The Magical Road Trip Will Take You Through New York’s Most Charming Christmas Towns
Christmas in New York is a magical time. Sure, Manhattan gets all the glory with its holiday displays, but there are so many Christmas towns in New York that fully embrace the reason for the season and truly transform during the holidays. This road trip clocks in at about four hours and takes you straight to some of our favorite Christmas towns in New York.
Taking you to six destinations and coming in at just over four hours long in driving time, you can view the full road trip on Google Maps here.
First stop, Liverpool! One of our favorite Christmas towns in New York, the Central New York destination is one that's visited by most residents in the area each year. Liverpool is where you can find the annual Lights On The Lake holiday lights display, running from November 14, 2022, until January 13, 2023. The two-mile-long drive-thru light display will take you through different worlds and creations that will absolutely wow you. This is one light display you need to cross off of your list!
A favorite New York Christmas town for most to visit during this time of year in the Finger Lakes region, Skaneateles comes to life every Saturday and Sunday until December 24th with its Dickens Christmas festival. Visit the town on either of these days and you'll find 50 Dickens characters roaming around the streets as well as live music, endless Christmas decorations, and even horse-drawn carriage rides. The celebration begins the day after Thanksgiving and runs every Saturday and Sunday through December 18, from noon to 4 p.m., plus December 24 from noon - 2:30 p.m.
Christmas in New York isn't complete without a visit to the annual It's A Wonderful Life Festival. The town of Seneca Falls truly transforms during this time of year, and you won't want to miss it. The town's main street can be seen decorated in Christmas lights and surrounded by breathtaking winter scenery as this town sits along the waterfront. The festival takes place December 9-11, 2022 this year, be sure to check the website for all of the festive fun.
The town of Corning turns into a magical setting with Christmas decorations and lights everywhere you look. But another reason this town is one you'll want to visit is that it's home to the Corning Museum of Glass. The museum embraces the holiday season, filling the building with glass snowmen and giving visitors the chance to make their own glass Christmas trees and ornaments!
A great city to check out during the holidays, there are plenty of wonderful destinations around that will get you excited for Christmas around Rochester. Come to town and you can go ice skating at one of many places like Manhattan Square Park, or celebrate in a more adult manner by grabbing a drink at the Genesee Brewing Company while you check out the Keg Christmas Tree! Roc Holiday Village takes place from December 2-23, 2022, and it's a picture-perfect spot to spend Christmas in New York.
Head just outside of Rochester and you'll find the quaint town of Pittsford. A place that holds a sweet spot in many of our hearts, one of our favorite features of this town is Pittsford Farms Dairy. Known for the delicious ice cream and eggnog, the delightful little farm has a store that you can visit for seasonal snacks and even hosts baby cows for the holiday season that you can come to visit!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Christmas in New York
October 31, 2022
Jackie Ann
What are the best holiday events in New York?
One of the best holiday events in New York is the Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo, an annual tradition for many New Yorkers. The kid-friendly light show turns all your favorite zoo animals into incredible illuminated displays that would make even the Grinch crack a smile. From feathered friends to underwater sea creatures, just about every animal gets its own illuminated display. There will also be ice sculpting competitions, costumed characters, and a very special s’mores section where you can get your sugar rush while admiring all of the lights.
Where can I see the best light displays in New York?
Christmas in New York is truly something special, and there are plenty of Christmas towns in New York that deck the halls with incredible light displays that will fill your heart with holiday cheer, like East Aurora. For an epic holiday adventure, gas up the car and take this road trip to some of our favorite light displays in New York.
Is New York a good place to visit in the winter?
Absolutely! New York winters mean you can fully embrace the season as it transforms into a magical winter wonderland. Hope you like snow, because the average snowfall is about 70 inches. Of course, upstate New York sees most of the white stuff, but even in New York City, it averages about 25 inches. As long as you stay bundled up, you can enjoy all of the incredible outdoor winter activities in New York like snow tubing, gondola rides, and hiking.
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Writer for Only In Your State. Scribbling about all things New York and Buffalo related while also keeping you updated on the latest travel news! Inquiries: Lmonroe@onlyinyourstate.com
