Holiday Events in Columbus: The 2026 Holiday Markets Guide
- The Standouts This Season
- Not Your Mama's Markets
- December 5–6: The Biggest Market Weekend of the Year
- Neighborhood Favorites
- Free Family Events with a Market Component
- Church Bazaars: The Hidden Gems
- Also on the Radar
- Full Market Calendar
- Likely Returning Markets (2026 Dates Not Yet Announced)
- How to Work the Market Season
Every Christmas market, craft fair, and holiday pop-up in Columbus, Ohio worth circling on your calendar — from the city's most anticipated new German market to beloved Central Ohio neighborhood traditions running since before you were buying gifts. Columbus does the holidays right, and this year the season is bigger than ever. Looking beyond the holidays? Browse upcoming events in Columbus or our guide to Columbus festivals.
Last updated October 25, 2026.
Holiday events in Columbus at a glance
• Christkindlmarkt Dublin, Columbus's first German Christmas market, runs November 21 through December 24, 2026, at Riverside Crossing Park in Bridge Park, with free admission.
• Winterfair brings about 350 Ohio Designer Craftsmen artists to the Ohio Expo Center on December 4–6, and one $8 ticket covers all three days.
• December 5–6 is the busiest market weekend, with the free Short North Holiday Hop, Village Lights in German Village, and Winterfair's final day.
• The best free holiday events include the Ohio Statehouse Tree Lighting on December 3, the Short North Holiday Hop, and Christkindlmarkt Dublin.
• Ten church bazaars run on Saturday mornings in November across Columbus suburbs from New Albany to West Jefferson.
What are the best holiday markets in Columbus this year?
These markets earn a dedicated trip. They are distinctive, well-organized, and offer something you genuinely cannot replicate by ordering online.
Christkindlmarkt Dublin
Brand New 2026 | Free Admission | Open 5 Weeks
Nov 21 – Dec 24, 2026 Wed–Thu 4–9 PM · Fri–Sat 12–9 PM · Sun 12–8 PM
Riverside Crossing Park at the Dublin Link, Bridge Park
This is the market everyone has been waiting for, and it finally arrives this year. Columbus's first authentic German Christmas market takes over Riverside Crossing Park with traditional wooden market huts, Glühwein served in collectible souvenir mugs (a German Christkindlmarkt tradition that builds a following year after year), bratwurst, pretzels, raclette, chimney cakes, artisan gifts, cuckoo clocks, and ornaments. Designed from the start as a recurring regional destination — not a pop-up experiment — Christkindlmarkt Dublin is already the most talked-about holiday addition to Columbus in years. The city of Dublin built the infrastructure for it and the organizers have leaned into authenticity. Visit once to see what the fuss is about; visit again on Sankt Nikolaustag (December 6, 6–8 PM) for the special evening celebration.→ christkindlmarktdublin.com
Winterfair — Ohio Designer Craftsmen
$8 Admission | All 3 Days
Dec 4–6, 2026 Fri–Sat 10 AM–7 PM · Sun 11 AM–4 PM
Bricker Building, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E 17th Ave
If you have never been to Winterfair, fix that this year. The country's premier fine-craft show brings together 350 Ohio Designer Craftsmen member artists under one roof — jewelers, ceramicists, glass artists, fiber workers, woodturners, photographers, and painters, all selling original work you will not find anywhere else. The $8 admission covers all three days, and it is absolutely worth it. There are live demonstrations, make-and-take activities for kids, a wine bar, and a full food court. This is not a crafts fair in the gym sense; the quality bar here is serious. Go on Friday if you want first pick. Go on Sunday if you want the conversations — artists who have been selling all weekend love to talk about their work, and that is where you learn what you are actually buying.→ winterfair.orgAdvance tickets ($6) available at the Ohio Craft Museum. Children 12 and under free. One ticket admits you all three days.
10th Annual Ohio Made Holiday Market
VIP $19.99 | GA $5 | Kids Free
Fri Nov 20 (VIP) · Sat Nov 21 (GA), 2026 | Doors 3:30 PM
Hollywood Casino Columbus, 200 Georgesville Road
A decade in, the Ohio Made Holiday Market has grown into Columbus's biggest handmade shopping party — and this year it is celebrating 10 years. More than 80 Ohio makers, boutiques, and specialty small businesses fill the casino event space, and the layout leans into the party atmosphere: four bars are open throughout, Santa walks the floor for photos, and the whole thing feels more like a VIP shopping event than a traditional craft fair. The VIP Friday experience is worth it if you want first access to vendors before inventory thins out; the Saturday general admission at $5 is among the best deals in the city for the quality of what you find. It makes an easy girls night out in Columbus. This one sells out. Check Eventbrite as soon as possible.→ Get tickets on Eventbrite
Nobo Arts and Gifts — Holiday Edition
Tickets $28–$50
Nov 20–22, 2026
CCAD Loann Crane Center for Design, 112 Cleveland Ave
Nobo is not like other markets, and that is precisely the point. This elevated, curated holiday marketplace is built around celebrating exceptional Black makers and independent brands — original art, distinctive gifts, fashion, accessories, home goods, and beauty products from creators who are doing the most interesting work in the city right now. Hosted at CCAD's Loann Crane Center in the Short North, the venue itself is worth the trip: it is a design school gallery, and it shows. The ticket price reflects the curatorial effort, and what you find inside justifies it. This is where you go when you want to give gifts that mean something — pieces with a story attached.→ Get tickets on Eventbrite
Where is Not Your Mama's Craft Market this holiday season?
Not Your Mama's Craft Market has become Columbus's hometown holiday market franchise, appearing in four different neighborhoods across November and December. Each stop has its own character but shares the same curatorial commitment: 100% local, handmade, juried Ohio makers.
Not Your Mama's at Polaris
Sat Nov 14 – Sun Nov 15, 2026
Polaris Fashion Place, 1500 Polaris Parkway
The flagship holiday edition — the biggest Not Your Mama's of the year at one of Columbus's highest-traffic retail destinations. The two-day format gives you a full weekend to shop over 100 local, handmade, juried central-Ohio makers. Hours and ticket details will be announced on the organizer's Eventbrite page; this one consistently rates among Columbus's top-10 events and fills up.→ Watch for tickets on Eventbrite
Not Your Mama's at Dublin Bridge Park
Sun Nov 22, 2026 · 11 AM–5 PM
The Exchange at Bridge Park, 6520 Riverside Drive, Dublin
One big day landing just before Thanksgiving, with 80 of the Midwest's best makers, artists, vintage finds, and boutiques at Bridge Park's Exchange venue. Timed tickets are required for the 11 AM–3 PM window; admission is free from 3–5 PM. Free parking. Worth noting: this puts you five minutes from the brand-new Christkindlmarkt Dublin, which opens the very same weekend.→ Get tickets on Eventbrite
Not Your Mama's Village Lights in German Village
Sun Dec 6, 2026 · 3–8 PM
Schiller Park Community Center, 1069 Jaeger Street
Ninety-plus of the Midwest's best makers filling two gymnasiums at Schiller Park Community Center during German Village's Village Lights evening — when the historic brick streets outside are lit with luminarias. The combination of an indoor market this size with the luminaria walk outside makes December 6th one of the most genuinely magical evenings on the Columbus calendar. It also ranks among our favorite Columbus date night ideas. Plan to arrive early; the space fills quickly once the luminarias come on.→ Free tickets on Eventbrite
Not Your Mama's at the Short North
Sun Dec 13, 2026
The Harrison, Short NorthThe Short North edition closes out the Not Your Mama's season with its own juried lineup. Hours and tickets are not yet published as of this writing; watch the organizer's Eventbrite page for updates. If the other three stops are any indication, it will sell out.→ Watch for tickets on Eventbrite
What is happening December 5–6, the biggest holiday market weekend in Columbus?
Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6, 2026, may be the most market-packed weekend on the Columbus calendar. Four major events spread across the two days, each with its own character.
Short North Holiday Hop
Sat Dec 5, 2026 · 12–8 PM
Short North Arts District, North High Street
High Street closes to traffic and more than 100 artisan vendors take over the Short North for a full day of open-streets holiday shopping. Live music, visits with Santa, hands-on art activities, live Christmas trees for sale, and the Short North's gallery and shop ecosystem all running simultaneously. This is the most festive Columbus gets in a single afternoon, and it is completely free. The vendor list gets posted on the Short North Alliance website before the event, so you can plan your route in advance.→ shortnorth.org/holidays
Vendor list: shortnorth.org/holiday-hop-market-vendors
German Village Makers Market, Village Lights Edition
Sun Dec 6, 2026 · 3–8 PM
Corner of City Park and Thurman Ave, German Village
The outdoor artisan market component of Village Lights, running at the corner of City Park and Thurman as the luminarias come on. Local artists, designers, and growers set up alongside food trucks and live music. Family and pet friendly, and the setting — German Village streets lit by candlelight — does most of the atmosphere work for them.
Weather-sensitive outdoor market. Updates on their Facebook page.
Winterfair's Final Day
Dec 4–6 · Sun Dec 6 hours: 11 AM–4 PM
Ohio Expo Center, 717 E 17th Ave
Winterfair's Sunday session closes out its three-day run. If the Friday–Saturday crowds put you off, Sunday is the day to come — fewer people, more conversations with artists, and final-day motivation from vendors who want to move inventory before packing up. The one $8 ticket admits you across all three days.→ winterfair.org
The Great Ohio Christmas Cookie Festival
Sun Dec 6, 2026 · 10 AM–5 PM
The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center, 100 Green Meadows Drive South, Lewis Center
A cookie-focused tasting festival with sweets vendors rather than a traditional craft market — mentioned here because it runs on the same weekend and makes for a genuinely fun detour if you are already out. Confirm the ticket page directly before attending, as this event is aggregator-listed without a confirmed direct ticket link.→ Tickets on Eventbrite
Which neighborhood holiday markets in Columbus are worth the trip?
These markets are rooted in specific Columbus neighborhoods and reflect the communities that built them. Each one is worth knowing about on its own terms.
Clintonville Farmers Market - Holiday Market
Saturdays Dec 5, Dec 12, Dec 19, 2026 · Starting 9 AM
North Broadway United Methodist Church, 48 E North Broadway St
When the outdoor season ends, the Clintonville Farmers Market moves indoors for three consecutive Saturday holiday editions combining farm-fresh food with locally made gifts. This is genuinely useful: it is one of the few markets that functions as a practical one-stop for both holiday food shopping and gift buying. Clintonville regulars know to arrive early; the market draws a loyal crowd regardless of weather.→ Clintonville Farmers Market winter dates
Franklinton Fridays + 400 Market — December Edition
Fri Dec 11, 2026 · 5:30–10 PM
400 West Rich Street, Franklinton
Franklinton Fridays is a monthly art crawl that turns East Franklinton into a living art event: open artist studios, active galleries, the 400 Market of handmade vendors, food, and live performances. The December edition is the holiday one, and it has a specific energy that the more commercial markets do not — creative community, not just shopping. The 400 West Rich building is the anchor, but the event spreads across the neighborhood. Plan to walk.→ Franklinton Arts District
Merry Market at North Market Bridge Park
Sat Dec 5, 2026 · 12–3 PM
North Market Bridge Park, Dublin
A focused three-hour holiday market with 30+ favorite local vendors in Dublin's Bridge Park development. Short window, curated vendors, easy parking. A good option if you are already planning to be in the Bridge Park area for the Christkindlmarkt, which runs the same week.→ Bridge Park holiday events
What free holiday events in Columbus include shopping?
These are public events first and markets second — but they offer real shopping alongside the festivities, and they cost nothing to attend.
Ohio Statehouse Tree Lighting & Holiday Festival
Thu Dec 3, 2026 · 5:30–7:30 PM
(Tree lighting 5:30–5:45 PM)
Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square
The tree lighting itself takes less than 15 minutes, but the surrounding festival runs two hours: Santa, cookies, choirs, dance performances, mascots, and activity tables throughout the Statehouse rotunda. The Statehouse gift shop is stocked with Ohio-themed and Ohio-made holiday gifts during the event — worth a look before or after the ceremony. For more ideas, see our family-friendly holiday events. This is a lovely way to kick off the first December market weekend.→ Ohio Statehouse calendar
Where are the church holiday bazaars around Columbus?
Columbus's network of parish craft bazaars is one of the most underrated corners of the holiday market season. These are community events first — admission is usually free or donation-based, quality varies by table, and the occasional genuinely excellent artisan is buried next to the homemade jam. That is the whole point. They run on Saturday mornings throughout November.
Church of the Resurrection — HollyDay Craft BazaarSat Nov 7 · 9 AM–3 PM
6300 E Dublin-Granville Rd, New Albany
St. Brendan the Navigator Craft ShowSat Nov 7 · 9 AM–3 PM
4475 Dublin Road, Hilliard
Columbus St. Andrew Holiday BazaarSat Nov 14 · 9 AM–3 PM
1899 McCoy Road, Columbus
St. Matthew the Apostle Holiday MarketSat Nov 14 · 9 AM–3 PM
795 Havens Corners Road, Gahanna
St. John Neumann Holiday Craft BazaarSat Nov 14 · 9 AM–2 PM
9633 E State Route 37, Sunbury
Ss. Simon & Jude Holiday Craft BazaarSat Nov 14 · 9 AM–3 PM
9350 High Free Pike, West Jefferson
St. Mary Handmade Holiday Craft BazaarSat Nov 21 · 9 AM–2 PM
82 E. William Street, Delaware
St. Paul the Apostle Christmas BazaarSat Nov 21 · 10 AM–3 PM
313 N State St, Westerville
St. Francis of Assisi Crafts & CollectiblesSun Nov 29 · Time TBD
386 Buttles Ave, Columbus (Victorian Village)
St. Edward the Confessor Christmas BazaarSat Dec 5 · 9 AM–3 PM
785 Newark Granville Rd, Granville
Which Columbus holiday markets still need confirmation?
These markets are listed for 2026 but sourced through aggregators rather than confirmed directly with organizers. Confirm hours and tickets before making plans.
Aladdin Shriners Holiday Market Sip & Shop
Sat Nov 7, 2026 · 9 AM–3 PM
Aladdin Shrine Center, 1801 Gateway Circle, Grove City
FREE admission and parking
Holiday market and sip-and-shop fundraiser at the Shrine Center in Grove City. Confirm the ticket page on organizer channels before attending.→ Aladdin Shriners
Christmas Fair & Crafts
Thu Nov 19 – Fri Nov 20, 2026
717 E 17th Ave, Columbus (Ohio Expo Center area)
Christmas craft fair at the Fairgrounds address.
Friendsgiving Holiday Market
Sun Nov 22, 2026
Pinnacle Golf Club, 1500 Pinnacle Club Drive, Grove City
Tickets $20–$23
Friendsgiving-themed holiday market at Pinnacle Golf Club. Confirm ticket link directly before purchasing.
Columbus holiday market calendar: November and December 2026
November 2026
Nov 7 Church of the Resurrection HollyDay Craft Bazaar — New Albany · 9 AM–3 PM
Nov 7 St. Brendan the Navigator Craft Show — Hilliard · 9 AM–3 PM
Nov 7 Aladdin Shriners Holiday Market Sip & Shop — Grove City · 9 AM
Nov 14–15 Not Your Mama's HUGE 2-Day Holiday Market — Polaris
Nov 14 Columbus St. Andrew Holiday Bazaar — NW Columbus · 9 AM–3 PM
Nov 14 St. Matthew the Apostle Holiday Market — Gahanna · 9 AM–3 PM
Nov 14 St. John Neumann Holiday Craft Bazaar — Sunbury · 9 AM–2 PM
Nov 14 Ss. Simon & Jude Holiday Craft Bazaar — West Jefferson · 9 AM–3 PM
Nov 19–20 Christmas Fair & Crafts — Ohio Expo Center area (confirm)
Nov 20–21 10th Annual Ohio Made Holiday Market — Hollywood Casino · Doors 3:30 PM
Nov 20–22 Nobo Arts and Gifts — Holiday Edition — CCAD, Short North
Nov 21 St. Mary Handmade Holiday Craft Bazaar — Delaware · 9 AM–2 PM
Nov 21 St. Paul the Apostle Christmas Bazaar — Westerville · 10 AM–3 PM
Nov 21 Christkindlmarkt Dublin OPENS — Bridge Park, Dublin (through Dec 24)
Nov 22 Not Your Mama's at Bridge Park, Dublin · 11 AM–5 PM
Nov 22 Friendsgiving Holiday Market — Grove City (confirm hours)
Nov 29 St. Francis of Assisi Crafts & Collectibles — Victorian Village (time TBD)
December 2026
Dec 3 Ohio Statehouse Tree Lighting & Holiday Festival · 5:30–7:30 PM · FREE
Dec 4–6 Winterfair — Ohio Expo Center · $8 (all 3 days)
Dec 5 Merry Market at North Market Bridge Park — Dublin · 12–3 PM
Dec 5 Clintonville Farmers Market Holiday Market · 9 AM · FREE
Dec 5 St. Edward the Confessor Christmas Bazaar — Granville · 9 AM–3 PM
Dec 5 Short North Holiday Hop · 12–8 PM · FREE
Dec 6 Not Your Mama's Village Lights — German Village · 3–8 PM · FREE
Dec 6 German Village Makers Market — Village Lights · 3–8 PM
Dec 6 Great Ohio Christmas Cookie Festival — Lewis Center · 10 AM–5 PM · $5–$23
Dec 11 Franklinton Fridays + 400 Market · 5:30–10 PM · FREE
Dec 12 Clintonville Farmers Market Holiday Market · 9 AM · FREE
Dec 13 Not Your Mama's — Short North (hours TBA)
Dec 19 Clintonville Farmers Market Holiday Market · 9 AM · FREE
Dec 24 Christkindlmarkt Dublin — Last day · Bridge Park, Dublin
Which Columbus holiday markets are likely returning? (2026 dates not yet announced)
These markets ran in 2025.
Specific 2026 dates had not been published as of October 11, 2026. Check organizer pages before planning your trip around them.
Dublin Holiday Market — Free artisan market at Dublin Community Recreation Center, 5600 Post Rd (2025: Dec 13, 10:30 AM–3 PM)
Franklinton Holiday Market — Local makers, food, open artist studios at 400 W. Rich St (2025: Dec 12–13)
Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show — $3 admission, Makoy Event Center, 5462 Center St, Hilliard (2025: Dec 14, 10 AM–4 PM)
Not Your Mama's Santa Brunch Craft Market — 50+ vendors + brunch with Santa, BrewDog Canal Winchester (2025: Dec 14, 11 AM–4 PM)
CCAD Art Fair & Marketplace — Student and alumni art market, Loann Crane Center for Design (2025: Dec 6)
Hollyfest Arts & Crafts Show — 100+ vendors, Hilliard Davidson High School (2025: Dec 6, 9 AM–3 PM)
Gingerbread Cottage Craft Show — Westerville South HS band fundraiser, 303 S Otterbein Ave, Westerville (2025: $5, Dec 6, 10 AM–3 PM)
Vineyard Church Christmas Market — 30+ vendors, 777 Goodale Blvd, Grandview Heights (2025: Dec 6, 11 AM–3 PM)
Winter Market, Powell — Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center, 10561 Sawmill Pkwy (2025: Dec 7, 10 AM–4 PM)
How do you plan a Columbus holiday market weekend?
Buy tickets early.
Not Your Mama's and Ohio Made both sell out. Nobo and the larger ticketed markets move quickly. Set a reminder for October and November ticket drops on Eventbrite.
Start at Winterfair for fine craft. If original, quality handmade work is the goal — jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber, wood — Winterfair's $8 admission is the best return in the city. Arrive Friday morning for first pick of 350 artists.
Block December 5–6 as a market weekend. Short North Holiday Hop runs Saturday, noon to 8 PM. On Sunday, Winterfair opens at 11 AM and closes at 4 PM, then Not Your Mama's Village Lights runs 3–8 PM in German Village. Start Sunday at the Expo Center and finish under the luminarias.
Pair Dublin trips wisely. Christkindlmarkt Dublin runs through Christmas Eve; the Merry Market at North Market Bridge Park is on Dec 5; Not Your Mama's lands there Nov 22. A weekend in Bridge Park can catch two or three events with no driving in between.
Cash and tote bags. Many small makers prefer cash or Venmo; bring both. Bring your own bags — sustainable practices are the norm at these markets and not every vendor brings bags.
The Christkindlmarkt collectible mug is not optional. Authentic Glühwein markets charge a deposit on the collectible ceramic mug — you return it for the deposit back or keep it as a souvenir. Dublin's inaugural year mug will be the one to have.
Frequently asked questions about holiday events in Columbus
What holiday events are in Columbus this weekend?
It depends on the date. Check our upcoming events in Columbus calendar, which we update throughout November and December.
Is Christkindlmarkt Dublin free?
Yes. Admission is free, and food, Glühwein, and gifts are paid separately.
How much is Winterfair?
$8 at the door, or $6 in advance at the Ohio Craft Museum. One ticket covers all three days, and children 12 and under get in free.
Where is Winterfair held?
The Bricker Building at the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E 17th Ave, Columbus.
Which Columbus holiday markets sell out?
The Ohio Made Holiday Market and Not Your Mama's markets have sold out before, so buy Eventbrite tickets early.
Are there holiday markets near Columbus on weeknights?
Christkindlmarkt Dublin opens Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and Franklinton Fridays runs December 11 from 5:30 to 10 PM.