Dec. 3, 2025, 6:01 a.m. ET AI-assisted summary GalaxyCon is coming to Columbus, with celebrity guests like William Shatner and "Weird Al" Yankovic, and stars from several hit movie series. Holiday-themed performances are scheduled, including "A Magical Cirque Christmas" and concerts by the Columbus Symphony and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Family-friendly festivals and events, such as WinterFest and Holiday Hop, also will be offered. The number of celebrity sightings in our fair city is about to skyrocket as GalaxyCon takes over the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The fandom fest will welcome 50 celebrity guests to the celebration of comic books, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, gaming, cosplay and more. William Shatner will participate, including a tattoo experience where he'll boldly go where no pen has gone before. "Weird Al" Yankovic , who played the Palace in September, will stay for the entire convention. Someone alert Pierogi Mountain ! The galaxy of other stars you can gaze at will include cast members from film franchises such as "Scream," "Twilight," "Clerks" and "Harry Potter," and "Rocky Horror Picture Show" stars Barry Bostwick , Nell Campbell and Patricia Quinn. The season to be jolly continues with happenings such as " A Magical Cirque Christmas ," a yule-themed Beatles tribute and holiday concerts by Columbus Jazz Orchestra and the Columbus Symphony Pops. If you don't want to be on the naughty list, read more below. If you’d like these and other events delivered to your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter . Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more! 'Magical Cirque Christmas' to defy gravity Set to modern versions of Christmas classics, a holiday variety show full of thrills, chills and circus skills is coming to the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4. The acrobats and aerialists in "A Magical Cirque Christmas" will dazzle with their high-flying finesse. Contortionists, unicyclists, performers with superhuman strength and other world-class acts also will be showcased. Tickets cost $49.40-$97.59. There is an eight-ticket limit per person or household. ( capa.com ) Starlit Ways to light up jazz orchestra show Celebrate the season with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO) at "Home for the Holidays," a program of yuletide favorites and sing-alongs, plus visits from jolly old St. Nick. Local duo Starlit Ways, featuring vocalist Rose Nkechi and guitarist Chris Glover, will perform with the CJO at 7 p.m. Dec. 4-6, 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St. On Dec. 7, students from the Columbus Youth Jazz Program will open the show at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $46.98-$107.06. ( capa.com ) MadLab gets the meter running with 'Cabfare' Though "Cabfare for the Common Man" isn't a holiday show, per se, MadLab touts it as an escape from the season's hustle and bustle into a world of whimsy, wonder and absurdity. A collection of seven short plays by Mark Harvey Levine, MadLab's most-produced playwright, "Cabfare" will make audiences examine who they are, how they live and how much they still "owe the meter." Performances will be at 8 p.m. Dec. 4-6, Dec. 12-13, Dec. 19-20 at MadLab, 227 N. 3rd St. Ticket prices are $11.50 general admission and $8.50 students and seniors, including fees. ( madlab.net ) GalaxyCon to attract universe of fandoms No ordinary comic con, GalaxyCon Columbus is a three-day fandom fest with celebrities, artists, writers, voice actors, cosplayers, creators, exhibitors, wrestlers and other entertainers. The event unites fans of comic books, pop culture, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, gaming, cosplay and wrestling for celebrity panels, costume and cosplay contests with cash prizes, karaoke, dance parties and more. GalaxyCon will take place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., from 2-11:59 p.m. Dec. 5; 10 a.m. to 12:59 a.m. Dec. 6; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 7. Single-day passes cost $50-$70. Various other passes are available. Children 9 and under get in free with a paid adult; up to three children per adult allowed. ( galaxycon.com ) Symphony to salute season with pops concert The Columbus Symphony, along with the Columbus Symphony Chorus, Columbus Children’s Choir and special guests, are tuned up for their annual Holiday Pops concerts at the Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Dec. 5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 6-7. The symphony will hold its NBC4 FireFighters 4 Kids toy drive before each concert. Photos with Santa will be taken after the Dec. 6-7 shows, and pre-concert activities including crafts will be offered on Dec. 7. Tickets cost $23.63-$109.48. ( capa.com ) Seasonal fun to highlight Union Bank event The Union Bank Co. invites guests of all ages to a special holiday event where they can enjoy hot chocolate, Christmas cookies and candy canes, plus activities for children of all ages including a coloring station and “Letters to Santa” table. Kids could even get the chance to deliver their letters in person since Kris Kringle himself will bring his reindeer to the event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 6 at The Union Bank Co., 30 Coal Bend, Delaware. The free event is also an opportunity for giving by bringing non-perishable food items, new or gently used coats, or unwrapped toys to be donated to People In Need of Delaware County. ( instagram.com/theunionbankco ) WinterFest to bring party to Scioto Mile Coming to you live from Bicentennial Park, it's the city's can't-miss wintertime dance party! Now in its eighth year, WinterFest Columbus will offer live music, food trucks and fun for all ages. Presented by Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, the family-friendly fest will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6. Bicentennial Park is located at 233 S. Civic Center Drive. Guests 21 and older can enjoy seasonal craft beers from Ohio breweries, hot bourbon chai cider and chai apple mules. Pepsi products also will be available. WinterFest, which is free, will include such activities as cornhole and a mechanical reindeer. ( winterfestcolumbus.com ) Short North to hop with holiday happenings Travel to the "Short North Pole" for Holiday Hop, an open-streets event taking place in the Short North Arts District from noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 6. Held on High Street from East 2nd Avenue to East Russell Street, the pedestrian-only hop will feature live performances, hands-on arts experiences, children's scavenger hunt, photos with Santa and more. Attendees also can visit a market with more than 100 artisan vendors, and businesses in the district will be offering specials and discounts. Holiday Hop is free. ( shortnorth.org/holidays ) ‘RAIN' to shower fans with Beatles nostalgia A magical Christmassy tour is coming to take you away! Blending holiday tunes and iconic songs you know and love, "RAIN — A Beatles Christmas Tribute" will stop at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., at 8 p.m. Dec. 6. Stunning visuals accompany the show, including the costumes, which range from the Fab Four's suit-and-tied, mop-top days to their neon "Sgt. Pepper" era and later hippie style. Tickets cost $42.14-$67.34. There is an eight-ticket limit per person or household. ( capa.com ) 'Scrooge' adds comedy chaos to Christmas classic Good Medicine Productions will deliver a whopping dose of the best medicine, laughter, in its seventh season of "Uptown Scrooge: Abridged!," which presents Dickens as you've never seen before! Merging "A Christmas Carol" with improv, comedy and music, the fast-paced, 60-minute show comes with a big twist: Scrooge is played by the audience! Performances will be at 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Dec. 7, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21, at Java Central Café and Roaster, 20 S. State St., Suite B, Westerville. Source: https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/events/2025/12/03/10-things-to-do-in-columbus-and-central-ohio/87486457007/