101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Rochester - 2024 (In Progess)
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!
Santa Sightings
Nov 4- Dec 24, 2023 | 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 |
Nov 25, 2023 | Annual Christmas Tree Celebration- I-Square |
Dec 1, 2023 | Santa's Coming to The Fire House- Gates Fire District Headquarters |
Dec 1 and 15, 2024 | Breakfast with Mr and Mrs Claus- Ontario Play and Cafe |
Dec 7, 2024 | Santa Visits Main Street Mercantile- Fairport |
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 2, 2023 | Parade of Lights - Village of Webster |
Dec 2, 2023 | Santa Comes to the Farm- Schutts Apple Mill |
Dec 7, 2024 | Winter in the Village- Dansville |
Dec 7, 2024 | Breakfast with Santa- Gates |
Dec 7, 8 and 15, 2024 | Holly Trolley- New York Museum of Transportation |
Dec 8 and 22, 2024 | Yuletide Pancake Breakfast with St. Nick - GCV&M |
Dec 2-3 and 9-10 2023 | Shadow Hill Breakfast with Santa |
Dec 14, 2024 | An Afternoon with Santa- Webster |
Dec 9 and 16, 2023 | Family Fun Day: Stars with Santa- Strasenburgh Planetarium |
Christmas Community Events
Nov 8- 30, 2024 | Festival Of Trees- Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum |
Nov 9, 2024- Jan 5, 2025 | Sweet Creations Gingerbread Displays - George Eastman Museum |
Nov 16, 2024- Jan 5, 2025 | Holiday Laser Light Show - Strasenburgh Planetarium |
Nov 9 - Dec 8, 2024 | Wreath Display - George Eastman Museum |
Nov 9- Dec 15, 2024 | Tabletop Tree Display - George Eastman Museum |
Nov 16 - 17, 2024 | Holiday Market - GCVM |
Nov 25- Dec 24, 2023 | Train Display- The Garden Factory |
Dec 1-31, 2024 | Visit with the Reindeer - Shortsville Reindeer Farm, LLC |
Dec 1, 2024 | The Old Farm's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony |
Dec 1, 2024 | Annual Holiday Lighting & Market- Irondequoit Town Hall |
Dec 1, 2024 | Visit with the Grinch- Perinton Community/Aquatic Center |
Dec 3, 2024 | Pittsford's Annual Candlelight Night - Port of Pittsford |
Nov 25, 2023 | Light Up Lima |
Dec 6-29, 2024 | Roc Holiday Village |
Dec 6 - 21, 2024 | Yuletide in the Country Tours & Dinner- GCV&M |
Dec 7-8, 2024 | Come Home for the Holidays - Fairport |
Dec 7, 2024 | It's a Wonderful Life in the South Wedge |
Dec 7, 2024 | Rochester Ugly Sweater 5K |
Dec 9, 2023 | Holiday Lights and Magic- Henrietta |
Dec 14, 2024 | Honeoye Falls Fire Department Christmas Parade |
Dec 14, 2024 | Marion Holiday Parade |
Dec 14, 2024 | 2024 Geneseo Christmas Walk presents: Too Many Santas! |
Dec 15, 2024 | Santa Stampede, Rochester - Benefitting The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester |
Dec 22, 2024 | Reindeer Run- Blue Cross Arena |
Dec 17, 2023 | Avon Christmas Parade |
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
Dec 8, 2024 | Live Nativity- Crossroads Community Church |
Weekends Nov 23 - Dec 15, 2024 | Live Nativity - part of the Christmas Experience at Stokoe Farms |
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 18, 2023 | Wilbert's Christmas Tree Farm |
Starting Nov 29, 2024 | 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 18, 2024 - Jan 13, 2025 | Lights on the Lake Drive- Thru - Onondaga Lake Park |
Opens Nov 22, 2023 | Winter Festival of Lights |
Nov 29- Dec 28, 2024 | Holiday Light Show at Victor Hills Golf Club |
Dec 1, 2023 | 2023 Keg Tree Lighting- Genesee Brew House |
Dec 7, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025 | Holiday Lights Tour - 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
Dec 5, 2024 | 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 7, 2024 | Holiday Cookie Creations- Allendale Columbia |
Dec 7-8, 2024 | Christmas at CSM |
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 15, 2023 | Kids Night Out- Christmas Party |
Ice Skating
Open Nov 17, 2023 | 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
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 29- Dec 24, 2024 | Dickens Christmas at Skaneateles |
Dec 6-21, 2024 | Yuletide in the Country Tours & Dinner- GCVM |
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 2, 2023 | 7th 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 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, 2024 |
New Year's Eve Celebration - Holiday Valley |
Dec 31, 2023 | New Year’s Eve Celebration - Swain |
Dec 31, 2024 | Noon Year Party- Ontario Play & Cafe |