If you’re an animal lover 🐶

• Columbus Humane | Greet visitors, support special events, or provide cat, dog, and rabbit care.
• Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center | Volunteer as a dog walker or runner + groomer or bather.

For the outdoorsy types 🌳

• The City of Columbus Recreation and Parks | Lend a hand at a litter cleanup, produce market, or through conservation efforts.
• Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks | Make sure the trails are safe, plant wetlands, or assist with horticulture.

If you want to help your neighbors 🤝

• LifeCare Alliance | Deliver food through the Meals On Wheels program or assist in the local food pantry.
• The Columbus Dream Center | Help those experiencing homelessness by serving meals, gardening to provide nutritious meals, or volunteering when individuals come in for showers + laundry to make a relationship with them.

Teachers and mentors ✏️

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio | Become a mentor to children ages five through young adulthood and take your mentee to different activities or adventures.
• All THAT — Teens Hopeful About Tomorrow | Build a lasting relationship with a teen by assisting with schoolwork, career searching, and life skills.

If you’re on a tight schedule 🕒

• Mid-Ohio Food Collective | Schedule a shift starting at just two hours long in a local food pantry.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities Central Ohio | Make a meal at home for families at the Ronald McDonald House.

• An Evening with Bestselling Author Ross Gay in Conversation with Acclaimed Writer and Cultural Critic Hanif Abudurraqib | Tuesday, Nov. 29 | 7-9 p.m. | Kings Art Complex, 835 Mt. Vernon Ave., Columbus | $5-$29

• Home for the Holidays | Wednesday, Nov. 30 | Southern Theatre, 5115, 21 E. Main St., Columbus | $14.70–$82.95 | Enjoy a holiday jazz concert led by singer Stacie Boord.

• Cirque Dreams Holidaze | Thursday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Palace Theatre Columbus, 34 W. Broad St., Columbus | $33-$103 | This Broadway-style production has twists on holiday classics with contemporary circus arts.
• Townhall Gingerbread House Building Workshop | Thursday, Dec. 1 | 6-8 p.m. | 792 N. High St., Columbus | $20 | Build a gingerbread house + Santa & Mrs. Claus will be there from 6-10 p.m.
• Tenspace X Love Your Melon Holiday Happy Hour | Thursday, Dec. 1 | 7 p.m. | 930 N. High St., Columbus | $20 | Build a beanie and enjoy some drinks all while supporting the fight against pediatric cancer.
• Carmel Christkindlmarkt | Thursday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 30 | 4-11 p.m. | Carmel Christkindlmarkt, 10 Carter Green, Carmel, Indiana | Free | This award-winning authentic German Christmas market features unique market gifts, sips and bites like Glühwein + mulled beer, outdoor ice rink, and more.*

• Gingerbread Display | Friday, Dec. 2 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus | $0-$22 | Browse the gingerbread houses where contestants were challenged to design an entry that celebrates their favorite era.
• Columbus Winterfair | Friday, Dec. 2 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus | $0-$7 | Browse jewelry, glass, paintings, photographs, and ceramics from more than 400 artists.
• Festive Friday | Friday, Dec. 2 | 5-9 p.m. | Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., Columbus | Free | Browse the lights and listen to holiday music with free hot chocolate and carousel rides from 5-9 p.m.

• 54º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain

• Aardvark Beer & Wine, a new wine shop, is open at 2355 W. Dublin-Granville Rd. Not only can customers find a majority of bottles for under $30, but there will also be difficult to source wines available at the storefront. 🍷 (614now)

• The Killers, a Grammy-nominated rock band with hits like “Mr. Brightside,” are coming to the Schottenstein Center on Tuesday, March 21. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. 🎶

• Ohio State women’s volleyball was selected as the No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Buckeyes host Tennesee State for the first tournament game on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Covelli Center. Tickets are on sale now. 🏐
• Ohio State men’s basketball is now No. 25 in the latest AP poll after entering the season unranked. The Duke Blue Devils, who the Buckeyes will travel to face tomorrow, have dropped to No. 17. (The Columbus Dispatch)

• Krampus: A Haunted Christmas Experience features two holiday horror attractions open Friday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 11 + Friday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 18. Find elaborate Christmas-themed sets, live actors, and audio visual technology. Tickets are selling fast.
• Central Ohio’s Programs for Animal Welfare is offering pet photos with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 11. Purchase a variety of photo packages ranging from $20-$60 + all proceeds go directly towards directly towards providing veterinary care for animals in need. 🐱

• The Columbus Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Festival is on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 7-11 p.m. at COSI. General admission tickets for the 21+ event are $50 and include unlimited samples of chocolate, wine, spirits, and a s’mores bar. 🍫

• Dreaming up a trip to the Bahamas? This Spanish Wells private cottage might just be your new happy place. It’s steps from the turquoise water, fully air conditioned, and is rated five stars. Book it as a January getaway or the best holiday gift ever for $280 avg/night. 🌊*

• Location, location, location. According to our recent survey, 58% of respondents shared that they’d be willing to move out of state to get their dream home, compared to 32% in a national Opendoor report. 🏡*