Santa’s Wonderland Train Ride
All Aboard for the most magical train ride this holiday season. Kids will love this enchanting ride to the North Pole, where they will get to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as elves and reindeer. Lots of fun activities to usher in the holiday.
Open: Saturdays & Sundays November 18th through December 17th
Address: 278 Main Street, Arcade
The Castle By Candlelight
Old Fort Niagara assumes a particularly festive air during the holiday season. Special activities kick off on Saturday evenings, December 10 and 17 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., as the Fort presents The Castle by Candlelight, a tour of the Great Lake’s oldest building illuminated entirely by candles.
Open:
Session 1:
Sat Dec 9th, 2023 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Session 2:
Sat Dec 16th, 2023 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Address: 103 Morrow Plaza, Youngstown, NY
Christmas on Central – Holiday Market and Tree Lighting
The day will provide a great opportunity to shop for holiday gifts from over fifty vendors and small businesses while enjoying live music at City Hall with DJ Joe Gould (11 a.m.), Slim & Red (1 p.m.) and Footsteps (3 p.m.). Other activities include complimentary hot cocoa and food available for purchase from the Central Station Restaurant, complimentary horse drawn carriage rides with two wagons this year provided by Laff ‘N Lyon Ranch from 12 noon to 4 p.m., children’s holiday craft-making and cookie frost, visits with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph and elves from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and ice sculpture carving demonstrations by Jamestown Ice & Storage in Stearns Court starting at 11 a.m. Holiday dancers from the McKenna Academy of Dance (5 p.m.) and Danza! Performing Arts Academy (5:15 p.m.) will perform a holiday routine in front of city hall. The event will conclude with the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on the steps of Dunkirk City Hall.
Date: November 25th 11am-6pm
Address: Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY
Wild Winter Nights
Come early to see the animals and stay for the holiday cheer! Stroll the Zoo’s holiday decorations, catch a ride on our Happy Holidays Express Train, and indulge in warm winter treats, including a hot cocoa bar and s’mores.
Dates: Friday & Saturday Nights November 24th -December 23rd and December 26th-30th Last ticket sold at 6:30 pm – Grounds close at 7:30 pm
Address: Buffalo Zoo, 300 Parkside Ave, Buffalo, NY
Miracle on Main Street
Miracle on Main Street is A fun, family festival! Santa comes to town with activities and fun times for kids & the whole family including caroling, the official Village holiday tree lighting in the park with refreshments, shopping, and much more.
Date: Saturday, December 2nd 10 am – 9 pm
Address: Main Street, Fredonia
Buffalo Holiday Market
Now in two locations (Downtown Buffalo & the Village of Hamburg), Buffalo Holiday Market recreates the magic of holiday markets that are famous across Europe, Buffalo Holiday Market will feature vendors in wooden chalets, mulled wine, sweet treats and many more seasonal surprises. This four-week shopping series will showcase an exceptional mix of artisan crafters and holiday foods from Western New York, including a tree lighting and appearances by the jolly man himself.
Dates: Buffalo: Nov. 24 – Dec. 23 | Hamburg: Nov. 24 – Dec. 23
Address: 202 South Park Ave, Buffalo & 202 Lake Street, Hamburg
Yuletide in the Country
Interact with 150 local artisans selling their finest wares at this long-standing event just 20 minutes from Downtown Buffalo. Yuletide in the Country offers a remarkable cross-section of gift ideas, and also highlights artisan demonstrations throughout the weekend, including live cooking demonstrations for holiday meal planning.
Dates: Dec. 2 & 3, 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday
Address: Hamburg Fairgrounds, 5820 South Park Ave. Hamburg, NY
Newfane Light Up Parade
Visit this beautiful community on Lake Ontario as they ring in the holiday season with a snowflake village, Mistletoe Market, Candy Cane Lane Craft Show, and the beloved Light Up Parade
Open: December 1st, 2023
Poinsettia & Railway Exhibits
Tis the Season to visit the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. This is a new exhibit where the gardens are bathed in colorful lights. The greenhouses have been decked out in bright holiday displays and filled to the brim with every conceivable color of poinsettias. In addition to this, a festive model train display will delight all those who visit during this holiday season. Make a reservation to visit the botanical gardens after dark.
Poinsettia Exhibit – November 18 – January 1 – 10am-4pm
Poinsettias After Dark – November 24, 25
December 1, 2, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 26-30
5-9pm
Address: 2655 South Park Ave, Buffalo, NY
Fairground Festival of Lights
The Fairground Festival of Lights is back and better than ever, with all your classic favorites and some new surprises!
North Pole Experience featuring Santa – where you are transported to the North Pole, making your way through displays such as the Elf Village, the Toy Shop, and the Arctic, and cominating with a visit with Santa himself.
Drive Thru Light Display – Fairgrounds Festival of Lights offers a new route encompassing 70 variations of light displays, arches and light tunnels.
Reindeer – Visit Santa’s reindeer each night of the festival.
Frosty’s Dance Party – Join Frosty under a canopy of lights on 42nd Street for a dance party!
5:30pm | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:30pm | 9:30pm
Christmas Express Train Ride– Climb aboard the Festival Train, that will take you on a short ride through lights featuring Christmas characters, the north pole and Buffalo favorites.
Night You Saved Christmas Interactive Maze – The Night You Saved Christmas Maze is an interactive maze the whole family can enjoy together that is based on the classic holiday story highlighting a visit from St. Nicholas.
Pixel Show – An all new Illumination Light Show! A Disney inspired light show that features pixel castles, pixel fireworks, pixelized buildings with singing faces, walkways, tunnels and more; all synchronized to music.
Santa’s Magical Midway – Enjoy a carnival style midway featuring all sorts of kiddie rides.
European Style Holiday Market – This is a great opportunity to tackle your holiday shopping list.
Full Experience Dates: November 24-26, December 1-3,
December 8-10, & December 15-23
Drive Thru Only Dates: November 30, December 7,
December 14, & December 26-30
Address: 5820 South Park Avenue, Hamburg
Jingle Falls USA
Jingle Falls USA is a fun holiday festival that is a long-time favorite in Niagara Falls. Enjoy horse and carriage rides, lunch with Santa, Gingerbread Wonderland, and the Jingle Falls walk, just to name a few of the fun activities. Meet animals like reindeer, alpacas, or enjoy a petting zoo. Spend time enjoying refreshments while relaxing in front of open firepits. The list of activities is extensive.
Open: Friday, November 24th, 5:30 Tree Lighting, Saturday, November 25th, 11:30 am – 7 pm Sunday, November 26th, 9:30 am- 4 pm
Address: Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls
Our Lady of Fatima Festival of Lights
This is a beautiful holiday destination that puts the reason back in the Season. Visitors can enjoy the sounds of Christmas music while walking the grounds or visit the inside of the Basilica itself. If you are up to the climb, head to the top of the Basilica for a bird’s eye view of the entire festival. This is a wonderful place to visit for the holidays and the best part; it is totally free.
Lights will be on from 5 pm to 9 pm according to the following Schedule:
Nov 18th – Nov 26, 2023:Lights on Daily Mon-Sun
Nov 27th – Dec 17, 2023 & Jan 5-7th :Lights on Friday thru Sunday Only
Dec 18th – Jan 01, 2023:Lights on Daily Mon-Sun
Address: 1023 Swann Rd, Youngstown
Christmas in Ellicottville
Visit the town that has been compared to a Norman Rockwell painting. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, real reindeer, kids’ Christmas crafts, cookie decorating, and more, all at no cost to you in the spirit of the holiday season!
Open: November 24th- November 26th
A Christmas Stroll
Celebrate the Holiday Season with a Living Nativity, complete with a camel, all in the Village of Ellicottville.
Open: December 9th
Address: Throughout the Village of Ellicottville
Santa Express Train Ride
All aboard for a fun and festive 1 hour Christmas train ride where the kids get to meet Santa! He might even have gifts for all the boys and girls!
Open: Saturdays and Sundays in December 2nd – 17th
Address: 50 Commercial St., Gowanda
Breakfast with Santa at the Buffalo Zoo
It’s that time of year again! The beloved Western New York holiday tradition, Breakfast with Santa at the Buffalo Zoo, is back for another holiday season! Start your day off right and bring your holiday appetite to the chef-prepared breakfast buffet featuring all your morning favorites! Enjoy a photo opportunity with Santa and meet one of our fascinating animal ambassadors. After that, stick around to see our magical holiday decorations and say “Happy Holidays” to your favorite animals on exhibit, Zoo admission is included with your ticket!
Dates: Saturday, December 9th & 16th 9am & 11:30am
Address: 300 Parkside Avenue, Buffalo
Light up Lockport Parade
Kick off the Christmas season in Lockport. The events for this celebration include hot cocoa trail, free family movies at The Palace, Kids Christmas crafts, visits with Santa, and ice skating at Cornerstone Arena, culminating in the Light Up Lockport Parade.
Date: November 25th – events throughout the day – Parade starts at 6 pm.
Address: Main St, Lockport
The Christkindlmarkt at Hofbrauhaus Buffalo
Enjoy the cherished German tradition of an outdoor Christmas market right here at Hofbräuhaus Buffalo, as we present our 3rd annual Christkindlmarkt! Enjoy local artisans, horse drawn carriage rides, a beer barrel Christmas tree lighting, local choirs, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and many more German Christmas traditions. As Western New York’s premier European Holiday Market, Hofbräuhaus Buffalo unites this German tradition with international flare and local charm!
Open: November 24-26, December 1-3, 8-10, 15-17
Address: 190 Scott Street, Buffalo
Christmas Season at the Van Horn Mansion
Christmas Tours
Open to the public, 60-90 minute tours. Cost: $5 per person (pay cash at the door). Reservations are not necessary, we start tours as groups arrive.
Explore the Van Horn Mansion while it’s decorated for Christmas in a Victorian/ Vintage style. Tours feature a look back at Christmases of yesteryears.
Dates: Sundays, 1-4pm | Nov. 12, 19, 26, Dec. 3 & 17
Open House
Free admission & parking. Please bring a donation for the local food pantry.
Join us for our annual Christmas tradition. Enjoy listening to carols while perusing rooms with various hands-on activities, light shopping, and refreshments.
Date: Sunday, Dec. 10 | 1-4 pm
Address: 2159 Lockport-Olcott Rd. Newfane, NY