The holiday season is one of the most festive and exciting times to visit Finger Lakes Wine Country. As the weather cools and the days become shorter, the holiday spirit fills the air and the region transforms into the set of a Hallmark holiday movie.
From Santa sightings and dazzling light displays to shopping events and holiday performances, we’ve created this guide to help you enjoy the best of the holidays in Finger Lakes Wine Country. We’ve included family-friendly festivities, adult-only activities and so much more to help you enjoy the merriment of the most wonderful time of the year.
Santa Sightings
A Visit from Santa's Reindeer
When: Friday, November 25th, 2022
Time: 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Where: The Windmill Farm and Craft Market, 3900 State Route 14A, Penn Yan NY
Cost: Free
Santa’s reindeer will be visiting The Windmill a day before Santa arrives. Bring your camera for pictures and come let Dancer and Prancer know that you have been good!
Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus
When: Saturday, November 26th, 2022
Time: 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Where: The Windmill Farm and Craft Market, 3900 State Route 14A, Penn Yan NY
Cost: Free
Bring your camera and take your Holiday photos. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be here for photos from 10:00 to 1:00. It’s not just for kids! Adults and pets are welcome too!
Holiday Open House
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 - Sunday, December 4th, 2022
Time: 9:00 AM - 5 PM
Location: The Corning Museum of Glass, One Museum Way, Corning NY
Cost: Free
Free admission, craft activities, seasonal fun, and special glassmaking experiences kick off the holiday season. Plus, Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be making a special visit to the Museum to greet guests throughout the day.
Sparkle presented by First Heritage FCU
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2022
Time: 5:00 pm to 9 PM
Location: Corning's Gaffer District, Market Street, Corning NY
Cost: Free
The 47th annual Sparkle presented by First Heritage FCU returns for 2022! Each year, downtown Corning transforms into a Hallmark-worthy oasis of beautiful decorations, friendly faces, delicious food, and unique gifts for everyone on your Christmas list. You can even visit Santa inside his real-life snow globe as snow swirls outside his crystal house. Head here for Santa's Glass House Schedule (there are various dates) and more.
Christmas in the Park
When: Saturday, December 10, 2022
Time: 4 PM - 8 PM
Location: Hammondsport’s Village Square
Cost: Free
Christmas in the Park returns to Hammondsport’s Village Square. Come enjoy the village decorated for the holidays. Santa arrives at 6:00 and stays in the Visitors Center until 8 pm to hear the wishes of the children. There are musical performers, reindeer, horse-drawn wagon rides, and vendors too!
Holiday Shopping
Holiday Market at Point of the Bluff
When: Every Saturday from November 5th - December 17th
Time: 12 PM - 5 PM
Location: Point of the Bluff Vineyards, 10489 County Route 76, Hammondsport, NY, United States, New York
Cost: Free
You’re invited to the third annual Point of the Bluff Vineyards Holiday Market at the Winter Wine Garden! Every Saturday from November 5th through December 17th from 12 PM to 5 PM the Pavilion will be open for drinking, eating, and holiday shopping. Get in the holiday spirit with award-winning wines, festive foods, decorations, and local vendors.
Throughout the Holiday Market they will be accepting donations for Toys for Tots and nonperishable food items to donate to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
Annual Cookie Walk
When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2022
Time: 10 AM - 1 PM
Location: Village of Hammondsport, 47 Shethar Street, Hammondsport NY
Cost: Free
Come enjoy a morning in Hammondsport collecting homemade cookies from the area businesses. The cookie tins are purchased for $25 with approximately 25 businesses distributing cookies. This is a fun and affordable way to get ready for the holidays and shop local!
Family-Friendly Activities
Twinkle Town
When: Friday, November 18, 2022 - Saturday, December 31, 2022
Time: 5 PM - 10 PM
Location: Bradley Farms, 1543 Maple Avenue, Elmira, NY 14904
Cost: $25 per car or $90 for 5 visits
View over 200 individually lighted scenes from the comfort of your car as you drive through the one-mile, two-lane road while listening to their Holiday Channel on your radio. Rudolph and his friends will be waiting to help get you in the holiday spirit! So pile in, get cozy, and enjoy this new holiday tradition.
The Parade of Lights Presented By: First Heritage FCU
When: Saturday, November 26th, 2022
Time: 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Corning's Gaffer District, 1 W. Market Street, Corning, NY 14830
Cost: Free
The Parade of Lights is a cherished part of the region's holiday events schedule. From marching bands and carefully crafted floats to the much-anticipated arrival of Santa Claus on a horse-drawn carriage. All parade entries are adorned with beautiful lights to celebrate the season's enchantment as the parade moves down Market Street in the heart of this beautiful historic district.
The Eighth Annual Gingerbread Opening Reception
When: Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Time: 5:30 PM - 7 PM
Location: The Rockwell Museum, 111 Cedar Street, Corning, NY 14830
Cost: Free
The Annual Gingerbread Invitational is a fun, artful gingerbread competition for baking enthusiasts and community members of all skill levels. This year, in the spirit of The Rockwell’s annual theme Spark! From Inspiration to Creation, bakers imagined gingerbreads of a place, person, or object that inspires them.
Come dressed in your favorite festive fashion and meet the artist behind these incredible gingerbread creations. Enjoy warm beverages and tasty treats while you cast your vote for the Community Choice Award – the winner will be announced by January 6, 2023.
Lights on the River
When: Friday, December 2, 2022
Time: 5 PM - 8 PM
Location: Main St, Penn Yan, NY 14527
Cost: Free
Lights on the River will have food trucks, local shopping, live entertainment, fireworks, and more!
StarShine 2022
When: Saturday, December 3, 2022
Time: 4 PM - 7 PM
Location: Main St, Penn Yan, New York 14527
Cost: Free
“StarShine, Christmas in the Village” started over thirty-five years ago and has grown to become one of the most popular community Christmas celebrations in the Finger Lakes. The evening hosts a variety of music, entertainment, colorful lights, treats, historic displays, an elf school, special sales, the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the crowning of Miss Penn Yan.
Village Christmas
When: Friday, December 9, 2022
Time: 5 PM - 8 PM
Location: Downtown Watkins Glen, New York
Cost: Free
At the 29th annual Village Christmas, there will be vendors, great food, music, and Santa & Mrs. Claus! Festivities begin at 5 PM. The Visions of Christmas parade will start at 6:30 pm. There will be fireworks off the pier at 7:30 pm. Get updates here.
Adult-Only Activities
Holiday Shopping Spree - December Weekend
When: Saturday, December 3, 2022 - Sunday, December 4th, 2022
Time: 10 AM - 5 PM
Location: Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, 4565 Route 414, Romulus NY
Cost: Varies
The Holiday Shopping Spree is back for the December Weekend! Treat yourself while shopping for others and cross items off your gift list as you sample before you buy. Save money with your Holiday Shoppers Card. You'll get a souvenir wine glass, a souvenir ornament, wine and food pairings, a digital recipe book, and $5 off a $35 wine purchase at every single winery!
The 37th Annual Holiday Home Tour
When: Sunday, December 4, 2022
Time: 12 PM to 4 PM
Location: Elmira’s Near Westside Neighborhood
Cost: Free
Elmira is recognized for having the largest concentration of Victorian-style homes in New York and during the Holiday Home Tour, you’ll have the opportunity to explore these exceptional and historic homes decked out for the holidays.
Holiday Performances
A Holiday Musicale
When: Saturday, November 19, 2022
Time: Pre-show: 7 PM, Concert: 7:30 PM
Location: Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway, Elmira NY
Cost: Free
Common Time will be singing music for all of the holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza.
The Nutcracker
When: Saturday, December 10, 2022
Time: 2 PM
Location: Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway, Elmira NY
Cost: $15 - $40 (Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount)
Bring the magic of the holidays to life this season with Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score and delightful story of the young princess Masha and her enchanted Prince, the victory over evil and triumph of beauty, friendship, and love.
