2020 has been a year like no other and the holiday season will also be different but there are still some great events for you to check out with your family. Always check before you go to make sure of any COVID-19 or weather cancelations. We will continue to update this list as more events are added (or changed). Check back to Macaroni Kid frequently!
WESTCHESTER COUNTY |
Westchester's Winter Wonderland -- Westchester Parks Foundation has re-imagined the seventh season of the popular holiday event, in partnership with the Westchester County Parks Department, to help create a safe and memorable holiday experience the whole family can enjoy. Guests will be dazzled and delighted with 1.2 miles of a holiday lights, larger than life displays, live characters, and Santa right from the warmth and safety of your own car!
Skate with Frosty in White Plains -- White Plains Recreation and Parks Department hosts their annual Skate with Frosty on December 20 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Frosty will be skating throughout the session at Ebersole Ice Rink. The ice rink will also be open December 26 - January 3 daily. 110 Lake Street, White Plains.
Take a Photo with Santa @ The Westchester -- A time honored tradition, have your children take a photo with Santa (this year with Covid-19 precautions). Choose from dates between November 20th and December 24th. Reservations are required.
Santa Photos @ Ridge Hill in Yonkers -- Santa is here. Pick your time slot out today. Dates are November 27 - December 24.
Photos with Santa at the Cross County Center in Yonkers -- select a day and time for your photo with Santa from December 4-24. You can also check out their 44' high Christmas tree, pop-up ice skating rink and enjoy holiday entertainment
North Kensico Christmas Lights Show -- this local homeowner in White Plains has created a following in Westchester for the past 13 years with this special lights show. This house will be decorated with over 10,000 lights and will be synchronized to music. Lights will be up from November 28 through January 1st.
Grand Holiday Illumination 2020 -- Untermyer Park and Gardens in Yonkers has announced that their annual Grand Holiday Illumination will take place from December 12 until January 3. The Illumination will be free, outdoor, socially distanced and masked. Visitors will need reservations to view the illumination and will use their free timed entry reservation system that helps keep visitors safe by keeping the gardens at a restricted capacity. Visitors will not be allowed in the gardens without a reservation. Reservations are not currently available. Check the website for updates.
Holidays on the Hill @ Lasdon Park -- This annual holiday train show and visit with Santa returns beginning December 4th and runs on Thursday - Sunday weekly until 12/31 (except 12/24 and 12/25). Time slots are 10 - 11:30 a.m.; 12:30 - 2 p.m.; and 3-4:30 p.m.
ORANGE COUNTY |
Holiday Light Spectacular @ Orange County Fairgrounds -- Guests will feel the spirit of the holiday season as they are immersed in thousands of lights and festive scenes placed throughout the fairgrounds. There are unique light displays and even specially designed animation segments along the way. Near the end of the drive thru, guests pull into the covered arena for a spectacular multi-media light show accompanied by popular holiday songs; the whole family should feel free to sing along! The Holiday Light Spectacular will also feature some fair food favorites such as zeppoles, cotton candy, funnel cakes, fried candy bars, and fresh-squeezed lemonade that you can order from the comfort of your car.
NEW YORK CITY |
Holiday Lights @ The Bronx Zoo -- The family-favorite holiday light experience will be back starting November 20 and run on select dates through January 10. Entertainment will include holiday-themed music, ice carving demonstrations, costumed characters, stilt walkers, souvenirs, and seasonal treats like hot chocolate and s’mores. This year’s experience will encompass a larger area of the zoo and be organized to accommodate social distancing and eliminate bottleneck areas. The zoo will have almost 50 more animal lanterns and will create five geographically representative lantern safaris areas that include species from regions around the world.
Glow @ New York Botanical Gardens -- This holiday season, let it GLOW at The New York Botanical Garden in an all-new outdoor experience illuminating NYBG’s landmark landscape and Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. With lots of room to spread out, explore a glowing world of color and light featuring the Haupt Conservatory as the centerpiece—its iconic exterior a glittering canvas. Washes of brilliant colors, thousands of dazzling lights, and picture-perfect installations fill the Reflecting Pool and enliven surrounding gardens and collections. Also during your visit, enjoy artistic ice sculptures, music, roving dancers, plus more outdoor fun. This event, which opens on November 27 and runs on select dates through January 9, is open to the public (NYBG membership is not required like it is for the train show) but tickets are limited and must be purchased online in advance.
Holiday Train Show @ New York Botanical Gardens-- A New York tradition for 29 years, the New York Botanical Garden will host its annual Holiday Train Show from Thursday, November 12, 2020 – Sunday, January 31, 2021. Important to note: with tickets and capacity very limited due to enhanced safety protocols that include social distancing, the only way to see this captivating display is as a Member, Patron, Corporate Member, or Bronx Community Partner. Marvel at model trains zipping through an enchanting display of famous New York landmarks—imagine the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center, and other favorites—each delightfully re-created from natural materials such as birch bark, acorns, and cinnamon sticks.
Christmas Tree @ Rockefeller Center -- Despite getting a bad rap, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree looks as nice as it always has! To ensure a safe experience for all visitors, there will be special tree viewing entrances and traffic patterns, tree viewing time limits and masks/social distancing will be required at all times. For more information, visit rockefellercenter.com.
CONNECTICUT |
The 12th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival -- This year's event will feature three of Santa's Reindeer, Dasher, Dancer and Vixen. Santa will be staying at the North Pole this year for the health and safety of all of the children and their families. You can visit the reindeer, pick out your Christmas tree and also check out the Christmas Shop for festive, fun, unique holiday gifts.
A Slightly Wicked Holiday Show at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Celebrate the holiday season with some of Broadway’s best at The Ridgefield Playhouse in a brand new holiday show that’s perfect for the entire family. Show is on December 19 at 4 and 8 p.m. Cast members of Wicked, Hello Dolly!, The Cher Show and more, will perform some of your favorite holiday classics – “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” “I Want To Be A Rockette,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” & “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” along with Broadway tunes including “Think Of Me” from Phantom of the Opera and “For Good” & “As Long As You’re Mine” from Wicked The Musical. This show will be socially distanced with limited seating in the theater. Face masks are required at all times. Please maintain a 6 foot distance from others. Starring Alli Mauzey (Hello, Dolly! Wicked), Dee Roscioli (Wicked, The Cher Show) and Ridgefield’s own Sam Gravitte (Wicked).
The Polar Express in IMAX @ The Maritime Aquarium. Watch the classic holiday film, The Polar Express, at The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk on Saturdays and Sundays at 4:30 p.m. through December 20th.
VIRTUAL |
A Virtual Visit From the Clauses -- Bring Santa and Mrs. Claus into your home via a personalized video call. Professional actors and costumes create an authentic experience for your children.
Joy Around the World: The Virtual Holiday Scavenger Hunt for Kids -- This virtual holiday scavenger hunt for kids takes you to amazing websites in search of answers to fun, funny questions. On teams you’ll meet the host on Zoom, then head into breakout rooms and use the desktop app to access a carefully collected and inspected array of amazing museums, holiday markets, panoramic photos of exotic places, and other eye-popping online wonders. Your mission: come up with answers to tricky, humorous questions about the cool stuff you find. You’ll feel like you’re sight-seeing from Santa’s sleigh. Held on select dates in November and December.
