Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Adaptive Adventures: Holiday Playground Party!
2025-12-17 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Blendon Woods Inclusive Playground, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Adaptive Adventures: Holiday Playground Party!
Come join us at the inclusive playground for a holiday party! Enjoy hot chocolate, crafts and activities while playing with friends and celebrating the holiday season!
*Adaptive Adventures are programs designed for individuals with disabilities and their families!

Homeschool: Water Color
2025-12-18 11:00 - 12:30 | Spring Hollow at Sharon Woods, 1069 W Main St, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Homeschooler can learn some basic watercolor techniques and paint and simple “stained glass” Christmas card.

Speaker Series - The Onion Bag Project
2025-12-18 18:00 - 19:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for the Outdoor Adventure – Speaker Series this winter! Each month we will have a new presenter, diving into unique topics that involve our green spaces and recreation!
This month we will learn about The Onion Bag Litter Prevention Project from founder and president, Curtis Casto, and how he is helping enable the community to keep our waterways clean! Join us for snacks and beverages during the presentation at The Grove Lodge at Scioto Grove Metro Park.

Sunset and S'mores
2025-12-19 16:30 - 17:30 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Join us by the lakes at Quarry Trails Metro Park and enjoy a s’more while enjoying the setting sun! Use entrance 2319 Quarry Trails Drive to find the closest parking lot to the program.

Lantern Hike
2025-12-19 17:30 - 18:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Take a lantern lit hike along gravel surface trails.

Winter Hike - Campfire & Hot Cocoa
2025-12-19 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-12-20 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-12-26 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!

Crafts & Cocoa
2025-12-19 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!

Hidden Gnomes Hunt
2025-12-20 06:30 - 17:30, 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!

2025 Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-20 09:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us as we walk 2+ miles counting birds as part of the world’s longest running community science project. Binoculars provided or bring your own.

Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-20 10:00 - 13:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Participate in the nation’s longest-running community bird project. Visitors will join a group that will count and ID birds by hiking a trail or counting at our feeders. All levels of birders are welcome!

Victorian Christmas Traditions
2025-12-20 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.

Winter Craft
2025-12-20 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.

Owl Prowl
2025-12-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Join us for an evening hike to find owls hidden in the forest. We will meet at the shelter house and learn about owls while we wait for the sun to set.
Lanterns with red lights will be provided, please no bright lights!
We will walk along the Red Oak Trail and Marsh Hawk Trail (approximately 1 mile) and the trails will be a mix of paved, dirt, and gravel. We may have opportunities to go off trail, please dress in layers and comfortable shoes.
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the Shelter House, rain or shine!

Winter Solstice
2025-12-21 06:30 - 08:00 | 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.

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.
