Holidays in the Suburbs!
/It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year! Celebrate the season at some of these awesome holiday events happening in and around Westchester and Fairfield Counties. Some events are brand new for ‘23; some are old favorites; and still others are somewhere in between - “reinventions", I’d say.
Happiest of Holidays!
IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY
festival of lights
Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard, North Salem, NY Daily through December 31, 2023
Head to Harvest Moon for the Festival of Lights, a one of a kind walkthrough holiday light experience. Guests walk on foot through a magical display of festive décor illuminated by over half a million lights. Grab a cup of hot cocoa, hot cider or mulled wine at the entrance to have in hand while you stroll - it really makes for the perfect seasonal evening.
Winter Wonderland DRIVE THROUGH HOLIDAY LIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA
Kensico Dam, Valhalla, NY Daily through December 31, 2023
Westchester's Winter Wonderland is back as a drive-through event this year. The 1.2 mile Drive Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza is happening select nights for six straight weeks straight at the Kensico Dam in Valhalla. This year’s experience includes a new character – Snowball the Elf – who will be interacting with children of all ages from the Ice House, kept cool in the breeze of Old Man Winter. Fan favorite Santa also returns!
holidays on the hill annual train show
Lasdon Park, Somers, NY Thursdays through Sundays, November 25 through December 31, 2023
Holidays on the Hill Annual Train Show at Lasdon Park transforms the Park’s Conservatory into a winter wonderland, featuring whimsical holiday exhibits and trains chugging along twelve multi-level tracks, over bridges, through tunnels, under waterfalls and by quaint holiday scenes all framed with colorful seasonal plants and decorations! After visiting the holiday scenery and trains, children can meet Santa in his Holiday Cottage at scheduled times during each session. Jimmy’s Soft Serve will also be on hand offering holiday themed concoctions for purchase.
Christmas Barn
Troy’s Garden Nurseries, Bedford, NY Ongoing
Each December, Troy’s Garden Nurseries converts its large gift area into a beautiful Christmas Barn, filled to the brim with holiday décor and gifts. It’s an adorable spot to holiday shop and to buy festive décor for your own home, including, obviously, fresh wreaths and trees. Bring your kids for 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.
Grand Holiday Illuminations
Untermyer Gardens, Yonkers, NY Daily, December 8, 2023 through January 1, 2024
Yonker’s truly stunning Untermyer Gardens will again be illuminated this holiday season. Grand Holiday Illumination is a FREE event and NO advance tickets are required! Come see the Walled Garden lit with more than 100,000 lights and listen to holiday music from many traditions. Holiday Illuminations begins on Friday, December 8th at 5:30pm, continuing thereafter every evening from 4:30pm until 8pm.
WHITE PLAINS HOLIDAY MARKET
White Plains, NY Daily, December 6 through December 17, 2023
The City of White Plains, in partnership with 914PopUps, is BACK with another open air holiday market for Holidays 2023. Expect over 50 local vendors, artisans and food and drink. The Holiday Market will take place on Court Street in Downtown White Plains between Main Street and Martine Avenue.
HOLIDAY LANE AT AMERICAN CHRISTMAS
Mount Vernon, NY Daily through December 22, 2023
American Christmas is BACK, this year presenting Holiday Lane, an immersive, indoor walkthrough experience with over 100,000 lights, 100 animatronics, nine uniquely themed areas, and so much more, in American Christmas’ Mount Vernon showroom. These folks are the Christmas decoration EXPERTS, so their showroom is quite the sight to see. Even better - 100% of net ticket sales will be donated to local nonprofits. Last year, American Christmas donated over $81,000!
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
THE HOLIDAY WISH express
Stamford Town Center, Stamford, CT November 18 through December 24, 2023
Embark on a holiday adventure with Teddy at The Holiday Wish Express at the Stamford Town Center! Join Teddy as he boards the Holiday Wish Express to the North Pole, where he’ll meet new friends like the Singing Polar Bear Band, the Giant Moose family, busy elves, and even Mrs. Claus. Teddy needs your help to find his friends scattered throughout the event. An exciting scavenger hunt to reunite Teddy with his friends!
Greenwich Reindeer Festival and santa’s WORKSHOP
Sam Bridge Nursery, Greenwich, CT Monday through Saturday, November 24 through December 23, 2023
Greenwich does up the holiday season BIG and non-residents are welcome and encouraged to join the fun. Now in its FIFTEENTH year, Sam Bridge Nursery and Greenhouse in Mid-Country Greenwich will present Santa’s Workshop, featuring Santa and his three LIVE reindeer! Visitors can have their photo taken with Santa, meet the reindeer and also enjoy the new Santa's Workshop, which provides more space for families while they wait in line for their photo with Santa.
FLURRY FEST
Arch in Bloom, Greenwich, CT December 2, 2023
Arch in Bloom is a truly stunning landscaping business and garden center located on the western side of Greenwich. The garden center is a beautiful spot to visit any day, but Arch in Bloom REALLY comes alive during the holiday season, when owner Derek D’Andrea pulls out all the décor stops.
On December 2nd (rain date December 3rd), Arch in Bloom will host its fourth annual Flurry Fest. There will be festive displays, a holiday market, delicious food and drink (including DIY smores and cozy hot cocoa) and tons of merriment. We have attended their Pumpkins and Pints event in October the past two years and were each time blown away by how wonderful and community oriented the event was. Arch In Bloom REALLY knows how to throw a community event.
The Holiday Stroll
Mill River Park, Stamford, CT Weekends, November 24 through December 24, 2023
Get ready to sleigh it in Stamford’s Mill River Park at the Holiday Stroll, where you’ll embark on a merry stroll through a winter wonderland! Experience our 30-foot interactive Christmas Tree! Enjoy dazzling show of lights & sounds while vendors will be serving your holiday favorites and so much more! It’s all happening in Downtown Stamford this holiday season!
This event is really cute and I love it for two additional reasons - (i) kids age 10 and under are FREE (compare that to the many overpriced, cash grab pop ups these days!) and (ii) this year, through the generous support of Stamford Ford, the Holiday Stroll has introduced a "Drive to Give" campaign which will surprise a deserving family each week with a holiday gift, with a goal of spreading holiday magic far and wide. LOVE THIS!
PLUS ONE GREAT EVENT IN DUTCHESS COUNTY
A FROSTY FEST
Ulster Park, NY Weekends, November 24 through December 23, 2023
We visited A Frosty Fest on a whim two years and it was so great we went back again in 2021. It’s THAT cute. Frosty Fest is an all outdoor, part walk-through and part-drive through holiday festival. The event includes professional stage shows, a Candy Cane Lane, Frosty’s Animated Musical Light Show, a 3D walk through Frosty Magical Adventure, live performances from the actually quite talented “Jingle and Jangle” and more. Then head into your car to experience Frosty’s Enchanted Forest.
