NEWSLETTER
Corning, N.Y. — There’s a reason Corning, NY has been named one of “America's 30 Best Small Towns for Christmas” as well as one of the “55 Best Christmas Towns That You Need to Visit This Holiday Season” by Country Living Magazine. And why Readers Digest named Corning to its list of “16 Old-Fashioned Christmas Towns You Should Visit.”
Small town’s immersed in nostalgic holiday traditions, friendly locals who make you feel at home, opportunities to find (or make) the perfect gift, and the chance to create special new traditions. You can’t help but feel connected to something special.
“This is what Christmas magic looks like.” — Ann Shields, Country Living
Each year, for decades now, Santa has officially arrived in “America’s Crystal City” on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to take up shop in Santa’s Crystal House in Centerway Square (named one of the 15 Most Beautiful Town Squares in America by Travel + Leisure) during the free annual Parade of Lights which includes dozens of floats, marching bands and other entertainment all bedazzled in sparkling holiday lights. The parade kicks off the holiday season in the Crystal City. This year’s Parade of Lights is Saturday November 29th from 7:30-8:30pm.
“The Crystal City, home of Corning Glass, is also home to a sparkling holiday season,
beginning with a Parade of Lights” - Ann Shields, Country Living
On the following Saturday, Corning’s downtown embraces the sparkle of the holiday season as the tree-lined brick sidewalks are bedecked in holiday lights and Market Street comes alive for the annual Sparkle, an event that’s over a half-century old, featuring special shopping and dining promotions, outdoor entertainment, elves, carolers, vendors, live music, activities for the whole family. Visit Santa in his dazzling Crystal House and take a dreamy horse-drawn carriage ride. Sparkle 2025 is on Saturday December 6th from 4-8pm.
“Corning holds its annual Sparkle Festival during Christmastime, and . . . has carolers,
candy shops, horse and wagon rides, and even Santa’s reindeer.” — Lily Rose, MSN
During the 2025 Sparkle weekend (December 6th and 7th), two world renowned museums in this small town—The Corning Museum of Glass and The Rockwell Museum—will have FREE admission. It’s hard to beat a one-of-a-kind glass Christmas tree made of 2,000 handblown ornaments at the world’s largest museum devoted to glass art and artifacts when it comes to adding some sparkle to your holiday season. Located in America’s Crystal City, the spectacular holiday tree is just one of the reasons Corning Museum of Glass shines brightly during the holidays.
Capture lasting memories with seasonal displays that make great photo ops like the museum's 14-foot Glass Ornament Tree, Glass Feast, Tree of Life Menorah, Kwanzaa Setting, or Advent Wreath. There’s also live music, special holiday themed glassblowing demonstrations, and so many glass gifts in the museum shops that all make this must visit museum the perfect spot to get into the holiday spirit.
Less than half a mile away, The Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate will be hosting the 11th Annual Gingerbread Invitational is an artful competition and exhibition. This year, bakers imagined gingerbreads inspired by the theme of Color. Find these amazing creations on display at the Museum, November 29– December 31.
The Rockwell Museum’s Holiday Open House is also Saturday 12/6 and Sunday 12/7 offering FREE admission to everyone, so it’s a great chance to check out and even vote for your favorite Gingerbread House, and also enjoy the remarkable art. On Saturday, December 6th (from 3-6pm) there will be a special family cookie decorating and fun Gingerbread-themed activities.
Small towns, like Corning, are a testament to the past and a way to connect to bygone days. But even more so, they help us connect to a way of life built around community and fellowship, where neighbors support each other and celebrate together, and where strangers are treated as friends. Never is that more apparent than during the holidays.
“A small city in Upstate New York that sparkles with holiday charm has been dubbed one of the best Christmas towns in the nation. Corning, known as the “Crystal City,” has made Country Living’s list of 55 bucket list-worthy Christmas towns — communities the magazine lauded for being filled with Hallmark Christmas movie magic.” — Samantha House, syracuse.com
Learn more about The Crystal City Christmas and other Steuben County Holiday events at ExploreSteuben.com/events.
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Photo: Corning Parade of Lights - Credit: Lee Speary