While a few holiday-related events have already started, for most, the Christmas season starts in earnest on Friday and Western New York communities and businesses really start ramping up their festivities on Saturday.
Photos with Santa, for example, have already started at the Boulevard Mall, McKinley Mall and Walden Galleria and will continue through Christmas Eve.
The Festival of Lights at the Hamburg Fairgrounds begins Friday evening, running from 5-9 p.m. throughout the weekend. The experience costs $25 per carload and includes a full North Pole experience including Winterland Workshops and a train. The festival also runs Dec. 2-4, 9-11, and 16-23. Also slated to begin Friday is open ice skating at Canalside in Buffalo. Meanwhile, on Grand Island, Santa makes his first visit of the season to Kelly’s Country Store, where he’ll set up shop from 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through the holiday season.
Saturday, Santa Claus makes his way to Kenmore Village Green with a tree lighting, free hot chocolate and more. Saturday also offers a tacky sweater run and free ice skating in Lockport as part of their annual Light Up Lockport festival. The Historic Palace Theatre will even show Elf for free, another annual tradition. And there’s a parade at 6 p.m. Lancaster will have a fire truck parade, food and craft vendors as part of their Light Up Lancaster from 5-9 p.m. on Central Avenue. The jolly old elf will be at Broadway Market at 11 a.m. And the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda offers their first Lunch with Santa at 11 a.m. Saturday with activities to follow from noon – 3 p.m. The event will be repeated Dec. 3, 10, and 17.
The holiday celebration and tree lighting at Canalside will be held from 5-10 p.m. Dec. 1. Children’s activities and holiday music included.
Another tree lighting celebration is planned for 5 p.m. Dec. 3 at Fountain Plaza. Fireworks to follow at 6 p.m. There will also be free ice skating, horse and wagon rides and visits with Santa. In Williamsville, Holiday in the Village is slated for 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. along Main Street.
A Christmas parade and tree lighting in Jamestown will be held Dec. 4 with the parade at 3 p.m. and the three lighting to follow of 5:30.
Dec. 5 brings Depew’s tree lighting beginning at 6 p.m. with the Depew High School chorus, followed by the parade at 6:20 p.m., and then Santa at the rink at 7. It all takes place at the Fireman’s Park Gazebo.
West Seneca offers breakfast with Santa from 9 – 11 a.m. Dec. 11 at the West Seneca Senior Center. The $10 event includes crafts and sing-a-longs.
Finally, the Fatima Shrine Festival Lights began on Friday and runs until Jan. 6. The shrine is lit nightly from 5 – 9 p.m. The gift and book shop are also open nightly during the event.
