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A cookie-decorating visit with Mrs. Claus and Santa adds a family activity to two evenings of holiday lights at Franklin Park Conservatory.
All times are local to the venue · America/New York
Decorate a holiday cookie with Mrs. Claus, then visit Santa: that’s the invitation at Cookies With Santa And Mrs. Clause at Conservatory Aglow. The activity takes place December 18 and 19, 2026, at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus.
The cookie event is part of Conservatory Aglow rather than a separate stand-alone outing. It is listed from 6 to 9 p.m. on both nights, but the Conservatory does not say whether decorating and Santa visits run continuously or at particular times. If a specific arrival time matters, contact the Conservatory before visiting.
The wider Aglow program lights both the gardens and the indoor biomes. Visitors can also look for the Paul Busse Garden Railway, the 100-foot light tunnel and Through the Vines, an installation that follows the four seasons. The 2026 program also lists a life-sized Candyland board game and a Whirly Tree by Tork Inc.
Further reading: Cookies With Santa And Mrs. Clause at Conservatory Aglow | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗ · 2026 Conservatory Aglow | Franklin Park ConservatoryFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗
Conservatory Aglow requires a Special Engagement ticket separate from general admission. The cookie activity is included in Aglow admission, with an additional $2 charge per cookie. Advance reservations are encouraged but not required.
The Conservatory lists $4 Special Engagement admission for qualifying SNAP, EBT, WIC and Medicaid participants and Access members. Check the ticketing information for other rates and eligibility.
Cookies With Santa And Mrs. Clause at Conservatory Aglow | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗ · Know Before You Go | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗ · Special Engagement Admission Rates | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗
The Conservatory says its building and grounds have ramps, elevators and paved pathways. A limited number of wheelchairs are available to borrow free at the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis.
Strollers are allowed throughout most of the Conservatory, but not in the Cardinal Health Gallery, Gift Shop, Garden Café or Hot Shop.
The John F. Wolfe Palm House, Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse, Upper and Lower West Terrace, and South Mallway are closed for renovation. The Conservatory says they will reopen in fall 2027.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is at 1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43203. Free parking is available in lots A and B east of the main building and at Wells Barn; the lots are accessible from E. Broad Street.
Visitors with mobility challenges can be dropped off at the bus loop outside the main entrance. Additional parking within Franklin Park is farther from the entrance.
Cookies With Santa And Mrs. Clause at Conservatory Aglow | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗ · Know Before You Go | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗
The activity is included in Aglow admission, but each cookie costs $2. Aglow itself requires a Special Engagement ticket separate from general admission.
Cookies With Santa And Mrs. Clause at Conservatory Aglow | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗ · Know Before You Go | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗
The Conservatory encourages advance reservations, though its general visitor guidance says they are not required.
The event is listed for that three-hour window, but individual decorating and Santa visit times are not specified. Contact the Conservatory if timing is important to your plans.
Yes. The Conservatory lists it under Family Fun; it does not state a specific age requirement for the cookie activity.
Calendar | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗ · Cookies With Santa And Mrs. Clause at Conservatory Aglow | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ↗
1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43203
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Images from the linked sources. Each caption identifies the context of the image.
Event, planning and background information checked 2026-10-29 against the linked sources.