Upcoming holiday events happening in  the Mohawk Valley!

All  across the region communities and organizations are planning their holiday events, celebrations and fun activities for all to enjoy! Many of the events include artisan craft fairs, activities for the kids, along with historic and educational events highlighting the life and stories of the Mohawk Valley.

Here are just a couple of holiday events we received this week. Be sure to mark your calendars to enjoy all the fun!

Old Forge Library Holiday Grab and Go Bags

In conjunction with the Central Adirondack Association’s Adirondack Christmas on Main Street, the Old Forge Library, 220 Crosby Blvd., invites the public to stop by! There will be free Winter Holiday themed grab bags full of goodies for kids (while supplies last) and the Friends of the Library will be hosting a Used Book Mart. Pop in to warm up by the fire, browse used books and sit down to take a break!

The Grab n’ Go Bags will be made up with crafts and activities for kids to work on at home along with other surprises. Some of the crafts will include a Rudolph wood slice ornament, a paper plate Christmas tree, pipe cleaner ornament wreaths, and a paper chain snowman Christmas countdown. All supplies are included (except scissors)! Word searches and other activities to keep the the kids creative and busy this holiday season are also included!

Families are invited to stop by with the kids to pick up a Grab n’ Go Bag on Friday, November 24 from 10 am – 4 pm or Saturday, November 25 from 10 am – 2 pm. (Most fun for ages 4-11.) Supplies are limited so registration is highly recommended.

Oneida Indian Nation Holiday Craft Fair

The Oneida Indian Nation will host its Annual Holiday Craft Fair at Turning Stone Resort Casino on Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 50 vendors will be showcasing traditional American Indian art, including handmade jewelry, beadwork, carvings, artwork, textiles, ceramics and more.

Visitors to the fair can explore handmade items created by Oneida Indian Nation Members and other American Indian artisans.

The 2023 American Indian Craft Fair will also feature Haudenosaunee social dance exhibitions, featuring Chris Thomas and his Smoke Dancers at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The Annual American Indian Holiday Craft Fair will be located in the Turning Stone Event Center Corridor and is free to attend.

Palatines And Presents: A German Christmas

The Herkimer Home State Historic Site invites you to join them for a celebration of the holidays at Palatines and Presents: A German Christmas!

This year’s event will be held on Sunday, December 3rd from 3pm until 6pm. Standard site admission of $4 for adults and $3 for students/seniors will be charged; children 12 and under are free.

The General Herkimer home will be decorated in traditional 18th century style with all the warmth and traditions of the period. Historical interpreters will be on hand to teach on the history of the local Palatine Germans in the area and the holiday traditions they brought to colonial America from Germany – such as the tradition of the Christmas Tree! Christmas in the 18th century was widely different from the holiday traditions and lights of today. The simple traditions of Colonial America centered on the gathering of family, the celebration of the year past and of what is yet to come. Natural decorations of pine boughs, fruit, nuts, and berries would have covered the mantles and doorways in colonial homes who celebrated the day. German immigrants even brought their taste of the holidays and their own customs eventually giving us one of the most iconic Christmas decorations of all, the Christmas tree.

Following the holiday traditions of the past, General Herkimer’s colonial mansion will be decorated in an 18th century style for the holiday season. Historical interpreters will fill the home and provide living history vignettes showcasing how our forefathers celebrated the Christmas holidays! Be sure not to miss the German Foodways program in our museum hearth which will fill the air with the aromas of Christmas and holiday cheer. Warm up by the fire with musket in hand and celebrate a year gone by as you join in our celebrations just as the residents of the Mohawk Valley would have 250 years ago!

Children in attendance are welcome to join in and craft their own Christmas ornaments with our interpretation staff and volunteers as they learn how to get in the holiday spirit of the 18th century. Make sure they have been good however… rumor has it, all these 18th century festivities have brought with it a figure from Christmas’s past. The Belsnickle is expected to make his presence known as a part of our celebration with treats for those children who have remained good this past year and a holiday warning for those who have misbehaved… but don’t worry, there is still time to heed his warnings and share in his treats!

Be sure to check back at Mohawk Valley Today Events throughout the season to discover more holiday events and activities to enjoy with your family and friends!