With Thanksgiving over, the Christmas season is officially here. Below is a list of tree lighting ceremonies taking place throughout Cayuga County.
November 29
Auburn’s holiday festivities begin at 3:30p with its annual Holiday Parade on Genesee St. Following the parade, a tree lighting ceremony will take place at 5:00p at the State Street Event Plaza.
December 5:
Moravia will hold a tree lighting at the Main Street Gazebo. Santa will light the tree at 6:00p. There will also be cocoa and cookies.
The Village of Fair Haven will have a light parade on Main Street, followed by a tree lighting will follow at Central Park. The parade will begin at 6:45p and the lighting will take place at 7:00p.
Cayuga will hold its annual village tree lighting ceremony at 6:00p at Harris Park. It will be followed by refreshments, caroling with the Girl Scouts, and a visit from Santa.
December 6:
The Village of Union Springs will hold its tree lighting at 5:30p at its downtown gazebo. The village will provide hot chocolate and doughnuts. After the ceremony, attendees are invited to the Union Springs Fire Department, where Santa will be waiting.
December 13:
Cato’s tree lighting ceremony will take place at 6:00p at Mott Park.
Additionally, Holiday Traditions will return to sites across the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco on December 14. A list of participating locations from the Cayuga County Tourism Office can be found below.
Seward House Museum: From noon – 4pm, The Seward House Museum welcomes the community to a Victorian-style Christmas open house, featuring festive décor, live music, and staff and volunteers sharing stories of Seward family holiday traditions.
Willard Memorial Chapel: From noon – 4pm, Willard Chapel’s Holiday Traditions Open House invites guests to enjoy a free tour, a Reading with Santa that includes a book for every child, a performance by the Genesee Street Voices, a holiday organ concert, complimentary treats, and a festive Holiday Market in the Welch Memorial Building.
Equal Rights Heritage Center: From noon – 5:30pm, The NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center will celebrate Holiday Traditions with performances by the Bob Piorun Jazz Trio, the Mozaic Spotlight Studio choral group, and Genesee Street Voices, along with festive visits and photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Cayuga Museum of History and Art: From 12pm – 4pm, The Cayuga Museum of History and Art will celebrate Holiday Traditions with festive decorations, light refreshments, live performances by the Wada Music Studio, and a hands-on Ukrainian Caroling Star workshop led by artist Nataliia Shynkarenko.
Schweinfurth Art Center: From 1pm – 5pm, visitors can enjoy free admission to view the Quilts=Art=Quilts 2025, Lyrical Moments, and QAQ Small Quilt Raffle exhibits, paint their own take-home ornament, and hear fiber artist Carol Boyer share her work, inspirations, and creative process in the final Trunk Show.
St. Francis of Assisi Church: From 5 – 6pm, the longest-running Central New York band dating back to the 1950s, the Stardusters All-Star Band, will play Harriet Tubman tributes, Gospels, and Christmas classics at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Refreshments will be served after the performance in Nacca Hall.
Auburn Highschool Auditorium: At 2pm, Auburn Chamber Orchestra’s annual “Sounds of the Season” concert which will feature both sacred and secular holiday music through the centuries. Come and hear the “Joy!” and meet Buddy the Elf!
The Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum will host a Christmas Open House on December 14 with free horse-drawn wagon rides, Model T rides, refreshments, and activities for kids; and from November 23 through January 31, visitors can explore the Festival of Trees, where more than 200 creatively decorated trees fill the museum and guests can vote for their favorite.
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