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 |
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