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 |
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Multiple Days Starting Nov 16, 2023 |
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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 | |
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 |
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 | |
Dec 2, 2023 | |
Dec 2, 2023 | |
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 | |
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 | |
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 | |
Dec 3, 2023 | |
Multiple days starting Dec 2, 2023 |
Holiday Lights on the Farm - Muscoot Farm |
Dec 2, 2023 | |
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 | |
Opening Nov 24, 2023 (Reservations Required) |
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Opening Day is Nov 24, 2023 | |
Opening Day is Nov 24, 2023 | Abel's Trees |
Opening Day is Nov 24, 2023 | |
Opening Day is Nov 25, 2023 |
Ice Skating
Opening Day Nov 4, 2023 | |
Multiple dates Starting Nov 17, 2023 | |
Hanukkah
Dec 7, 2023 |
Menorah Lighting - Ridge Hill |
Dec 7, 2023 | |
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 | |
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 |
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Dec 31, 2023 |
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Dec 31, 2023 |
NYE Roller Skate Balloon Drop Ball at Hyde Park Roller Magic |
Dec 31, 2023 |
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Dec 31, 2023 |
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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 | |
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 | |
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 |