Westchester’s Winter Wonderland, Kensico Dam Plaza: Fri, 11/23-Mon, 12/31: 5-10pm Fri-Sat, 5-9pm on Sun & weeknights: Friends of Westchester Parks & Westchester Medical Center’s Winter Wonderland features a Holiday Circus, Santa Experience, Musical Light Show, outdoor ice rink, a FUNderland Village with 12 rides and food trucks. Plus special events including a Tree Lighting on Fri, 11/23: 6pm and a Family New Year’s Party with pyrotechnics and a ball drop 12/31. (1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla; www.winterwonderland.com)
Polar Express in Imax, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk : Fri-Sun, 11/23 -12/23: check dates & times: The Polar Express returns to the six story high IMAX® screen at the Norwalk Aquarium. Based on the Caldecott Award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg about a boy who doesn’t believe in Santa Clause, and his magical trip to the North Pole. Polar Express has become a holiday classic on big screens and small. (10 North Water Street, Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)
Laurie Berkner Band: A Holiday Celebration, Tarrytown Music Hall, Sat, 12/1: 1 & 3pm.Children’s music stars and Sprout TV favorites,The Laurie Berkner Band perform a Holiday Celebration concert featuring music from their critically acclaimed album, A Laurie Berkner Christmas. Including “Jingle Bells”, Laurie’s original song “Candy Cane Jane,” and the Hanukkah songs “Candle Chase and “The Dreidel Song”.” (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)
Ornament Making Class, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, Sat, 12/1 & 8: 1:30 & 3:30pm: Kick your family’s holiday ornament craft making skills up a notch with this clay ornament making class at this 11,000 square foot clay art center. Kids ages 5-99 will make a handmade personalized ornament to take home. Call 914.937 to register. (40 Beach St., Port Chester; www.clayartcenter.org)
Local! Katonah Elementary School PTO Holiday Boutique, Sat, 12/1: 10am-4pm: Shop till you drop at the Katonah Elementary School PTO’s Holiday Boutique featuring one of a kind merchandise from local vendors, artisans and students. Gifts include candle holders, vases, gourmet popcorn, hand woven items, pottery, jewelry, children’s gifts, home decor, handmade scarves, hair accessories, sewn goods, leather handbags and more. Katonah Elementary School.
Local Santa! Mt. Kisco Tree Lighting & Caroling Mt. Kisco, TBA: Usually held the first Friday in December. We’re guessing, Fri, 11/30 – check back. Crafts start at 4:30pm and the tree lighting is at 6pm at Village Hall. Followed by cookies and cocoa with SANTA at the Mt. Kisco Library. (104 E. Main St., Mt. Kisco; www.mtkisco.org)
Local Santa! Holiday Crafts, Tree Lighting & Santa Visit, New Castle Historical Society’s, Sat, 12/1: 4-6pm: At NCHS’s Old-Fashioned Craft Workshop, children of all ages make paper snowflakes, corn husk dolls, potpourri sachets and paper chains for the holiday tree. Craft activities are followed by a tree lighting with carolers from Horace Greeley High School’s Madrigal society beginning at 5pm. Plus, Santa regularly stops by because he’s very interested in history. (Horace Greeley House, 100 King St., Chappaqua; www.newcastlehs.org)
Local Santa! Mistletoe Mart, Bedford Presbyterian Church, Sat, 12/1: 9am-3pm: Santa will pay a visit to this annual holiday shop on Bedford’s Village Green. Shop for gifts, fresh evergreen wreaths and baked goods. There will be a hand made quilt raffle, a kids shopping area and home made chili available for lunch.
Local! Jingle Pass Weekend Kid’s Stuff: Silhouettes and Crafts at the Court House, Sat, 12/1: 1am-3pm: The Silhouette Artist is back and Deborah O’Connor will hand cut silhouettes of your children, family, pets and even your house! We’ll also have winter crafts, homemade cookies, hot cocoa and more! Sign up for silhouettes here. Purchase your tickets for the Crafts & Refreshments. For more info, please call 914-234-9751.
Local Pictures with Santa! Bedford Hills Tree Lighting, Sat, 12/1: 6pm: Join the Bedford Hills Neighborhood Association for caroling and light refreshments at the Bedford Hllls train station. Get your pictures with Santa at the train station from 2-4pm.
Local! Chappaqua Orchestra Holiday Sing-Along, Crafts, Santa & Tree Lighting Bell Middle School/Greeley House, Sat, 12/1: 3:30-6pm: At 3:30pm, TCO’s assistant conductor Davis Knobloch leads the Chappaqua Orchestra’s annual holiday sing-along at the Bell Middle School. Then head over to the Greeley House were the New Castle Historical Society’s holiday celebration features an old-fashioned crafts workshop from 4-6pm, caroling and a tree lighting ceremony at 5pm. (50 Senter St., Chappaqua; www.chappaquaorchestra.org)
Local Santa! Lasdon Park’s Holidays on the Hill & Train Show, Sat-Sun: 12/1-2, 8-9, & 15-16: 11am-4pm: Santa is a big train fan and he will be checking out Lasdon Park’s annual train show to see Metro North trains travel up the Harlem Line from NYC to Katonah. Kids will get a chance to “interface” with Santa in Santa’s Workshop at Lasdon’s Main House. Admission includes access to the 2500 Sq. ft. Lasdon Conservatory’s“ current exhibit. Plus holiday music, a fire pit, food trucks and poinsettias, bromeliads and gifts for sale in the Garden Shop. (2648 Alawalk Rd., Rt. 35, Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org)
Local! Katonah Tree and Menorah Lighting, Sun, 12/2: 5:30-7:30pm: There’s entertainment, speakers, hot chocolate and cookies at the annual Katonah Chamber of Commerce’s Tree & Menorah Lighting Ceremony at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 68 Bedford Rd. www.katonahchamber.org
Rappelling Santa, Stamford Heights & Lights – Sun, 12/2: 5pm: Watch Santa, Rudolph, the Grinch and friends rappel 22 stories down one of Stamford’s tallest buildings. Follow Santa to Latham Park for an evening of holiday music and join in the countdown to the annual lighting of Stamford’s Holiday Tree. (Landmark Square and Latham Square, Stamford, CT; www.stamford-downtown.com)
Holiday Tea Musicales, Caramoor, Wed-Thurs, 12/4-12: 1pm: Take part in Caramoor’s great tradition of holiday music with charismatic musicians, festive decorations, and tea service in the majestic Music Room. Enjoy an assortment of finger sandwiches, holiday treats, and a variety of teas (hot chocolate with marshmallows for the little ones). Book early! (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)
Latke & Dreidel Alert! Chanukah Village & Menorah Lighting, Bedford Village, Tues, 12/4: 4pm: Chabad of Bedford transforms Bedford Village into a Chanukah Village for people of all ages. There will be latkes at Bedford 234 at 4pm, a Chanukah concert at Bedford Historical Hall at 5pm and a Menorah Lighting on Bedford Village Green at 5:30pm. Local stores will give out dreidels and Chanukah treats and there will be Chanukah stories at the Bedford Free Library www.chabadbedford.com
