Oct 14. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. October daily hours are 10am-5pm (closed October 6). Regions include…
- [Eco-Creators Club (ages 3-5) at the Columbus Zoo](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/eco-creators-club-ages-3-5-at-the-columbus-zoo--listing-754a66b0242ebf703a460e3c) — Thursdays 1:30pm-3:30pm; session registered as 10/29 meets 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19 · Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell · Ages 3–5 · From $110 · checked Oct 20. Eco-Creators Club is a monthly drop-off art club at the Columbus Zoo for children ages 3 to 5. Each month has its own nature theme, and children explore it through painting…
- [Quiet Hours at the Columbus Zoo](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/quiet-hours-at-the-columbus-zoo--listing-bc42867e607d1e6af8c08d2a) — First Sunday of every month, first four hours of operation · Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell · All ages · With admission · checked Oct 16. On the first Sunday of every month the Columbus Zoo runs Quiet Hours during its first four hours of operation, with reduced sounds, music and visual stimuli for a more…

## Nearby

- [Things to do with kids in Powell, OH](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/towns/powell-oh) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/columbus/towns/powell-oh.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Columbus](https://grassyknees.com/columbus) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/columbus.md)
- [This weekend in Columbus](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/columbus/this-weekend.md)

Venue pages are listed once a venue has 3 current listings.