Friday's Trinity Of Events
Holiday Traditions Fill Uptown Westerville Friday Night
Uptown Westerville will be busy Friday night as three long-running holiday traditions return: Soup for Shelter, a walk-through live nativity, and the Progressive Christmas Concert. Each draws a different crowd, but together they create a festive atmosphere that blends community, music, and familiar rituals.
Many begin their evening at Soup for Shelter, held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Westerville Senior Center on Cleveland Avenue. Though it’s a short drive from Uptown, it’s often the first stop because tickets include a handcrafted bowl made by Columbus Academy students. Tables are lined with hundreds of bowls in different glazes and shapes, and diners often take their time choosing one before heading in for soup, bread, a cookie, and a drink. The $20 ticket, limited to 300 and sold online only, supports Habitat for Humanity projects in Delaware and Union counties.
Back in Uptown, Church of the Messiah will open its Live Nativity from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The outdoor setting draws families who stop by to see volunteers portraying the nativity story, along with live animals that are often the highlight for younger visitors. It is a simple walk-through experience, typically steady with foot traffic as people move between other Uptown activities.
At 7 p.m., lantern-carrying guides begin leading groups to the first stop of the Progressive Christmas Concert. The concert weaves together three nearby churches: Church of the Master, Church of the Messiah, and First Presbyterian, each hosting a short set of music. Choirs and musicians from Grace Evangelical Lutheran and Central College Presbyterian also take part. Much of the charm lies in the short walks between churches, where attendees chat with guides or catch up with neighbors before settling into the next sanctuary. The concert runs through about 9:15 p.m., with proceeds also benefiting Habitat for Humanity.
Attendees do not have to commit to all three events, but many do. They eat early at the Senior Center, head Uptown for the nativity, and finish the night in a pew surrounded by carols. Each event stands on its own, but together they shape one of Westerville’s most recognizable December evenings.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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