Looking for 2025 Rochester NY Christmas events and Holiday events in the Finger Lakes. There are many fun things to do in in December in Rochester and the Finger Lakes to celebrate the 2024 Holiday season, including Christmas Tree lightings and Festival of Lights, Christmas Finger Lakes wine events, Christmas shows and craft fairs, Children’s Christmas events, Breakfast with Santa, and more.
Events may be canceled or postponed. Check websites before heading to event.
Dickens’ Christmas in Skaneateles 2025
- Saturdays & Sundays (noon-4pm) – Thanksgiving thru Dec 24
- View Website
- Join Christmas Carolers and dancers, listen to live music by bagpipers and a brass band, and enjoy special events as the streets of downtown Skaneateles transform into a winter wonderland straight out of Dicken’s novel A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens and his cast of characters will interact with residents and visitors in the streets, stores and restaurants.
Downtown Canandaigua Christmas
- Downtown Canandaigua in the Commons Park
- Santa’s House: Thurs & Fridays 6-8pm | Sats & Sundays (12-4pm)
- Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
Festival of Trees @ Granger Homestead, Canandaigua
- Nov. 14-Dec. 6, 2025
- View website
- With well over one hundred items displayed each year, the Granger Homestead is a holiday wonderland. Enjoy a walk through the festively decorated period mansion. There are themed Christmas trees, wreaths, mantel pieces, tabletop decorations, holiday jewelry and more. Bring the family and get into the holiday spirit.
Holiday Laser Show at the Strasenburgh Planetarium
- Strasenburgh Planetarium – 657 East Ave. Rochester, NY
- View website
- This spectacular laser show features favorite holiday songs choreographed with dancing laser light among the stars of the Planetarium sky at the Strasenburgh Planetarium.
Ithaca Winter Holiday Bash – Downtown Ithaca
- December 6, 2025
- View Website
- Santa’s Arrival 11am-2pm – Children and families are welcome to celebrate Santa’s Arrival in The Commons and enjoy photos with Santa, hot chocolate, live entertainers and holiday treats.
- Elf Hop Kids Silent Disco-4:30pm – a fun, energetic hour of holiday hits and dancing.
- Silent Disco 6pm-8pm – Put on your headphones and dance to holiday music in the festively decorated Commons.
- Cookie Walk 2025 – Center Ithaca · 11am-3pm (or until cookies sell out)
- Winter Artisan Market – 11am-5pm Press Bay Backlot, Alley, and Court (Corner of Geneva & Green Streets). Winter Artisan Market featuring 40 local makers. Explore unique art, crafts, and gifts while enjoying live music, warming stations, and delicious food and drinks.
Roc Holiday Village 2025
- December 5-28, 2025 (Wed-Sun)
- 353 Court St. Rochester, NY
- View Website
- Roc Holiday Village is New York’s favorite winter festival! The enchanting village captures the spirit of the season in downtown Rochester with free ice skating & skate rentals, free visits and photos with Santa, free kids crafts, food trucks, unique shopping village, explore the village activities, holiday celebrations and so much more! Open Wednesdays – Sundays from 12/5 – 12/28, 2025. Admission is free.
Rochester Holidays at the Market 2025
- Sundays: December 7 & 14, 2025 (8am-2pm)
- Thursday December 18, 2025 (6-9pm)
- Rochester Public Market – 280 North Union Street, Rochester, NY
- view website
- Rochester Holidays at the Market features a festive mix of holiday-oriented vendors with art, crafts, decorations, holiday food delicacies, gifts, stocking-stuffers, carriage rides with Santa, and much much more at the Rochester Public Market.
Park Avenue Holiday Open House – Rochester
- Thursday, December 4, 2025 (5-9pm)
- Park Ave, Rochester, NY
- View Website
- The Park Avenue Holiday Open House includes a Tree and Menorah lighting ceremony, photos with Santa, horse drawn wagon rides, festive carols and shopping and dining specials.
Greece Tree Lighting & Family Christmas Party – Greece
- ??? Thursday, December 4, 2025 (5:45-8pm)
- Greece Community Center, Greece, NY
- View Website
- Enjoy Christmas carols before the tree lighting ceremony in the pavilion next to the Greece Community Center. Dress warm and stay for the Family Christmas party with Santa, holiday performance, crafts, treats and more.
Irondequoit Holiday Tree/Menorah Lighting
- Thursday, December 7, 2025
- Town Hall Campus, New Year-Round Market Building off Kings Hwy. Irondequoit, NY
- View Website
- Holiday Market & Santa’s Workshop from 4-7pm. Holiday Lighting Ceremony begins at 6pm. Stop by the Pioneer House for cider and cookies. This event is free and open to the entire community.
2025 Starshine and Lights on Wheels Parade – Penn Yan
- Saturday, December 6, 2025
- Downtown Penn Yan, NY
- View Website
- Visit Downtown Penn Yan for the “StarShine, Christmas in the Village” from 3-6pm. Enjoy a variety of music, entertainment, colorful lights, treats, historic displays, special sales, and activities such as wagon rides, a petting zoo, a magician, face painting, Elf School games, and more.
- Lights on Wheels Parade (6:30) features all different vehicles, tractors, and floats dressed in Christmas lights and decorations, with Santa bringing up the rear.
Festival of Lights in Clifton Springs
- Friday, December 5, 2025 (6-8:30pm)
- Downtown Clifton Springs, NY
- View Website
- Festival of Lights in Clifton Springs – Victorian-era downtown is transformed into a winter wonderland! Horse-drawn wagon rides, refreshments, live entertainment, shopping and dining specials, kids activities, street vendors, and visits with Santa.
2025 Lights on the River Festival – Owego
- Friday, December 5, 2025
- Downtown Owego, NY
- View Website
- Join the 2025 Lights on the River Festival celebration in Downtown Owego for the holiday lighting and festivities. Christmas lights reflecting on the river, historic buildings lit with candles, Children’s choirs, horse and wagon rides, ice sculptures, dancers, strolling musicians, a visit with Santa, food, Christmas specials, Parade of Lights, and Fireworks.
Genesee Brewery’s Keg Tree Lighting – Rochester
- Friday, December 5, 2025 (5-9pm)
- Genesee Brew House – 25 Cataract St. Rochester, NY
- View Website
- Genesee Brewery’s Keg Tree Lighting is a free, family friendly event at the Genesee Brew House and will feature food trucks, live music and entertainment.
The Nutcracker – Canandaigua
- December 5-7, 2025
- Fort Hill Performing Arts Center – Canandaigua, NY
- view website
- Rochester City Ballet returns to the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua with performances of “The Nutcracker”.
Light Up The Holidays Downtown Rochester, NY
- December 6, 2025 – (5pm)
- Starts at Liberty Pole in Downtown Rochester, NY
- View Website
- Kick off the holiday season beginning with the Liberty Pole Lighting Ceremony, and Family Parade to the ROC Holiday Village.
It’s a Wonderful Life in the South Wedge – Rochester, NY
- December 6, 2025 (11am-4pm)
- Star Alley and multiple locations throughout the South Wedge, Rochester, NY
- View Website
- It’s a Wonderful Life in the South Wedge. Star Alley will be decorated in a classic Christmas theme with pine boughs and decorations while shoppers explore the South Wedge neighborhood. Music, food and activities.
Sparkle – Corning Gaffer District
- December 6, 2025 (4-8pm)
- Market Street, Corning, NY
- View Website
- Sparkle in the Corning Gaffer District features horse and wagon rides, shopping and dining promotions, outdoor entertainment and activities for the whole family, craft and food vendors, holiday carolers, and photos with Santa in his Crystal House.
Hammondsport’s Cookie Walk
- December 6, 2025
- Village Square, Hammondsport, NY
- view website
- Stroll through beautiful Hammondsport, NY while collecting Christmas cookies from participating vendors at the Hammondsport’s Cookie Walk.
Geneva Rotary Santa Train Express Cinema
- December 6, 2025
- North Street School – 400 W North Street, Geneva, NY
- view website
- Geneva Rotary presents a showing of the holiday favorite The Polar Express on the big screen. The event also features a visit and photo opportunities with Santa and his friends and Christmas carol sing-a-long.
Hammondsport’s Christmas in the Park
- December 13, 2025 (4-7pm)
- Village Square, Hammondsport, NY
- Visit Website
- Hammondsport’s Christmas in the Park is an old fashioned Christmas celebration with live music, food, vendors, horse drawn wagon rides, raffles, Santa & Mrs. Claus, storytelling, and fun for all!
“It’s A Wonderful Life” Festival – Seneca Falls
- December 12-14, 2025
- Seneca Falls, NY
- view website
- “It’s A Wonderful Life” Festival in Seneca Falls features three full days of family fun and special events in Seneca Falls, NY – “The Real Bedford Falls,” including “It’s a Wonderful Parade”, Santa at the North Pole, Free Roasted Chestnuts, Craft Fair, Free Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides, It’s a Wonderful Bonfire, Tree Lighting, Caroling and Santa in People’s Park, “Bedford Falls” BBQ & Bake Sale, and more.
Sea Breeze Christmas Parade and Fireworks
- December 13, 2025 (5:30pm)
- Sea Breeze FD – 4657 Culver Rd. Irondequoit, NY
- 2024 Sea Breeze Christmas Parade takes place on Saturday at 5:30pm and runs down Culver Road from Durand Blvd. to the Sea Breeze Firehouse. Fireworks start 20 minutes after parade.
Drive-Thru Live Nativity – Canandaigua
- December 13-14, 2025
- First United Methodist Church, 100 N, Main St, Canandaigua.
- Experience a re-enactment of the original Christmas Eve from the comfort of your vehicle. Drive through the church parking lot, and view shepherds and their sheep as they receive the angels’ message of “glory to God”. Roman soldiers will be ready to direct you through the town where you will see the busy Bethlehem market place, the Inn which had no room, and the stable where Mary and Joseph had to stay. This event is free.
Thanksgiving Dinner – Buffalo & WNY