NEWSLETTER
Experience the magic of the season this December in New York State with an event for each day of the month to get you into the holiday spirit. Travel back to the Gilded Age in the Hudson Valley, celebrate a classic holiday movie in Seneca Falls, be amazed by a dazzling light show on Long Island, and more! Make this the most wonderful time of your year and check out our calendar to discover even more events.
December 1, Sunday
Celebrate a Victorian-style Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles (Finger Lakes)
Enjoy Victorian-era vibes and join Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, Ebenezer Scrooge, and a cast of over 50 colorful characters as A Christmas Carol comes to life in the charming lakeside village of Skaneateles. There’s merriment for the whole family with carol sing-alongs at the gazebo, fresh roasted chestnuts, stories from Mother Goose, eggnog samples, horse-drawn carriage rides, brunch with Santa at Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and shops decked out in their holiday finest. This beloved annual tradition begins the day after Thanksgiving and runs every Saturday and Sunday through December 23, from noon to 4 pm, plus December 24 from noon to 2:30 pm.
December 2, Monday
Bask in the Magic of Lights at Jones Beach (Long Island)
Wind through the sparkling path of one of Long Island’s favorite holiday traditions, the Magic of Lights at Jones Beach State Park! This dazzling drive-through lights experience brings your favorite holiday scenes and characters to life. Make your way down Candy Cane Alley and through the Enchanted Tunnel before encountering a larger-than-life sparkling Christmas Barbie display, the supersized Bigfoot Monster Truck, life-sized dinosaurs celebrating a Prehistoric Christmas and more enchanting scenes!
December 3, Tuesday
All aboard at the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show (New York City)
Credit: @nybg on Instagram
Marvel as model trains zip through a meticulously-crafted miniature New York City at the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show! Explore iconic structures like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center and nearly 200 other landmarks, crafted entirely from plant parts, all set within the stunning Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Don’t miss the enchanting outdoor display and catch 21+ Holiday Train Nights on select dates for sweet and savory bites, spiked cider cocktails, and mocktails.
December 4, Wednesday
See a display of over 650 nutcrackers (Central New York)
It’s time to get nutty in Utica! Discover the magic of the holiday season as you explore the Not So Tiny Nutcracker Display at the Oneida County History Center. The whimsical exhibit features a massive collection of intricately-crafted nutcrackers in all varieties of size and color. Joanne Gerace, former owner of Tiny’s Grill, had been collecting the toy soldiers since 1993, amassing over 650 of them and displaying them at the restaurant all to enjoy. After selling the eatery, she has loaned her collection to keep this cherished holiday tradition alive and available to the public.
December 5, Thursday
Step into A Gilded Age Christmas at Staatsburgh (Hudson Valley)
Staatsburgh State Historic Site, the former home of financier and philanthropist Ogden Mills and his wife Ruth Livingston, and one of the great estates of the Hudson Valley, invites you to experience a Gilded Age Christmas. You’ll marvel at the 65-room Beaux-Arts country home’s beautiful interiors with their original furniture, art, and décor lavishly decorated for the holiday season. Kids can even take part in a scavenger hunt and look for decorated mouse houses on the tour of the grand home! Reservations required.
December 6, Friday
Get into the holiday spirit at Kingston’s Snowflake Festival (Hudson Valley)
Usher in the holiday season at the annual Snowflake Festival in Kingston. Explore the charming and decorated streets of the Historic Stockade District while enjoying an array of holiday-themed activities and live entertainment including carolers, dancers, horse-drawn carriage rides, fire twirlers, jugglers, a Christmas tree lighting, ice sculpture carvings, a visit from Santa, and much more as stores open their doors offering treats and warm beverages to all.
December 7, Saturday
Enjoy a parade and fireworks at Christmas in Clayton (1000 Islands)
Experience a joyful day of hay rides with Santa and festive tunes playing throughout the downtown as shops reopen to the delight of all, offering warm cocktails and gift options aplenty. Once night falls, it’s time for the beloved holiday parade, which illuminates the town with colorful hues coming from dozens of floats decked out for this year’s theme “Sportin’ the Holiday Spirit.” It all ends with a spectacular riverside fireworks display.
December 8, Sunday
Enter the Gilded Age at the Troy Victorian Stroll (Capital-Saratoga)
Credit: @enjoytroy on Instagram
Step back into the Gilded Age at the Troy Victorian Stroll! For more than 40 years, this community tradition has transformed the streets of historic downtown Troy into a bygone Victorian era, complete with visitors in period dress strolling the city, performers, choirs, and more. There’s something for everyone with the stroll’s activities and entertainment strategically spread throughout the streets amidst unique shops, storefronts, restaurants, bars, and parks.
December 9, Monday
Be amazed at Lights on the Lake (Finger Lakes)
Credit: @fingerlakeswelcomecenter on Instagram
Travel through the wonderful Land of Oz and wind your way through a twinkling forest and other magical worlds as you drive-through two miles of beautiful holiday lights at this fantasy winter wonderland along Onondaga Lake. This favorite holiday tradition features over 600,000 lights, colorful section arches, animated displays, and plenty of holiday cheer.
December 10, Tuesday
Find your favorite fir at the Festival of Trees (Capital-Saratoga)
The Festival of Trees lights up Schenectady with more than 70 artistically decorated fir trees that transform the galleries of Schenectady County Historical Society and YWCA into a land of wintertide enchantment! When you stop in, be sure to vote for your top choices in eight categories, including Cutest, Most Glamorous, and Most Creative trees!
December 11, Wednesday
Head Home for the Holidays at the Roberson Museum (Central New York)
Immerse yourself in the wonder of the season as you experience the lights, trees, and magic of a beloved Binghamton tradition. Featuring hundreds of elaborately decorated trees, and dazzling displays representing holiday traditions from around the world, the Roberson Museum’s Home for the Holidays has been a community favorite for more than 60 years. The Roberson also offers mansion tours, craft workshops for kids, and live entertainment every weekend, plus seasonal planetarium shows.
December 12, Thursday
Cruise through Westchester’s Winter Wonderland (Hudson Valley)
Credit: @nyc.super.mom on Instagram
Pack up the car, throw on your favorite holiday tunes, and get ready to be dazzled by this 1.2-mile drive-thru holiday light extravaganza in Valhalla! Greet beloved elves Ned and Albert, encounter dancing trees and a 50-foot dove, meet the Ice Queen in the Ice House, cruise through the glowing 175-foot Transporter Tunnel, make your way down Rudolph’s Runway into the North Pole, marvel at the largest Christmas tree in Westchester and more!
December 13, Friday
Be merry at the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll (Adirondacks)
Lake Placid will be merry and bright with a weekend full of festivities including a skating party at the Olympic Center ice rink, an ugly sweater party, a free matinee showing of The Polar Express at the Palace Theatre, holiday wine tastings, cookies and cocoa with Santa, and a Santa Ski at Whiteface Mountain! There will also be dining specials, live entertainment into the late evening hours, plus tons of great shopping in this amazing and historic storybook village!
December 14, Saturday
Spend your Holidays at the Lodge (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown is decking its halls with boughs of holly, festive garland, and other trimmings for Holidays at The Lodge. Enjoy bird ornament decorating, fresh hot chocolate and cider, a visit from Santa, and choral groups singing holiday classics.
December 15, Sunday
Visit the real Bedford Falls during the It’s a Wonderful Life Festival (Finger Lakes)
Celebrate the 78th anniversary of the classic holiday movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” in Seneca Falls, also known as “The Real Bedford Falls” — the fictional setting of the iconic Frank Capra film. The annual three-day festival honors the movie’s release with movie showings, author talks, autograph signings, plus a parade, dinners, a 5K run, free screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and traditional ringing of the bells to close out the ceremonies. Also stop by the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum and snap a picture with the “You Are Now in Bedford Falls” sign.
December 16, Monday
Tour Santa’s Workshop in North Pole, NY (Adirondacks)
Credit: @northpoleny on Instagram
Head up to the North Pole right here in New York to visit Santa’s Workshop. Come see Santa Claus, his helpers and trusty team of reindeer as this beloved vintage amusement park transforms into a twinkling winter wonderland during the Village of Lights. Enjoy caroling, roaring fires, shopping, and a Nativity Pageant. Don’t forget to stop by the U.S. Post Office to send a letter postmarked from the North Pole!
December 17, Tuesday
Have a groovy time at Peace, Love & Lights (Catskills)
Credit: @shinybreathing on Instagram
Enjoy holiday lights from the comfort of your car along a 1.7-mile route through wondrous lands from Candy Cane Lane to Groovy Way, to the Enchanted Forest and Holidays Around The World at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Indulge in a treats box for four, available as an add-on with your purchase.
December 18, Wednesday
Light up the night at LuminoCity Festival (Long Island)
Credit: @bucketlistli on Instagram
Witness Eisenhower Park transform into a wonderland of lights as you journey through shimmering lands complete with glowing sculptures, magical lights, and immersive exhibits in an enchanting display of light and color celebrating this year’s theme, “Sweet Dreams.”
December 19, Thursday
Make your spirits bright at Jungle Bells (Central New York)
Credit: @storkesque9 on Instagram
Animal Adventure Park will be shining bright with holiday cheer and nearly 2 million lights. Take a photo with Santa at his workshop (Fridays and Saturdays), encounter the Grinch, feed camels and giraffes, meet live reindeer, and book special animal encounters including painting with penguins and a capybara meet and greet.
December 20, Friday
Experience holiday magic in a charming 19th century village (Finger Lakes)
Credit: @gcvmuseum on Instagram
From grand manors, to bustling taverns, explore a wintry village bedecked in holiday splendor and lit by candle light at the Genesee Country Village & Museum’s annual Yuletide in the Country Tours. You’ll embark on an immersive journey through the holiday traditions of the 19th century from a special Hanukkah celebration to Swedish decoration-making. Hungry? Pair your festive experience with a delicious buffet dinner!
December 21, Saturday
Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Apollo (New York City)
Photo by Shahar Azran
Experience a night filled with energy, reflection and joy at The Apollo Theater’s Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebration. Feel the rhythm of traditions that span the African continent as you enjoy music, spoken word, and electrifying performances by the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre honoring the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
December 22, Sunday
Get your golden ticket for the Polar Express (Greater Niagara)
Credit: @crookedfeatherashley on Instagram
Throw on your pajamas and join the Medina Railroad Museum for a magical trip aboard The Polar Express to meet Santa. Get your golden ticket punched, indulge in hot chocolate and cookies, read along with the beloved children’s book, and more as you relive the magic of the classic tale. Once you arrive at the North Pole, Santa will come aboard to hand out the first gift of Christmas to each child. All tickets include admission into the museum.
December 23, Monday
Feel the warm glow of Candlelight Evenings at Old Bethpage Village Restoration (Long Island)
Find yourself in a charming 19th century village celebrating the holiday traditions of a bygone era at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. See the buildings of this living history museum lit aglow by candlelight, enjoy the lively sounds of a holiday brass quartet and fiddle music, savor hot apple cider by a bonfire, watch chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and more at this beloved event that has become a favorite holiday tradition.
December 24, Tuesday
Catch the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular (NYC)
Kick your holidays into high gear and experience the magic of the season with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. The legendary Christmas Spectacular holiday show, which has been delighting fans since 1933, transports you to a winter wonderland with awe-inspiring sets, colorful costumes, and classic holiday numbers like the iconic “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.” Don’t forget to pay a visit to the world-famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, either before or after the show.
December 25, Wednesday
Witness the Lighting of the World’s Largest Menorah (NYC)
Credit: @sloanetravels on Instagram
Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with the lighting of the world’s largest menorah in Central Park’s Grand Army Plaza, located across from the famous Plaza Hotel. Live music and dancing accompany the lighting of the menorah, which at 32-feet tall, 28-feet wide, and 4,000 pounds is recognized as the world’s largest by Guinness World Records. A separate ceremony, featuring live music, hot latkes, and gifts for kids, is also held at Brooklyn’s largest menorah located at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park.
December 26, Thursday
Brighten your winter nights with Wild Lights (Adirondacks)
Credit: @michaelscott87 on Instagram
Wander through an enchanting winter wonderland as the 115-acre Wild Center is transformed into a shimmering dreamscape with thousands of twinkling lights and a magical soundtrack. Experience the outdoors like never before as you navigate the glowing bridges and platforms of Wild Walk and wind your way through dazzling forest trails to the sounds of a dreamy winter score.
December 27, Friday
Discover the magic of Glimmer Nights (Central New York)
Photo courtesy of Fenimore Farm & Country Village
Experience holiday wonderment as Glimmer Nights lights up Fenimore Farm & Country Village in a magical glow. Enjoy free carousel rides, see the enormous “Mega-Chicken” light display, journey through the bright and colorful Rainbow Road, and walk among the larger-than-life flora of the Flower and Mushroom Garden. Stop at Todd’s General Store, Bump Tavern, and then grab a cup of hot chocolate at Crossroads Café.
December 28, Saturday
Celebrate LEGOLAND’s Holiday Bricktacular (Hudson Valley)
For families with little ones and LEGO lovers of all ages, LEGOLAND New York’s Holiday Bricktacular is the ultimate winter celebration. Think towering LEGO Christmas trees, holiday-themed LEGO builds, glice skating, dance parties, sing-alongs, and meet-and-greets with fun characters—all set against the backdrop of sparkling lights. Get single-day tickets or make it a holly jolly sleepover with an overnight hotel stay complete with breakfast with Santa, elf games, and more.
December 29, Sunday
Find winter fun at the Roc Holiday Village Winter Festival (Finger Lakes)
Photo courtesy of Roc Holiday Village Winter Festival
Join in on the festive fun as the Roc Holiday Village Winter Festival transforms Rochester’s downtown into a winter wonderland filled with enchanting events including free ice skate rentals and skating, shopping for hand-crafted goods, cozy winter igloos, live music, kids’ crafts, fire pits, and plenty of indoor and outdoor food and libations. (The 17-day festival kicks off December 7 and runs Wednesdays-Sundays through December 29.)
December 30, Monday
View the world of Poinsettias After Dark (Greater Niagara)
Credit: @highpeaks_ai on Instagram
Step into a tropical paradise and surround yourself in stunning natural beauty and colorful lights in this mesmerizing after-dark experience housed within the historic Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Thousands of twinkling lights will guide you through the magically illuminated greenhouses unveiling textures, shapes, and shadows as the plant collections and brilliant poinsettias are bathed in a whole new light.
December 31, Tuesday
Ring in the new year with Billy Joel (Long Island)
Credit: @ubsarena on Instagram
Say goodbye to 2024 and hello to the new year with the legendary Billy Joel during a special New Year’s Eve concert at UBS Arena. For the second year in a row, the “Piano Man” is returning to the venue to ring in the new year in his hometown of Long Island.
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