Columbus, OH

You may not be able to go back in time and experience Christmas in the true Victorian era, but you can visit Easton.

Christmastime is my favorite time of the year at Easton Town Center. The big tree is up and looking more beautiful than ever. All the stores are lit up with lights and their own special Christmas touches. The trumpeter is playing and the carolers are singing.

You didn’t know? Easton celebrates Christmas like no regular shopping center ever does. There is live entertainment every day. The classic sounds of brass ensembles and groups of carolers in vintage dress are there inside and out to entertain shoppers.

In addition, Easton’s horse-drawn carriage service makes the rounds every weekend throughout the season. For a nominal fee, you and your sweetheart can take a carriage ride. When it’s snowing you’ll be quietly singing to yourself “Over the river and through the woods . . .” but Grandma’s house will probably have to wait since you’ll be busy at the over 100 stores finding her just the right gift.

Easton doesn’t stop at plain old horses though. No. Because what would Christmas be without a visit from Santa? And you know Santa doesn’t fly commercial, it’s first class all the way for our jolly old elf. So visit Easton on the 16th and you’ll get to see Santa’s own live reindeer on the town square.

While you are there, stop into Godiva for their special peppermint hot chocolate, a real Christmas treat. Then you can look out onto the square and see the amazing ice sculptures. If you miss those on the 16th, you can come again on the 20th for a second chance.

I know this season is hectic, and even at Easton the parking can be frustrating enough to make you want to do all your shopping online. But there is so much great stuff that goes on at Easton during the holiday season. (And I’m not just talking about the sales.) Easton has succeeded at doing the thing so many other shopping venues attempt at Christmas but never quite do—it has made itself a destination, an experience that is so much more than shopping. But with so many great shops, everything from Abercrombie to Z Gallerie, I’m willing to wager you’ll have fun doing a little bit of that too.

Columbus, OH, Ohio, Easton, Easton Town Center, shopping, Christmas