Top 20 Things to Do in Winter in Westchester County

1. Skating Season

Hit the ice for some classic winter fun at Ebersole Ice Rink in White Plains, Westchester’s premier outdoor rink. It’s typically open late October through mid-March. Check out this list of indoor and outdoor ice rinks in the area for more fun. 

2. A Pawsome Holiday

Bring the whole family, including your furry companions, to the Humane Society of Westchester in New Rochelle for pictures with Santa! Pets can have a full-on photo shoot in early November, with or without the rest of the family. 

3. Holiday Express

Hitch a ride to the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show, which boasts replicas of area landmarks made entirely from plants and is definitely worth the trip to the Bronx. The show typically runs mid-November through mid-January. Find a full list of nearby train shows and exhibits that you can visit throughout the year here. a

4. All of the Lights

The name says it all: Westchester’s Winter Wonderland (wwinterwonderland.com) transforms Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla with 2½ million dancing lights choreographed to holiday music. Plus, go ice-skating, take a winter hayride, and visit Santa’s Workshop to meet the Big Guy himself from late November through early January.

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas

Make this Christmas extra-special with a trip to cut your own Christmas tree at Stuart’s Farm in Granite Springs or one of the area’s other tree farms, most of which are open from late November through late December.

6. Light ‘em Up

Starting in early December, tree and menorah lightings are held throughout Westchester County. Find one near you!

7. Historic Holiday

Create your own Christmas story in the Bronx at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum’s annual Holiday Family Day. Usually held in early December, this event includes storytelling, shopping, crafts, and of course, pictures with Santa. 

8. Breakfast with the Big Guy

Courtesy Ritz-Carlton

Start your day with a delicious breakfast, some arts and crafts, and a visit with jolly old Saint Nick. Each year in early December, the Ritz-Carlton in White Plains transforms its ballroom into a winter wonderland where kids can have Breakfast with Santa.

9. Ghosts of Christmas Past

Travel back in time with Jonathan Kruk’s masterful telling of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol at Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow. The 17th-century church offers the perfect setting for the classic holiday tale. Performances are scheduled for December. 

10. A Beloved Ballet

Julieta Cervantes

Visit the Land of Sweets in Westchester Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker at Westchester County Center in White Plains. Performances are usually held over one weekend in mid-December.

11. Snow Bunnies

Grab your gear and pack up the kids for a day of skiing or snowboarding at one of the area’s family-friendly winter resorts. 

12. Brick by Brick

Escape from the cold and head to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester in Yonkers. Among its attractions, LEGOLAND boasts several themed building stations, rides, and MINILAND, a miniature replica of the New York metro landscape. 

13. Snow Day Solution

Pull out your Flexible Flyer and get set for some downhill snow-day fun. Once there’s enough snow on the ground, Westchester’s six public golf courses open for sledding. But before you head out, be sure to check out our sledding safety tips.

14. A Howling Good Time

Rebecca Bose

Hang out with wolves at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem. Each year on New Year’s Day, visitors can help Howl in the New Year while they enjoy hot beverages and learn all about these beautiful and endangered species.

15. New York Beauties

Cheer on the hundreds of young ladies competing to be called Miss New York USA and Miss New York Teen USA at the Performing Arts Center in Purchase in mid-January.

16. Crunch, Crunch, Crunch…

Embrace the snow by hitting the nearly 15 miles of trails at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining for some snowshoeing. The trails are open from dawn to dusk, year-round. Find more hiking trails in the area, too. 

17. Serving Others

Give back to the community on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in mid-January, which coincides with Westchester’s MLK Day of Service. Learn more about volunteer opportunities here.

18. Mellow Mornings

Enjoy fine art as a family during Stroller Tours at the Katonah Museum of Art. Designed specifically for families of children younger than 2, these early-hours exhibition tours offer parents the chance to engage in conversation and explore intellectual themes with tots in tow.

19. King of the Birds 

Celebrate our national bird at EagleFest in Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson in early February. Learn all about these regal creatures through a series of all-day events and activities, including guided bird walks, close-up looks, stories, and displays. 

20. Summer in Sight

Have fun while learning valuable information at Westchester Parents Day at Crowne Plaza in nearby White Plains, typically held in early February. Meet camp, school, and after-school directors, learn about a wide variety of programs, and enjoy games, dance parties, and even win a prize or two. 

 
MORE SEASONAL FUN IN WESTCHESTER