Holiday Happenings

Through Dec 23: Christmas Voyager  (above) A unique take on Christmas is brought to life in an outer space musical journey through Yuletides past based on the children’s book of the same name. Lost in a future time and desperate to return to his home galaxy, Noel the Starman journeys back through time searching for that magical Christmas Eve when three brilliant stars came together. Check website for show times, $50+. Westchester Broadway Theatre, 1 Broadway Plaza, Elmsford, 914.592.2222; www.broadwaytheatre.com

Dec 1–31: The Wawarsing Wassail A month-long celebration, kicking off with a lighted fire truck parade through Ellenville, Cragsmoor, Napanoch, Wawarsing, and Kerhonkson. This family-friendly extravaganza has a series of activities for all to enjoy. • Ellenville Wawarsing Chamber of Commerce, 845.647.4620; www.ewcoc.com

Dec 1–3: A Christmas Carol The Ulster County Ballet Company will be performing an exciting, critically acclaimed ballet based on the classic Charles Dickens story. Now in its 22nd year, a cast of 65 dancers, actors, and stage professionals brings this story of redemption to life. Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sat 4 p.m., Sun 2 p.m., $25 adults, $22 seniors, and $18 children. • Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston, 845.339.6088; www.upac.org

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Dec 1: The Santa Slayings! A comedy murder mystery dinner show with Broadway, TV, and film actors in an interactive audience event to figure out who is behind this hilarious Kris Kringle murder mystery. 7 p.m., $45.  • West Point Club, 603 Cullum Rd, West Point, 845.446.5504; www.killingkompany.blogspot.com

Dec 2: Home Alone It wouldn’t be Christmas without a screening of this modern family favorite about a little boy named Kevin who accidentally gets left home alone during Christmas to fend off bumbling thieves. Dec 3: Home Alone 2 In this follow-up film, Kevin once again is left behind at Christmas and winds up in New York City to foil the plans of the same thieves. 4 p.m., $10 adults, $7 children. • Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Museum Theatre, 200 Hurd Rd, Bethel, 866.781.2922; www.bethelwoodscenter.org/events

Dec 2: The Holiday Gala and Art Show at Roost Studios This semi-formal champagne gathering features beautiful pieces of eclectic art by local artists. The evening includes live music, delicious gourmet foods and wines, and an art raffle and silent auction. All art pieces purchased will be beautifully gift-wrapped. Gala, 6–10 p.m. Exhibition runs until Jan. 7. • Roost Studios & Art Gallery, 69 Main St, second floor, New Paltz, 845.568.7540; www.roostcoop.org


Photo by Staff Sgt. Chrissy Rivers 

Dec 2–3: The West Point Holiday Show Enjoy the sounds of the holidays with this festive family favorite by the talented vocalists and instrumentalists of the West Point Band. The performance will conclude with a visit from Santa. Sat and Sun, 1:30 p.m., free. • Eisenhower Hall Theatre, 655 Pitcher Rd, West Point, 845.938.2617; www.westpointband.army.mil

Dec 2, 3, 9, 10: Twilight Tours Take a candlelit tour of the Boscobel mansion decorated for a 19th-century Christmas while musicians perform festive seasonal music, and get a glimpse of life in the days of old. Following will be a post-tour reception in the beautifully decorated gallery. Musical performances by the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra Quintet, The Brasiles Ensemble, and The Putnam Chorale.  47 p.m., $25 adults, $15 children 614 years, under 5 free. • Boscobel House & Gardens, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, 845.265.3638; www.boscobel.org

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Dec 3: The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show These Grammy-winning gospel titans of the South bring a dynamic Christmas show to the Hudson Valley. 7 p.m., $43+. • Paramount Hudson Valley, 1008 Brown St, Peekskill, 914.739.0039; www.paramounthudsonvalley.com

Dec 3: Christmas in the Village Step back in time for an old-fashioned Christmas, with festive entertainment throughout Museum Village. Santa will pay a visit, and children can partake in hayrides. Bring a food donation. 126 p.m., free. • Museum Village, 1010 Route 17M, Monroe, 845.782.8248; www.museumvillage.org

Dec 3: The Zucchini Brothers This wacky and wild family rock band for children will be playing favorite holiday tunes for the little ones. 3 p.m., free. • The Egg Center for the Performing Arts, Empire State Plaza, Albany, 518.473.1845; www.theegg.org

Dec 9: K104’s Not So Silent Night This musical holiday event features the Hudson Valley’s own Grace VanderWaal, winner of America’s Got Talent, along with the stylings of the indie-rock band, All Time Low. 7 p.m., $36. • The Chance Theater, 6 Crannell St, Poughkeepsie, 845.471.1966; www.thechancetheater.com

Dec 9: Sugar Loaf Holiday Celebration A joyful family gathering for the holidays with food, crafts, and entertainment. Local artisans feature their wares for holiday purchases such as handmade soaps, furniture, art, stained glass, and candles. 12:304 p.m., free. • Sugar Loaf Art & Craft Village, 1371 Kings Hwy, Sugar Loaf; www.sugarloafnewyork.com

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Dec 9: Jessica Lynn’s Country Christmas Spectacular This Westchester native and rising star of country music brings her Christmas show home for a fun-filled family event that benefits Toys for Tots. Bring a new unwrapped toy. 8 p.m., $25. • 1008 Brown St, Peekskill, 914.739.0039; www.paramounthudsonvalley.com

Dec 12: A Country Christmas in Albany Spend a night celebrating Christmas with Jennifer Nettles, one of country music’s rising stars, as she performs songs from her latest album, To Celebrate Christmas. Jennifer rose to fame in the Broadway musical Chicago in 2015 and then took the country music world by storm with her album Playing with Fire. Last year she played the role of Dolly Parton’s mother, Avie Lee Parton, in the holiday-themed movie Coat of Many Colors. 8 p.m., $39.75+. • Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave, Albany, 518.465.4663; www.palacealbany.org

Dec 15: Mountain Snow Orchestra with special guests The McKrells This Celtic-influenced “folkgrass” group has been entertaining audiences with Christmas cheer for years with their annual Mountain Snow Mistletoe Show for a down-home evening of holiday music, merriment, and mischief. 8 p.m., $28. • The Egg Center for the Performing Arts, Empire State Plaza, Albany, 518.473.1845; www.theegg.org

Dec 15: Eileen Ivers’ A Joyful Christmas Born in the Bronx, Ivers spent her summers in Ireland, where she took up the fiddle at the age of 9. Her spectacular hit songs include “Ships are Sailing,” and “Children Go.” 8 p.m., $50+. • Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd, Bethel, 866.781.2922; www.bethelwoodscenter.org/events

Dec 16: Chatham Winterfest Celebrating its 15th year, the village comes alive with various businesses offering seasonal activities such as a children’s scavenger hunt, crafts, card-making for the troops, hayrides, live music, movie screenings of holiday favorites, and more. 10 a.m., free. • Chatham Area Business & Arts, Main St, Chatham, www.visitchathamny.com

Dec 16: Handel’s ‘Messiah’ The Hudson Valley Philharmonic will be performing this exquisite piece by Handel. A masterful work featuring Cappella Festiva and guest conductor Christine Howlett is sure to please. 2 p.m., $20+. • Bardavon, 35 Market St, Poughkeepsie, 845.473.2072; www.bardavon.org

Dec 16: Hedda Lettuce  (above) Lettuce Rejoice! The Queen of Green is bringing her book of parodied holiday classics along for the ride, so get ready for a raucous night of gay holiday cheer as this drag legend brings her one-of-a-kind humor and storytelling for one night only, in her first-ever holiday spectacular! 9:30–11 p.m., $25. • Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St, Rosendale, 845.658.8989; www.rosendaletheatre.org

Dec 17: Trimming the Nature Tree A family-friendly event that celebrates winter while feeding the area’s wildlife.  A crafty afternoon for children making and decorating trees using treats for the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks in the great outdoors. 1–2 p.m., $5 members, $8 non-members. • Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Rd, Scarsdale, 914.723.3470; www.greenburghnaturecenter.org

Dec 17: Jingle All the Way with Laurie Berkner A Holiday Celebration Concert by The Laurie Berkner Band will have every preschooler dancing in the aisles to holiday favorites like, “Jingle Bells,” “The Dreidel Song,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and the Hanukkah favorite, “Candle Chase.” This best-selling children’s recording artist and preschool television favorite from Nick Jr.’s Jack’s Big Music Show will also be performing originals from her celebrated album, A Laurie Berkner Christmas. 3 p.m., $35+. • Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St, Tarrytown, 914.631.3390; www.tarrytownmusichall.org 

Dec 17: The Costellos Christmas Show Eclectic musicians Lynn & Bob Costello mix a blend of rock, pop, surf, and country. The combination of Lynn’s hypnotic voice and Bobby’s guitar skills brings audiences to their feet with songs written by this dynamic duo. 7:30 p.m., $15 advance, $20 at the door. • Towne Crier Café, 379 Main St, Beacon, 845.855.1300; www.townecrier.com

Dec 19: The Muppets Christmas Carol Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo recreate the Dickens classic holiday tale with the help of actor Michael Caine as Scrooge. 7 p.m., $5. • The Cohoes Music Hall, 158 Remsen St, Cohoes, 518.465.4663; www.thecohoesmusichall.org

Dec 22–23: Holidelic This holiday comedy-funk-dance party boasts wild adaptations of holiday favorites such as “Frosty the Snowman,” and the “Little Drummer Boy.” Everett “Papadelic” Bradley puts on a comedic theatrical show reinventing the holiday season with a Sly Stone-style funk ’n’ roll. 21 years+. 9 p.m., $25–$30. • Club Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia St, Hudson, 518.828.4800; www.helsinkihudson.com

Dec 26: March of the Wooden Soldiers The famous comic duo of Laurel and Hardy star in this 1934 musical holiday film about two loveable toymakers who come to the aid of Little Bo Peep, whose sweetheart has been kidnapped. 7 p.m., $5. • The Cohoes Music Hall, 158 Remsen St, Cohoes, 518.465.4663; www.thecohoesmusichall.org

Dec 28: Children’s Holiday Tea Beautifully decorated for the holidays, Mount Gulian is hosting a traditional Victorian tea for children. This event replicates a once-common tradition when Victorian ladies and their gentlemen met for tea, refreshments, and light conversation. Includes assorted teas, scones, dainty finger sandwiches, desserts and a children’s craft project. 12–2 p.m., $22 adults, $17 children. Reservations required by Dec 15. • Mount Gulian Historic Site, 145 Sterling St, Beacon, 845.831.8172; www.mountgulian.org


Photo by Stewart Dean

Dec 31: New Year’s Eve Dance & Dinner (above) Ring in the New Year with live music and dance performances featuring swing, Cajun, Zydeco, waltzes, contras, and square dancing. Purchase tickets by Dec 29. Dinner at 6 p.m. and music/dancing at 8 p.m. Tickets, $15$75.  • Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge, 845.246.2121; www.ashokancenter.org

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