Create your ultimate holiday plan in Albany! Our guide has all the top events and activities for the season. Whether you're deeply rooted in Albany or just branching out, this guide helps your holiday spirit grow.
Popular Events: Experience a mesmerizing blend of music and storytelling with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve," a show that brings a unique twist to holiday classics. For a dose of nostalgia, join Chevy Chase in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," a delightful retelling of a holiday family's misadventures. And the enchanting Grand Kyiv Ballet's "The Snow Queen" is something you definitely don't want to miss. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Albany
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
- Chevy Chase presents National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
- Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Snow Queen
- Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Ebenezer Scrooge
- Albany Symphony Orchestra: Magic of Christmas
- Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
- Disney on Ice
- Music in the Mansion
- Nacre Dance Group: The Nutcracker
- Schenectady Holiday Parade (Schenectady)
See these and even more events listed below!
Albany Holiday Light Displays
New York State's Holiday Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Special skating performances and tree lighting ceremony.
Description:
The New York State Holiday Tree Lighting at the Empire State Plaza features a special performance by the Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club, followed by the official tree lighting ceremony and fireworks. Enjoy free family activities, including holiday-themed arts and crafts, meet and greets with Santa, and live music performances.
Where: Albany | More Info: New York State's Holiday Tree Lighting
Schenectady Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Decorated trees with unique and creative ornaments.
Description:
The Schenectady Festival of Trees is a holiday celebration featuring over 60 decorated trees, including upside-down chandelier trees and eco-art trees, at the Schenectady County Historical Society. Visitors can enjoy a variety of ornaments, toys, and festive displays.
Where: Schenectady | More Info: Schenectady Festival of Trees
Albany Holiday Markets and Shopping
Troy Victorian Stroll
What to Expect:
Victorian-era themed holiday celebration with live music and shopping.
Description:
The Troy Victorian Stroll is a holiday event that transforms downtown Troy into a Victorian-era setting, featuring live music, shopping discounts, and family-friendly activities.
Where: Troy | More Info: Troy Victorian Stroll
Roc Holiday Village Winter Festival
What to Expect:
Cozy winter igloos and exclusive VIP winter igloos.
Description:
Roc Holiday Village is a festive event in downtown Rochester, NY, featuring visits with Santa, ice skating, a shopping village, food and drink options, tree lighting, Santa’s workshop, hand-crafted goods, and various activities for all ages.
Where: Rochester | More Info: Roc Holiday Village Winter Festival
Albany Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
What to Expect:
All-new version of TSO's Christmas trilogy with elaborate light and pyrotechnic displays.
Description:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents "The Lost Christmas Eve," an all-new version of their Christmas trilogy, featuring a blend of rock and symphonic elements, complex light shows, and pyrotechnics. The story revolves around a bitter businessman who finds redemption on Christmas Eve through a mysterious girl and his long-lost son.
Where: Albany | More Info: Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Chevy Chase presents National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
What to Expect:
Exclusive Q&A with Chevy Chase about his iconic career.
Description:
Join Chevy Chase for a special screening of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, followed by a live conversation and Q&A session. Hear behind-the-scenes stories and personal anecdotes from the making of this beloved holiday classic, and enjoy hilarious anecdotes from Chevy's Emmy award-winning career.
Where: Albany | More Info: Chevy Chase presents National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Snow Queen
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Grand Kyiv Ballet presents The Snow Queen, a captivating ballet performance featuring intricate sets and elegant costumes, bringing the timeless tale to life with precision and beauty.
Where: Albany | More Info: Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Snow Queen
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Ebenezer Scrooge
What to Expect:
Sherlock Holmes meets Ebenezer Scrooge in a murder mystery comedy.
Description:
Sherlock Holmes and Ebenezer Scrooge team up in a hilarious holiday whodunit filled with intrigue and suspense. When Tiny Tim asks Sherlock to investigate Scrooge's death, the Great Detective must use his tools of deduction to unravel the mystery. The ghosts of past, present, and future help Sherlock save the day and his Christmas spirit.
Where: Albany | More Info: Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Ebenezer Scrooge
Albany Symphony Orchestra: Magic of Christmas
What to Expect:
World-class holiday concert with hometown talent.
Description:
The Albany Symphony Orchestra presents a holiday spectacular featuring Christmas carols and sparkling holiday favorites, conducted by David Alan Miller. This event is a beloved holiday tradition in the Capital Region, celebrating the season with family and friends.
Where: Albany | More Info: Albany Symphony Orchestra: Magic of Christmas
Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Celebrate America's favorite Christmas tradition with an international all-star cast blending world-class ballet with whimsical puppets, lavish costumes, and stunning acrobatics. Share the tradition of pure Holiday magic and Tchaikovsky's timeless score with friends and family of all ages.
Where: Albany | More Info: Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
Disney on Ice
What to Expect:
Interactive time with beloved Disney characters.
Description:
Disney on Ice is a touring ice show produced by Feld Entertainment under agreement with the Walt Disney Company. The event features interactive time with beloved Disney fan favorites, including character experiences and immersive audience experiences.
Where: Albany | More Info: Disney on Ice
Music in the Mansion
What to Expect:
Celebrating women in music and history at a historic mansion.
Description:
Join us for a unique blend of music and history at the Ten Broeck Mansion, where women's history and musical talents come together in a special concert.
Where: Albany | More Info: Music in the Mansion
Nacre Dance Group: The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Nacre Dance Group presents The Nutcracker, a classic ballet performance featuring intricate choreography and elaborate costumes.
Where: Albany | More Info: Nacre Dance Group: The Nutcracker
Schenectady Holiday Parade
What to Expect:
Largest nighttime holiday parade in the Northeast with a variety of festive performances.
Description:
The Schenectady Holiday Parade is a vibrant nighttime event featuring sparkling floats, glittering firetrucks, festive marching bands, and spectacular dancers. It celebrates the holiday season with a diverse array of participants, including local volunteers and veterans.
Where: Schenectady | More Info: Schenectady Holiday Parade
Santa's Magical Express
What to Expect:
Interactive motorcoach adventure to save Christmas.
Description:
Join Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves on a 100-minute adventure to save Christmas from Jack Frost's mischief. Enjoy interactive motorcoach rides, singing and dancing, cookies and milk, and more.
Where: Rensselaer | More Info: Santa's Magical Express
Twas the Night Before Christmas at Crossgates Mall
What to Expect:
Multilingual skits and animated ebooks.
Description:
Twas the Night Before Christmas at Crossgates Mall features a bilingual book series celebration with animated ebooks and multilingual skits.
Where: Albany | More Info: Twas the Night Before Christmas at Crossgates Mall
Albany Other Holiday Activities
Christmas Land LLC
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday experience with local artisans and community events.
Description:
Christmas Land LLC offers a variety of holiday activities, including horse-drawn sleigh rides, live music, and local author readings, set on a large farm area in Altamont, NY.
Where: Altamont | More Info: Christmas Land LLC
Lake Placid Holiday Festivities
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday activities with Santa appearances and free events.
Description:
The Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll is a three-day family and couples weekend filled with activities like a skating party, photos with Santa, a free movie showing, and a scavenger hunt. Enjoy holiday crafts, story time, and free sleigh rides around Mirror Lake. The event also includes live music, local beer tastings, and a tree-lighting ceremony.
Where: Lake Placid | More Info: Lake Placid Holiday Festivities
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- West Albany (2 miles)
- Troy (6 miles)
- Schenectady (15 miles)