Noon to 4 p.m., plus Dec. 24 from noon to 2:30 p.m. Free admission; charges for some activities, such as wagon and carriage rides. Cash only. Genesee, Jordan and Fennell streets. www.skaneateles.com/calendar/ annual-events/dickens-christmas. Fabius. Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides. Twenty-minute horse drawn sleigh ride or wagon ride through the wintery woods at Highland Forest. No reservations needed. First come, first served. All rides will take place weather permitting. Call ahead to check on the schedule and for year-round group and evening party packages, sleigh rides or hayrides. Open weekends through Feb. 23, daily Dec. 23 through Jan. 1. Closed Dec. 25. 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Last ride leaving at 3:30 p.m. General admission $8; 5 and younger $5. Highland Forest, 1254 Highland Park Road. www.onondagacountyparks.com/ highland-forest. 315-683-5550.
Various Dates All Month Syracuse. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. A tale as old as time to celebrate the holiday season. Shows at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., depending upon date. Confirm show dates and times on website. Show runs through Jan. 5. $30 to $60. Syracuse Stage Complex, 820 E. Genesee St. http://syracusestage.org/ showinfo.php?id=84. 315-443-3275. info@ syracusestage.org.
Sundays, Fridays and Saturdays Dog sledding at Winona Forest, Boylston. Photo taken in 2018 by Brad Smith. Courtesy of Oswego County Promotion and Tourism. See story on page 7. and Jan. 1. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults $20; college students, AAA, veterans/active military $17; local residents $10; members and 17 and younger free. Corning Museum of Glass, 1 Museum Way. www.cmog.org/ event/glass-wonderland. 607-937-5371. doolittlrf@cmog.org.
Saturdays and Sundays Skaneateles. 26th Anniversary Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles. Annual holiday event features horse-drawn carriage rides, interactive street theater with Dickens characters, roasted chestnuts and visits with Scrooge and Father Christmas. Numerous activities planned throughout the month. Visit the website for a complete schedule.
Rochester. City of Rochester Holiday Village Presented by Five Star Bank. Second annual event includes family-friendly activities like Santa’s workshop, free ice skating, breakfast with Santa, Christmas tree lighting, Menorah lighting, food, live music, crafts, shopping and more. Dec. 31 final day. Fridays 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission with charges for some activities. 353 Court St. at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park. https://rocholidayvillage. com 585-943-0796. JOLLY@rocholidayvillage.com.
Dec. 1 Albany. Great Train Extravaganza. This annual event includes dozens of vendors offering new and used trains for sale, plus parts, clothing, memorabilia, photographs, and accessories. Numerous exhibitors showing off all kinds of pieces of railroad history and artifacts. Several operating model railroads in N, HO and O gauges, LEGO and larger. A Roaming Railroad offers rides around the
Empire State Plaza Concourse. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults $7, children under 12 free admission. New York State Convention Center, Empire State Plaza. 518-668-9892. trains@ gtealbany.com. Arcade. North Pole Express Trains. Enjoy a 2-hour, 30-minute round trip train excursion on the North Pole Express Train to Santa’s House. Children receive a wish list, gift from Santa, toy, and “magic” bell. Every family will receive a map of the North Pole activities. Tour the Christmas Tree lighted lane along with the Elf House, Santa’s giant red sleigh for pictures, and visit Santa’s reindeer. Concessions and toys for purchase. Heated restrooms are available. Check website for available seating. Tickets sell out quickly. Departures at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Adults $30; children (1-12) $28. Arcade & Attica Railroad, 278 Main St. www.aarailroad.com. https://tickets.traintixs.com/events/22776. 585-4923100. Auburn. MasterWorks Chorale Chamber Singers. The Chamber Singers will offer a cappella choral music from the Renaissance through the 20th century including Christmas Carols, accompanied by the music director, Kip Coerper, on the historic Willard Chapel organ. Tickets may be purchased at Willard Chapel Tuesdays through Fridays. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $10. Willard Chapel, 17 Nelson St. www.willard-chapel.org. 315252-0339. Fulton. Poinsettia Open House. View thousands of blooming poinsettias, wreaths and kissing balls. Take holiday photo in front of the 10-foot poinsettia tree. Live holiday music by Dan Duggan. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. Oliver B. Paine Greenhouses, 125 S. Granby Road (off route 48). www. OliverPaineGreenhouses.com. Fulton. Pet Pictures with Santa. Bring your four-legged family members to see Santa and tell him what they’d like for Christmas. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each picture is a $5 donation to the SPCA. Oswego Tractor Supply, 806 W. Broadway. 315-593-2289. Geneva. “The Nutcracker”. Ithaca Ballet presents, a magical tale of a young girl named Clara and her beloved and brave Nutcracker Prince, who battle Queen Mouse and travel to many fanciful lands. 3 p.m. Adults $22; student/senior $17; children 12 and younger $12. Smith Center for the Arts, 82 Seneca St. www.thesmith.org. 315-7815483. Oswego. Richardson-Bates Victorian Holiday Open House. Tour the mansion decorated with wreaths, poinsettias and a tree with toys from the Victorian period. Live entertainment, refreshments and fun for all. 1 to 5 p.m. Free admission. Richardson-Bates House Museum, 135 E. Third St.
2019 / 2020
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