Thanksgiving break runs from November 23 to 27, 2026, and the district calls it Wellness Week. All schools are closed for the full five days, and students return on Monday, November 30. It comes right in the middle of a busy fall, so it’s perfectly fine to plan very little and simply enjoy the rest.

Many Columbus families start by cooking together, letting kids measure, stir, and set the table so the meal feels like theirs. A walk at a Metro Park such as Highbanks, Whetstone, or Blendon Woods is a great way to burn off some pie, especially with a thermos of hot cocoa. If the house gets crowded or the weather turns cold, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium or COSI are good backup plans. You can also start a gratitude jar, where everyone adds one note a day and you read them aloud on Thursday, and a quick library trip before the break gives kids something to read through the quiet afternoons.

Winter break runs from December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027, and all schools are closed. Students return on Monday, January 4. The week before, on December 18, schools have a 30-minute early dismissal, so plan pickup a little earlier that day.

Two weeks is a long stretch, and a loose routine keeps it comfortable. Many families drive around to see holiday lights, and the Columbus Zoo’s Wild Lights is a longtime favorite. Franklin Park Conservatory is a lovely place to warm up, since walking through a greenhouse in January feels like a small vacation. If it snows, check which Metro Parks have open hills for sledding and dress everyone in layers, and on gray days the Columbus Museum of Art and COSI both offer family-friendly visits. A few pages of reading or a board game each day also makes the return to class feel easier.

Spring break runs from March 26 to April 2, 2027, and all schools are closed. March 24 is a 30-minute early dismissal and the end of Quarter 3, and March 25 is a Records Day with no school for students. That means students are out from March 25 through April 4, a stretch of eleven days, and classes resume on Monday, April 5.

By late March, Ohio is waking up, and there is plenty to do close to home. A walk along the Scioto Mile gives kids room to run with the skyline as a backdrop, and Franklin Park Conservatory is full of spring blooms. Topiary Park, where shrubs are shaped into a famous painting, usually amazes children. For snacks and people-watching, the Short North and North Market are good stops, and Hocking Hills, about an hour to the southeast, is beautiful for a day trip when the waterfalls are running. At home, planting beans or herbs gives kids something to watch grow until the school year ends.

The last day for students is May 27, 2027, and May 28 is a Records Day with no school. Memorial Day on May 31 and the Juneteenth holiday on June 18 both fall within the break. Summer in Columbus is long and full of options.

A summer reading program at your local Columbus Metropolitan Library branch is free, keeps skills sharp, and comes with prizes kids enjoy. The Columbus Zoo has splash areas for cooling off, the Columbus Arts Festival in June brings live music and activities for children to the riverfront, and the Ohio State Fair later in the summer offers rides, animals, and plenty of fried food. If your child wants more structure, an art, sports, or science camp can fill a few weeks. And some days, the best plan is no plan, with a sprinkler, a library book, and a long afternoon.