101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Buffalo
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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!
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Santa Sightings
December 2, 3 | Visit With Santa at Explore & More |
Starting November 17 | Visit Santa at Walden Galleria |
Fridays-Sundays Starting Nov. 18 | Santa's Wonderland Express |
November 25 | On Stage With Santa at the Historic Palace Theatre |
November 25, 26; December 2,3 | Polar Express With the Medina Railroad |
December 2 | Skydiving Elves Greet Santa in Lewiston (part of Lewiston Christmas Walk celebration) |
December | Cookies and Cocoa With Mrs. Claus At the Buffalo Zoo (TBD 2023) |
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in December | Santa's Christmas Cottage Snow Globe |
December 9, 16 | Breakfast With Santa and the Animals at the Buffalo Zoo |
Various dates in December | Santa On the Heritage Carousel |
December 16 | Santa Land At Chestnut Ridge Park |
December | Lunch With Santa at the Hard Rock Cafe (TBD 2023) |
Hanukkah
December 14 | Celebrate Chanukah With the JCC |
December 12 |
Old-Time Christmas
December 14, 21, 28 | Candlelight Behind-the-Scenes Tours at the Martin House |
December 9, 16 | Castle By Candelight at Old Fort Niagara |
Multiple Dates in December | Yuetide In the Country (TBD 2023) |
Light Displays
Various Dates Nov 24 - Dec 30 | Fairgrounds Festival of Lights |
Saturday before Thanksgiving - January 7 | Our Lady of Fatima Festival of Lights |
November 25 | Light Up Lockport |
Various dates in Dec., click to see calendar | Gardens After Dark: Magical Pointsettias and Train Display |
Starting November | Zoolights at the Buffalo Zoo (TBD 2023) |
Holiday Theatre
November 25 | Free Holiay Movie At the Historic Palace Theatre: Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Movie - Illumination Version |
November 25 | Free Holiday Movie At the Historic Palace Theatre: The Polar Express |
December 3, 4 | The Nutcracker at Shea's |
December 17 - 23 | |
December 8 | |
December 9, 10 | Classical Ballet of WNY Presents The Nutcracker |
November 29 - December 3 | White Christmas Live On Stage |
December 2 | The Nutcracker at The Center For the Arts! |
December 13 | Miracle On 34th Street |
December 22 | A Christmas Carol |
Holiday Concerts
November 26 | Handel's Messiah at OLV Basilica |
December 3 | Handel's Messiah at St. Mary's Swormville |
December 10 | Jingle Bell Jam at the BPO |
December 8, 9 | Joann's Classical Christmas |
December 14, 15, 16, 17 | John Morris Russell's Holiday Pops With the BPO |
December 8 | |
December 12 | Lindsey Stirling's Snow Waltz Tour at Shea's |
December 15 | WNY Big Band Christmas |
December 21 | |
December 2 | Merry Christmas Darling: A Carpenters Christmas |
December 2 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Key Bank Center |
December 12 | A Celtic Family Christmas |
Christmas Tree Experience
Weekends in November and December | Stokoe Farms |
Starting November 24 | Christmas Tree Time at Crossens |
Opens November 24 | Christmas At Akron Acres |
Ice Skating
Holiday and Leisure Rinks |
Classic Rink |
Harborcenter |
Northtown Center at Amherst |
Brighton Ice Arena |
The Ice at Canalside |
Faletti Ice Arena |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
Saturdays in December | Holidays at the Broadway Market |
November 18, 19 | Holiday Market at Genesee Country Village & Museum |
December 2,3 | Holiday Market At the Kenan Center |
December 2 | Holy Ghost Christkindl Holiday Market |
New Year's Eve
December 31 | Countdown To Noon at Explore and More |
December 31 | New Year's Eve At Holiday Valley |
December 31 | NYE at Splash Lagoon |
December 31 | NYE Buffalo Ball Drop |
Miscellaneous
Various Dates in November/December | Holiday Afternoon Teas |
December 10, 11 | Winter Wonderland at the Botanical Gardens |
December 1-4 | Lewiston Christmas Walk |
Multiple dates in November/December | Polar Express at Medina Railroad Museum |
Multiple dates in November/December | Christmas Cookie Decorating Class At Buffalo Cake Pops |
Multiple dates in December | Holiday Magic at Explore & More |
December 13 | Holiday Cookie Decorating at Clarence Public Library |