101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Buffalo - 2025
KidsOutAndAbout's 2025 holiday events list for Buffalo and Western New York: ways to make the holidays special in our area: Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Helena Robin at helena@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
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A Magical Christmas Adventure at Hidden Valley
Weekends Nov 28 - Dec 21, 2025Another Magical Christmas Adventure awaits at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg! The Lodge, in full holiday splendor, will host Santa’s Wonderland where you’ll decorate cookies, write letters to the North Pole, take holiday photos, and more before boarding your trolley for a journey through Hidden Valley’s Mystical Forest. There you’ll see herds of bison and elk, Randy the camel, llamas, and blackbelly sheep roaming the wintery terrain. Upon your return, pet and feed a variety of live animals in open-air stalls. Four consecutive weekends starting Black Friday, November 28 – December 21, 9am-4:30pm. Reservations Required. Book online at hiddenvalleyadventure.com. Allow 3 hours for the full experience.
Holiday Happenings at Genesee Country Village & Museum
There are so many ways to include Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford, NY, in your family's traditions this holiday season! With festive special events like our Holiday Market & Preparing for Winter (November 8 & 9), Yuletide in the Country Theatrical Tours and Dinners (December 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 19, & 20), Holiday Open House December 7 and Breakfast with St. Nick December 7 and 21... plus holiday cookies and shopping in the Flint Hill Store, GCV&M can help you plan ahead for a season of winter wonder.
2025 Holiday Happenings in and around Buffalo
Santa Sightings
| Fridays-Sundays Starting Nov. 22 | Santa's Wonderland Express |
| Weekends Starting November 22 | Polar Express With the Medina Railroad |
| November 28, 29 | Santa At the Botanical Gardens |
| December 6 | Santa Arrives By Helicopter in Lewiston (part of Lewiston Christmas Walk celebration) |
| December 7 | Breakfast With Santa At the Niagara Falls Convention Center |
| December 7, 14, 21 | Brunch With Santa At Salvatores |
| December 6, 7, &14, 2025 | Santa Is Coming To Akron Acres |
| Starting November 14, 2025 | Visit Santa at Walden Galleria |
| Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in December | Santa's Christmas Cottage |
| December 13. 14, 20, 2025 | Breakfast With Santa and the Animals at the Buffalo Zoo |
| December 13 | Santa Land At Chestnut Ridge Park |
Old-Time Christmas
| November 28, December 4, 11, 18, 26 | Candlelight Behind-the-Scenes Tours at the Martin House |
| December 5 & 6 | Living Nativity at Kelkenberg Farm of Clarence |
| December 6 & 13 | Castle By Candelight at Old Fort Niagara |
| December 5, 6, 2025 | Yuetide In the Country |
Light Displays
| Saturday before Thanksgiving - January 5 | Our Lady of Fatima Festival of Lights |
| Various Dates Nov 29 - Dec 30 | Fairgrounds Festival of Lights |
| November 29 | Light Up Lockport |
| December 1- 31 | NY Power Authority Festival of Trees |
| Various dates in Dec., click to see calendar | Gardens After Dark: Magical Pointsettias |
Holiday Theatre
| December 4 - 21 | It's A Wonderful Life |
| December 4 - 7 | The Happy Elf At the Historic Palace Theatre |
| December 4-7, 11-14, 18-21 | It's A Wonderful Life, the Musical |
| December 5, 6, 7 | The Nutcracker with Neglia Ballet and the BPO at Shea's |
| Weekends, December 6 -20 | Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas, The Musical at TOY |
| December 6 | The Nutcracker at The Center For the Arts! |
| December 10 | A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage |
| December 13, 14 | Classical Ballet of WNY Presents The Nutcracker |
| December 17 - 23 | ‘Twas The Night Before...by Cirque Du Soleil at Shea's |
Holiday Concerts
| November 30 | Handel's Messiah at OLV Basilica |
| December 6 | Handel's Messiah at St. Joseph University Parish |
| December 6 | A Motown Christmas at the Riviera |
| December 9, 25 | Celtic Woman Christmas |
| December 12, 13 | Joann's Classical Christmas |
| December 13 | Christmas Comes To Town at the Riviera |
| December 14 | Jingle Bell Jam at the BPO |
| December 16 | Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party |
| December 18, 19, 20 | Holiday Pops With the BPO |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Weekends in November and December | Stokoe Farms |
| Starting November 28 | Christmas Tree Time at Crossens |
| Opens November 28 | Christmas At Akron Acres |
| December 2, 2025 | Elmwood Village Tree Lighting |
Ice Skating
| Various dates in November and December | Public Skate at Rotary Rink At Fountain Plaza |
| Various dates in November and December | Public Skate with Holiday and Leisure Rinks |
| Various dates in November and December | Public Skate at Aurora Classic Rink |
| Various dates in November and December | General Skate at the Northtown Center at Amherst |
| Various dates in November and December | Open Skating at The Ice at Canalside |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| November 8, 09 | Holiday Market at Genesee Country Village & Museum |
| November 14 - 16th | Holiday Market At the Kenan Center |
| November 28 | St. Gregory the Great Christmas Craft Show |
| Weekends, November 28 - December 28 | Buffalo Holiday Market At the Richardson-Olmsted Campus |
| Saturdays in December | Holidays at the Broadway Market |
| December 6 | Holy Ghost Christkindl Holiday Market |
| December 6 | Cozy Crafters Artisan Market At the Botanical Gardens |
| December 20 | Procrastinators Holiday Market At Riverworks |
New Year's Eve
| December 31 | New Year's Eve At Holiday Valley |
| December 31 | First Night Buffalo |
| December 31 | NYE at Splash Lagoon |
| December 31 | NYE Buffalo Ball Drop |
| December 31 | Family NYE Bash at Buffalo Battleground |
| December 31 | Family Fun NYE at the Niagara Falls Convention Center |
Miscellaneous
| Weekends after Thanksgiving - Christmas | A Magical Christmas Adventure at Hidden Valley |
| December 20 | Free HuddleUp Christmas Party |
| Multiple dates in November/December | Polar Express at Medina Railroad Museum |
| Multiple dates in November/December | Christmas Cookie Decorating Classes At Buffalo Cake Pops |
| December 5, 6, 7 | Jingle Falls USA Festival |
| December 5-7 | Lewiston Christmas Walk |
| Weekends, December 6 - 14 | Gingerbread Wonderland at the Niagara Culinary Institute |
| December 6 | Cookies For Canines Christmas Party |
| December 5 | Anherst Christmas Parade |
| December 20 | 126th Christmas Bird Count at Beaver Meadow |
| Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in December | Santa's Christmas Cottage in Lockport |
Christmas Tree Farms
The Buffalo area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in festive activities. From charming local farms to larger operations, each location provides a unique experience, complete with hayrides, hot cocoa, and seasonal treats. Many farms also host holiday events, making it easy to create lasting memories with loved ones. Whether you’re looking for a classic fir or a unique spruce, the Christmas tree farms around Buffalo promise to make your holiday celebrations truly special.
Subscription Boxes: Gifts That Keep on Giving
Send thoughtful choices to the ones you love near and far, and plan some excellent expected surprises for your own family in the months to come. KidsOutAndAbout has put together of some of our favorite choices with a range for all different ages and interests.
