Winter Solstice
2025-12-21 06:30 - 08:00 (America/New_York) | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Celebrate the shortest day of the year be welcoming the Sun as it rises over Schrock Lake. Enjoy a fire, hot cocoa & some fun information.

Hidden Gnomes Hunt
2025-12-21 06:30 - 17:30 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Take a walk around the park to look for the hidden gnomes. Once you find them, find or call a Ranger for a prize! Ranger call 614-565-1539
You can use any of the park entrances to find the gnomes (Lake Area Parking Lot, Waterfall Parking lot, North Entrance)
*Please leave the gnomes for others to find!

Christmas Bird Count and Coffee
2025-12-21 09:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Participate in America’s oldest and largest bird count by watching birds from the Nature Center windows and drinking bird-friendly coffee.

Insects in Winter
2025-12-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn how insects survive in winter, then dig through leaf litter, turn over logs and shake tree branches to find some.

Campfire Cooking
2025-12-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Join us for a campfire meal at Walnut Woods Metro Park! Free and fun, all equipment and instruction provided. Meet at the Tall Pines firepit, 6833 Richardson Road, Groveport OH. This program is wheelchair accessible.

First Day of Winter @ The Hundred Acre Wood
2025-12-21 14:00 - 15:30 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Celebrate winter by taking a 1.5-mile off-trail walk through the woods. Meet at 5220 Cambria Way.

Solstice Lantern Hike
2025-12-21 17:30 - 18:30 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
No Registration Required! Join us for a staff -led lantern hike through the Tall Pines area of Walnut Woods Metro park. Limited Number of jar lanterns will be available at a first come, first served basis, bring a flashlight or headlamp for extra light!

Glow Archery
2025-12-22 15:00 - 16:30 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Enjoy the thrill and fun of GLOW in the DARK archery this winter while being toasty warm inside at the Blacklick Woods Golf Course!! Archery will be indoors at the Golf Course Pro Shop! All equipment provided, fun and free! Ages 8+.

Cocoa & Cryptids
2025-12-22 18:00 - 19:00 | 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.

Holiday Craft
2025-12-23 11:00 - 16:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Drop by and make your own, last minute winter-themed craft.

Ornament Painting
2025-12-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Drop in the nature center and paint an ornament to take home just in time for the holidays.

Drop In: Kids Winter Crafts
2025-12-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Drop by the nature center anytime between 1-3 pm to make some cool winter crafts. All ages. 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.

Holiday Bike Ride
2025-12-23 17:30 - 18:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join us for a leisurely bike ride at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park! Bikes (with helmet) are available to borrow by registering for this program. Each person who needs a bike must register to reserve their equipment! If you plan to bring your own bike, you do not need to register. Bikes will not be available if you do not register for one! Meet at the Ranger Station at Cedar Ridge Area, 1775 Darby Creek Dr. Galloway

Register Here.

Boxing Day 5K
2025-12-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the Kingfisher shelter and go on a 3 mile run or hike and enjoy hot chocolate after!
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Drive Columbus OH 43228 and follow the roadway back to the Lake Area Parking lot.

Ugly Sweaters and S'mores
2025-12-26 15:00 - 17:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Join us for s’mores in your best ugly sweater at Quarry Trails Metro Park! Meet at the lower Sled Hill fire pit.

Winter Hike - Campfire & Hot Cocoa
2025-12-26 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-12-27 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!

Cowboy Campfire Coffee!
2025-12-27 10:00 - 11:30 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Howdy Y’all! Come out to the Lower Sled Hill at Quarry Trails Metro Park to learn how to make Cowboy style Campfire Coffee! All ingredients and equipment will be supplied, feel free to bring your own reusable mug or cup and fill it up with some warm and toasty fire brewed coffee

Winter Hike Series: Hot Cocoa & Twinkling Lights
2025-12-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Drop by the nature center between 5 and 7pm to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, campfire & smores, and enjoy hands on activities . Stroll the 1/4 mile trail around the nature on your own to complete a scavenger hunt. Winter hike cards will be available, as well as stamps. Nature center is open late tonight until 7pm. This is a very popular program and visitors should allow extra time for waking from parking lots. All ages.
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.
Information about Metro Parks winter hike series:
Winter Hikes

For Adults: Coffee, Calm and Coloring
2025-12-28 10:00 - 11:30 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Take a break! Enjoy a cup of coffee and some relaxing coloring. Detailed adult coloring pages and other supplies provided. Ages 16 and older.

Snowman Scavenger Hunt
2025-12-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Look for Snowmen on the trail at Scioto Grove Metro Park, and win a prize if you find them all! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area for activity sheet and direction.

Owl Prowl
2025-12-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1.25-mile guided hike as we learn about owls and search for them roosting in the trees.

Smoked, Salted, Pickled, and Preserved
2025-12-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program ongoing between 1-3pm.
Learn how fruits, vegetables, and meats were preserved before the days of artificial refrigeration. The smokehouse will be in operation.

Holly Jolly Archery
2025-12-28 14:00 - 15:30 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Enjoy the thrill and fun of archery this winter while being toasty warm inside at the Blacklick Woods Golf Course!! Festive targets and holiday cheer will brighten the coldest winter day! Archery will be indoors at the Golf Course Pro Shop! All equipment provided, fun and free! Ages 8+.

Toddler Adventure Club
2025-12-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Join us for a short hike on the Benua Loop trail! Maps and compasses will be provided for the program, we will hike as far as the group can go in the hour! Please note: this trail is not paved, and may not be accessible for some strollers. Meet at the Park Office (white farm house) at Clear Creek Metro Park. You may lose service when entering the park, the Park Office is about 10 minutes down the road after entering the main park entrance so please plan accordingly.

Hot Cocoa and Hike
2025-12-29 16:30 - 17:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for a cozy cup of hot cocoa and go for a hike at Scioto Grove Metro Park! If you would like to join the staff-led hike, please meet promptly at 4:30pm at the Arrowhead Picnic Area.

Winter Break STEM Challenge
2025-12-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us for a winter-themed STEM challenge. Create your own mini sled and see how far it can go on our indoor mini slope. Change your design to improve your results. Materials provided.

Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-31 08:00 - 12:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Help us count the birds of Glacier Ridge AND help the Audubon Society collect data for their annual Christmas Bird Count, the longest running citizen science project!
Not a skilled birder? No problem! Join the naturalist on a short trail to learn simple bird ID and about the common birds of Ohio. We will have opportunities to hike all around the park with birders to learn how to identify birds!
Binoculars will be provided. Please dress in layers and comfortable shoes.
This program is geared for ages 14 and up. Meet at the Maintenance Barn (the large red barn on the left by the main park entrance), rain or shine!

Tots on Trails
2025-12-31 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Share a slow-paced, half-mile hike with your toddler and discover nature together.

New Years Bird Hike
2026-01-01 09:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Kick-off the new year with a 1.25-mile guided hike as we search the forest and feeders for winter birds.
