Winter Events In New York

Winter is the season to be jolly—at events all across New York. From the extravaganza of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade that kicks off the holiday season in New York City, to the fresh-tapped sweetness of Maple Syrup Weekends, held in late March at sugar houses upstate, there’s a full calendar of fun.

On the last Saturday in November, hustle off to Buffalo, where you can dance the night away to ‘70s songs at the annual World’s Largest Disco. Thousands groove at this Retro party listed as one of the Top 5 events in the US by Party Across America. Pucker up for the Hudson Valley’s International Pickle Festival, also held in late November. From sushi to sauerbraten, there’s something for everyone. Beginning just after Thanksgiving, communities statewide present stroll-through or drive-through holiday light shows, including Onondaga's Lights on the Lake and Utica's Wonderland of Lights.

Step back into old-fashioned holiday celebrations in December. You can ride in a horsedrawn carriage in the Bronx, at the Bartow-Pell Mansion's annual Winter Family Day that also features a holiday boutique and photos with Santa. Historic Hudson Valley homes such as Lyndhurst and Van Cortlandt Manor welcome guests with 1800s-style refreshments and candlelight tours. Slow down and savor the season at street fairs like Winter Walk on Warren Street that transforms Hudson's main street into a wonderland animated by dancers, musicians and giant puppets. Troy’s annual Victorian Stroll attracts nearly 20,000 visitors with over 100 family-friendly activities and performances by choirs, magicians and storytellers.

In the Finger Lakes, the storybook-pretty village of Skaneateles hosts a Dickens Christmas festival,complete with carolers, carriage rides and chestnuts roasting on open fires. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, it runs every weekend through late December. The Lights on the River festival in historicOwego is topped off by a riverside fireworks display. And the picture-perfect community of Seneca Fallsis so sure it served as Frank Capra’s inspiration that they’ve created an annual It’s A Wonderful LifeCelebration. Fans enjoy a screening of the holiday classic, dinner with ZuZu, and horsedrawn wagon rides. Nearby wineries entertain with seasonal food and wine pairings.

Old-time holiday train rides include the Medina Railroad Museum's Santa Claus excursions through scenic villages along the Erie Canal. On the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, the beloved Polar Expressstory comes to life on a round-trip journey from Utica to the "North Pole."

No place celebrates New Year’s Eve like New York. About one million people gather in New York City’sTimes Square to see the famous Ball descend, and over a billion watch worldwide. Hundreds of cities and towns across the state, including Binghamton, Buffalo and Saratoga Springs, host family-friendly First Night celebrations. First Day in Lake George is celebrated with the Polar Plunge-New Year's Day swim and the surprisingly comfortable Frostbite Cruise.

Every January at Lake Placid, NASCAR drivers race in the Bodine Bobsled Challenge. You can watch world-class athletes compete in events at Olympic venues throughout the season.

Winter carnivals upstate feature skating, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling races, ice-fishing, ice-sculptures, concerts and parades. The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a tradition since 1897, runs for 10 days each February. It begins and ends with spectacular fireworks over the famous Ice Palace. In March, Mardi Gras and torchlight parades highlight the Winter Carnival at Holiday Valley ski resort inEllicottville.

Check our listings for many more events, including music festivals, holiday train rides, winter carnivals and spring flower shows. It’s always time to celebrate in New York State!