‘Burb Breakdown: Experience a winter wonderland in Westerville
SPONSORED
Covering many vibrant communities across central Ohio, the 614 is so much more than just Columbus. Welcome to the ‘Burb Breakdown, an ongoing series highlighting the unique character of neighborhoods from across this sprawling metro area we call home. Today, we take a look at everything there is to enjoy in Westerville this winter.
With winter weather officially in full swing, there’s no better time to showcase all of the fun to be found in Westerville for the holiday season. Check out these highlights from around town to warm your heart as temperatures drop!
Tree lighting and Santa spying | Westerville City Hall, 21 S State St. | Friday, Dec 6 beginning at 5 PM
Gather at Westerville City Hall for this beloved holiday event! This year, the familiar holiday tree lighting is joined by plenty of new features, including a pony carousel, petting zoo, and even ice skating: ($5 per half hour, skates provided, reservations suggested). Stick around for FREE hot cocoa and cookies with Santa, and enjoy a holiday character meet and greet featuring Elsa, Anna, Olaf from the hit movie Frozen!
Prohibition turns 100! Find out where it all started
The City of Westerville, Ohio was once known as the The “Dry Capital of the World,” when the Anti-Saloon League formed its headquarters where the Westerville Public Library now stands. Their efforts led to the 18th Amendment, which went into effect nationwide in January 1920, and forbade the “manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors.”
Prohibition was repealed in December 1933 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment, but left a lasting effect on the Westerville community. You can learn more about what an “alcohol-free America” looked like at The Westerville History Center & Museum’s newest exhibit: Prohibition! Expectation vs. Reality. Travel back in time to the Prohibition era (1920-1933) and learn about unintended consequences and unexpected outcomes.
Visitors may also experience what life was like 100 years ago with interactive displays of historic objects, audio clips, photo-ops, and more. Learn more: https://www.westervillelibrary.org/exhibitions
Check out the decor at Uptown Deli & Brew
Temperance Row Brewing is located within the popular Uptown eatery. They are “the first legal brewery in Westerville since Purley and Howard (Anti-Saloon League Founders) came to town.
Order a brew like Corbin’s Revenge (a nod to the saloon owner who had his establishment blown up by dynamite…twice!) or Forty Ton Porter (a reference to the amount of mail leaving Westerville to promote Prohibition) and learn more from restaurant decor featuring pictures from the characters of the day.
Save-the-date for 2020’s Uptown Untapped
You just missed the third-annual version of the event in October, but it’s not too early to make plans to attend next year. Check host organization Uptown Westerville Inc.’s website (uptownwestervilleinc.com) for the date. Uptown Untapped features local craft breweries, musicians and bands.
Uptown is your holiday hot-spot
Get ready for the holidays by visiting Uptown Westerville, a historic downtown that has successfully transitioned to new-generation dining, shopping and entertainment. Experience the charm of more than 40 shops and boutiques, nine dining establishments and more.
Shop small for the holidays! Our family-owned boutiques and shops are the best destination in the Columbus region to celebrate Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday on November 30.
Give thanks to veterans and first responders
Stroll through Uptown the month of November and you’ll notice more than 70 banners celebrating the men and women who have served in U.S. Armed Forces from WWII to current-day conflicts to protect our freedoms. Have a Westerville connection? Visit www.westerville.org/militarybanners to learn how you can honor your veteran with a banner in the 2020 program.
Dedicated to ALL first responders, the expanded and renovated First Responders Park is now open. This is the perfect place to honor those who protect us with their lives. The names of Westerville Division of Police officers Anthony Morelli and Eric Joering, (killed in the line of duty on February 10, 2018) as well as fallen firefighter, David Theisen, are inscribed on a memorial wall where you can reflect and remember.
Piece “C-40,” originally from the north tower of the World Trade Center, stands as centerpiece to the park. Visit the park at nightfall to experience how light has been incorporated into the experience, and come back in the spring to see the memorial wall fountain.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
