The first weekend of December is packed with holiday cheer across the Southern Tier, offering everything from ski season’s kickoff to festive parades, concerts, kid-friendly crafts, and visits with Santa around nearly every corner.
Whether you’re looking to sip hot cocoa at a small-town celebration, catch a holiday performance, explore local markets, or enjoy a cozy night of live music, there’s something happening morning to night all weekend long.
Here’s your guide to all the fun unfolding Friday through Sunday:
Friday, December 5
- Opening Day at Holiday Valley, 9 a.m.
- Harry Potter Owls at Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, 3:30 p.m.
- Soup Sale at Trinity United Methodist, 5 p.m.
- The Little Town of Christmas at Gowanda Community Theater, 5 p.m.
- Christmas in Gowanda, 5 p.m.
- Acoustic Randy at Four Mile Brewing, 6 p.m.
- MW Music at Halfway Inn, 6 p.m.
- Bob McCarthy’s Irish Christmas at Ellicottville Brewing, 6 p.m.
- Glass Bottle Painting at Cuba Art Station, 6 p.m.
- Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting in Bradford, 6 p.m.
- Elf Jr. at Portville Central School, 7 p.m.
- Interstate Daydream at Tap-N-Pour, 7 p.m.
- Southern Tier Symphony Holiday Concert at St. Bonaventure University, 7:30 p.m.
- Christmas Prism at Wesley Chapel, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 6
- Small Town Christmas in Cuba, 7:30 a.m.
- Thriftsgiving at St. Vincent DePaul, 9 a.m.
- Holiday Art Mystery for Kids at Tri-County Arts, 10 a.m.
- Christmas Cookie Basket at Cuba Art Station, 10 a.m.
- Sip & Shop at For Crafts Sake, 10 a.m.
- Christmas Barn Show at Rusty Rooster, 10 a.m.
- Yule Market at Little Alchemy Shop, 10 a.m.
- Santa & Mrs. Claus at Great Valley Firehall, 10 a.m.
- Randolph’s Country Christmas at Randolph Central School, 10 a.m.
- Puzzle and Book Sale at Cuba Library, 10 a.m.
- Mindful Morning at Olean Meditation Center, 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday with Santa at Allegany State Park, 11 a.m.
- Santa Express Train Rides at Gowanda Train Station, 11 a.m.
- Cookies with Santa at 2 Sweet Desserts, 11 a.m.
- Olean Jingle Bell Jubilee at Lincoln Park, noon
- Cozy Chunky Blankets at Tri-County Arts, noon
- Visit with Santa at Fannie Bartlett House, noon
- Help the Grinch Steal Christmas at Raymour & Flanigan, noon
- Snowman Building Contest in Cuba, noon
- Christmas in Gowanda, noon
- Free Community Luncheon in Friendship, 12:30 p.m.
- Christmas in Allegany at Santa House, 1 p.m.
- Community Soup Social at City of Refuge Church, 1 p.m.
- Kids Snowman Paint Party in Little Valley, 1 p.m.
- The Little Town of Christmas at Gowanda Community Theater, 2 p.m.
- Elf Jr. at Portville Central School, 3 p.m.
- Family Holiday Movie at JCC Cattaraugus County Campus, 5:30 p.m.
- Santa’s Christmas Parade in Salamanca, 6 p.m.
- AOH at Balloons, 6:30 p.m.
- Home for the Holidays at Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, 7 p.m.
- Spencer Easton at Tap-N-Pour, 7 p.m.
- Christmas Prism at Houghton University, 7:30 p.m.
- CountryFeit at Parkwood Tavern, 8 p.m.
- Dark Horse Run at Gin Mill, 8 p.m.
- Rev 13 at Mill Street Sports Pub, 8 p.m.
- Hyde & Seek at Hughes Hotel, 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 16
- Medicinal Herbs at Lucky Day Homestead, 10 a.m.
- Meet the Bacons at Gin Mill, 10 a.m.
- Holiday Art Market at Beat City Music, 11 a.m.
- Santa Express Train Rides at Gowanda Train Station, 11 a.m.
- DIY Craft Day at Franklinville First Baptist, 12:30 p.m.
- Colors of Christmas Concert at Obi Community Church, 1 p.m.
- NY Theatre Nutcracker Ballet at Pitt-Bradford, 3 p.m.
- Pop-Up Pajama Party in West Valley, 4 p.m.
Looking Ahead
- Dec. 11-14: Every Christmas Story Ever Told at Olean Theatre Workshop
- Dec. 13: Breakfast with Santa at Great Valley Clubhouse
- Dec. 13: Christmas Stroll in Ellicottville
- Dec. 14: International Christmas Fair at St. Joseph’s Maronite
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