Displays here switch on around sunset. In Columbus area that means about 5:07 PM in early December and 5:07 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:37 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Columbus area typically drop to around 27°F.
Residential displays have no facilities of their own — no parking, no toilets, nowhere to warm up — so it is worth knowing what is around. Within about three miles of the Columbus area cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 0 public car parks and 1 public toilet. Only 6 cafés or takeaways nearby, so bring a flask if you want one.
Battelle Darby Creek, Blacklick Woods, Highbanks, Homestead, and Inniswood metro parks · Columbus area, Ohio
December 2025 – February 2026; Chestnut Ridge lantern walks Dec 5-6 · Dusk-8pm
Freeattractionlighted trail systems at five parksWinter Hike Series with hot drinks and a collectible patchevening lantern walks with hot chocolate at Chestnut Ridge
Five Columbus metro parks — Battelle Darby Creek, Blacklick Woods, Highbanks, Homestead, and Inniswood — light their trails from dusk until 8pm through the winter, a good early-evening option for families. The companion Winter Hike Series spans 19 parks December through February, offering hot drinks, treats, and a collectible patch for hikers who complete seven parks.
3 other displays within 5 miles
✓ Verified 2025-2026