101 Holiday Happenings in Rochester - 2024
The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, so click through to make arrangements, and keep in mind that things can be canceled at any time, so be sure to check. If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. (Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!)
Below are items that have been posted to our calendar, both virtual and in-person. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
And... if you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for Rochester, we have two: one for our BeyondTheNest.com site (for adults who want to know about local arts, culture, and recreation) and one for KidsOutAndAbout.com (for parents and grandparents who want to know about family-friendly events in the Rochester area). Click the link to sign up today for the newsletter that best suits you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas on our calendar below (both in-person and virtual events) for holiday fun!
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Click here to see our driving tour of 150 Rochester-area houses brilliantly lit for the holidays!
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Click here for our master guide to the holidays including Rochester's most popular holiday attractions: Roc Holiday Village, Genesee Country Village, holiday exhibits, concerts, and shows, and lots more!
Santa Sightings
| Nov 23- Dec 24, 2024 | Visit Santa at Greece Ridge Mall |
| Nov 23- Dec 22, 2024 | All Aboard the Wonderland Express!- Arcade and Attica Railroad |
| Nov 23- Dec 24, 2024 | Visit Santa at Eastview Mall |
| Nov 29- Dec 8, 2024 | A Magical Christmas Adventure- Hidden Valley Animal Adventure |
| Nov 30- Dec 22, 2024 | The Polar Express Train Ride- Medina Railroad Museum |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Illuminate Light Parade- Canandaigua |
| Nov 30, 2024 | The Holiday Market at Perinton Square |
| Dec 1, 2024 | Pancake Breakfast with Santa- Henrietta |
| Dec 1 and 15, 2024 | Breakfast with Mr and Mrs Claus- Ontario Play and Cafe |
| Dec 6-8, 2024 | Holiday Pet Photos - Lollypop Farm |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Ogden's Magical Holiday Celebration- Ogden Community Center |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Community Tree Lighting- Chili |
| Dec 6-22, 2024 | Visit with Santa at Roc Holiday Village |
| Dec 6-14, 2024 | Santa Rides to the North Pole (SOLD OUT) |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Geneva Rotary Santa Train |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Parade of Lights - Village of Webster |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Wagon Rides with Santa - Schutts Apple Mill |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Winter in the Village- Dansville |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Santa Visits Main Street Mercantile- Fairport |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Breakfast with Santa- Gates |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Skate with Santa at Dick's House of Sport - Eastview Mall |
| Dec 7, 8 & 15, 2024 | Holly Trolley- New York Museum of Transportation |
| Dec 7, 8, 14, 15, 2024 | Shadow Hill Breakfast with Santa |
| Dec 7 and 14, 2024 | Family Fun Day: Stars with Santa- Strasenburgh Planetarium |
| Dec 8 and 22, 2024 | Yuletide Pancake Breakfast with St. Nick - GCV&M |
| Dec 13, 2024 | Santa's Coming to The Fire House- Gates Fire District Headquarters |
| Dec 14, 2024 | An Afternoon with Santa- Webster |
Christmas Community Events
Nutcrackers
| Nov 9, 2024 | Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet- RBTL |
| Nov 23, 2024 | Nutcracker Parent Night Out- Studio East Dance Company |
| Nov 27- Dec 1, 2024 | The Nutcracker- RPO |
| Dec 1, 2024 | The Nutcracker- Ithaca Ballet |
| Dec 7 and 13-14, 2024 | The Nutcracker- Genesee Dance Theatre |
| Dec 11, 2024 | The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine's The Nutcracker at Kodak Center |
| Dec 12-15, 2024 | New York State Ballet-The Nutcracker at Roberts Wesleyan Hale Auditorium |
| Dec 13-15, 2024 | The Nutcracker- Fort Hill Performance Arts Center |
Holiday Concerts
| Nov 22, 2024 | Lindsey Stirling: The Snow Waltz Tour- Kodak Center |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Frank's Christmas in Vegas- OFC Creations |
| Dec 4, 2024 | Live from Hochstein – Madrigalia: A Cup of Good Cheer |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Fairytale of New York- Smith Center for the Arts |
| Dex 7, 2024 | Symphonic Band Holiday Concert- Brighton High School |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Sounds of the Season- Tower Fine Arts Center |
| Dec 11, 2024 | Live from Hochstein – Eastman Horn Choir |
| Dec 12, 2024 | Handel’s Messiah- RPO |
| Dec 13, 2024 | December Holiday Concert- Perinton Concert Band |
| Dec 20-22, 2024 | Gala Holiday Pops Holiday - RPO |
Holiday Theatre
| Nov 15-24, 2024 | A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol- Off Monroe Players |
| Nov 23- Dec 29, 2024 | A Christmas Carol- Geva Theatre |
| Nov 23, 2024 | Derek Hough: Dance for the Holidays- Kodak Center |
| Nov 29, 2024 | Elf- Dryden Theatre |
| Nov 30, 2024 | The Polar Express - Matinee- Dryden Theatre |
| Dec 3-8, 2024 | Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! the Musical- RBTL |
| Dec 13-29, 2024 | Dot - Blackfriars Theatre |
| Dec 13, 2024 | Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland- Kodak Center |
| Dec 29, 2024 | An Evening with Chevy Chase / National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation- RBTL |
Living Nativities
| Weekends Nov 23 - Dec 15, 2024 | Live Nativity - part of the Christmas Experience at Stokoe Farms |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Live Nativity- Crossroads Community Church |
| Dec 13-14, 2024 | Live Nativity- Avon Wesleyan Church |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Starting Nov 23, 2024 | Stokoe Farms Christmas Tree Farm |
| Starting Nov 23, 2024 | Woody Acres |
| Starting Nov 23, 2024 | Wilbert's Christmas Tree Farm |
| Starting Nov 29, 2024 | Crossen Tree Farm |
| Starting Nov 29, 2024 | Bauman's Farm Market |
| Click here for our full list of places to get live Christmas Trees |
Holiday Lights
| Nov 18, 2024 - Jan 13, 2025 | Lights on the Lake Drive- Thru - Onondaga Lake Park |
| Nov 29- Dec 28, 2024 | Holiday Light Show at Victor Hills Golf Club |
| Dec 6, 2024 | 2024 Keg Tree Lighting- Genesee Brew House |
| Dec 7, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025 | Holiday Lights Tour - Child Advocacy Center |
| Dec 13- 23, 2024 | Christmas at RCCM |
| Dec 13, 14, 20, 21, 2024 | Holiday Gnome Roam- Cumming Nature Center |
| Be Sure to Check Out our list of Driving Tour of Holiday Lights! |
Crafty & Cookin' Christmas
| Nov 30, 2024 | DIY Swag Wreath- Sunshine & Pepper |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Holiday Grapevine Wreath Making Class- Schutt's Apple Mill |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Grapevine Holiday Wreath Making Class- Schutt's Apple Mill |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Gingerbread Houses- Penfield Public Library |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Santa's Workshop: Crafting, Cocoa and Cookies! |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Holiday Cookie Creations- Allendale Columbia |
| Dec 7-8, 2024 | Christmas at CSM |
| Dec 13, 2024 | Kids Night Out- Christmas Party |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Wintercraft 2024- Flower City Arts Center |
Ice Skating
| Open Nov 22, 2024 | DICK’S House of Sport at The Eastview Mall |
| Open Nov 23, 2024 | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square |
| Lakeshore Hockey Arena | |
| Open now through April 6, 2025 | Genesee Valley Sports Complex |
| Paul Louis Arena | |
| Tim Horton's Iceplex |
Chanukah
| Dec 5, 2024 | Park Avenue Holiday Open House |
| Dec 7-8, 2024 | The Sinai Artful Hannukah Happening & Bazaar |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Hanukkah Celebration- Roc Holiday Village |
| Dec 10, 2024 | Hanukkah Hut Challenge- Temple B'rith Kodesh |
| Dec 22, 2024 | PJ-Build a Hanukkah Bear- Louis S. Wolk JCC of Greater Rochester |
Journey to an Old-Fashioned Christmas
| Nov 29- Dec 24, 2024 | Dickens Christmas at Skaneateles |
| Dec 6-21, 2024 | Yuletide in the Country Tours & Dinner- GCVM |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Christmas Open House at Tinker Homestead |
| Dec 13-15, 2024 | It's A Wonderful Life- Seneca Falls |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 8-10, 2024 | Christkindl Market- Granger Homestead |
| Nov 15-17, 2024 | Christmas in the Country- Rochester Dome Arena |
| Nov 16, 2024 | One Stop Holiday Shop- Walworth |
| Nov 16-17, 2024 | Holiday Market - GCV&M |
| Nov 22-24, 2024 | Holiday Bazaar- Rochester Museum & Science Center |
| Nov 29-30, 2024 | Holiday Craft & Wine Marketplace |
| Dec 1-9, 2024 | Holidays at The Market |
| Dec 6-8, 2024 | Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit Christmas Bazaar and Food Sale |
| Dec 7, 2024 | 8th Annual Holiday Open House - Upstate Vintage Market |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Hope Hall's Holiday Woodworking Sale |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Wintercraft 2024- Flower City Arts Center |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 31, 2024 |
Noon Year's Eve Party - Penfield Library |
| Dec 31, 2024 |
Noon Year's Eve Party - Henrietta Public Library |
| Dec 31, 2024 |
New Year's Eve Celebration - Holiday Valley |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Noon Year Party- Ontario Play & Cafe |
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