101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Hudson Valley - 2023

KidsOutAndAbout is the Hudson Valley's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!

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. 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!

If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for Hudson Valley, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun in 2023!

Santa Sightings

Multiple Days Starting Nov 17, 2023 (Reservations are strongly recommended)	Photos with Santa - Cross County Shopping Center
Multiple Days Starting Nov 17, 2023	Catskill Mountain Railroad Polar Express
Multiple Days Starting Nov 16, 2023	Santa at Palisades Center Mall
Nov 18, 2023	Santa’s Grand Arrival - At Palisades Center Mall
Multiple Days Starting Nov 20, 2023	Santa Photos at Ridge Hill
Multiple Days Starting Nov 22, 2023	Photos with Santa at Jefferson Valley Mall
Multiple Days Starting Nov 24, 2023	Bruschi Christmas
Nov 26, 2023	Holiday Celebration With Santa - Walkway Over the Hudson
Dec 2, 2023	SINTERKLAAS FESTIVAL DAY IN RHINEBECK
Dec 3, 2023	Santa Cares - At Palisades Center Mall
Dec 5, 2023	Pet Party With Santa - At Palisades Center Mall
Dec 9-10, 16-17, 23, 2023	Breakfast with Frosty - Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

Dine with Santa

Dec 3, 2023	Beekman Fire Company Cookies with Santa Event
Dec 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023	Santa Brunch at The Thayer Hotel
Dec 10, 2023	Breakfast with Santa - Pine Plains Fire & Rescue

Old-Time Christmas

Multiple Dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Twilight Tours at Boscobel
Multiple Dates Starting Nov 24, 2023	Christmas by Candlelight 2023 - Old Sturbridge Village
Multiple Dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Holiday House Tours - Locust Grove
Nov 24, 25, 26, 2023	Glenview Holiday Tour - Hudson River Museum
Multiple Dates starting Nov 24, 2023	A Gilded Age Christmas - Staatsburgh State Historic Site
Multiple Days Nov 27 - Dec 29, 2023	Holiday Classic Mansion Tours at Lyndhurst
Dec 2, 2023	Carmel NY's Holiday on The Lake
Dec 2, 2023	Wawarsing Wassail
Dec 2, 2023	Hudson's Winter Walk
Dec 2, 3, 2023	Christmas in Museum Village
Dec 3, 10, 17, 2023	Holiday Hunt in the Mansion, a Family Fun Event! at Locust Grove

Light Displays

Multiple Dates Starting Nov 17 - Dec 31, 2023	Festival of Lights at Harvest Moon
Multiple dates begining Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024	Holiday Lights 2023 - Bronx Zoo
Multiple Dates starting Nov 17 - Jan 13, 2024	NYBG GLOW- New York Botanical Gardens
Nov 19, 2023	The Lighting of Ridge Hill
Multiple Dates Starting Nov 21, 2023	Origami Holiday Tree - American Museum of Natural History
Multiple Dates Starting Nov 22, 2023	Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farms
Multiple Dates begining Nov 22 - Dec 30, 2023	The Wonderland of Lights- Rhinebeck
Multiple Dates Starting Nov 24, 2023	Glimmer Nights at The Farmers' Museum
Multiple Dates Starting Nov 24, 2023	Kevin McCurdy's Holiday Spirit Festival- 2023
Multiple dates beginning Nov 24, 2023	Westchester's Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Light Show Experience
Weekends starting Nov 24 - Dec 30, 2023	Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights at the CT Trolley Museum
Multiple Dates begining Nov 24 - Dec 31, 2023	Peace, Love & Lights - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Nov 25, 2023	LaGrange Holiday Festival of Lights Parade
Dec 1, 2023	Parade of Lights - Millbrook, NY
Multiple Days starting Dec 1, 2023	Winter Wonderland - Dogwood Acres Family Farm
Dec 1, 2023	Mt. Kisco Chamber presents: Holiday Tree Lighting
Dec 2, 2023	Peekskill Holiday Tree Lighting
Dec 3, 2023	Tree Lighting - Holiday Lights of Nyack
Multiple days starting Dec 2, 2023	Holiday Lights on the Farm - Muscoot Farm
Dec 2, 2023	Holiday Electric Lights Parade and Tree Lighting - Yorktown
Dec 10, 2023	City Lights, Bright Holiday Nights-Tree Lighting - White Plains

Holiday Theatre

Nov 18, 2023	Winter Ice Skating Show - Mid-Hudson Civic Center
Nov. 24, Dec 2, 16, 2023	The Nutcracker by the New Paltz Ballet at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Nov 30, Dec 1,2, 2023	Live Theatre: A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play - Rosendale Theatre
Dec 2, 2023	"INTO THE LIGHT" (EXCERPTED PREVIEWS) AT SINTERKLAAS
Saturdays and Sundays Dec 2-17, 2023	Dickens's 'Christmas Carol' at The Old Dutch Church
Dec 3, 2023	Musiquita Nutcracker Tap Dance Special - Caramoor
Dec 9, 10, 2023	"INTO THE LIGHT" (FULL SHOW!) AT ROSENDALE THEATRE
Dec 10, 2023 (1 Hour Family Show)	The Nutcracker Performed by New York Theatre Ballet at Tarrytown Music Hall
Dec 13, 2023	Edwards Twins presents The Ultimate Christmas Variety Show Vegas’ Top Impersonators & Impressionists - Paramount Hudson Valley
Dec 16, 2023	O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi at Queens County Farm Museum
Dec 16, 17, 2023	Nutcracker for Kids at Yorktown Stage

Holiday Concerts

Dec 2, 2023	The Laurie Berkner Band - A Holiday Celebration Concert - Tarrytown Music Hall
Dec 9, 2023	Cherish the Ladies “A Celtic Christmas” - Tarrytown Music Hall
Dec 9, 2023	John Tesh- A Jazzy Swingin’ Christmas - Paramount Hudson Valley
Dec 10, 2023	Christmas With Chris Ruggiero at Yorktown Stage
Dec 10, 2023	TENET Vocal Artists Love Enfolds Thee Round - Caramoor
Dec 14, 2023	The Glenn Miller Orchestra - Home For The Holidays - Tarrytown Music Hall
Dec 15, 2023	The Doo Wop Project presents A Doo Wop Christmas - Tarrytown Music Hall
Dec 17, 2023	Darlene Love: Love for the Holidays - Tarrytown Music Hall
Dec 16, 17 (matinee) 2023	Jessica Lynn – A Very Merry Country Christmas - Paramount Hudson Valley
Dec 16 & 23, 2023	Christmas Rocks with EKKquinox: Steelpan Concert - At Palisades Center Mall

Holiday Trains

Nov 5, 2023	HV Train & Hobby Show - Mid-Hudson Civic Center
Select Dates Nov 17 - Jan 15, 2024	Holiday Train Show - New York Botanical Garden
Weekends starting Nov 18 - Dec 10, 2023	Holiday Train Show - Greenburgh Nature Center
Starting Nov 26, 2023	Holidays On The Hill Train Show at Lasdon Park

Hands On Holidays

Dec 27, 28, 29, 2023	Arts and Crafts Family Program (Ages 5+) - Locust Grove

Christmas Tree Experience

Opening Nov 20, 2023	Battenfeld Christmas Tree Farm
	Country Christmas on the Farm at Manza Family Farm
Opening Nov 24, 2023 (Reservations Required)	Emmerich Tree Farm
Opening Day is Nov 24, 2023	Pierson's Farm
Opening Day is Nov 24, 2023	Abel's Trees
	Primrose Hill Farm
	Evergreen Farm
Opening Day is Nov 24, 2023	Wright Family Farm
Opening Day is Nov 25, 2023	Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm

Ice Skating

Opening Day Nov 4, 2023	Ice skating at Bear Mountain Rink
Multiple dates Starting Nov 17, 2023	POP-UP ICE SKATING RINK at Cross County Center
	IceTime Sports Complex Public Skate
	McCann Ice Arena Public Skate

Hanukkah

Dec 7, 2023	Menorah Lighting - Ridge Hill
Dec 7, 2023	Chanukah Menorah Lighting- Bedford
Dec 10, 2023	Menorah Lighting - Carmel, NY
Dec 10, 2023	Chanukah Menorah Lighting - Pound Ridge
Dec 10, 2023	Chanukah Candlelighting & Storytelling at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley
Dec 10, 2023	Community Hanukkah Party - Vassar Temple, Poughkeepsie

Kwanzaa

Dec 16, 2023

Kwanzaa - Operation Unite NY

Shopping & Craft Fairs & Festivals

Nov 11-12, 2023	Holiday House and Shop at Old Austerlitz
Multiple Dates Starting Nov 17, 2023	Holiday Food Truck Market- Cross County Center
Nov 17, 18, 2023	Christkindlmarkt presented by Germania of Poughkeepsie
Nov 18, 2023	Winter Craft Fair - Mid-Hudson Civic Center
Nov 18-19, 2023	Holiday Market at Greenburgh Nature Center
Nov 18-19, 2023	Hudson Valley Hullabaloo - Andy Murphy Midtown Neighborhood Center
Nov 24, 25, 26, 2023	Basilica Farm and Flea Holiday Market
Nov 24, 25, 26, 2023	Hudson Valley Art Market at Locust Grove
Nov 24, 25, 26 2023	Annual Holiday Market at Bethel Woods
Nov 25-26, 2023	DCCF Holiday Craft Fair - Dutchess Community College
Nov 25, 26, 2023	Indoor Craft Fair- Samascott's Garden Market
Nov 26, 2023	Holiday Market & Family Day - Muscoot Farm
Dec 6, 2023	Holiday Market - Tarrytown Music Hall
Dec 6 - 17, 2023	Holiday Market - White Plains
Dec 7, 2023	Made in Kingston Pop-Up Makers Market at The YMCA
Dec 9, 2023	St. Nicholas Bazaar Fine Crafts & Holiday Cookie Sale - Grace Church
Dec 10, 2023	Holiday Craft Faire 2023 - The Ashokan Center

New Year's Eve/Day

Dec 31, 2023	New Year’s Eve Hike - Teatown Lake Reservation
Dec 31, 2023	White Plains New Year’s Eve Family Spectacular
Dec 31, 2023	NYE Roller Skate Balloon Drop Ball at Hyde Park Roller Magic
Dec 31, 2023	New Year's @ Noon at Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum
Dec 31, 2023	NYE Millbrook
Dec 31 - Jan 1, 2024	New Year’s Weekend 2024 - The Ashokan Center
Dec 31 - Jan 1, 2024	Ring in the New Year at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike - Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike - Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike at Sam’s Point
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike - Rockefeller State Park Preserve
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike - Staatsburgh State Historic Site
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike to a Scenic Stream and a Frozen Waterfall - Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike - Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike - Olana State Historic Site
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike - Little Stony Point- Hudson Highlands State Park
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike - John Jay Homestead
Jan 1, 2024	First Day Hike - Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park

Miscellaneous

Until Dec 14, 2023	Letters From Santa
Nov 19, 2023	Turkey Tale Story Hour - Clermont
Nov 19 2023	Turkey Tales - Hudson Highlands Nature Museum
Nov 23, 2023	Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner - Fire at The Ridge at Powder Ridge
Nov 24, 25, 26, 2023	Thanksgiving Weekend - HHNM Wildlife Education Center
Nov 24, 25, 26, 2023	Holiday Kick-Off - Hudson River Museum
Multiple Days Starting Nov 24, 2023	Lifted Spirits - Winter Festival - Powder Ridge Park
Nov 26 - Dec 13, 2023	North Pole Mail - LaGrange
Dec 3, 10, 17, 2023	Holiday Hunt in the Mansion, a Family Fun Event! - Locust Grove
Dec 16, 2023	Cocoa Around the World at Muscoot Farm
Dec 16, 2023	Winter Solstice Celebration (ODC) at HHNM
Dec 16, 2023	Winter Solstice Event - Olana State Historic Site
Dec 16, 2023	Beary Merry Holiday - Trailside Museum and Zoo
Dec 17, 2023	Holiday Tea & Music - Boscobel