Celebrate the Season at a Park

New York State's parks and historic sites have a multitude of events during the holiday season. No matter what part of New York you live in, you can always find a festive event to celebrate the season!

Below is a list of the holiday events that NYS parks and historic sites will host this December, broken down by region. This list comes from the Governor's recent press release. To search for more, check out NYS Parks' event search tool. If you see an event missing from this list that you would like to add, please let us know and we will do our best to include it.

Enjoy the holidays outside in one of New York's fabulous parks or historic sites. Happy Holidays!

Central

• Christmas by Candlelight at Lorenzo State Historic Site; Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
• Christmas at Lorenzo State Historic Site: The Nutcracker; Dec. 5 & 6, 1 – 4 p.m.
• Holiday Cookie Decorating – Green Lakes State Park; Dec. 18, 19 & 20 at various times.

Long Island

• Holiday Light Spectacular – Jones Beach State Park; now through Jan. 4, beginning at dusk.
• Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park; Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m.
• Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – Orient Beach State Park; Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m.
• Family Fun: Fire and Ice Candles – Caleb Smith State Park Preserve; Dec. 5 at 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
• 2015 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – Belmont Lake State Park; Dec. 5 at 4:15 p.m.
• South Side Sportsmen's Club Historic House Tours – Connetquot River State Park Preserve; Dec. 6, 1-3 p.m.
• 2015 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park; Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.
• Wreath Workshop – Caleb Smith State Park Preserve; Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
• Family Fun: Ice Candles – Connetquot River State Park Preserve; Dec. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
• Tiny Tots, Nature Discoveries: Holiday Cards – Caleb Smith State Park Preserve; Dec. 17 at 10 a.m.

New York City

• Keepsakes and Pomanders – Clay Pit Ponds State Park Interpretive Center; Dec. 5 at 1 p.m.
• Annual Wreath Making – Clay Pit Ponds State Park Interpretive Center; Dec. 19 at 10 a.m.

Palisades

• Christmas with the Ellisons– Knox’s Headquarters State Historic Site; Dec. 12 & 19, 4 – 7 p.m.
• Festival of Lights – Senate House State Historic Site; Dec. 12, 5 – 8 p.m.
• Warm Up at the Washingtons – Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site; Dec. 13, 1 – 5 p.m.
• Berry Merry Holiday– Bear Mountain State Park; Dec. 19 at 10:30 a.m.
• Open House – Knox’s Headquarters State Historic Site; Dec. 27, 28 & 29, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Saratoga/Capital Region

• Holiday Craft Bazaar – Thacher State Park Nature Center; Dec 5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. & Dec. 6, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• St. Nicholas Day Open House – Crailo State Historic Site; Dec. 5, 12 – 4 p.m.
• Sweater Mitten Mania – Thacher State Park Nature Center; Dec. 12 at 10 a.m.

Taconic

• A Gilded Age Christmas mansion tours – Staatsburgh State Historic Site; Thursdays – Sundays through Dec. 20 and Dec. 26 – 31, various times
• A Child’s Christmas storytelling – Clermont State Historic Site; Dec. 5 & 6 at 10 a.m.
• St. Nicholas Day Celebration – Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site; Dec. 5, 12 – 4 p.m.
• Holiday Whodunit – Staatsburgh State Historic Site; December 6, 13, 20 & 27, 1 – 4 p.m.
• Holiday Themed Guided Tours – Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site; Dec. 8 – 12, Dec. 15 – 19, Dec. 22 – 24 & Dec. 29 – 31 at 12 & 2 p.m.
• 2nd Annual Yonkers Downtown Gingerbread House Contest – Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site; Dec. 12 at 2 p.m.
• Friends of Clermont Holiday Party – Clermont State Historic Site; Dec. 12, 5 – 7 p.m.
• Candlelight Tours of Clermont – Clermont State Historic Site; Dec. 13 at 3 p.m.
• Holiday Tour by Candlelight – Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site; Dec. 15 – 19 & Dec. 22 – 24 at 7 p.m.
• Christmas at Clermont open house – Clermont State Historic Site; Dec. 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Jingle Jangle: A Winter Celebration – Olana State Historic Site; Dec. 26, 1 to 5 p.m.
• Holiday Craft Workshop for Kids: Make a Mouse House – Staatsburgh State Historic Site; Dec. 29 & 30 at 11 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
• Winter Break Mini-Camp: A Jay Holiday – John Jay Homestead State Historic Site; Dec. 31 at 1 p.m.

Thousand Islands

• Pine Bow Wreath Workshop – Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, Wellesley Island State Park; Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.
• Holiday Bonanza – Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, Wellesley Island State Park; Dec. 12, 10 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.

Western NY

• Castle by Candlelight – Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site; December 5 & 12 at 6:30 p.m.
• Christmas Open House at River Lea Farmhouse – Beaver Island State Park; December 6, 1 – 4 p.m.