If you’re over 25 years old and you grew up in Columbus, there’s a good chance that you remember the magic that was Lazarus at Christmas.
The downtown department store was all decked out, with a giant tree of lights on the front and beautiful scenes in the windows. And of course, there was Santa Claus. I loved going to Lazarus at any time of the year as a kid, but Christmas was always extra special.
They called it Santaland and it was truly a magical place. There was even a talking tree. Now, some of that magic is coming back to Columbus.
Lazarus department store window display, circa 1966. #holidayseasonhttps://t.co/yYSt2gXPgY pic.twitter.com/fSxOLnDZ7k
— Ohio History (@OhioHistory) December 13, 2016
This photo shows the decorated front of the Lazarus department store in Columbus in 1955. https://t.co/Afn6vXjENV pic.twitter.com/GDYy54dShf
— Ohio History (@OhioHistory) December 3, 2016
You can officially relive those magical moments or make new memories with your own kids this weekend. On Saturday, December 2, Santa Claus will be making a comeback in the Lazarus Building.
Your kids can grab a photo with Santa on the original Lazarus sleigh or make arts and crafts with OSU Urban Arts Space. Visitors can also get a glimpse at another time-honored seasonal attraction– the Orange Line Holiday Train in The Center for Architecture and Design.
After you’ve had all the nostalgic fun your heart can handle, head over to the Columbus Commons to enjoy the 400,000+ LED light display. Hop on the carousel for a free ride, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, and listen to your favorite holiday jams.
Santa Extravaganza will go from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., just in time for the holiday lights at the Commons to turn on. The event is free to attend. Parking is available at the Columbus Commons Main Garage located at 55 E Rich Street or the Underground Garage located at 191 S. Third Street.
For more info about this event, and other holiday events downtown, please click here.
