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😍 Unwrap Holiday Magic In Ohio’s Most Charming Christmas Villages

Plus: 👏 CCAD Launches New Program Offering Free Tuition

Author

Chelsea Wiley
December 04, 2025

Sponsored by Decorative Arts Center of Ohio 🖼️
🥂 Food for Thought: A Taste of the Canton Museum of Art is on view from September 27 – January 4. You can explore an exhibit that dives into what we eat, how we eat it, and the culture we create around the table. From American art to agricultural traditions, these works celebrate food as community, memory, and ritual. Come hungry for inspiration and gather around the CMA table! More info at decartsohio.org.

Hello, Thursday! Chelsea here.

December is such a busy month. Everywhere you turn, something is glowing, jingling, or handing out cookies, and honestly, I’m not complaining. This is prime “grab a coat and go find some magic” season. Ohio has some incredibly charming Christmas towns that go all in on lights, music, hot-mulled cider, and good old-fashioned nostalgia. So if you're ready to feel like you're stepping straight into a snow-globe, we’ve got a list of festive spots worth loading up the car for.

👏 CCAD Launches New Program Offering Free Tuition For Many Central Ohio Students
Columbus College of Art & Design just launched Creative Pathway, a program that will cover remaining tuition for many local students beginning in 2026. It’s a major win for young artists in central Ohio who want a top-tier creative education without the debt.

🍻 A Pre-Prohibition Beer Barrel Is About to Make Its Big Comeback in Columbus
Hoster Brewing is giving Columbus beer lovers a rare look into the past as they unveil a pre-Prohibition beer barrel and tap a reimagined historic lager. The free event on Dec. 10 features a short talk from a Hoster descendant, plenty of beer, and a food truck on site.

Headlines 📰 

🧑‍⚖️ Environmental groups are suing Ohio over the legislature’s decision to remove the long-standing Air Nuisance Rule from the state’s clean air plan, a move they say was unconstitutionally tucked into the budget. The state argues the change is valid, but advocates warn it strips Ohioans of a key tool to hold polluters accountable in federal court.(NBC4)

🏛️ The National Veterans Memorial and Museum has a new leader, and he’s got big plans. CEO Frederic Bertley says the museum is tightening its budget, rethinking how to draw visitors, and doubling down on telling veterans’ stories in a way that actually connects with Columbus. (WOSU)

🚗 If you’re making the trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship, there’s plenty to explore beyond the stadium. There are quirky hotels, killer breakfast spots, retro bowling, festive holiday markets, and neighborhoods full of bars and boutiques that are totally worth the detour. (Axios Columbus)

🌤️ Weather: 30 and partly sunny with a slight chance of snow

Sponsored by Short North Stage 🎭
Get ready to groove down the Yellow Brick Road with The Wiz, a bold, brassy, and family-friendly take on The Wizard of Oz! Follow Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion as they face witches, flying monkeys, and a wizard who’s more smoke and mirrors than magic. With electrifying songs like “Ease on Down the Road” and Dorothy’s heartfelt “Home,” this PG-rated production will have you clapping, cheering, and dancing in the aisles. Showtimes run November 20–December 28, 2025, at the Garden Theatre MainStage. For tickets and more info, please click here

Coming Up 📆

Today's Photo 🤳

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🌳Walnut Woods is the perfect Metro Park to explore on gorgeous fall days, brisk winter mornings, or really any time of year. Do you have a favorite Metro Park? Hit reply and tell us all about it!

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- Chelsea