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Bring a child to an 1800s holiday evening at the Orange Johnson House in Worthington—storytelling, period games, hands-on cooking, and a handmade keepsake. Small groups and a four-hour program make this an intimate, educational festive outing for kids in grades 3–5.
Bring a child to an 1800s holiday evening at the Orange Johnson House in Worthington—storytelling, period games, hands-on cooking, and a handmade keepsake. Small groups and a four-hour program make this an intimate, educational festive outing for kids in grades 3–5.
Book with Worthington Historical Society
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Operated by Worthington Historical Society · Worthington, Ohio
On cold December evenings in Worthington, Ohio, the Orange Johnson House offers a four-hour window where children step out of the present and into the 1800s. Located at 956 N High St, Worthington, OH 43085, USA, this three-story historic home hosts Children's Christmas at the Orange Johnson House, a hands-on program for students in grades 3–5 held on Saturdays in December. Small groups (maximum 12) move through storytelling, period games, crafting, singing, tours, and an old-fashioned meal, arriving at 4:00 PM and concluding at 8:00 PM.
The setting is part museum, part stage. The house’s vertical layout—the narrow staircases and separate parlors—shapes the evening, with each room offering a different slice of 19th-century life. Kids prepare and eat traditional recipes in a communal space, learn songs that predate modern carols, and play games that rely on imagination rather than screens. They’ll make a diary or journal to take home, join in communal singing, and receive gifts from a very famous visitor, all under the low glow of period lighting. This is not a passive museum tour; it’s a participatory lesson in daily life and holiday culture.
Practical details matter here. Parking is adjacent to the Orange Johnson House, north of the Dairy Queen, and organizers ask families to arrive a few minutes early to check coats and be prompt for pick-up. Tickets are non-refundable and the program is limited to a dozen participants to preserve a cozy, hands-on feel. Note that the house is three stories and is not wheelchair accessible.
Why book this with the local historical society? It’s one of the few immersive, age-targeted programs in the area that blends food, folklore, and first-person experience. For families traveling to Worthington during the holidays, it offers a quiet antidote to commercialized festivities: kids learn historical skills, hear local stories, and leave with a tangible keepsake—a handmade diary—and a memory shaped by place.
This experience sits within Worthington’s Old Worthington neighborhood and is easy to pair with a stroll along nearby High Street shops. For parents, it’s a short, well-curated evening that balances education and seasonal delight; for kids, it’s a chance to touch history through taste, sound, and play. If you’re looking for a local program that actually teaches how people spent the holidays in the 1800s, this one delivers.
Spaces are intentionally small—maximum group size is 12—and tickets sell out quickly because the program limits enrollment to preserve interaction with staff and volunteers. Children should be in grades 3–5; the society asks that guardians note the non-refundable policy at booking. Check-in begins a few minutes before 4 PM; parking is next to the house. For questions, contact Children's Christmas Committee Chair Dianne Hoover at 614-888-2326. Arrive a bit.
easy.
4 hours.
Suitable for children comfortable with short periods of standing, walking indoors, and climbing stairs; guardians should be able to assist young participants.
Children in grades 3–5 are eligible to participate.
The program runs four hours, starting at 4:00 PM and ending at 8:00 PM on Saturdays in December.
No. The house is three stories and is not wheelchair accessible.
Activities include preparing and eating traditional recipes, hearing Christmas stories, touring the Orange Johnson House, playing old-time games, making a diary/journal to take home, singing traditional songs, and receiving gifts from a visitor.
Tickets are non-refundable.
Contact Children's Christmas Committee Chair Dianne Hoover at 614-888-2326.
The program recreates holiday traditions and daily life from the 1800s inside the Orange Johnson House, offering direct interpretation through activities and tours.
The program prioritizes low-impact, indoor interpretation; guests are encouraged to reuse period clothing and minimize waste from crafts and snacks.
Worthington Historical Society preserves and presents the history of Worthington, Ohio. The society operates the Orange Johnson House and offers the Orange Johnson House Tour, a guided experience that steps back in time to life in the 1800s. Guided tours reveal the stories of the Johnson family and early settlers, complemented by special exhibits and a hands-on area for children that makes history engaging and accessible. Programming at the Orange Johnson House Tour is designed for a broad audience, including families, school groups, and history enthusiasts. Tours focus on domestic life, material culture, and local stories from central Ohio’s early settlement period. Special exhibits rotate to highlight specific themes or artifacts connected to the Johnson family and Worthington’s development. The Worthington Historical Society provides clear visitor information including location details and tour availability at the historic property in Worthington, Ohio. The visible emphasis on guided interpretation and child-friendly exhibits supports educational visits and community participation. Photographs, artifacts, and interpretive displays on the tour offer tangible connections to 19th-century daily life. Visitors planning a visit to Worthington can expect a single featured experience in the program information provided here: the Orange Johnson House Tour. The society’s public-facing offerings aim to make local history approachable through storytelling, exhibits, and hands-on learning opportunities that bring central Ohio’s past to life. Information presented on the Orange Johnson House Tour is rooted in historical research, artifacts on display, and local archival sources, helping visitors connect documented history to the physical spaces preserved at the property.
Book with Worthington Historical Society