101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Capital District | Kids Out and About Albany <

101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Capital District

by Katie Beltramo

 

 

KidsOutAndAbout is America's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! 

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 postClick here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!

P.S. If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for the Capital District, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you!

 

Santa Sightings

Weekends beginning November 24 Santa Cookies & Cocoa!
Most Thursdays to Sundays beginning Nov 18, 2023 Wintertime Wonderland
Santa arrrives Saturday, November 18, 2023 Santa is at Colonie Center
Beginning Wednesday, November 22, 2023 Santa's Magical Express
Select Saturdays starting November 25, 2023 Pictures with Santa at Rocking Horse Ranch
Santa arrrives Saturday, November 18, 2023 Santa is at Crossgates 
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Christmas in the Air at Empire State Aerosciences Museum
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Deck the Halls with Santa at Dick's
Sunday, December 17, 2023 Breakfast with Santa at The Edison Downtown

 

Christmas Community Events

Saturday, November 18, 2023 Daily Gazette Holiday Parade in Schenectady
Saturday, November 18, 2023 Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade in Greenwich
Thursday, November 30 - Sunday, December 3, 2023 Saratoga Victorian Streetwalk Weekend and Tree Lighting
Friday, December 1, 2023 City of Albany Tree Lighting Ceremony and Open House
Friday, December 1, 2023 Night of Lights at Schenectady County Historical Society
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Elves Day Out Canajoharie
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Sinterklaas Festival Day in Rhinebeck
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Winter Walk in Hudson
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Holiday Kick-Off on Jay Street, Schenectady
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Holiday Ramble in the Stockade
Sunday, December 3, 2023 Tree Lighting at the Empire State Plaza
Sunday, December 3, 2023 Town of Rotterdam Tree Lighting
Sunday, December 3, 2023 Holiday on the Avenue in Scotia
Sunday, December 3, 2023 Troy Victorian Stroll
Friday, December 8, 2023 Town of Niskayuna Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Christmas Celebration and Open House in Esperance
  Christmas on Hamburg Street
Sunday, December 10, 2023 Winterfest in Altamont NY

 

Holiday Theater (or just fun-for-the-family theater) Performances

Saturday, Nov 5, 2023 A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage - Proctors
November 29 to December 10, 2023 Benjamin Franklinstein the Musical!
December 1 to December 23, 2023 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Cohoes Music Hall
Saturday, December 2, 2023 "INTO THE LIGHT" (EXCERPTED PREVIEWS) at the Sinterklaas Festival
Sunday, December 10, 2023 Finding Christmas: A Holiday Extravaganza To Benefit Building On Love at Cohoes Music Hall
Sun December 10, 2023 Christmas Oratorio at UPH
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS VARIETY SHOW - FEATURING THE EDWARDS TWINS at Cohoes Music Hall
December 14 to December 17, 2023 CBS 6 Melodies of Christmas at Proctors
Weekends in December, depending on location Princess Holiday Caroling Visits

 

Nutcrackers

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet! at the Palace Theatre
Sat, December 9 & Sun Dec 10, 2023 Albany Berkshire Ballet's Nutcracker at The Egg
Sat December 16, 2023 Nacre Dance Group -- Nutcracker at The Egg
Saturday, December 2 & Sunday, December 3, 2023 Northeast Ballet's Nutcracker at Proctors

 

Holiday Concerts

 Friday, November 17, 2023 Jim Brickman Hits Live with A Little Bit of Christmas at UPH
Sunday, November 19, 2023 Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
November 24 to December 24, 2023 Million Dollar Quartet Christmas at theRep
Friday, December 1, 2023 Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy Present: A Celtic Family Christmas at UPH
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Poinsettia Pops with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra at UPH
Sunday, Dec 3, 2023 The Magic of Christmas at The Palace Theatre
Sunday, Dec 3, 2023 Victorian Stroll Concerts at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (including a princess sing-a-long)
Friday, December 8, 2023 Mendelssohn Holiday Concert at The Egg
Monday, December 11, 2023 The Glenn Miller Orchestra – In The Christmas Mood at The Egg
Friday, December 15, 2023 It's a JAZZY Christmas at UPH in Saratoga
Friday, December 15, 2023 July Collins Holidays and Hits at UPH
Saturday, December 16, 2023 It's a JAZZY Christmas at Proctors
Saturday, December 16, 2023 The McKrells Christmas Show at The Egg
Sunday, December 17, 2023 The Many Moods of Christmas at  Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 Mark O'Connor's - An Appalachian Christmas at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 'Tis the Season: A Concert & Celebration at Saratoga Arts

 

Christmas Tree Experience

  Cut Your Own Tree at Ellms Family Farm
  Cut Your Own Tree at Ioka Valley Farm
  Cut Your Own Tree at Bob's Trees
  Cut Your Own Tree at Bailey's Trees
Saturday, Dec 2 to Thursday, Dec 23, 2023 Festival of Trees at Schenectady Historical Society

 

Holiday Lights

Multiple Dates beginning Nov 24, 2023 Glimmer Nights at The Farmers' Museum
November 22, 2023 to January 6, 2024 Santa's Play Land Open House
November 24 to December 23, 2023 A Frosty Fest
First lit the evening of November 18, 2023 Schenectady Illuminocity
November 24 to December 30, 2023 Holiday Lighted Nights: A Drive-Thru Holiday Light Experience at the Washington County Fairgrounds
Friday, December 8, 2023 Luminary Walk at Grafton Lakes Park

 

Crafty Christmas 

Sundays & some Thursdays Nov. 19 to Dec. 17, 2023 Clay Day Open Studio: Handmade Holidays ~ CREATE Community Studios Schenectady
Saturday, November 25, 2023 Santa’s Helpers Workshops for Kids! at Art in Mind
Saturday, November 25, 2023 Family Snow Globe Paint & Sip at Art in Mind
Sunday, November 26, 2023 Holiday Slate Coasters Paint & Sip at Art in Mind
Thursday, November 30, 2023 Holiday Wreath Making ~ CREATE Community Studios Schenectady
Friday, December 1, 2023 Felt a Reindeer at Schenectady County Historical Society
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Woven Ornament Workshop - Hancock Shaker Village
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Kissing Ball Workshop - Hancock Shaker Village
Sunday, December 3, 2023 Holiday Pysanky Art with Zuzana Lundeen - C.R.E.A.T.E. in Saratoga
Friday, December 8, 2023 Wreath-making with Willow Tree Wisdom
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Crafty Kids Holiday Party at Clermont
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Holiday Tea Towels ~ CREATE Community Studios Schenectady
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Copper Tree Holiday Workshop at Saratoga Arts
Friday, December 10, 2023 Yule Log Class with Willow Tree Wisdom
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Heirloom Clay Garland Holiday Workshop at Saratoga Arts
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Finnish Stars Holiday Workshop at Saratoga Arts
Sunday, December 17, 2023 Needle-Felt Applique at Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center

 

Festive Flicks

Friday, December 1, 2023 Elf is at Proctors
Thursday, December 1, 2023 Holiday Affair at Proctors
Monday, December 11, 2023 The Muppet Christmas Carol at the Palace Theatre
Monday, December 18, 2023 Elf is free at the Palace Theatre
Friday, December 22, 2023 It's A Wonderful Life at the Palace Theatre
Wednesday, December 27, 2023 The Super Mario Bros Movie "Family Fun Day"

 

Ice Skating (mostly indoor facilities and shows) 

Limited public skate on weekends Bethlehem YMCA
Public Skate every Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm-3:50 pm Capital Arena in Clifton Park
Public Skate on Sundays from 2-3:30 pm Messa Rink at Union College
Every day except Monday Empire State Plaza

 

Chanukah 

 Sunday, November 19, 2023 Home Depot Menorah Workshop
Saturday, December 2, 2023 The Klezmatics’ Happy Joyous Hanukkah Concert at Proctors
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Hanukkah Family Paint Class at Art in Mind
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Magical Hanukkah Celebration at the J
Sunday, December 10, 2023 Chanukah on Jay
Monday, December 11, 2023 Community Chanukah Celebration in Clifton Park

 

Kwanzaa 

 Saturday, December 16, 2023 Kwanzaa - Operation Unite NY in Hudson
  Kwanzaa Celebrations by the Capital Region Kwanzaa Coaltion

 

An Old-Fashioned Christmas

Begins the day after Thanksgiving and runs every Saturday and Sunday Dickens Christmas at Skaneateles
Saturday, December 3, 2023 Christmas in Museum Village
Sunday, December 4, 2023 Holiday Traditions for Children at Clermont
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Holiday Open House at Clermont
Thursday, December 14, 2023 Holiday Stockade Stroll with Schenectady County Historical Society
Sunday, December 3, 2023 Children's Traditions at Clermont
Saturday, December 9, 2023 A Very Mabee Christmas

 

Shopping & Craft Fairs 

Sat Nov 11 - Sun Nov 12, 2023 Holiday House and Shop at Old Austerlitz
Friday November 17 - Sunday, November 19, 2023 Country Folk Art Craft Show at HVCC
Sat Nov 25 - Sun Nov 26, 2023 Indoor Craft Fair at Samascott's Garden Market
through Dec 17, 2023 Shaker Holiday Market
Nov 25, 2023 Saratoga Annual Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday, November 25 to Sunday, December 24, 2023 Artisan's Market at Brookside Museum
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Holiday Bazaar at Thacher Nature Center

 

 

New Year's Eve

 

  Saratoga New Year's Fest
  Ring in the New Year at Rocking Horse Ranch
  New Year's Eve Celebration at Stowe
  First Night of Funny at Proctors
  First Night of Funny at Cohoes Music Hall
  Opal Essence’s New Year’s Eve Dragtacular! at The Rep
  Cheers Painting & Champagne Flute New Year’s Eve Party – Charcuterie Table & Champagne! at Art in Mind

 

Miscellaneous 

  Great Train Extravaganza at Empire State Plaza
Sunday, December 3, 2023 Model Train Show at miSci
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Grillin' for Tots
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Winter Solstice Celebration at Olana

 

 


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!

If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Katie Beltramo, Communications Director of KidsOutAndAbout.com, at katie@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!


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