✨ The Best Holiday Light Displays In Columbus

Plus: 🏰 Did You Know That OSU Used To Have A Castle?

Author

Chelsea Wiley
November 20, 2025

In partnership with

Sponsored by North Market 🍴
North Market is calling your name! Whether you're exploring the original downtown location for its classic market charm or the Bridge Park spot in Dublin for a modern twist, there's no better place to eat, shop, and discover the best of Columbus. For more info, head over to northmarket.org.

Hello, Thursday! Chelsea here.

The holiday season is officially flipping the switch this weekend, and there’s no better time to get outside and soak it all in. With the forecast looking surprisingly mild for late November, it’s the perfect excuse to bundle up, grab a peppermint something, and go see some lights. Columbus is packed with displays that glow, twinkle, dance, and generally make everything feel a little more magical. Here are the best holiday light displays kicking off over the next couple of days, ready to make your weekend shine.

🎥 Inside The Ohio House That Made 'A Christmas Story' So Iconic
If A Christmas Story is your must-watch holiday movie, this Cleveland road trip is calling your name. Step inside the real house from A Christmas Story, explore the museum packed with iconic props, and even stay overnight at Ralphie’s for the ultimate fan experience. No bunny costumes required.

🏰 Lost History Of Columbus: The Armory And Gymnasium At OSU
OSU’s campus once had its very own castle. It was a massive, medieval-style Armory designed by Frank Packard. It hosted everything from basketball games to military drills for decades until a 1958 fire ultimately sealed its fate.

Headlines 📰 

🥧 Looking to change things up this Thanksgiving when it comes to the pie selection? If you’re feeling a little adventurous and want to spice it up, here are six non-traditional pie options to take to the table. (New York Times)

🏠 More Central Ohio homebuyers are backing out of deals as the market evens out. A new report shows cancellations climbing while buyers regain some negotiation power and sellers navigate a landscape that’s shifting faster than expected. (Axios Columbus)

👏 The Columbus Foundation is rolling out two new programs designed to help local nonprofits handle rising needs and shrinking resources. From quick-response funding to hands-on support for organizations navigating change, the initiatives aim to keep crucial community services strong. (Columbus Monthly)

🌥️ Weather: 52 and cloudy, with patchy fog before 10 a.m.

Columbus Navigator supports Mid-Ohio Food Collective this holiday season!
While many of us gather around tables filled with food and laughter, thousands of families in our community are going without. Together, we can change that. Support the Holiday Meals Campaign and help provide comfort, nourishment, and hope to families in need. For every $1 donated, Mid-Ohio Food Collective can provide up to 2.5 meals. If you’d like to donate, please click here.

Coming Up 📆

✨11/21-11/23: Wanderlights
🛍️ 11/21-11/22: Ohio Made Holiday Market 2025
🎵 11/21: The Band CAMINO
🏈 11/22: OSU vs. Rutgers
🤩 11/22-11/23: Conservatory Aglow
🎸 11/23: Portugal The Man
🖼️ 11/23: Free Sundays at the Columbus Museum of Art

Today's Photo 🤳

Instagram Post

❤️ The Porch Pantry is a community-driven effort helping hundreds of local families put food on the table. 🌻 It started during the government shutdown when SNAP benefits weren’t going out, and the work continues today through neighbor-to-neighbor support. Over 1,000 families have reached out for assistance, and volunteers have stepped up in incredible numbers to meet the need. Every donation and helping hand goes directly to feeding families in Columbus and the surrounding areas.

Want your photo to be featured? Use #columbusnavigator or tag us!

The Briefing Leaders Rely On.

In a landscape flooded with hype and surface-level reporting, The Daily Upside delivers what business leaders actually need: clear, concise, and actionable intelligence on markets, strategy, and business innovation.

Founded by former bankers and veteran business journalists, it's built for decision-makers — not spectators. From macroeconomic shifts to sector-specific trends, The Daily Upside helps executives stay ahead of what’s shaping their industries.

That’s why over 1 million readers, including C-suite executives and senior decision-makers, start their day with it.

No noise. No jargon. Just business insight that drives results.

Have a hot tip? Interested in advertising options? Hit that reply button - we love mail. 💌📭

- Chelsea