How to Celebrate the Holidays in the Suburbs!
/December is a very busy month. No matter what holiday(s) you celebrate, there’s always shopping, cooking, wrapping and decorating to do. Then there’s usually even more shopping.
In between all of your holiday chores this year, spend some time celebrating the season by checking out at least a few of these awesome holiday events happening locally in Westchester and Fairfield Counties. There’s so much to pick from, but these are my favorites.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY
Winter Wonderland, Kensico Dam, Valhalla, NY
If you're only going to do one festive activity this holiday season, make it this one. Winter Wonderland is a nightly fun-fest happening from November 29th through January 4th at Kensico Dam in Valhalla, NY. For $20 a person entrance fee, you receive unlimited visits to each activity on offer - the Winter Wonderland Holiday Circus, the RangersTown Skating Rink (your admission even includes skate rental!), many carnival style rides, a Musical Light Show and a visit with Santa himself. It’s a festive, fun winter carnival and so much more!
Given that this event starts nightly at 5pm and temperatures can get chilly in December, I recommend dressing warmly and possibly saving your visit for when your kids are old enough to stay up a bit later and get a little chilly without melting down like a snowman. One nice perk - your tickets are good for any night of the Wonderland’s run so save ‘em for nicer weather!
We absolutely loved this event last year and can’t wait to go back! If you need more details, click here for last year’s blog post on Winter Wonderland! PS Friday, November 29th, is opening night AND the lighting ceremony for the Wonderland’s Christmas Tree.
Christmas Festivities, Muscoot Farm, Katonah, NY
In December, there are several reasons to hit Katonah’s Muscoot Farm. First, come by at 5pm on Sunday, December 1st, for Muscoot Farm’s Christmas. Santa will be there, along with animal visits and holiday treats. Then, head back over on December 6th, 7th, 13th or 14th for an evening performance of Dickens’ famous A Christmas Carol. Also on Saturday, December 14th at 1pm, there will be a holiday craft making; and at 1pm on Sunday, December 15th, a holiday story time.
NORTH KENSICO CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW, WHITE PLAINS, NY
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn may get all the hype but it’s far from the suburbs and it’s COLD in December. So maybe instead head to White Plains this holiday season because, from Sunday, November 24 through New Years Day, four neighboring houses on North Kensico Avenue come together to decorate their homes in 10,000 lights that blink synchronized to holiday music you access from your car. Santa even makes an appearance!
A Christmas Carol, Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow, NY
On December 7th and 8th and December 14th and 15th, Sleepy Hollow’s Old Dutch Church comes alive when noted storyteller Jonathan Kruk and his musical accompaniments share the story of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. There will be performances at 3:30pm, 4:45pm and 6pm on each of those above dates. Each show lasts about an hour and costs $25 per adult and $20 for kids age 3-17.
Christmas Barn, Troy’s Garden Nurseries, Bedford, NY
Troy’s family run garden and nursery converts its large gift area to the Christmas Barn this time of year. It’s an adorable little spot to get holiday shopping done and to buy some festive decor for your own home, including, obviously, fresh wreaths and trees.
Beginning after Thanksgiving, your kids can take pictures with Santa each Sunday at the Christmas Barn. With Greenwich’s Sam Bridge (below) closed on Sundays, Troy’s just up the street in Bedford, makes for a great alternative.
Holidays on the Hill Train Show, Ladson Park, Katonah, NY
Saturdays and Sundays in December beginning Saturday, December 7th, from 11am to 4pm, Ladson Park and Arboretum puts on its annual Holidays on the Hill Train Show. Come see the beautiful model trains chug along through a dazzling winter wonderland. The Conservatory and Main House will also be beautifully decorated for the season, and you might even catch Santa himself there! We visited Ladson Park during its Halloween train show this year and we were blown away by the beauty of its decor.
Grand Holiday Illuminations, Untermyer Gardens, Yonkers, NY
At 5:30pm on Wednesday, December 11th, head over to the Walled Garden at Untermyer Gardens for the opening of this season’s Grand Holiday Illumination. There will be hot chocolate and seasonal music in Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions that night.
After the opening ceremony, the Walled Garden will remain lit from 4:30pm to 8pm daily through the evening of Wednesday, January 1st.
Holiday Tea Musicales and Santa Visits the Rosen House, Caramoor Center, Katonah, NY
Caramoor Center is a beautiful art and music pavilion beloved for its summer outdoor concert series. In December, the Rosen House offers two adorable holiday programs. From Wednesday, December 4th through Thursday, December 12th and then again on December 20 and 21st, Caramoor hosts Holiday Tea Musicales, where a rotating selection of musicians play holiday music as guests enjoy a delicious tea service - including hot cocoa with marshmallows available for the kids! There is also a special “I Spy in the Music Room” activity alternative with kid friendly sandwiches set up for children under age 5. Tickets to the Holiday Tea Musicales cost $65 per adult and $32.50 per kid age 12 and under.
Then on Sunday, December 15th, at both noon and 3pm, Santa Visits the Rosen House, and he’ll be bringing milk and cookies and a 30 minute holiday concert along with him. Tickets to this one are $10 per child and $15 per adult. We went last year and found it to be adorable!
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
The Wishing Forest, The SoNo Collection, South Norwalk, CT
The SoNo Collection is a brand new mall off I-95 in South Norwalk. And while most malls will simply hire a Santa to sit for pics this December, the SoNo Collection is celebrating its first holiday season in a very “2019” way. Beginning Friday, November 22nd through Christmas Eve, experience the magic of Wishing Forest™, an interactive, immersive holiday experience, where you can “unlock a symphony of music and light as you walk and play throughout the Holiday Bells Grove™“ and “become immersed in a wintry forest at the Whispering Wishes Grove™.“
The SoNo Collection will kick off its first holiday season with a weekend long Spectacular Holiday Bash from Friday, November 22nd through Sunday, November 24th.
Half Full Beer Garden at the Mill River Park Winter Wonderland, Stamford, CT
We had a blast quickly stopping by the Half Full Winter Beer Garden when it was briefly at Stamford’s Mill River Park last winter. A brief visit, alas, because we had the kiddies with us. This year, the Beer Garden is BACK and bigger than before. It will also be around ALLLLL December long, beginning on Friday, December 6th. Besides Half Full’s slate of beers, there will also be cider and wine sold by them, plus food available for purchase from the park’s snack bar and Dinosaur BBQ. And, The Two Oh Three will be on hand selling their Fairfield County themed wares! If that’s not enough, look out for all kinds of holiday themed events in the Beer Garden this December.
Of course, be sure to skate off some of those beers afterwards at the adorable Mill River Ice Rink!
Heights and Lights, Landmark Square, Stamford, CT
Sure you’ve sat on Santa’s lap but have you ever seen him rappel down a 22 story high rise building? On Sunday, December 8th, come to Downtown Stamford’s Landmark Square at 5pm to watch Santa, Rudolph, the Grinch and MORE as they each descend from one of Stamford’s tallest building during Stamford’s Heights and Lights event. From there, the crew heads up Bedford Street to Latham Park for holiday cheer and the official lighting of Stamford’s Holiday Tree.
The Essex Steam Train, Essex, CT
The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat’s North Pole Express is a very popular holiday event, tickets to which are mostly sold out by now. The train departs a few times each evening during its run for a 90 minute journey to find Santa and Mrs. Claus. Along the way, there are holiday sing-alongs, hot cocoa and cookies, and finally, Santa and Mrs. Claus are picked up to join the festivities. Little ones are encouraged to come in their pajamas for these evening rides.
If the North Pole Express starts too late at night or available dates are too limited for you, consider instead the daylight weekend option of the Santa Special. This ride is a tad shorter at 60 minutes long and features more personal time with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Tickets start at $26 and there’s more availability for this adventure right now. This is a good option for folks with younger kids or who missed out on the North Pole Express.
Holiday Theater, Curtain Call and Palace Theaters in Stamford, CT
On select dates through Saturday, December 14th, Stamford’s Curtain Call Theater will be putting on performances of A Christmas Story. With tickets at $35 for adults and $17.50 for kids, this show is a nicely priced holiday family option and should be lots of fun. Evening performances begin at 7:30pm and 2pm shows are offered on weekends. Last year these two had a blast seeing Elf at Curtain Call this time of year.
Downtown Stamford’s Palace Theater is also featuring several holiday shows this year. On Saturday, November 30th at 1pm and 4pm, you can see performances of Twas The Night Before Christmas. Then come back the weekend of December 21st and 22nd for the CT Ballet’s The Nutcracker.
Stew Leonard’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, Norwalk, CT
Much more than just a supermarket, Stew Leonard’s is a favorite among local children for the animatronics and other characters that delight visitors along the shopping aisles. Come by on Wednesday, December 4th when the Norwalk store lights its 30 foot artificial evergreen tree. Festivities begin at 5:30pm and will include musical entertainment, hot cocoa, cookies and Santa handing out candy canes.
A week later on Wednesday, December 11th, Stew’s continues the holiday celebrations with a Christmas Treasure Hunt. From 4pm to 5pm that evening, kids aged 12 and under will visit the several Christmas trees set up throughout the store to pick special ornaments off each tree. Those ornaments can then be traded in for treats and prizes. The grand prize winner will be invited back to Stew’s for a personal visit with Santa and milk and cookies for him or her and 10 friends. Westchester families - the SAME event is happening the same night at the Yonkers’ location of Stew’s!
Chanukah at Chabad of Stamford, Stamford, CT
Chanukah is often observed privately in one’s home or with one’s local synagogue. That said, if you are looking for festive, public ways to recognize Chanukah this year, look no further than the Chabad of Stamford.
Festivities begin on Sunday, December 15th with a Chanukah Community Concert from 4pm to 5:30pm. Tickets to that event can be purchased now in advance or at the door. Then, at 4:30pm on Sunday, December 22nd, head to Stamford’s Latham Park for the lighting of Fairfield County’s largest Menorah. There will also be a “giant Chanukah Countdown “gelt drop” (!!) and latkes, donuts and apple cider on offer.
On Wednesday, December 25th, all are welcome to Chabad’s free Chanukah Party from 10:30am to 12:30pm, with a performance by Bobby Doowah and food by Loves of Love. And, finally, on Saturday, December 28th, meet at Chabad around 6pm and join the parade of cards decked with menorahs as they drive through Stamford, culminating with a Menorah Lighting at Latham Park.
Greenwich Reindeer Festival and Holiday Stroll, Greenwich, CT
Greenwich does up the holiday season BIG. And non-residents are welcome and encouraged to join the fun. Beginning Friday, November 29th through Christmas Eve, Sam Bridge Nursery and Greenhouse in Mid-Country Greenwich becomes Santa’s Village! There are live reindeer, carnival rides and photo sessions with Santa (beginning at $29.99 from noon-6pm weekdays and 9am-6pm Saturdays). The event kicks off with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from noon to 6pm on Friday, November 29th. Note Sam Bridge is closed on Sundays.
If you prefer shopping to live reindeer, then hit the luxury shopping destination of Greenwich Avenue the weekend of December 7th and 8th for all kinds of shopping promotions and festive events to celebrate the Greenwich Holiday Stroll. For that weekend only, parking fees along the Ave are waived and it’s a really fun and festive way to get your holiday shopping started.
Winter Wonderland, New Canaan Nature Center, New Canaan, CT
On Saturday, December 14th from 11am to 2pm, the New Canaan Nature Center will become a Winter Wonderland, complete with holiday crafts, caroling, gingerbread house creations, a holiday model train show and a visit with Santa. Tickets are $15 per child for non-members.
A Celtic Christmas, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT
A Celtic Christmas Story is a family-friendly, festive, holiday production from Brooklyn Irish Dance Company, a women owned/operated business* that features performers from companies including Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Women of Ireland, and many more. Last year the show premiered off Broadway to sold out performances and this year, the show is also coming to Long Island and CT. Come to the Westport Country Playhouse on Saturday, December 21st at 7:30pm to watch the eye-catching choreography that focuses on utilizing traditional Irish dance with a contemporary aesthetic. The show is perfect for all ages and tickets can be purchased now at this link for $45-65.
*PS Brooklyn Irish Dance Company was started by my former co-worker, a kick-ass graphic designer who also designed this very blog!! So proud of you, Erin!
