Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Blacklick Hiking Club
2025-12-06 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join the hiking club! Meet the first Saturday of every month for a moderate-fast paced hike and to meet like-minded people. This is not an interpretive hike.

Wetland Wander
2025-12-06 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s meander through the wetland and see what we can hear, see, and find! Hike will be 1.5 miles long through grass and may be muddy. Ages 12+.

Victorian Christmas Traditions
2025-12-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing from 1-3pm
See the farmhouse decorated for Christmas and enjoy some 1880s holiday activities.

For Adults 50+: Hike Before the Luminaries
2025-12-06 15:30 - 17:00 | Chestnut Ridge, 8445 Winchester Rd NW, Carroll, OH, 43112, United States
Traverse 1.4-miles through the forest and up and down the ridge on this moderate to difficult hike. Enjoy the luminaries on your own once we return.
Meet at the 1st parking lot on the right.

Luminary Hike
2025-12-06 17:00 - 18:30 | Chestnut Ridge, 8445 Winchester Rd NW, Carroll, OH, 43112, United States
Join us for an evening in lights and transcend into the peaceful surroundings of Chestnut Ridge Metro Park after dark! Portions of the Ridge Trail will become aglow with luminaries placed trailside. Meet at the far parking lot shelter house to get your Winter Hike Card stamped and pick up some freshly made hot cocoa! Drop by anytime between 5-6:30pm.
Chestnut Ridge Metro Park closes at Dark. The park will remain open for the duration of this program only.
Learn more about the Winter Hike Series here.

Winter Craft
2025-12-06 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-12-13 17:30 - 19:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Stroll through the seasonal light display and stop into the Innis House to do a craft, enjoy the December art exhibit, and stamp your winter hike card.

Winter Hike - Campfire & Hot Cocoa
2025-12-06 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-12-12 17:30 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a half-mile hike along the Buttonbush Trail under the twinkling lights and stop by the Nature Center to enjoy a cup of cocoa around the campfire. The Canopy Walk and Nature Center will be open late to explore!

Early Afternoon Hike
2025-12-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Bundle up and join a naturalist to enjoy an early morning hike with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea and take a cool, brisk hike to wake up your senses for the day! Meet at the Cedar Ridge Picnic Area.

Winter Fungi Hike
2025-12-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Go on a 1.25-mile hike with a naturalist to look for and learn about some winter fungi.

Meet the Artist: Rebecca Dickson
2025-12-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Meet artist of the month, Rebecca Dickson, and view her fiber art on display in the Innis House.

Star Party with CETA
2025-12-07 17:30 - 21:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
A night of astronomy hosted by Community Enrichment Through Astronomy; an OSU student organization dedicated to making amateur astronomy accessible for everyone in the Greater Columbus area. As Star Party hosts, CETA will provide telescopes and telescope operators, so no equipment or experience is necessary to enjoy the night sky. This event is appropriate for all ages and astronomy knowledge levels. Astronomy is highly weather-dependent, so the Star Party may be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Be ready to see the universe like you’ve never seen it before!
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the Wind and Solar Lot, rain or shine!

For Adults 50+: Fitness Hike
2025-12-08 06:30 - 08:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Take a guided, Fast-Paced Fitness Hike through the early morning woods. This hike is just for adults 50 and up.

Yoga with Naomi
2025-12-08 17:30 - 18:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Enjoy free yoga, perfect for all skill levels, at Scioto Grove Metro Park! Yoga will be indoors at The Grove lodge, bring your own mat!

I Dig Fossils
2025-12-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s learn about prehistoric Ohio and match fossil records through various activities.

Preschoolers: Welcome Winter
2025-12-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-12-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Listen to a story about how the forest is preparing for winter and make a craft!

Adaptive Adventures: Sensory Storytime
2025-12-10 10:30 - 11:30 | Blendon Woods Inclusive Playground, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Adaptive Adventures: Sensory Storytime
Join us at the shelter house at the inclusive playground to read a story about Animals in Winter! We will have pelts as a sensory item as well as fidgets available! We will end our time with a craft! Blendon Woods Metro Park!
*Adaptive Adventures programs are programs designed for individuals with disabilities and their families!

Homeschoolers: Animals in Winter
2025-12-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a half-mile hike to learn about what cool adaptations animals have that help them survive all winter long.

Campfires and Card Games
2025-12-11 18:30 - 19:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for card games next to a toasty campfire at Scioto Grove Metro Park! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area fire pit.

Preschool: Owls
2025-12-12 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-12-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Learn about owls through story, craft, and activities. Best for ages 3-5. Indoor program.

Crafts & Cocoa
2025-12-12 17:30 - 19:30 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
The holiday lights are adorning Homestead all this month! Join us Friday, the 5th, 12th, or 19th to celebrate the seasonal festivities as we make a craft under the twinkling lights and enjoy hot chocolate.
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Filling the Farm Larder
2025-12-13 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-12-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Hog butchering is a seasonal activity that provided much of the meat for the coming year on an 1880s farm.
Watch the farmers as they clean and prepare the hog carcass at 9am and 1pm.

Walk To The Eagle Nest
2025-12-13 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-12-13 13:00 - 14:30 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Take a 2-mile round trip mostly off-trail hike to learn about bald eagles and observe the nest from below. At this time of the year sometimes we see eagles and sometimes we don’t! Dress for off-trail walking. No Pets, please. Meets at Three Creeks Metro Park Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Cocoa & Cryptids
2025-12-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Bundle up and take a crisp walk and enjoy a complimentary cup of hot chocolate. Use your cellphone to get a picture or two with Bigfoot and the Grinch! Meet at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Hike before the Lights
2025-12-13 15:30 - 16:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist for a 1.5 mile hike along gravel trails with some hills. Hike route will be adjusted based on weather and trail conditions. Enjoy the winter lights on your own when we return. Age 5+ . Meet at Highbanks nature center.
Meeting Location Notes: Highbanks Nature Center is the first right after entering the park. There is limited parking in the Nature Center lot on busy days. Additional parking is available in the Oak Coves Picnic Area, a 10 minute walk from the Nature Center. Follow the paved trail through Oak Coves toward the Nature Center.
12/11/2025 UPDATE: Trail conditions are icy. Be prepared for slippery trail conditions. Hiking stick (or yak traks) recommended. Due to expected winter weather advisory hike maybe shortened. Hot cocoa will be served afterwards in the nature center for hike participants. This hike is not wheelchair, stroller or dog friendly.
