Everyone has their own way of connecting with their inner holiday spirit. Thankfully, Rochester has plenty of ways to embrace the season wherever the spirit moves you!
Many of these events take place every year, but to ensure you have the most current information, please know this is updated for 2019. Some event dates are yet to be determined, and we keep adding more events as we hear of them, so check back as the holiday season grows closer, and contact us if you know of one we should add!
Holiday-themed displays & events
- Holiday Laser Shows at the RMSC Planetarium
November-January - Sweet Creations Gingerbread House Display at Eastman House
November 8-December 15 - Canandaigua Christkindl Market
November 8-10 - Granger Homestead Festival of Trees
November 8-December 1 - Glass Holidays at the Corning Museum of Glass
November 10-January 5 - Garden Factory Holiday Music & Lights Show
Saturdays & Sundays, November 23-December 22 - A City Sings for the Season presented by the Rochester Oratorio Society
November 24 - A Magical Cirque Christmas at Kodak Center
November 26 - A Charlie Brown Christmas at NAZ
November 22-24 - Frank’s Rat Pack Special Holiday Show at Kodak Center
November 30 & December 1 - Holidays at the Rochester Public Market
Sundays, December 1, December 8, December 15 - Holiday Pet Photos at Lollypop Farm
December 6-8 - Candlelight Christmas 2019 at the Morgan-Manning House
December 6 - Lighting of the Genesee Brew House Keg Tree
December 6 - RIT Orchestra & RIT Singers: Advent Lessons & Carols
December 6 - Celtic Yuletide Concert at Caledonia First Presbyterian Church
December 14 - CLA Performing Arts Ensembles: Annual Holiday Concert
December 7 - Deck the Town
December 7 - The Penthouse Presents: 2nd Annual Holiday Bash Featuring DIAL UP
December 7 - Movie Night Out Matinee Special: The Muppet Christmas Carol with Out Alliance
December 7 - Sparkle in Corning’s Gaffer District
December 7 - The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical at Kodak Center
December 7 - Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus presents Treasured Traditions
December 7 & 8 - Roberts Wesleyan College Christmas Gala
December 7 & 8 - 5th Annual German/American Christmas Market
December 7 & 8 - The Piano Bar: Holiday Edition with Out Alliance
December 8 - Celtic Christmas Concert at Parkminster Church
December 8 - Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at the Auditorium Theatre
December 11 - Handel’s Messiah at Eastman Theatre
December 12 - The Holidays at Schutt’s
December 12 - Rooftop Holiday Party During the Full Moon & Most Prolific Meteor Shower of the Year
December 13 - National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation at The Little
December 14 - Celtic Yuletide Concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Victor
December 14 - Rochester Tuba Christmas at Eastman Theatre
SOLD OUT, December 15 - Movie Night Out: White Christmas with Out Alliance
December 18 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Blue Cross Arena
December 18 - Wrapping Around the Christmas Tree: The Musical at Lyric Theater
December 20-22 - Gala Holiday Pops
December 21, 22, 23 - A BARRY Little Christmas with the Celtic Cross Duo
December 21
Holiday homes, neighborhoods, and villages
- Neighborhood Holiday Lights around Rochester
Daily, Thanksgiving weekend through New Years Eve - Candlelight Night in Pittsford
December 3 - Park Ave Holiday Open House
December 5 - Winter Light Festival in Ithaca
December 5-15 - Festival of Lights in Clifton Springs
December 6 - Yuletide in the Country Tours at Genesee Country Village & Museum
December 6-8, 13-15 & 19-21 - Cobblestone Museum Holiday Tour of Homes
December 7 - Eastman Museum Holiday Homecoming
December 12 - Holiday Open House at Genesee Country Village & Museum
December 21
In case you were wondering, the annual Cobb’s Hill Holiday Tour of Homes was cancelled this year. Hopefully we’ll add them back to the list in 2020!
The Nutcracker
- The Nutcracker at Eastman Theatre
November 27, 29, 30, and December 1 - Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at the Auditorium Theatre
December 12 - NYS Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Roberts Wesleyan
December 13-15
“It’s a Wonderful Life”
- …in the South Wedge
December 7 - …Live From WVL Radio Theatre at Nazareth College
December 7 - …the Movie at The Cinema Theater
December 7 - …the Movie at Dryden Theater
December 12 (same night as Holiday Homecoming!) and December 15 - …in Seneca Falls
December 13-15 - …The Radio Play at Auburn Public Theatre
December 21
“A Christmas Carol”
- … at Geva
November 7-December 29 - … in Skaneateles “Dickens Christmas”
Weekends through December 22, starting the Friday after Thanksgiving - … at Sonnenberg Gardens “Dickens Christmas”
December 8 & 9 - Plus, Sonnenberg Gardens “A Christmas Carol”
December 14 - Scrooge at Dryden Theater
December 20 & 22 - 47th Annual Carolcade in East Aurora
December 21 - …or just go Christmas Caroling!
Roc Holiday Village
- Roc Holiday Village
December 6-31 - Official Liberty Pole Lighting
December 7
Roc Holiday Village is Rochester, New York’s annual holiday festival bringing magic downtown for people of all ages. Enjoy 14 weekend days of enchanting festivities December 6-31 including visits with Santa, ice skating, a shopping village, Santa’s workshop, hand-crafted goods, and pop-up restaurants.
Holiday train rides and displays
- Edgerton Model Train Room Holiday Open House
Saturdays in December, plus a few weekdays during the break - Garden Factory Holiday Family Fun Model Train
Weekends beginning Thanksgiving weekend through mid-December - Aman’s Farm Market Model Train
Thanksgiving through New Years Eve - Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum Santa Trains
SOLD OUT! Saturdays in December - New York Museum of Transportation Holly Trolley Rides
Sundays in December - Medina Railroad Polar Express
Saturdays beginning Thanksgiving weekend through mid-December - Arcade & Attica Railroad Polar Express
Weekends in November & December, but ALMOST SOLD OUT!
‘Tis the season of giving
- Volunteer your time and talent
- Trees for Troops
- Pirate Toy Fund
- Salvation Army
- Buy your holiday pie from Special Touch Bakery
- Rochester experiences that make great gifts
Fun on the farm
- Pick Your Own Tree
From Thanksgiving weekend through mid-December - Winter at Powers Farm Market
Daily, with extended hours the week leading up to Christmas
Let it snow!
- 9 Places to Rent Snowshoes
- 15 Places for Downhill and Cross-Country Skiing
- 22 Sledding Hills
- 19 Ice Skating Rinks
New Years Eve 2019-2020 Around Rochester
Need ideas for New Years Eve around Rochester? We’ve included a variety of playful places to ring in the new year on December 31, 2019! Happy New Year 2020!
6 Spectacular Holiday Lights Around Rochester
2019 Christmas lights around Rochester! These neighborhoods go all-out with extreme holiday lights to fill the season with joy. Show them some love!
76 Rochester Experiences that Make Great Gifts
Make something together. Visit a place you’ve never been, or one you love. The benefits of Rochester experiences extend far beyond personal happiness!
Things to Do in Rochester This Weekend
Discover the best concerts, festivals, community events, special events, and other things to do in Rochester this weekend or anytime!
It’s cold, it’s snowy, it’s dark. It’s wintertime in Rochester! Here are a few suggestions to help embrace our winter season.
Holiday & Winter Break: 24 Ideas for All Ages & Interests
The weather over holiday and winter break can be unpredictable! Here are several ideas for spending your days off outside or inside!
26 Rochester-Area Volunteer Experiences
I can’t think of a better day trip than one that helps others. Make time to volunteer your time and talent with one of these amazing Rochester-area organizations.
How do you get into the holiday spirit?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!