Celebrate the holiday in a winter wonderland! During the colder months, the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York transforms into an idyllic snowy paradise. There are few places better to enjoy this festive season than our cozy region. Discover the best ways to enjoy this special time of year with the best Finger Lakes Christmas events! Download our free Vacation Guide for a full list of events in the region.

Enjoy These Finger Lakes Christmas Events

Deck the Halls

The annual Deck the Halls event celebrates its 30^th year with ?Sip Back and Relax Tours.? It features 19 different wineries where you can enjoy a self-guided tour on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, all of which are beautifully decorated for the holiday season, and try wine and food pairings. Each stop also features an ornament you can collect for mementos of your experience. While regular tickets are already sold out, there are some weekend packages still available for couples and groups. For those that can?t make this event, there is also the Boundary Breaks Annual Wine & Cookie Pairing happening on several weekends throughout December. Enjoy five Boundary Break wines paired with five homemade holiday cookies.

It?s a Wonderful Life Celebration

The quiet village of Seneca Falls is often said to be the inspiration for the fictional town of Bedford Falls from the classic film It?s a Wonderful Life. Even actors from the movie, upon visiting the quiet New York town, instantly made the connection to the setting of the iconic story they crafted onscreen. Find the similarities for yourself when you visit for the annual It?s a Wonderful Life Celebration! Running from December 7th to 10th, 2023, this weekend-long event includes horse-drawn carriage rides, charity events, holiday-themed competitions, an annual 5K walk/run, and (of course) screenings of the movie!

Handcrafted Holidays

Enjoy a unique, specially prepared, self-guided experience at each of the five-member wineries along the Keuka Lake Wine Trail on November 11th from 10 am to 5 pm.  For this Handcrafted Holidays event, you?ll have a custom itinerary for the day where you?re treated to special wine samples, holiday food pairings, and special tastings.

Watkins Glen Village Christmas

For over 30 years, downtown Watkins Glen has transformed into a paradise of holiday cheer for one evening in early December. Join us on December 1st, 2023, for Village Christmas! The evening starts with the Our Visions of Christmas Around the World Parade at 6:30 pm. Then, enjoy music, great food, and a visit from Santa Claus & Mrs. Claus and their reindeer. The evening finishes with a gorgeous fireworks display at the pier at 7:30 pm. This is a must for the whole family!

Christmas in the Park

Every year the Hammondsport square has a ?Christmas in the Park? event from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. It truly transforms into a paradise of holiday cheer for one evening in early December. Join us on December 9th, 2023, for Christmas in the Park! Santa arrives at 5:00 pm with his reindeer, and there will be horse-drawn wagon rides around the village, along with local musicians and vendors to add to the festive spirit!

Holiday Shopping Spree

Event days for the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail ?Holiday Shopping Spree? are November 18th and 19th, from 10 am to 5 pm.  How it works is you select the first winery you want to start at, and this is where you?ll receive your souvenir wine glass and hand-blown holiday ornament. Then, you can travel the rest of the Wine Trail as you wish. You only need to purchase one ticket, which is good for both days, or either day if you only want to attend one. Purchase a single ticket for $85 and couples tickets for $120 but limit your groups to 12 people. Each ticket receives a wine and food pairing, three additional wine tastings per winery, a hand-blown ornament for a single person or couple, a recipe collection, and a souvenir wine glass. Participating wineries you can visit are Americana Vineyards, Buttonwood Grove Winery, Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery, Hosmer Winery, Knapp Winery, Montezuma Winery, Lucas Vineyards, Six Eighty Cellars, Six Mile Creek Vineyards, Swedish Hill Winery, and Thirsty Owl Wine Co.

Holiday Market at the Winter Wine Garden

Join us at Point of the Bluff Vineyards for our 4th annual Holiday Market at the Winter Wine Garden! Every Saturday from November 11th through December 23rd, from 12 pm to 5 pm, their Pavilion will be open for drinking, eating, and holiday shopping. Each weekend they will feature local vendors with a variety of products for you to shop small this holiday season! Get in the holiday spirit with their award-winning wines, festive foods, decorations, and local vendors. Additionally, they will be accepting donations throughout the market for Toys for Tots, the Humane Society of Yates County, and the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.

Tinsel-N-Lights

On December 8th, join the town of Waverly in their Tinsel-N-Lights event. There will be ice sculpting, horse and wagon rides, live music performances, hot chocolate, food vendors, and more! Plus, a special visit from Santa!

Stay with Finger Lakes Premier Properties

No matter which of these Finger Lakes Holiday events you decide to attend, be sure to book your home through us! Finger Lake Premier Properties has the best inventory of homes in the region. Whether you?re looking for a luxurious estate or a pet-friendly rental house, you?ll find it here!

Consider booking Rapalee Retreat, a lakeview property that is located in Himrod. Which is centrally located in the middle of all these events. If you plan on attending the Lights and Flights, this is the home to book! With two bedrooms and two bathrooms, it?s ideal for trips with a group of friends. You?re sure to enjoy the view of Seneca Lake from the patio.

Take a look at our full inventory of homes and book today! We look forward to having you.