2023 Westchester Winter Bucket List
The chill is in the air and we’re loving it! We’re so excited for the upcoming season with local train shows, illuminated experiences, and productions of The Nutcracker. As the holiday season winds down, you’ll also find many experiences such as tubing and sledding, hiking, ice skating, maple sugaring, and indoor climbing. Discover some of our go-to fun activities to enjoy with your family this winter in Westchester.
Psst…looking for more winter fun? Check out Where to Go Skiing In and Around Westchester
Go Hiking
No matter what the season is, families can enjoy access to the many walking trails and hikes in the area.
Firstly, check out Rockefeller State Park (125 Phelps Way, Pleasantville, NY 10570) for both its flat and hilly terrain. Then, try Teatown Lake Reservation (1600 Spring Valley Rd, Ossining, NY 10562); Rye Nature Center, (873 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY 10580); and Saxon Woods Park (1800 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605). Additionally, check out Turkey Mountain Nature Preserve (Yorktown Heights, NY 10598); Ward Pound Ridge (Reservation Rd, Pound Ridge, NY 10576); and Cranberry Lake Preserve (1609 Old Orchard Street, West Harrison, NY 10604).
Enjoy Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza
This magical drive-through experience has quickly become a holiday favorite in Westchester. Explore 1.2 miles of colorful holiday lights in your car as you watch animations, a live Santa, and illuminated worlds such as a Fireside Forest, Winter Winds Way, Dove Drive, Christmas Tree Plaza, Land of Packages, Magical Woods, Elf Disco, and more. Finally, the holiday magic starts on November 24-December 31st. Tickets are $35 per car. Westchester Winter Wonderland, Kensico Dam Plaza, 1 Bronx River Pkwy Rd, Valhalla, NY 10595.
Experience a Holiday Train Show
Experience the magic of the holidays by checking out a local holiday train show. The Holidays on the Hill Annual Train Show features an immersive experience where kids watch trains go through 12 multi-level tracks. They also offer visits from Santa at select times from now until December 24th. Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial, 2610 Route 35 Katonah, New York 10536. 914-864-7263.
The Great Holiday Train Show in Chappaqua features charming trains as they wind through festive villages and miniature landscapes. This year also includes new additions such as Harry Potter LEGO scenes and a custom-made holiday tree train. Horace Greeley House, 100 King Street Chappaqua, NY 10514.
Additionally, The Holiday Train Show at the Greenburgh Nature Center features a 12×18-foot train display that travels through various countryside scenes. Plus, this train show runs every weekend until December 10th. Manor House at the Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583.
Check out the Harvest Moon & Orchard’s Festival of Lights
This fun holiday walk-through experience features over half a million brilliant lights, illuminated sculptures, and six magical trails. Held from November 17th – December 31st, the experience takes around 30 minutes to complete. Plus, enjoy sweet treats at the end of your fun walk. Harvest Moon and Orchard, 130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem, NY 10560.
Visit Holiday Lane at American Christmas
Enjoy a magical holiday experience like no other with the newly-expanded Holiday Lane at American Christmas. This includes a 10,000-square-foot walk-through experience with over 100,000 holiday lights. Additionally, you’ll find 100 animatronics and figurines within its nine themed areas. Tickets range from $15-$10 per person with 100% of the profits being donated to local charities. Finally, the experience is open from now until December 22nd, various times. American Christmas, 30 Warren Place, Mount Vernon, NY 10550.
See a Performance of The Nutcracker
There are many productions of The Nutcracker happening throughout Westchester. A fun holiday family tradition, check out the Ajkun Ballet Theatre’s production in New Rochelle (Linda Kelly Theater, 265 Clove Road, New Rochelle, NY 10801; ajkunbt.org); The Nutcracker performed by New York Theatre Ballet in Tarrytown (Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street, Floor 2, Tarrytown, NY; tickets.tarrytownmusichall.org); and The Nutcracker, Short and Sweet, a fun intro to the show for kids ages three and older (Paramount Hudson Valley, 1008 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566. paramounthudsonvalley.com)
Go Skiing
Enjoy a weekend away or a day trip at a nearby ski area. Thunder Ridge in Patterson has 22 trails, three chairlifts, and four magic carpets as well as seasonal and daily lessons for kids age four and up. They also have a Mommy (or Daddy) and Me lessons for kids ages 4-5 where kids can learn more about the sport and start to get comfortable on the snow (Thunder Ridge Ski Area, 137 Birch Hill Rd, Patterson, NY 12563. 845-878-4100).
Additionally, families can check out the Victor Constant Ski Area. Here, they offer lessons for very young kids (they must be potty-trained) where they will learn how to use the equipment and balance. (Victor Constant Ski Area, 732 Victor Constant Road, West Point, NY 10996)
Experience the Menorah Lighting at the Cross County Center
Visit the Cross County Center on Monday, December 11th from 6:00pm-8:00pm to light the menorah. Plus, enjoy live music, dancing, and delicious treats for Chanukah. Cross County Center, 8000 Mall Walk, Yonkers, NY 10704.
Spend a Day at Local Museum
Enjoy some indoor interactive fun at one of the many nearby Westchester Museums. The Westchester Children’s Museum is great for kids ages 0-12 who will enjoy a range of hands-on and STEAM-based exhibits as well as special events on the weekend (100 Playland Pkwy, Rye, NY 10580). For modern art exhibits, check out the Katonah Museum of Art.
In the winter, they have a Young Artists Exhibit. This showcases the art of high school seniors from public and private schools. (134 Jay Street Katonah, NY 10536, 914-232-9555).
Kids of all ages will love experiencing the annual Bricktacular Winter Wonderland Event at LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Held until January 1st, kids will love seeing giant holiday LEGO builds. Plus, enjoy a holiday scavenger hunt, LEGO ornament building, a hot chocolate bar, and much more! Ridge Hill, 39 Fitzgerald Street, Yonkers, NY 10710.
Go Ice Skating
There are many indoor and outdoor rinks where you and your family can go ice skating. This includes the Brewster Ice Arena (63 Fields Lane, Brewster, NY 10509. brewstericearena.com); Ebersole Ice Rink (110 Lake Street, Delfino Park, White Plains, NY. 914-422-1390. cityofwhiteplains.com); Murray’s Skating Center (348 Tuckahoe Road, Yonkers, NY 914-377-6469. yonkersny.gov); Ice Hutch Rink (655 Garden Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY. 914-699-6787. Icehutch.com); and the Westchester Skating Academy (91 Fairview Park Drive, Elmsford, NY. 914-347-8232. skatewsa.com). Additionally, check out Bear Mountain (3020 Seven Lakes Drive, Tomkins Cove, NY 10986. bearmountainicerink.org) for outdoor skating.
Experience the Grand Holiday Illumination
Visit Untermyer Gardens for their free annual Grand Holiday Illumination. This walk-through experience features more than 10,000 lights as well as access to Untermyer’s stunning architecture. Finally, the lights kicks-off on Friday, December 8th at 5:30 pm. Additionally, this changes from 4:30pm-8:00 pm until January 1st. Untermyer Gardens, 945 North Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701.
Go Sledding and Snow Tubing
Get your sled ready for a fun day of sliding down hills in Westchester. Some favorites include Leonard Park (25 Wallace Dr, Mount Kisco, NY 10549); Sprain Lake Golf Course (290 East Grassy Sprain Road, Yonkers, NY 10710); Saxon Woods Golf Course (315 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583); Ward Pound Ridge Conservation Center (Reservation Roadd, Pound Ridge, NY 10576), and Lasdon Park (2610 NY-35, Katonah, NY 10536).
Experience Indoor Climbing
Let your kids get their energy out while practicing their climbing skills at an indoor climbing space. Check out ROAM Further Athletics (333 N Bedford Rd, Mt Kisco, NY 10549); Hapik (51 Market Street, Yonkers, NY 10710), The Cliffs at Valhalla (1 Commerce Street, Valhalla, NY 10595), The Rock Club (130 Rhodes St, New Rochelle, NY 10801), or Westchester Ninja Warriors (150 Clearbrook Rd Ste 188, Elmsford, NY 10523).
Check out Eaglefest
Every February, Teatown hosts Eaglefest, an immersive live bird event to see these birds of prey up close. The event also includes bird walks, heated tents with educational displays, and more. Finally, visit https://www.teatown.org for more information. 1600 Spring Valley Rd, Ossining, NY 10562.
Go Maple Sugaring
Learn more about the maple sugaring and tree tapping process this winter. Check out Sugarfest on March 11th at Westmoreland Sanctuary (260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco, NY 10549.); Maple Fest Weekend at Hilltop Hanover Farm (1271 Hanover Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598); and Maple Sugaring at the Trailside Nature Museum (6 Reservation Rd, Cross River, NY 10518)
