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Category - Holidays

New Year's Eve fireworks over Manhattan

It’s time to celebrate New Year’s in New York State! Welcome 2024 with a First Day hike at a state park or trail, explore a wildlife refuge, or drive through an amazing light display. Want to stay home while you toast to the new year? Enjoy virtual ball drops, and home-based family-friendly activities courtesy of New York attractions.

Massive Christmas tree covered in hand-blown glass ornaments in Centerway Square in Corning
Credit: @roddypittman on Instagram

New York State is full of charming towns that will have you feeling like you’ve stepped onto the set of a Hallmark holiday movie. Have a holly jolly time as you take an enchanting ride in a vintage train car on the Polar Express, explore Santa’s Workshop, step back in time

The Saks 5th Avenue building lit up for the holidays

Originally published 12/04/2020

The holiday spirit shines brightly throughout New York State. This year, you can find drive-through light displays, Santa sightings, classic holiday performances, and much more. Get ready to celebrate the season with these winter holiday happenings across New York.

Fireworks

From grabbing a festive beverage to outdoor winter adventures to holiday markets, here are 12 ways to launch you and your loved ones into the spirit of the season, New York State style.

A transparent ornament hangs from a Christmas tree with shops in the background

Credit: Marta Zielinska

What do you buy for the person who has everything? Holiday markets are sprouting up across New York, where local art, specialty crafts, and food and drink make the gift-giving season a breeze. Here are the markets to hit before the season's over! 

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and surrounding buildings at night

New York serves as the setting for many of the most memorable holiday movies and TV show episodes ever made. Seeing the sparkling lights of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree or watching the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square is inspiring on screen, especially when it’s not possible to see these iconic symbols in person. Fortunately, these and other New York holiday traditions are available anytime and anywhere, thanks to these movies and TV shows that will get you in a festive mood while allowing you to experience New York-style holiday spirit. Let a classic scene from one of these gems inspire a future holiday season trip to New York State! 

The Statue of Liberty and other landmarks made of plant material at the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show
Credit: @eulises74 on Instagram

It’s going to be a festive December in New York State, with a variety of activities and events to get you into the holiday spirit. Travel back to the Gilded Age in the Hudson Valley, immerse yourself in two new winter wonderland experiences in Lake George, celebrate a classic holiday movie in Seneca Falls, be amazed by a dazzling light show on Long Island, and more!

Polar Express

Embark on an enchanting journey into winter wonderlands with a fun holiday train ride! From the snow-covered mountains of the Catskills to the sparkling shores of Long Island, climb aboard a real

A snow-covered street view of Vidler's red and white colored 5 & 10 storefront with a red and white pinstriped awning and a large clock post standing in front of it

The holiday season is here! The festive lights are glowing, the hot chocolate is flowing, and in between this magical atmosphere, people across the state are scratching their heads trying to think of that special gift to give to a special someone in their lives.