Seasonal Celebrations in Store for One and All

Helen Truszkowski

GREENE, DELAWARE, & SCHOHARIE COUNTIES — Can’t wait to deck out your tree with the customary red and green razzle-dazzle, to fill the kitchen with the scent of cinnamon cookies and gingerbread as pine cones and cloves linger in the air?  Then it’s time to hit those local Christmas markets filled with holiday gifts, handmade crafts and delicious festive fare. From adorable outdoor light displays and parades to seasonal cideries and distilleries bringing holiday cheer, the magic of Christmas awaits. So pack your totes, bundle up the kids, and head on out. Follow Helen’s  A-Z for some of the best the region has to offer this Festive Season. Fingers crossed for a light dusting of snow…you may just feel you’re walking through a snowglobe.

Athens

Dec 13, from 1-5 pm. Come celebrate the Victorian Stroll at the Family Ice Skating Rink at Athens Riverfront Park. Bring your skates as families and friends gather for a free, fun-filled day in celebration of the annual event. Up and down the historic village’s Second Street, Athens Riverfront Park and all around the Village, businesses, residents and community organizations host family-friendly activities, free goodies and entertainment galore, with nods to Athens’ past. The Coxsackie-Athens Community Band will be ‘wrapping up’ with traditional Christmas and popular Holiday music at The First Reformed Church of Athens, New York at 1pm. The concert lasts one-hour. Admission is free

Cairo

Dec 7, 14 & 21 from 1-6 pm. Celebrate the magic of the season at Storybrook Hollow, 194 Route 145. Take holiday portraits with Father Christmas inside an enchanting castle. Step into a festive wonderland filled with twinkling lights, old-world charm, and cozy holiday cheer. Families, children, and couples welcome. Festive attire encouraged. Enjoy warm cider, mulled wine, and award-winning craft brews at the castle tavern while you wait. Or browse the gift shop for handmade treasures for every loved one on your Christmas list. 

Dec 20, from 12:30-3:30 pm Families can share a royal moment with Princess Belle herself and capture beautiful keepsake photos amidst the fairytale splendor.

Catskill

Nov 28, from 5:30-9 pm. Celebrate the season at Catskill’s beloved Parade of Lights Enjoy dazzling floats, festive music, delicious treats, and a visit from Santa as Main Street sparkles with holiday cheer. The parade runs from Dutchman’s Landing to the Top of Main Street, with family fun kicking off at and fireworks lighting up the sky at 8:30 pm.

Dec 2. Get in the holiday spirit with Joanie Madden & Cherish the Ladies for a world-class Celtic Christmas celebration at The Shamrock House, East Durham. Get ready for a festive evening filled with your favorite classic Christmas songs intermingled with traditional Irish music, song, dance and holiday cheer.

Dec 6, 7, 13, 14, at  2 pm and 7 pm. Start the festivities in style with the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Nutcracker at OPAC at 6050 Rte 23A, Tannersville.

The beloved annual tradition features the ballet stars of tomorrow and acclaimed collaborations with the Joffrey Ballet School New York and Ballet Hispánico. 

Dec 7. Pre Christmas prep at the Thomas Cole House promises an afternoon of free, family-friendly fun. Enjoy holiday shopping, winter tours, art making, hot chocolate, a tree lighting, and more festive activities for all ages.

Dec 21, from 4-8 pm. Catskill Village’s Winter Solstice Stroll is a magical celebration of the year’s longest night. Stroll along Main Street, transformed into a pedestrian-only wonderland illuminated by twinkling lights and adorned with seasonal charm. Explore holiday shops and savor the offerings of local restaurants with family and friends alike as live music fills the air and warm refreshments keep the chill at bay. Reflect on the transition from darkness to light, embrace the spirit of renewal, and send your wishes for happiness and prosperity in 2026.

Cooperstown

All of Cooperstown looks as pretty as a greeting card with ice fishing on Otsego Lake, 300 miles of snowmobiling trails, and its 18th-century buildings set aglow with twinkling lights. 

Nov 15 through Dec 23. The Cooperstown Art Association’s beloved tradition is back! The Holiday Show & Sale transforms their chic galleries into a festive marketplace, brimming with creativity and holiday cheer. The galleries sparkle with a dazzling variety of fine art and handcrafted treasures—each one created by our talented member artists.

Nov 22 through Dec 28, from 5:30 pm-9 pm. The Fenimore Farm & Country Village gets into the holiday glow with the Glimmer Nights holiday light show. Each weekend features special themed fun, from holiday shopping to classic carols, warm wassail, and festive surprises for the whole family. 

Nov 28, from 4-7 pm. The parade brings music, lights, and plenty of holiday cheer down Main Street. The parade ends back at Santa’s Cottage in Pioneer Park for the tree lighting. Find Santa and Mrs. Claus at their cottage where there’s a mailbox to drop off letters to Kris Kringle. 

Nov 29 through Dec 21. Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad runs Santa Claus Express and North Pole Express trains that are so popular they tend to sell out each year.

Dec 2, from 4pm. The National Baseball Hall of Fame hosts an annual holiday party that doubles as a food and toy drive. Local residents will be given access to the Museum free of charge.

12 Dec, from 4-7:30 pm. Bundle up as you step into the enchanting world of 19th-century holiday traditions with Hyde Hall’s Victorian Candlelight Christmas Tours. Experience the magic of the season as it was celebrated 200 years ago.

Delhi

Dec 6, from 11 am-4 pm. Birdsong Farm Holiday Markets, 38480 NY-10, between Delhi and Hamden, welcomes shoppers to their annual Holiday Markets. Shop from amazing local vendors, get pictures with Santa, enjoy live music, and snack on tasty seasonal treats. 

Dec 6, from 11 am-3 pm. Delaware County Historical Association, 46549 State Highway 10, hosts  their Holiday of the Heart Tree Celebration to get festivities underway this holiday season. Do some holiday shopping, enjoy light fare and live music, shop the bake sale, and enter the raffle to win a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree

Dec 23, from 5:30-7 pm. The First Presbyterian Church of Delhi, 4 Clinton Street, will again present an outdoor Living Nativity as a gift to the community and as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, complete with costumes, music and live animals. The community is invited to participate and to bring a donation to drop for the Food Bank.

Esperance

Dec 6, from 10 am-3 pm. The eagerly awaited annual Christmas event  at the Esperance Historical Society Museum and Library, 123 Church St, is all about decorating trees, free homemade cookies and hot cocoa, crafts, raffles, a Letter to Santa drop-off and so much more.

Schoharie 

Dec 13, from 10-4 pm. The Old Stone Fort Museum event includes a festive day with Christmas-themed craft vendors, DIY crafts for all ages, and a cookie contest. Enjoy a festive day filled with Christmas-themed craft vendors, DIY crafts for all ages, and a cookie contest that’s sure to sweeten your spirits. Step back in time with living historians at Hartmann’s Dorf House, sharing 18th-century holiday traditions. Plus, enjoy the sounds of the season with caroling throughout the day to fill the air with festive cheer.

Sharon Springs

The holidays can be hectic, but your shopping experience doesn’t have to be. Holiday Stroll is Sharon Spring’s local shopping initiative. It takes place over several weekends. Visit local businesses and receive gift certificates with your qualifying purchases.

Dec 2 & 3rd, from 10am. The Holiday Artisan Faire is a full weekend of holiday festivities.  Activities include local artisans, seasonal foods and drinks, holiday music, and festive decorations in shops and restaurants. To kick off the event enjoy a Holiday Concert at 7pm in Klinkhart Hall on Friday evening. Tree lighting at 5.30 pm followed by Santa’s parade.

Zzzzzzzz

Nov 27, Get ready for the BIGGEST Turkey Trot yet! The 2025 Turkey Trot 5k for Hospice Care is back and better than ever – more runners, more fun, and more community spirit! Lace up your sneakers, grab your friends and family, and help make this year’s event one to remember. Celebrate yr win with a family-style turkey dinner order from the Brewery Ommegang Tap House. Reserve your dinner by email C.Huntington@Ommegang.com or (607) 544-1800 Ext. 831

Then it’s off to catch up on some well-deserved zzzzzzzzzzs ..