New York State is full of charming towns that will have you feeling like you’ve stepped into a Hallmark 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, travel back in time to celebrate Christmas the Dickens way, see the world’s largest menorah, commemorate Kwanzaa with song and dance, and more. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Come celebrate at these 13 New York towns that go all out for the holidays. Credit: @roddypittman on Instagram.

Originally published 12/09/2022

JUMP TO: North Pole | Skaneateles | Seneca Falls | Cooperstown | East Aurora | Lake George | Manhattan | Brooklyn | Ellicottville | Kingston | Corning | Saratoga Springs | Rhinebeck

1. North Pole (Adirondacks)

Santa waves at the camera while standing outside a red cottage at Santa's Workshop in North Pole
Credit: @northpoleny on Instagram

It turns out you can find everything in New York—even the North Pole! This quaint hamlet of Wilmington nestled in the shadows of Whiteface Mountain is home to Santa’s Workshop, where the great big man in red, his helpers, and team of trusty reindeer are ready to make your holiday wishes come true. Drop off your wishlist at Santa’s house, hop on the steam train, carousel, and other kiddie rides, and see the vintage amusement park shine during the Village of Lights. There will be caroling, roaring fires, plenty of shopping, and even a Nativity Pageant. Don’t forget to stop by the U.S. Post Office to send a letter postmarked from the North Pole! Make it an Adirondack winter adventure with a stay at a cozy cabin at The Wilderness Inn and a visit to nearby Lake Placid for skiing, ice skating, bobsledding, exploring Olympic history, and more.

2. Skaneateles (Finger Lakes)

A lone Christmas tree stands perched at the end of a pier in Skaneateles during the holiday season
Credit: @matt.champlin on Instagram

Skaneateles goes all out for the holidays, going so far as to even dress up a lone tree perched at the end of the town’s pier. As you take in the sights of the season, celebrate the holidays the old-fashioned way with Dickens Christmas. The Ghost of Christmas Past along with other familiar characters from “A Christmas Carol” (and even Charles Dickens himself!) take to the streets, delighting holiday shoppers as the smell of roasting chestnuts fills the air. Carol sing-alongs, horse-drawn wagon rides, storytime with Mother Goose, and more holly jolly events will make you feel merry and bright at this lakefront town. Don’t forget to budget in time for yourself. Treat yourself to a massage at Mirbeau Inn & Spa before retiring to your room and cozying up to the fireplace.

3. Seneca Falls (Finger Lakes)

Lights and garland are strung across downtown Seneca Falls at the holidays

Fans of the beloved Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” will want to plan a trip to Seneca Falls, also known as “The Real Bedford Falls” — the fictional setting of the iconic Frank Capra film. The town hosts an annual festival every December in honor of the movie’s release with events and appearances by cast members, plus the traditional ringing of the bells to close out the ceremonies. Stop by the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum to see its vast collection of film memorabilia and snap a photo at the “Your Are Now in Bedford Falls” sign. You can also pay a visit to the bridge that was the inspiration for the film’s famous opening scene. Immerse yourself in Victorian splendor with a stay at Barrister’s Bed & Breakfast, an 1860 Colonial Revival home, while you explore the area’s many wineries, cheese farms, craft beverages, and Seneca Falls’ role in the women’s rights movement.

4. Cooperstown (Central New York)

A horse-drawn carriage ride as snow falls at the Farmers' Museum
Credit: @thefarmersmuseum on Instagram

Christmas in Cooperstown is sure to be a homerun! Its downtown looks as pretty as a greeting card as its 18th-century buildings are set aglow with twinkling lights. Find Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Christmas Cottage in Pioneer Park, where there’s a mailbox to drop off letters to Kris Kringle. The Fenimore Farm & Country Village gets into the holiday spirit with the Glimmer Nights holiday light show. The Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad runs Santa Claus Express and North Pole Express trains that are so popular they tend to sell out each year. Even the National Baseball Hall of Fame hosts an annual holiday party that doubles as a food and toy drive. Cooperstown makes for a great spot all winterlong with ice fishing at Otsego Lake, 300 miles of snowmobiling trails, as well as good beer and good times at Brewery Ommegang and Cooperstown Brewing Co. The Otesaga Resort Hotel, White House Inn Bed & Breakfast, Landmark Inn, and The Inn at Cooperstown all make for cozy stays.

5. East Aurora (Greater Niagara)

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
Credit: @vidlers_5and10 on Instagram

Still need to finish up that holiday shopping list? Head over to East Aurora, where buying local has never been easier. Find artisan wares, boutique clothing, home goods, and gift shops along its historic Main Street that gets all decked out for the holidays. Its vintage movie theater is known for taking movie theater popcorn to a whole new level and Vidler’s 5&10 is your one-stop-shop for old school candy, vintage collectibles, traditional toys, and other unique finds. Known as the Largest "5 & 10" Variety Store in the world for over 90 years, Vidler’s is also a bit of a celebrity having been featured in several made-for-tv Christmas movies. The sounds of the season fill the air as carolers from near and far gather in front of Vidler’s every year for Carolcade, celebrating its 52nd year. Stay overnight at the historic Roycroft Inn, built in 1895. Nearby Buffalo, which hosts one of the largest Juneteenth festivals in the country, is also known for its big Kwanzaa celebration, featuring a flag raising, the lighting of City Hall, and nightly festivities during the weeklong observance.

6. Lake George (Adirondacks)

Exterior of a green sign that says "Welcome to the Village of Lake George" with a steamboat in the background covered in snow
Credit: @jameskblundell on Instagram

Take a stroll down Canada Street and admire tens of thousands of holiday lights and decorations adorning the famous lakeside Shepard Park. Every year, Lake George ushers in the holiday season with Lite Up the Village complete with an ugly sweater contest, fire truck parade, and fireworks show. Let the holiday spirit consume you all season long with Winter Carnival weekends throughout February. A tradition since 1961, this family-fun attraction features the infamous outhouse races, where teams construct hilariously artistic, and hopefully aerodynamic outhouses that race across the frozen lake. Warm up with a chili cookoff and fireside s’mores or chill out with make-your-own sundaes. Stay for fireworks every Saturday night and spend the night at the Inn at Erlowest, a mansion built in 1898 offering 10 unique suites overlooking the lake. Looking to add to your arctic experience? Dine inside a glowing and heated igloo, right on the grounds of the inn, and enjoy superb farm-to-table dining and an extensive wine list.

7. Manhattan (NYC)

Giant red ornaments set atop a fountain outside Radio City Music Hall

The holiday season in New York City is iconic, with Manhattan serving as the backdrop for numerous beloved holiday movies and TV shows. Ice skating in Bryant Park, Central Park, and beneath the glow of Rockefeller Center’s world-famous Christmas tree will have you feeling like the main character in your own movie. Stroll down Fifth Avenue and let the magnificent holiday window displays stop you in your (snow) tracks, or visit Santaland at Macy’s famed Herald Square location. Find unique gifts at holiday markets at Union Square, Columbus Circle, and Grand Central Terminal or catch a showing of the NYC Ballet’s Nutcracker and Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes. 

A lot more wintry decor can be discovered at Lotte New York Palace, which Forbes magazine listed as having one of the top five Christmas trees of any hotel. The Palace (to Gossip Girl fans) offers an array of holiday delights in a stunning courtyard, a lively outdoor bar, and Gold Room serving specialty holiday cocktails, and a special area for children and the young at heart to send letters to Santa. Another can’t-miss hotel is The Plaza, where the winter wonderland of Central Park meets fantastic Fifth Avenue. You can even take the city by storm, Kevin McCallister-style and live out your “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” dreams with an exclusive Plaza Hotel holiday package.

8. Brooklyn (NYC)

A snowman, snowflakes, and other festive decorations adorn a home in Dyker Heights
Credit: Phoebe Baker

No neighborhood does outdoor home decor and holiday lights quite like Dyker Heights in Brooklyn. The charming neighborhood is home to the most over-the-top light decorations, with larger than life Santas, sleighs, snowmen, and Christmas carols taking over lawns from 11th to 13th Aves (also known as Dyker Heights Blvd.) This spectacle has been a tradition for over 30 years and brings holiday cheer to tens of thousands of visitors every season.

New York City also goes big for Hanukkah, holding menorah lighting ceremonies at Grand Army Plaza in both Brooklyn and Central Park, with the latter being home to the world’s largest menorah. The Brooklyn event is celebrated with live music, hot latkes, and gifts for kids. There are also Kwanzaa celebrations at the Apollo Theater and five days of music, dance, art-making, and more at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. After all that excitement, glide on over to Brooklyn Bridge Park for ice skating beneath the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and spectacular views of the magical Manhattan skyline!

9. Ellicottville (Chautauqua-Allegheny)

A group of people strolls along the snowladen sidewalk in Ellicottville
Credit: @visitellicottville on Instagram

Ellicottville is the perfect holiday destination for wintertime adventure seekers. There’s lots to love in this one-square mile village, which has more than 24 shops, 23 bars and restaurants, and two ski slopes all within walking distance. Enjoy skiing, tubing, and a thrilling mountain coaster at Holiday Valley Resort. HoliMont Ski Resort is North America's largest private ski area devoted to family skiing adventures. Enjoy a seasonal brew like the peppermint bark stout or the ski bum winter ale at Ellicottville Brewing Company, take a horse-pulled wagon ride in nearby Salamanca with Crosspatch Horse Ranch, and embark on a snowshoeing excursion through picturesque Allegany State Park. The streets of Ellicottville are also brightly lit for the holidays, with trees wrapped in string lights and shops boasting elaborately decorated windows. Join in the jubilance with events all season long, including: A Christmas Stroll, Winter Blues Weekend, and Winter Music Jam. Make the Inn at Holiday Valley your basecamp for a memorable family getaway during this magical time of year.

10. Kingston (Hudson Valley)

Historic Kingston Stockade District in Winter

This adorable town on the Hudson River, located about 90 miles north of New York City, welcomes the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus on an antique fire truck and lights up their holiday tree at its annual Snowflake Festival, which features holiday-themed performances, fire twirlers, jugglers, ice carving, horse-drawn carriage rides, tree lighting, and so much more throughout the Historic Stockade District. You can also experience movie magic with a train ride up to the North Pole in a vintage 1950s coach on the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s Polar Express. Be sure to head over to “Santa Claus Lane,” or Derrenbacher Street, where residents hold nothing back with their incredible light displays that would make Clark Griswold proud. Book a stay at the cozy, colorful, and upscale Hotel Kinsley, located in a restored 19th-century New York State Bank building. While you’re nearby, take a 20 minute drive to Woodstock, a quirky and quaint village that embodies festive grandeur during the holidays. On Christmas Eve, the village green transforms into a holiday postcard scene with a huge tree full of lights, music in the air, and Santa on-site to give a stocking to every child! Woodstock’s beloved Tinker Street is energetic every day, but especially so during the holidays.

11. Corning (Finger Lakes)

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

Once ranked one of the “Best Christmas Towns” in the USA by Country Living, you better believe Corning is worth a visit. The appropriately named “Crystal City” resembles a winter postcard with shimmering lights decorating the famous Gaffer District. Make sure to check out the massive Christmas tree covered in hand-blown glass ornaments in Centerway Square and embark on an enchanting holiday horse & wagon ride through the sights, sounds, snowflakes, and twinkling lights of this snowglobe of a town! Spend the night and get cozy at the Corning Staybridge Suites, less than one mile from the renowned Corning Museum of Glass, where you can make your own glass ornament. The cheerful centerpiece of the museum is the holiday ornament tree that has now become a holiday tradition—and the perfect background for a holiday photo. The 14-foot tree is decorated with more than 2,000 handmade glass ornaments and is joined by other wonders in glass, including a life-sized glass snowperson family, the Tree of Life Menorah, Advent Wreath, and Kwanzaa Setting.

12. Saratoga Springs (Capital-Saratoga)

Wreaths hang along a street in downtown Saratoga Springs
Credit: @saratographer on Instagram

Recognized as one of the best small towns to visit during the holidays by Travel Awaits, there is endless merriment in downtown Saratoga Springs. Festive events include: the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Victorian Streetwalk, Festival of Trees, and New Year’s Fest. Wreaths, lights, and festive decor adorn boutiques, unique shops, lively restaurants and bars on Broadway for picturesque holiday strolling. And what’s better than a visit with one Santa? Hundreds to thousands. At SantaCon, the can’t-miss massive pub crawl downtown, swarms of Santas celebrate the holiday spirit, with all proceeds going to a great cause, the Franklin Community Center. Broadway isn’t the only street to go all out during the holidays, check out some more notable Saratoga streets for mesmerizing light displays. And in nearby Albany, Hanukkah celebrations include a menorah lighting at the Colonie Center and Kwanzaa kicks off with a grand celebration at the New York State Museum.

13. Rhinebeck (Hudson Valley)

Lavishly decorated room with a large Christmas tree, red carpeted stairs, ornate wooden paneling, and elegant furniture.

This charming historic town nestled in the scenic Hudson Valley certainly lives up to its reputation as one of the “most Christmassy” towns in the U.S. Its decked out downtown will fill your heart with holiday cheer while the sparkle of the season shines bright at the Wonderland of Lights holiday drive-thru light show on the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Step back into the Gilded Age with  tours of the elaborately decorated halls of grand historic estates like the Wilderstein and Staatsburgh (pictured).

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