101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Rochester - 2023 | Kids Out and About Rochester <

101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Rochester - 2023

 

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 postClick 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!

 

Santa Sightings

Nov 4- Dec 24, 2023 Visit Santa at Greece Ridge Mall
Nov 18- Dec 17, 2023 All Aboard the Wonderland Express!- Arcade and Attica Railroad
Nov 18- 24, 2023 Visit Santa at Eastview Mall
Nov 25- Dec 17, 2023 The Polar Express Train Ride- Medina Railroad Museum
Nov 25, 2023 Illuminate Light Parade- Canandaigua
Nov 25, 2023 The Holiday Market at Perinton Square
Nov 25, 2023 Annual Christmas Tree Celebration- I-Square
Nov 30, 2023 Park Avenue Holiday Open House
Dec 1, 2023 Santa's Coming to The Fire House- Gates Fire District Headquarters
Dec 1-3, 2023 Holiday Pet Photos - Lollypop Farm
Dec 1, 2023 Santa’s Magical Express Parade- Ogden Community Center
Dec 1, 2023 Community Tree Lighting & Christmas Parade of Lights- Chili 
Dec 1-23, 2023 Visit with Santa at Roc Holiday Village
Dec 2, 2023 Geneva Rotary Santa Train
Dec 2, 2023 Parade of Lights - Village of Webster
Dec 2, 2023 Skate with Santa- Dick's House of Sport
Dec 2, 2023 Holiday Homecoming- George Eastman Museum
Dec 2, 2023 Santa Comes to the Farm- Schutts Apple Mill
Dec 2, 2023 Winter in the Village- Dansville
Dec 2-3 and 9-10 2023 Shadow Hill Breakfast with Santa
Dec 8-9 and 15-16, 2023 Santa Rides to the North Pole
Dec 9, 2023 An Afternoon with Santa- Webster
Dec 9-10, 2023 Cookies with Santa and Horse Drawn Wagon Rides- Duvall Farms
Dec 11, 2023 ​Breakfast with Mr and Mrs Claus- Ontario Play and Cafe
Dec 9, 2023 Breakfast with Santa- Gates
Dec 9 and 16, 2023 Family Fun Day: Stars with Santa- Strasenburgh Planetarium
Dec 10 and 16-17, 2023 Holly Trolley- New York Museum of Transportation
Dec 16-17, 2023 Yuletide Pancake Breakfast with St. Nick - GCV&M

 

Christmas Community Events

Nov 10- Dec 2, 2023 Festival Of Trees- Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum
Nov 11- Dec 31, 2023 Sweet Creations Gingerbread Displays - George Eastman Museum
Nov 11, 203- Jan 1, 2024 Holiday Laser Light Show - Strasenburgh Planetarium
Nov 11 - Dec 3, 2023 Wreath Display - George Eastman Museum
Nov 11- Dec 14, 2023 Tabletop Tree Display - George Eastman Museum
Nov 18 - 19, 2023 Holiday Market - GCVM
Nov 25- Dec 24, 2023 Train Display- The Garden Factory
Nov 25, 2023- Jan 7, 2024 Visit with the Reindeer - Shortsville Reindeer Farm, LLC
Nov 25, 2023 Light Up Lima
Dec 1-23, 2023 Roc Holiday Village
Dec 1, 2023 The Old Farm's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dec 2 - 16, 2023 Yuletide in the Country Tours & Dinner- GCV&M
Dec 2, 2023 Come Home for the Holidays - Fairport
Dec 2, 2023 It's a Wonderful Life in the South Wedge
Dec 2, 2023 Rochester Ugly Sweater 5K
Dec 3, 2023 Visit with the Grinch- Perinton Community/Aquatic Center
Dec 5, 2023 Pittsford's Annual Candlelight Night - Port of Pittsford
Dec 9, 2023 Holiday Lights and Magic- Henrietta
Dec 9, 2023 The Polar Express Family Film Party- Springdale Farm
Dec 9, 2023 Honeoye Falls Fire Department Christmas Parade 
Dec 9, 2023 Geneseo Christmas Walk Gingerbread House Party
Dec 10, 2023 Reindeer Run- Blue Cross Arena
Dec 16, 2023 Marion Holiday Parade
Dec 17, 2023 Santa Stampede Benefiting Bivona Child Advocacy Center
Dec 17, 2023 Avon Christmas Parade

  

Nutcrackers

Nov 18, 2023 Nutcracker One-Day, Fun-Day Event- Studio East Dance Company
Nov 22-26, 2023 The Nutcracker- RPO
Nov 26, 2023 The Nutcracker- Ithaca Ballet
Dec 2 and 8, 2023 The Nutcracker- Genesee Dance Theatre
Dec 8, 2023 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet- RBTL
Dec 8-10, 2023 The Nutcracker- Fort Hill Performance Arts Center
Dec 12, 2023 The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine's The Nutcracker at Kodak Center
Dec 14-17, 2023 New York State Ballet-The Nutcracker at Roberts Wesleyan Hale Auditorium

 

Holiday Concerts

Dec 2-3, 2023 Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus: Holidays Around the World
Dec 3, 2023 The Irish Tenors- A Family Christmas- RBTL
Dec 3, 2023 Holiday Organ Concert Performed by Joe Blackburn
Dec 3, 2023 Brockport College-Community Chorus: Sounds of the Season
Dec 6, 2023 Live from Hochstein – Eastman Horn Choir: Holiday Music for Horns
Dec 7, 2023 A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland
Dec 7, 2023 The Magic of Giving- RPO
Dec 8, 2023 Holiday Harmonies- Perinton Concert Band
Dec 10, 2023 An Hour Long Concert Performed by Stringplicity
Dec 13, 2023 Live from Hochstein – Madrigalia: A Cup of Good Cheer
Dec 16, 2023 Almost Queen: Almost Christmas Concert
Dec 15-17, 2023 Gala Holiday Pops Holiday - RPO

 

 

 

Holiday Theatre

Nov 11- Dec 23, 2023 Nine Holiday Films on Screen- Dryden Theatre
Nov 28- Dec 30, 2023 A Christmas Carol- Geva Theatre
Dec 1-2, 2023 Rudolph: The Musical- RBTL
Dec 7-23, 2023 White Christmas- The Musical- OFC Creations
Dec 7-10, 2023 "The Gift of the Magi" Presented by Restivo Productions
Dec 8-30, 2023 The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley - Blackfriars Theatre
Dec 15-16, 2023 Into the Light- Smith Opera House
Dec 27-30, 2023 Anansi Tales for the Holidays- MuCCC Theatre


Living Nativities

Dec 9, 2023 Live Nativity- Crossroads Community Church
Weekends Nov 24 - Dec 10, 2923 Live Nativity - part of the Christmas Experience at Stokoe Farms
Dec 15-16, 2023 Live Nativity- Avon Wesleyan Church

 

Christmas Tree Experience

Starting Nov 18, 2023 Stokoe Farms Christmas Tree Farm
Starting Nov 18, 2023 Woody Acres
Starting Nov 18, 2023 Wilbert's Christmas Tree Farm
Starting Nov 24, 2023 Crossen Tree Farm
 Starting Nov 24, 2023 Bauman's Farm Market
  Click here for our full list of places to get live Christmas Trees

 

Holiday Lights

Nov 13, 2023 - Jan 12, 2024 Lights on the Lake Drive- Thru - Onondaga Lake Park
Opens Nov 22, 2023 Winter Festival of Lights
Nov 24- Dec 30, 2023 Holiday Light Show at Victor Hills Golf Club
Dec 1, 2023 2023 Keg Tree Lighting- Genesee Brew House
Dec 9, 2023 - Jan 1, 2024 Holiday Lights Tour - Bivona Child Advocacy Center
Dec 16- 23, 2023 Christmas at RCCM
  Be Sure to Check Out our list of Driving Tour of Holiday Lights!

 

Crafty & Cookin' Christmas

Nov 30, 2023 Holiday Grapevine Wreath Making Class- Schutt's Apple Mill
Dec 2, 2023 Gingerbread Houses- Penfield Public Library
Dec 2, 2023 Santa's Workshop: Crafting, Cocoa and Cookies!
Dec 2-3, 2023 Christmas at CSM
Dec 2, 2023 Holiday Greens Workshop- Casey Park
Dec 3, 2023 Letterpress Holiday Cards- Flower City Arts Center
Dec 3, 2023 DIY Nutcrackers- Sunshine & Pepper
Dec 6, 2023 Christmas Wreath Making Class- Schutt's Apple Mill
Dec 9, 2023 Glass Flameworking Specialty Sampler: Holiday Ornament
Dec 15, 2023 Kids Night Out- Christmas Party

 

Ice Skating

Open Nov 17, 2023 DICK’S House of Sport at The Eastview Mall
Open Nov 18, 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square
  Lakeshore Hockey Arena
Open now through April 7, 2024 Genesee Valley Sports Complex
  Paul Louis Arena
  Tim Horton's Iceplex

 

Chanukah

Nov 30, 2023 Park Avenue Holiday Open House
Dec 2-3, 2023 The Sinai Artful Chanukah Happening & Bazaar
Dec 8, 2023 Chanukah Dinner and Celebration
Dec 9, 2023 Hanukkah Concert- Temple Beth El
Dec 13, 2023 Annual TBE Hanukkah Party

 

Journey to an Old-Fashioned Christmas

Nov 24- Dec 24, 2023 Dickens Christmas at Skaneateles
Dec 2-16, 2023 Yuletide in the Country Tours & Dinner- GCVM
Dec 7-10, 2023 It's A Wonderful Life- Seneca Falls

 

Shopping & Craft Fairs

Nov 10-12, 2023 Christkindl Market- Granger Homestead
Nov 10-12, 2023 Christmas in the Country- Rochester Dome Arena
Nov 11, 2023 Christkindlmarkt- Lutheran Church of Our Savior
Nov 18-19, 2023 Holiday Market - GCV&M
Nov 24-25, 2023 Holiday Craft & Wine Marketplace
Nov 26- Dec 14, 2023 Holidays at The Market
Dec 1-3, 2023 Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit Christmas Bazaar and Food Sale
Dec 2, 2023 7th Annual Holiday Open House - Upstate Vintage Market
Dec 9, 2023 Hope Hall's One-Day Holiday Woodworking Sale
Dec 10, 2023 Crafty Affair- Lovin' Cup

 

New Year's Eve

Dec 29, 2023

Noon Year's Eve Party - Penfield Library

Dec 30, 2023

Noon Year's Eve Party - Henrietta Public Library

Dec 31, 2023

Winter Festival of Lights NY Wagon RIDES - Log Cabin Restaurant

Dec 31, 2023

New Year's Eve Celebration - Holiday Valley

Dec 31, 2023 New Year’s Eve Celebration - Swain
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