The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Month (November 2026)

The clocks fell back on Nov. 1, the holiday lights are coming out of storage, and Michigan is headed to the Shoe at the end of the month. November is shaping up to be a busy one around Columbus.

There’s plenty happening before we get to The Game, too. Broadway in Columbus is bringing in a Tony winner, a new musical built around Sheryl Crow’s songs is making its debut downtown, Dublin is opening its first German Christmas market, and Huntington Park is getting into the holiday spirit with a brand-new light show. Here’s what’s on the calendar this month, starting with the home games and then moving through the rest of November.

November At A Glance

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have seven home games at Nationwide Arena this month, including a Thanksgiving Eve matchup and a Black Friday matinee. Colorado visits Tuesday, November 3rd at 7 p.m., followed by Dallas on Thursday, November 5th at 7 p.m. Florida comes to town Tuesday, November 10th at 7:30 p.m., and Tampa Bay and Philadelphia follow on November 12th and 14th, both at 7 p.m. New Jersey is in town Wednesday, November 25th at 7 p.m., and Detroit wraps up the home schedule with a 3 p.m. game on Friday, November 27th. Watching from home? Here’s how to watch Blue Jackets games this season.

Ohio State Football

Ohio State has three home games on the November schedule. Oregon comes to town Saturday, November 7th at 3:30 p.m. on CBS. Northwestern visits the following Saturday, November 14th, though kickoff time hasn’t been announced yet. Then comes the big one: Michigan at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, November 28th at noon. The Game is at home this year, so plan accordingly. You can keep an eye on the team’s schedule page for any updates to kickoff times.

Ohio State Basketball Home Openers

Basketball season is getting started at the Schottenstein Center, too. The men’s team opens against Youngstown State on Friday, November 6th at 6:30 p.m., then hosts Marshall on Monday, November 9th at 6 p.m. For the women’s team, circle the UConn game on Thursday, November 12th at 6:30 p.m.

Columbus Crew

The Crew don’t have a regular-season home game this month. They’ll wrap up the regular season on the road against Chicago on Decision Day, Saturday, November 7th. Any home playoff games will depend on where the team finishes in the standings. Check the club’s schedule page once the playoff bracket is set.

UniverSoul Circus, Through November 8th

There’s still time to catch UniverSoul Circus before it leaves town. The big top is set up at Historic Crew Stadium, One Black and Gold Blvd., through Sunday, November 8th. The show opened October 29th, so this is the final weekend to see it. Parking is $10 per car, and tickets are available on the circus’s Columbus page.

Sunday, November 1st: Day Of The Dead And The Last Pumpkins

Sunday, November 1st brings two seasonal events to Columbus. The Columbus Museum of Art hosts its Dia de los Muertos Community Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s also the final night of Pumpkins Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory, so this is your last chance to see the display this year.

Maybe Happy Ending, November 3rd-8th

Broadway in Columbus is bringing Maybe Happy Ending to the Ohio Theatre for eight performances, November 3rd through 8th. The Tony-winning musical follows a pair of robots who find an unexpected connection. Shows are Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available on CAPA’s page.

Pirates! The Penzance Musical, November 6th And 8th

CAPA and Opera Columbus are teaming up for Pirates! The Penzance Musical at the Palace Theatre. This new take on the Gilbert and Sullivan classic is part of the theater’s 100th anniversary year. Catch it Friday, November 6th at 7:30 p.m. or Sunday, November 8th at 2 p.m.

Gallery Hop, Saturday, November 7th

Gallery Hop returns to the Short North on Saturday, November 7th, from 4 to 8 p.m. It’s free to walk along High Street, pop into galleries and check out their newest exhibits. The neighborhood gets busy as people wander between stops, and the Short North Alliance has a list of participating galleries.

ProMusica: Bach, Pärt And Beethoven, November 7th-8th

ProMusica Chamber Orchestra brings a program of Bach, Pärt and Beethoven to the Southern Theatre on Saturday, November 7th and Sunday, November 8th. Both performances begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through CAPA.

sombr, Sunday, November 8th

Sombr brings the “back to friends” tour to Nationwide Arena on Sunday, November 8th at 7 p.m. Dove Cameron and Hannah Jadagu are opening the show. The singer also came into 2026 with a Best New Artist Grammy nomination, making this a big year for him.

Flamenco Night At Barcelona, Monday, November 9th

Barcelona is continuing its 30th-anniversary celebration with a few special events in November. First up is a flamenco show and dinner on Monday, November 9th. The restaurant also has a chef’s supper club planned for November 16th and a holiday wine show on November 23rd. Details and tickets are on the restaurant’s anniversary page.

Blade Runner Live, Tuesday, November 10th

Blade Runner: The Final Cut is coming to the Palace Theatre on Tuesday, November 10th at 7:30 p.m. The film will play on the big screen while the Avex Ensemble performs Vangelis’ score live. Tickets are available through CAPA.

Veterans Day Ceremony, Wednesday, November 11th

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum will hold its Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 11th, from 11 a.m. to noon. This year’s program will recognize 250 years of American veterans and the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

COSI After Dark: Game On!, Thursday, November 12th

COSI After Dark is back Thursday, November 12th, with a Game On! theme. The event is for guests 21 and older. You can find ticket information on COSI’s After Dark page.

Music Of The Knights, Friday, November 13th

The Columbus Symphony is bringing together songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John and Paul McCartney for Music of the Knights. The pops program takes over the Davidson Theatre on Friday, November 13th, with a 10:30 a.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. performance. Tickets are available through CAPA.

Easton Grand Illumination, Friday, November 13th

Easton’s Grand Illumination is Friday, November 13th. A holiday market will be set up around Town Square from 5 to 8 p.m., with the tree lighting scheduled for around 7 p.m. It’s one of the first big holiday lighting events of the season, just a week before Wildlights opens at the zoo.

John Summit And Chicago, November 13th And 17th

There’s a little something for two very different music crowds this month. John Summit plays the Schottenstein Center on Friday, November 13th at 7 p.m., with ALOK and Jackie Hollander. Then Chicago, the band, takes the stage at Mershon Auditorium on Tuesday, November 17th. Tickets for Chicago are available through the band’s tour page.

The Drive-Thru Light Shows Open, November 13th And 20th

Two of Central Ohio’s drive-through holiday light displays open this month. WonderLight’s Christmas gets started first, opening Friday, November 13th at the Hartford Fairgrounds, 14028 Fairgrounds Road in Hartford. Tickets are $35 per car, and the show runs through January 3rd. Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights in Delaware opens Friday, November 20th and also runs through January 3rd. Admission is $20 per car Monday through Thursday and $30 Friday through Sunday and on Thanksgiving. The gates are open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Clippers Holiday Lights, From Saturday, November 14th

Huntington Park is trying something new for the holidays this year. Clippers Holiday Lights runs for 43 nights, from Saturday, November 14th through Thursday, December 31st. The concourse will be covered in more than a million lights, and there’s a holiday train that circles the warning track for an extra $5. Tickets are $12 in advance or $13 at the gate for everyone ages 3 and up. Opening night includes a visit from Santa and a drone show, and you can try curling in the Right Field Plaza throughout the run.

Hairspray And Holiday Hoopla Open, Thursday, November 19th

Two Columbus holiday shows open on Thursday, November 19th. Hairspray starts its run at Short North Stage and will be around through December 27th. Over at Shadowbox Live, Holiday Hoopla kicks off the same night and runs through December 26th.

Boney James, Los Tigres Del Norte And Ron White, November 19th-21st

Downtown has three shows lined up for three nights in a row. Saxophonist Boney James plays the Southern Theatre Thursday, November 19th at 7:30 p.m. Los Tigres del Norte take the Palace Theatre on Friday, November 20th at 8 p.m., followed by comedian Ron White on Saturday, November 21st at 8 p.m.

Ohio State Marching Band Hometown Concert, Friday, November 20th

Can’t get enough of the Ohio State Marching Band? The band is bringing its halftime hits indoors for a hometown concert at Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St., on Friday, November 20th from 7 to 8:30 p.m. General admission is $21. Tickets are $18 for kids, students, seniors and Ohio State staff, and $15 for alumni association members. You can find them on the School of Music’s event page.

Verdi’s Requiem, November 20th-21st

The Columbus Symphony and Columbus Symphony Chorus are joining forces for Verdi’s Requiem, conducted by Rossen Milanov. The performances are Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st at 7:30 p.m. at the Ohio Theatre.

Ordinary Woman, November 20th-22nd

A new musical built around Sheryl Crow’s songs is making its debut in Columbus this month. Ordinary Woman premieres at the Davidson Theatre, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st, followed by a final show Sunday, November 22nd. Tickets are available through CAPA.

Wildlights, From Friday, November 20th

Wildlights returns to the Columbus Zoo on Friday, November 20th and runs through January 3rd. The light display is included with regular zoo admission. The zoo opens at noon, with the lights turning on at 5 p.m. They run until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. One tip: get there earlier in the day if you want to see the animals, since many of them settle in for the night as the lights come on.

Wanderlights, From Friday, November 20th

Wanderlights brings free holiday lights back downtown starting Friday, November 20th. The walk-through display stretches across Columbus Commons, West Town Street and the Scioto Mile fountain. It’s open every night from 5 to 10 p.m. and stays up through February 14th.

Christkindlmarkt Dublin, From Saturday, November 21st

Dublin is getting its first German-style Christmas market this year. Christkindlmarkt Dublin opens Saturday, November 21st at Riverside Crossing Park near the Dublin Link, 6694 Riverside Dr. Admission is free, and the market runs through December 24th. Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. It’s closed Monday and Tuesday, as well as Thanksgiving Day.

WinterFest And COSI’s Tree Lighting, Saturday, November 21st

There’s a full afternoon of free holiday fun planned near COSI on Saturday, November 21st. WinterFest takes place at Dorrian Green, 50 S. Belle St., from noon to 4 p.m., with local bands, food trucks and winter drinks. COSI will also light its tree in the atrium at 11 a.m. The atrium is free to enter that day, though you’ll still need a ticket to visit the rest of the museum. The museum’s Season of Celebrations decorations also make their debut on November 21st.

Conservatory Aglow, From Saturday, November 21st

Franklin Park Conservatory’s Conservatory Aglow opens Saturday, November 21st and runs through January 3rd. The holiday display is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations are available now.

Columbus ChristmasFair, November 21st-22nd

Looking for gifts made by local artists and makers? The Columbus ChristmasFair brings about 150 artisans to the Lausche Building at the Ohio Expo Center on Saturday, November 21st and Sunday, November 22nd. Admission is $8, and kids 12 and under get in free. Parking is $7. For another chance to shop handmade gifts, the Ohio Craft Museum’s Gifts of the Craftsmen sale runs November 1st through December 23rd at 1665 W. Fifth Ave.

Gahanna Holiday Lights Celebration, Sunday, November 22nd

Gahanna’s annual Holiday Lights Celebration takes place at Creekside on Sunday, November 22nd, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, so it’s an easy way to kick off the holiday season close to home.

A Drag Queen Christmas, Wednesday, November 25th

A Drag Queen Christmas brings its touring holiday revue to the Palace Theatre on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 25th at 7:30 p.m.

Thanksgiving Races, Thursday, November 26th

Want to get in a little exercise before Thanksgiving dinner? There are several local races happening Thanksgiving morning. The Columbus Turkey Trot starts at the Shops on Lane Avenue, 1675 W. Lane Ave. in Upper Arlington. The four-mile race begins at 9 a.m., along with a Tot Trot for kids under 12. The Thanksgiving Wattle 5K in Grove City and the Bexley Turkey Trot also start at 9 a.m.

Christmas Together Tour, Friday, November 27th

Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans are bringing the Christmas Together Tour to the Schottenstein Center on Black Friday, November 27th.

A10/American Showcase, Sunday, November 29th

College basketball is coming to Nationwide Arena for a new doubleheader on Sunday, November 29th. The A10/American Showcase starts with Memphis taking on Dayton at 1 p.m., followed by South Florida against Saint Louis. It’s Dayton’s first regular-season game at the arena.

Quick Answers

Is the Michigan game in Columbus this year? Yes! Ohio State hosts Michigan at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, November 28th at noon.

When do the Christmas lights start? WonderLight’s opens November 13th, followed by Clippers Holiday Lights on November 14th. Wildlights, Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights and Wanderlights all start November 20th, with Conservatory Aglow opening November 21st. The Metro Parks trails usually light up in December. You can find more dates in our Christmas lights guide.

What is free this month? Gallery Hop, Wanderlights, Christkindlmarkt Dublin, WinterFest, Gahanna’s tree lighting and the Columbus Museum of Art’s Dia de los Muertos Community Day are all free to attend.

Where can you eat out on Thanksgiving? Check out our guide to restaurants open on Thanksgiving.

Do the Crew play at home in November? Not during the regular season. The Crew play Chicago on the road for Decision Day on November 7th. Any home playoff dates will depend on the team’s seeding.

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