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Best of December: 24 Awesome Things To Do in Westchester with Kids

Untermyer Garden's Grand Holiday Illumination runs nightly from Friday, December 9-Sunday, January 1, 2023. Photo courtesy of Untermyer Gardens
Untermyer Garden's Grand Holiday Illumination runs nightly from Friday, December 9-Sunday, January 1, 2023. Photo courtesy of Untermyer Gardens
11/30/22 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

Christmas lights and holiday activities are back this December, and that's just the beginning of all there is to see and do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this month.

Westchester and the Hudson Valley are going all out for the holidays with the return of festive annual traditions such as The Great Holiday Train Show, Irvington's Hanukkah Village, and Watt Christmas Wonderland. New events include Legoland New York's Holiday Bricktacular and a Snow Ball with the Snow Sisters where kids can party with all the characters from Frozen. All are invited to celebrate Hanukkah at Ridge Hill's Menorah Lighting and Gelt Drop. And don't miss Santa's sensational helicopter arrival at Museum Village.

Find more top December fun in our roundups of the best holiday drive-thrus and Christmas lights shows nearby, the top holiday shows in the region, and our list of must-do holiday activities and Christmas events in Westchester for kids. Our Guide to Holiday Fun is packed with more local and regional resources.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

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See Santa and Mrs. Claus during Monroe's Christmas in the Village. Photo courtesy of the event
See Santa and Mrs. Claus during Monroe's Christmas in the Village. Photo courtesy of the event

Top Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids in December 2022

Celebration of Lights Holiday Village Festival

Poughkeepsie–FREE
Friday, December 2, 2022
Instead of a parade this year, Poughkeepsie's downtown transforms into a Christmas village with food trucks, brass bands, dancers, carolers, a tree lighting, Santa Claus and a fireworks finale. Themed as a “Renewable Holiday Village,” this event highlights recyclables and renewables, utilizing upcycled materials to create the decorations.  READ MORE

Snowflake Festival

Kingston–FREE
Friday, December 2, 2022
Enjoy carolers, s'mores, horse-drawn carriage rides, a fire torch juggler, magic, ice sculpture carvings, and more at Kingston's Snowflake Festival. Don't miss the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus on an antique fire truck to light the holiday tree. Open stores offer treats and hot beverages.  READ MORE

Snowflake Ball

Pleasantville
Friday, December 2-Saturday, December 3, 2022
Hear ye, hear ye! All loyal subjects of the magic kingdom are cordially invited to attend the Snowflake Ball. Put on your princess or prince outfit for this whimsical event where guests  meet and interact with beautiful princesses.  READ MORE

The Laurie Berkner Band Holiday Celebration

Tarrytown
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Enjoy both original and classic holiday songs as performed by beloved children's artist Laurie Berkner and friends.  READ MORE

Sinterklaas Festival Day

Rhinebeck–FREE
Saturday, December 3, 2022
This multivenue tradition celebrating Dutch holiday heritage bursts with delights. Sinterklaas is a day-long, colorful celebration that includes children’s workshops, dance, theatre, and music all over the village of Rhinebeck. Don't miss the stunning Children's Starlight Parade, featuring two-story animated puppets carried by hundreds of volunteers. READ MORE

Santa Helicopter Landing

Monroe–FREE
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Santa and Mrs. Claus make a dramatic helicopter entrance at the front gates of Museum Village. They travel by horse-drawn carriage to Rest Haven, where kids can meet Santa and enjoy holiday music by local musicians.  READ MORE

Peppermint Parade

Katonah–FREE
Saturday, December 3, 2022
See the arrival of Santa in the Peppermint Parade through downtown Katonah. Enjoy live holiday music in the gazebo.  READ MORE

Breakfast with Santa at Bear Mountain Inn (SOLD OUT)

Tomkins Cove
Weekends from Saturday, December 3-Sunday, December 18, 2022
Restaurant 1915 hosts Santa—and you—for a special holiday meal at the Bear Mountain Inn. Start the day with a hearty breakfast, then take a hike to see real black bears! READ MORE

Reptile Expo

Poughkeespsie
Sunday, December 4, 2022
The MJN Convention Center hosts this day-long reptile expo. Visit a variety of scaly creatures at this large-scale event. READ MORE

Grand Holiday Illumination

Yonkers–FREE
Friday, December 9-Sunday, January 1, 2023
Untermyer Gardens sparkles with bold illuminations from many thousands of lights as multicultural holiday music sets the mood. Warm up with a complimentary cup of hot cocoa. READ MORE

Gingerbread House Decorating Party

Tuckahoe
Saturday, December 10, 2022
The Westchester Italian Cultural Heritage Center sponsors this decorate-your-own gingerbread house workshop. Kids can craft their confection while enjoying treats and a holiday raffle.  READ MORE

Santa Needs Your Help

Pelham
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Santa Claus is coming to The Picture House in Pelham, live and in-person — and he needs you to help him get ready for Christmas! You pick the clips from Santa’s video library. You help Santa with live games and songs. You ask Santa anything you want during the Q&A. And after the show, you get your photo with Santa. It’s a one-of-kind show with you in a starring role. READ MORE

Snow Ball with the Snow Sisters

Hudson–FREE
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Appearing for this special event are the Snow Sisters, Elsa and Anna. First, the Snow Sisters lead a festive sing-a-long and teach a dance. Then, kids play some winter-themed games with prizes for all and do a holiday craft. All attendees can pose for pictures with the Snow Sisters in front of a magical winter background. READ MORE

Christmas in the Village

Monroe
Saturday, December 10-Sunday, December 11, 2022
Explore Museum Village in its holiday finery and stop in to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Enjoy caroling and check off your shopping list while perusing local crafts. READ MORE

Menorah Lighting and Gelt Drop at Ridge Hill

Yonkers–FREE
Sunday, December 18, 2022
On the first night of Hanukkah, head to Ridge Hill for a community holiday celebration. Enjoy a glow-in -the-dark menorah lighting, a fire juggling and LED show, donuts & latkes,  and music by the Mr. Shabbos Band. Plus, don’t miss the Gelt Drop, featuring the Yonkers Fire Department. Collect all the chocolate gelt you can as it rains down from the highest point of the fire truck’s lift. READ MORE

The Nutcracker Performed by New York Theatre Ballet

Tarrytown
Sunday, December 18, 2022
This abbreviated production of The Nutcracker, an annual staple at the Tarrytown Music Hall, is best suited for young audiences with short attention spans. The production is presented by New York Theatre Ballet. Two productions are scheduled at 3pm and 6pm.  READ MORE

Skate with Santa

Larchmont
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Heighten the Christmas spirit by enjoying an afternoon on the rink ice skating with Santa Claus at the Hommocks Park Ice Rink. All attendees receive a free cookie. READ MORE

Hanukkah Village

Irvington
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Irvington celebrates Hanukkah with a wide-ranging afternoon of activities. See balloon twisting, watch an illusions show, get a Hanukkah tattoo, go on a horse-drawn carriage or holiday train ride, enjoy activities with the Critter Caravan, get your nails painted in honor of the holiday, enjoy a giant gelt drop, and more. A menorah lighting ends the day. READ MORE

Holiday Movie Musical

Pelham
Monday, December 19-Friday, December 23, 2022
Concordia Conservatory presents its 23rd annual holiday community musical, a movie musical, “It Takes A Holiday Village.” An elaborate holiday village provides the perfect setting for Santa's “getaway” from the North Pole. Santa’s crew and the villagers together discover the true meaning of the holiday season. Come see the holiday village come to life with music and song. READ MORE

Holiday Lights in Bloom

Montgomery–FREE
Select dates through Friday, December 23, 2022
This charming outdoor light display at the Orange County Arboretum features illuminated flora and fauna for a garden-themed holiday light show. The event is offered on weekends between Thanksgiving and the end of December; daily the week before Christmas. READ MORE

Watt Christmas Wonderland

Goshen
Daily through Friday, December 30, 2022
Pile in the car for a visit to this holiday staple. This drive-thru exhibit features an assortment of inflatables, hundreds of lights, and other seasonal displays to enjoy. READ MORE

New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop Ball

Hyde Park
Saturday, December 31, 2022
An uncommon destination for a New Year's bash, this roller rink invites kids for a daytime celebration. In addition to skating, enjoy face painting and games—plus make your own time capsule. Toast to the new year with apple cider and count down to a big, colorful balloon drop!  READ MORE

Legoland New York Holiday Bricktacular

Goshen
Select dates through Sunday, January 1, 2023
Legoland New York Resort’s first Holiday Bricktacular features festive décor including an 8-foot-tall Lego wreath, Christmas trees adorned with Lego ornaments, hundreds of sparkling lights, garlands, light tunnels, and Duplo wreaths. Activities include daily tree lightings, live carolers, and meet-and-greets with Lego Santa.  READ MORE

The Great Holiday Train Show

Chappaqua
Weekends through Sunday, January 8, 2022
Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day
Join the New Castle Historical Society for what is quickly becoming an annual, family tradition: The Great Holiday Train Show. Discover the historic 19th-century summer residence of Horace Greeley, festively decorated for the holidays with running train displays in each of the period rooms. Visit the gift shop on-site to find the perfect item for your favorite trainiac. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Downtown Poughkeepsie - Little Italy
Kingston Historic Stockade District
Pleasantville Presbyterian Church
Bear Mountain Inn and Overlook Lodge
MJN – Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center
Untermyer Park & Garden
Westchester Italian Cultural Center
Orange County Arboretum, Thomas Bull Memorial Park (Grove St. entrance)