The Wonderland of Lights Rhinebeck
Visitors will enjoy a plethora of festive pageantry as they journey through more than a mile of spectacular lights and holiday wonder. From tunnel displays to towering structures and whimsical designs, The Wonderland of Lights will create a memorable experience for the entire family.
Dates: November 22 – December 30
Times: 5 pm – 9 pm
Closed Mon-Wed Nov 27-29
Closed Mon-Wed Dec 4-6
Closed Mon-Wed Dec 11-13
Open Nightly Dec 14-30
Address: Duchess County Fairground, 6636 US 9, Rhinebeck, NY
Frosty Fest
Holiday lights, character meet and greets, and animated musical Christmas light shows. This festival put the happy back into the holidays. This is sure to be a family favorite and might just become your annual Christmas tradition.
Open: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays November 24th – December 23rd
Address: 778 Broadway, Route 9W, Ulster Park
Washington County Holiday Lighted Nights
Holiday Lighted Nights is a new drive-thru Holiday Light Experience debuting at the Washington County Fairgrounds. While you’re there stop and grab some delicious holiday treats at their snack stands.
Open: November 24th-December 30th 4:00 pm -9:00 pm
Address: 392 Old Schuylerville Rd., Greenwich
Christmasland
Immerse yourself in all that is great about the Christmas season at Christmasland. This destination brings back the nostalgia of an old fashion Christmas. Families will enjoy light displays, cookie decorating, visiting Santa, a Christmas train ride, horse-drawn carriage, and sleigh rides, Ornament decorating, and tons of fun kid’s activities.
Dates: November 25th – December 17th
Address: 3068 Furbeck Rd., Altamont, NY
Schenectady Holiday Parade
Ring In The Holiday Season In Downtown Schenectady At The 53rd Annual Holiday Parade Presented By The City & County Of Schenectady.
Enjoy this storied, annual Capital Region tradition with friends and family. With marching bands, dancing troupes, glittering firetrucks, sparkling floats, and a special visit from Santa Claus, it’s fun for the whole family. Come early and enjoy holiday performances by local musicians on the parade mainstage.
Date: November 18, 2023, 5 pm – 8:30 pm
Address: State Street in Downtown Schenectady
Wintertime Wonderland
Frosty Ice Maze – Begin your journey gliding through a winding ice maze full of hidden treasures throughout the cave walls. At the end of your voyage, the royal Ice Princess will be awaiting your arrival to take a whimsical portrait and to greet you at the entrance of the Wintry village.
Post Office – Make a pit stop at our train station and post office where you can mail out your letters to Santa! Santa’s helpers will be sure your letters are delivered to the North Pole and will be opened by Santa before Christmas Day! Be sure to include your address or email so Santa can respond!
Gingerbread House – Stroll through a magical wintry village full of snowy homes, decorative Christmas trees, and even a life-sized Gingerbread house where you can meet the Gingerbread man and many more magical friends!
Santa’s Workshop – Sneak a peek at Santa’s buzzing workshop where you will meet tons of jolly Elves and Mrs. Claus! Feel the magic of Christmas come to life! Have you been naughty or nice this year? You’ll find out here!
Life-Size Ornament – While writing letters to Santa, stop by our life-sized ornament to purchase candy apples, cotton candy, lollipops, refreshments, and baked goods out of this life-sized ornament!
Interactive Whoville – Help us stop YOU KNOW WHO with Cindy Lou Who and friends. You may even get to meet his real-life buddy Max! New this year MULTIPLE rides and other fun additions.
Light Show -Take a stroll down Candy Cane Alley among a fantastic holiday light display! or take a ride on the Christmas train.
Open: November 18th – December 23rd, 2023
Address: 93 W Campbell Rd, Schenectady, NY
New York State Holiday Tree Lighting
Celebrate the season at the beautiful Empire State Plaza with FREE activities including the official ceremony and tree lighting, fireworks, a rock-and-skate with Skeeter Creek, demonstrations by the Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club, performances by Tuba Christmas, and photo opportunities with Santa Claus at Cornerstone at the Plaza!
Date: December 1st, 2023 at 5:00pm
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY
Troy Victorian Stroll
For 40 years, the Troy Victorian Stroll has been a community holiday tradition that transforms the streets of historic downtown Troy into a bygone Victorian era, complete with visitors in Victorian dress strolling the City.
Date: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 11 am – 5 pm
Schenectady Festival of Trees
Celebrate the season as we fill our galleries with lighted fir trees! Decorated from classic to kooky Christmas styles, the Festival of Trees glows with the enchantment of the holidays. Join us throughout December for a shimmering, festive season.
Dates: December 2nd – December 23rd, 2023, 10 am – 5 pm
Address: 32 Washington Avenue, Schenectady, NY
The 67th Annual Holiday Greens Show “A Visit From St. Nicholas”
The 67th Annual Holiday Greens Show is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” first published in the Troy Sentinel, December 23rd, 1823.
Join us as 13 rooms of the Historic Hart-Cluett House are transformed into a rare holiday display inspired by this now world-famous poem using only fresh seasonal greens, flowers, & more.
Enjoy free admission* to the Greens Show on Community Night, Thursday, November 30th from 5-8 PM. A fun event for the whole family, Community Night will include children’s holiday books being read aloud under the tree, a scavenger hunt to entertain all ages, and Santa himself!
Back by popular demand, the show will include the Dickins Village exhibit on display in the adjacent Carr Building, as well as book signings by Pamela McColl, author of “Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem.”
Dates: November 30th – December 3rd
12 NOON – 5 PM, Daily
Address: Hart Cluett Museum, 57 2nd St Troy, NY
The Canadian Holiday Train
The Canadian Holiday Train departs Montreal on November 21 and follows CP tracks west to Vancouver, performing free concerts in support of food banks at each stop. The train is scheduled to make stops in New York.
Menands
Location: Menand Road railway crossing at Ganser Smith
Memorial Park, Canadian Train
Date: November 24th
Time: Train arrives at 3:45 p.m.| Show starts at 4:00 p.m.
Mechanicville
Location: 300 Park Avenue, parking lot adjacent to CPKC
tracks, Canadian Train
Date: November 24th
Time: Train arrives at 5:45 p.m. | Show starts at 6 p.m.
Saratoga Springs
Location: Amtrak Station, 26 Station Lane, Saratoga Springs
Date: November 24th
Time: Train arrives at 7:20 p.m. | Show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Town of Sand Lake’s 10th Annual Holiday Parade & Toy Drive
11th Annual Holiday Parade on Friday, December 1st. The parade route will go from Miller Hill Elementary, proceed down Route 43 to Old Route 66, and down Gettle Road, where it will end at Butler Park! There will be free refreshments, the tree lighting, and photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Clause! The fun starts at 7pm
Date: Friday, December 1st, 2023 – 7pm