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Holiday Break in Westchester: 30+ Things To Do Between Christmas and New Year's Eve

Take a ride to the North Pole on the Polar Express. Photo courtesy of the Catskill Mountain Railroad
Take a ride to the North Pole on the Polar Express. Photo courtesy of the Catskill Mountain Railroad
12/18/22 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

With Christmas break on the horizon, we've got you covered with family-friendly activities throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley that will keep the family entertained all week. Some of these are long-running holiday attractions that continue into the holiday break, while others are specially planned events to keep kids busy while school is out. 

These holiday break activities include STEM and art workshops, encounters with live animals, and multiple performances full of antics and giggles. We've even made a special section for FREE events. If your child's break starts early, be sure to check our Activity Calendar for fun events happening every day.

So check off the list of must-do holiday activities and let bedtime lapse for a nighttime holiday light show. Read on for dozens of ways to get the most out of the holiday break. In the meantime, make sure to get some inspiration from our Westchester Holiday Fun Guide for families. 

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Delight in the Holidays on the Hill train show at Lasdon Park. Photo by the author
Delight in the Holidays on the Hill train show at Lasdon Park. Photo by the author

Free Things To Do Over Christmas Break in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Snowy Storytime

Rye
Thursdays through Saturdays, December 22-31, 2022
Explore the museum during the winter break, with new extended hours, and attend a special storytime featuring stories about snow and winter.  READ MORE

Dia: Beacon Hudson Valley Free Day

Beacon
Monday, December 26, 2022
Dia: Beacon offers FREE admission to its gallery for Hudson Valley residents on the last Sunday of the month. READ MORE

Sara Crasson and Bamberg, the Bear Magician!

Pound Ridge
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Sara Crasson presents an interactive magic show with her co-star, Bamberg the teddy bear. Kids of all ages can participate in the show and learn a little magic themselves.  READ MORE

Winter Ornament Making

New Rochelle
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Get crafty and make a special ornament to decorate your home this winter. All materials provided.   READ MORE

Charlotte's Web Interactive Movie

Larchmont
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
The library's teen volunteers present an interactive viewing of the children's movie Charlotte's Web, with fun activities, prompts, and crafts during the movie. READ MORE

Kwanzaa Craft Table

Tarrytown
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Celebrate Kwanzaa with a fun, African holiday-themed craft in the Children's Room. All materials provided.  READ MORE

Gingerbread House Workshop

New Rochelle
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Build a candy house without making a mess in your house. All materials provided.   READ MORE

Kwanzaa Celebration

New Rochelle
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Wear your traditional African attire and come out to celebrate Kwanzaa with dance, music, and other live performances. Light refreshments will be served.  READ MORE

Children's New Year Paint 'N Sip

Montrose
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Children can celebrate the coming of 2023 by painting a canvas while enjoying a sparkling cider or juice. Acrylic paint will be used, so dress in old clothes or a smock.  READ MORE

Holiday Break: Winter Craft Projects

Bedford
Tuesday, December 27-Thursday, December 29, 2022
Explore your inner artist by crafting at the Library during winter break. Bring your imagination or try one of our ideas and create a Glove Monster or an Ugly Sweater Snowman. Materials provided. READ MORE

Edge STEAM Workshop for Teens

White Plains
Tuesday, December 27-Friday, December 30, 2022
Teens are invited to drop by the Edge Media Lab for a STEAM challenge from Tuesday to Friday during the week of holiday break. There will be a new challenge or two every day. Feel free to come for one or all of the sessions.  READ MORE

Snow Buddies Puppet Fun

New Rochelle
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Enjoy a snow-themed puppet performance followed by craft time where kids can make their own puppets.  READ MORE

Paws to Read

Montrose
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Come in an read to Daryl, a certified Therapy Dog with Therapy Dogs International. Dogs are excellent listeners and great to help with reading aloud.  READ MORE

"Spin, Pop ... Boom!" with Mad Science

New Rochelle
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Learn science while having fun in this Mad Science chemistry demonstration. Explore amazing chemical reactions that release genies from bottles and spew massive columns of foam.  READ MORE

Animal Builders & Breakers with the Stamford Nature Museum

Pound Ridge
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Educators from the Stamford Nature Center present a variety of animals that create or break in their daily lives, from a tarantula that spins webbing to millipedes and cockroaches that are decomposers. After the presentation, kids are invited to do some building of their own in in the building stations lab. READ MORE

Crafty Kids

Rye
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Come in and craft with other kids at the library. The theme changes every week.  READ MORE

High Touch High Tech Presents "Dig It"

Pound Ridge
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Kids learn about gems, rocks, and minerals and where they come from in this geology workshop. Activities include panning for real gems and performing acid tests and more to classify the gems.  READ MORE

Music with Zev Haber

New Rochelle
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Children are invited to sing along and dance with the award-winning children's song writer and performer Zev Haber. READ MORE

STEM Sparks - Fall STEM

Rye
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Drop by the Children's Room at the Rye Free Reading Room every Saturday for an introduction to STEM designed just for preschoolers. Sensory boxes are filled with open-ended activities and materials to boost fine- and gross-motor skills, and games to enhance problem-solving and decision-making skills through experimentation with different objects.  READ MORE

First Day Hike at Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve

Cold Spring
Sunday, January 1, 2023
Choose from a 1- or 3-mile First Day Hike, and warm up with free hot cocoa, coffee, and snacks with fireside music. The shorter tour loops around Little Stony Point, while the longer excursion heads to the Cornish Estate. READ MORE
School's Out/Art’s In at the Katonah Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of the museum
School's Out/Art’s In at the Katonah Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of the museum

Fun Things To Do Over Christmas Break in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Nutcracker Dream

White Plains
Monday, December 26-Friday, December 30, 2022
Visions of Sugar Plums are dancing in your head and into downtown White Plains this holiday season. Inspired by the work of Marius Petipa and Rudolf Nureyev, Nutcracker Dream is a one-hour and 15 minutes family-friendly adaptation of the seasonal favorite. Lilly's restaurant is hosting a Sugarplum Holiday Tea experience at 4pm on each day during the week of the performances except for Tuesday.  READ MORE

Salt Art Workshop - Snow Art

Poughkeepsie
December 26, 28, and 30, 2022
Children learn to create a snowflake or snowman using glue, salt, and watercolors.  READ MORE

School's Out/Art’s In

Katonah
Tuesday, December 27-Friday, December 30, 2022
Visit the Learning Center on school vacation days for 75-minute, artist-led projects. Kids can make an artistic mess, experiment with new materials, and practice uncommon art-making techniques. Each session features a different project inspired by the museum's current collection. READ MORE

Polar Express Train Ride

Kingston
Select dates through December 28, 2022
Set to the sounds of the motion picture, passengers will relive the classic story as they are whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ for a magical trip to the North Pole. Once on board, the Conductor will work their way through the coach and punch your golden ticket as you’re served hot chocolate and a cookie by dancing chefs. Passengers will read along with the classic children’s book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg.  READ MORE

Holidays on the Hill Train Show

Somers
Select dates through December 31, 2022
The annual holiday train show returns to Lasdon Park with more trains and more exhibits in 2022. Stroll through the outdoor exhibits, then watch the train show wend its way along indoor tracks. As space and time allows, meet with Santa! 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 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

Legoland Discovery Center Westchester | Holiday Bricktacular

Yonkers
Daily through January 1, 2023 (excluding December 25)
‘Tis the season for Legoland Discovery Center Westchester’s Holiday Bricktacular event at the Ridge Hill Mall. Come explore an indoor winter wonderland filled with all kinds of Lego holiday-themed creations made up of thousands of Lego bricks.  READ MORE

The Great Holiday Train Show

Chappaqua
Select dates through January 8, 2023
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

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience

Yorktown Heights
Daily through January 22, 2023
Step into the Forbidden Forest and relive your favorite moments from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series. Visitors can walk along the magically lit outdoor trail, encountering Hippogriffs, centaurs, unicorns, and Nifflers, and practice casting their very own spells. At the end, enjoy a themed village offering food and drinks, exclusive products, and more. READ MORE
Visit the spectacular Wonderland of Lights in Rhinebeck. Photo courtesy of the event
Visit the spectacular Wonderland of Lights in Rhinebeck. Photo courtesy of the event

Holiday Lights Shows to Enjoy Over Christmas Break

Westchester's Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza

The Wonderland of Lights

Rhinebeck
Select dates through Sunday, December 26, 2022
This spectacular drive-thru holiday light experience returns to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. The attraction features dozens of illuminated exhibits along a mile-long route.  READ MORE

Lumagica at Harvest Moon

North Salem
Multiple dates through Friday, December 30, 2022
The Lumagica walk-through holiday light experience returns in 2022 to Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard, with even more lights and installations. Along the 3/4-mile trail, more than 750,000 LED lights are used to illuminate large light sculptures. At the end of the trail, participants are greeted by fire pits where hot food, cider donuts, and seasonal drinks are available for purchase.  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

Peace, Love & Lights

Bethel
Select days through Sunday, January 1, 2023
This drive-thru light experience on the site of the Woodstock Festival returns with even more lights, with themed displays depicting New York and holidays around the world. READ MORE

Grand Holiday Illumination

Yonkers–FREE
Friday, December 10-Sunday, January 2, 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

Places featured in this article:

New Rochelle Public Library, Ossie Davis Theater
Hendrick Hudson Free Library
Hendrick Hudson Free Library
Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve
Westbrook Lane Station (at the Kingston Plaza shopping center)
Lasdon Park Arboretum and Veterans Memorial
Legoland Discovery Center - Ridge Hill
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Untermyer Park & Garden