Create your holiday schedule in Clay! Our guide features all the top festive events and activities. From Clay enthusiasts to curious visitors, our guide ensures a season full of wonder and delight.
Popular events include the enchanting Lights on the Lake, where dazzling light displays illuminate the winter landscape, creating a magical stroll alongside the water. Renowned for its charming atmosphere, the Festival of Trees and Lights showcases beautifully decorated trees that bring the community together in celebration. And the Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a delightful glimpse into the past with costumed carolers and festive scenes. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Clay
- Lights on the Lake (Syracuse)
- Festival of Trees and Lights (Syracuse)
- Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles (Skaneateles)
- Holiday Nights at the Zoo (Syracuse)
- Gingerbread Gallery (Syracuse)
- Lorenzo Guided Christmas Tours (Cazenovia)
- Christmas on the Farm (Baldwinsville)
- Winter Wonderlights at Zoo New York (Watertown)
- Holiday Classic Mansion Tours at Lyndhurst (Tarrytown)
- Grand Holiday Illumination - Untermyer Gardens Conservancy (Yonkers)
See these and even more events listed below!
Clay Holiday Light Displays
Lights on the Lake
What to Expect:
Towering holiday displays and interactive light shows.
Description:
Lights on the Lake is a two-mile drive-thru holiday display featuring towering holiday displays, larger-than-life Land of Oz, a twinkling fantasy forest, colorful section arches, memorable animated scenes, and a fairy tale magic grand finale. Visitors drive through the show while listening to the wonderful sounds of the season on Sunny 102.1.
Where: Syracuse | More Info: Lights on the Lake
Holiday Nights at the Zoo
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Holiday Nights at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo features sparkling holiday lights, live performances, ice carving, and roving entertainers amidst a festive atmosphere.
Where: Syracuse | More Info: Holiday Nights at the Zoo
Christmas on the Farm
What to Expect:
Holiday light display and festive activities on a working farm.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Abbott Farms with a beautiful light display and festive activities amidst the farm's picturesque landscape.
Where: Baldwinsville | More Info: Christmas on the Farm
Grand Holiday Illumination - Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
What to Expect:
100,000 lights in an Indo-Persian style garden setting.
Description:
The Grand Holiday Illumination at Untermyer Gardens Conservancy features over 100,000 lights illuminating the Walled Garden, accompanied by holiday music from various traditions.
Where: Yonkers | More Info: Grand Holiday Illumination - Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
Clay Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Festival of Trees and Lights
What to Expect:
Diverse holiday-themed activities and decor.
Description:
The Festival of Trees and Lights at the Everson Museum of Art features a wide variety of pre-lit decorated trees, decorated wreaths, and unique seasonal decor items. The event includes live performances, cultural activities, and an artisanal marketplace with gift items and ornaments.
Where: Syracuse | More Info: Festival of Trees and Lights
Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday celebration with historical characters.
Description:
Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles is a family-friendly event featuring Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, and their entourage. Enjoy trunk shows, sing-alongs, musical performances, hot roasted chestnuts, and appearances by beloved characters. The event includes a World’s Smallest Christmas Parade and various activities like caroling and horse-drawn wagon rides.
Where: Skaneateles | More Info: Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles
Clay Other Holiday Activities
Gingerbread Gallery
What to Expect:
Unique holiday event showcasing edible gingerbread creations in a historic setting.
Description:
The Erie Canal Museum transforms into a 19th-century canal town with gingerbread creations on display in storefront windows, featuring over 30 handcrafted gingerbread artworks by local bakers.
Where: Syracuse | More Info: Gingerbread Gallery
Lorenzo Guided Christmas Tours
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday mansion tours with historical decorations.
Description:
Explore the beautifully decorated Mansion at Lorenzo State Historic Site during traditional guided tours. Each room is meticulously adorned for the holiday season, offering a glimpse into the past. Private group tours of 8 or more can also be scheduled.
Where: Cazenovia | More Info: Lorenzo Guided Christmas Tours
Winter Wonderlights at Zoo New York
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Explore the enchanting atmosphere of Zoo New York during the winter season, featuring various animal exhibits and educational programs.
Where: Watertown | More Info: Winter Wonderlights at Zoo New York
Holiday Classic Mansion Tours at Lyndhurst
What to Expect:
Historic mansion tour with elaborate holiday decorations.
Description:
Explore Lyndhurst mansion during the holiday season, featuring elaborate decorations, rarely-seen items, and a one-hour tour of the main two floors.
Where: Tarrytown | More Info: Holiday Classic Mansion Tours at Lyndhurst
Holiday Stroll Open House - Keeler Tavern Museum
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday event with period rooms and interactive activities.
Description:
Explore the centuries-old Keeler Tavern Museum during the Holiday Stroll Open House, featuring costumed interpreters, period rooms, and fun activities like a partridge scavenger hunt and take-home crafts.