Family Fun This Weekend

The countdown continues to the holly jolly festivities! 'Tis the season to bundle up and celebrate winter. Take the kids for a night drive to see holiday lights, check out some holiday trains, or get your picture taken with LEGO Santa. It's gonna be a fun weekend...


ONGOING

Colony Lane Circle of Lights
Friday, December 7 - Saturday, December 22 from 5-10:00 p.m. (Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays only)
Colony Lane Circle of Lights, 239 Colony Lane, Henrietta, NY
Enjoy over 50,000 lights and 30 inflatables! Tune in to 91.9 FM in your car to hear the music for the computerized light show. Visit on Fridays and Saturdays from 6-8 p.m. to visit with Santa Claus, The Grinch, and Elmo (bring your camera)! This event is free; visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable goods for a food drive to support Rush-Henrietta Area Food Terminal. Non-periashable food items, paper items, and pet supplies are needed this year. Please do not park on the circle; parking is permitted in the driveways or on Cape Cod Way.

Yuletide in the Country
Friday, December 7 - Sunday, December 16 from 1:30 - 8:30 p.m. (Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays only)
Genesee Country Village & Museum, 1410 Flint Hill Road, Mumford, NY
Enjoy festively decorated homes, reenactments of Yuletides past, joyful songs, merry instrumental music, and more Christmas customs of the 19th Century. Tours last approximately 1 1/2 hours and depart every 15 minutes; tours are $22 per person. A dinner buffet is available from 4-8:30 p.m. for $30 per adult, $16 per child (ages 4-10); children 3 and under are free. Dinner reservations are required: (585) 294-8218.

Christmas Fun
Friday, December 7 - Sunday December 16, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays only)
Stokoe Farms, 656 South Road, Scottsville, NY
Take a wagon ride into the fields, stroll through the trees and choose just the right one. Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and tree baling, a bonfire, live manger scene, straw fort for the kids, and you may even see Santa Claus. The gift shop, indoor restaurant, and restrooms are all open.

Sweet Creations Gingerbread House Display
Now through Wednesday, December 12 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tues-Sun and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday (closed Mondays and Christmas Day)
George Eastman House, 900 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
See more than 60 cleverly designed gingerbread houses from professional bakers, families, and community groups. Included with museum admission: adults, $12; children 12 and under are free.

A T. Rex Named Sue
Daily through January 6, 2013; Mon-Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
See the largest, most complete, and best-preserved T. Rex! Touch casts of Sue's bones, complete a 3-D puzzle with bones, move models of Sue's jaws, and more. Included with general admission.

Dora & Diego: Let's Explore
Daily through January 6, 2013: Mon-Thurs 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fri-Sat 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sun 12 - 5 p.m.
Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY
This fun, interactive exhibit includes a pirate ship, animal rescue center, rainforest maze, flower garden, rocket ship, car, and Purple Planet slide.

FRIDAY


Pictures with Santa
Saturday, December 7 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
The Apple Shed, 3391 Fairville Maple Ridge Road, Newark, NY
Have your picture taken with Santa, plus enjoy fun activities for the kids including crafts, cookie decorating, and games.


Game Night
Friday, December 7 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. (repeats on Fridays through December 21, 2012)
ArtsROC, 3462 Monroe Avenue, Pittsford, NY
Kids ages 5-12 can enjoy movies, Wii, Xbox, Minecraft, tons of LEGOs, and a pizza party for $25 at ArtsROC. Call (585) 218-9125 or email info@artsroc.net for more information. Or click here to register.

Family Night
Friday, December 7 from 4:30 - 10:00 p.m.
YMCA- Southeast, 111 East Jefferson Road, Pittsford, NY
The Adventure Center is open from 4:30-9 p.m. (remember your socks!), make a holiday craft in the Lobby at 5:30 p.m., enjoy pizza in the Lobby at 5:45 p.m until it runs out ($1/slice), roller skate in the Gym from 6-8 p.m. ($4/person for skate rental), and swim in the pool from 7-10 p.m. Open to the community.

Fun Fridays
Friday, December 7 from 6 - 8 p.m.
YMCA-Westside, 920 Elmgrove Road, Rochester, NY
Family gym games, inflatables, obstacle course, crafts, and family swimming. There is no fee for members; $10 per family for the community.

SATURDAY

Pittsford CAN Day
Saturday, December 8 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
ArtsROC, 3462 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY
Support arts in education by participating in Pittsford's CAN Day. Drop off your 5-cent cans and bottles and get your picture taken with LEGO Santa. LEGO Batman and LEGO Robin will also be there.

Edgerton Model Railroad Club Holiday Open House
Saturday, December 8 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Edgerton Recreation Center, 41 Backus Street, Rochester, NY
Visit four historic model railroad layouts depicting the Rochester area during each of the four seasons. Be on the lookout for the Polar Express train and Thomas the Tank Engine & his friends. Plus be sure to press the operating buttons along the edge of the layout (fun for young visitors). Parking and admission are free, but donations are welcome.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY 

Dino Days
Saturday, December 8 - Sunday, December 9 from 12 - 4:00 p.m.
Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
Explore three geologic periods of the Mesozoic Era with programs designed for younger children. Check out A T. rex Named Sue, and make paper dinosaurs and fossil rubbings to take home.


Holiday Family Fun
Saturday, December 8 - Sunday, December 9 (weekends only, continues through December 23)
The Garden Factory, 2126 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY
Enjoy an indoor winter carnival in the greenhouse! The model train display opens at 10 a.m. along with the Hilton Sno-Flyers Snow Show. Rides, crafts, games, and the light show will run from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., and photos with Santa will be available from 12 - 4 p.m. Admission is free and includes the model trains; rides are $0.50-1.50 each, crafts are $1-2.50, games are $2.50, and the light show is $2 per person (ages 3 and under are free for the light show). While the activities are indoors, it is still chilly in the greenhouse - coats and hats are a good idea.

Holly Trolley Rides
Weekends only; Saturday, December 8 - Sunday, December 16 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
New York Museum of Transportation, 6393 East River Road, Rochester, NY
Catch the holiday spirit with an old-fashioned trolley ride. Plus, visit the train cars, model trains, and antique car and trucks inside the museum. Admission plus trolley ride is $5 per adult and $4 per child under 12; children under 3 are free.

I hope you find some fun things to do this weekend! As always, thanks for reading.

Holiday Trains & Winter Fun for Kids

Four years ago when my oldest son was in day care, their November newsletter included some winter activities for kids. One was the holiday model train display at The Garden Factory. Since "train" was one of the most frequently used words in our one-year-old's vocabulary, we decided to check it out. And we've been back every winter since then.

The Garden Factory is located at 2126 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624. Sure, they have plants, shrubbery, garden accessories, holiday decorations, and Christmas trees. But from late November through late December, it's a train mecca for kids.

Just walk in through the main entrance and keep going straight to the back of the store. Go through the doors and into the greenhouse, and step into the winter wonderland. The model trains run from 12 - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There is no admission fee to see the trains. Yes, it's free. Yay!

The model train display is huge, and there are several platforms around the display so that kids can get a better view. Of course, they will want to try each platform to see the trains from every side.

On weekends from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. there are rides ($0.50-1.50 each), crafts ($1-2.50 each), games ($2.50 each), a holiday light show ($2 per person; ages 3 and under are free), and pictures with Santa (prices vary). Be sure to check the schedule for other activities which may include reindeer, alpacas, or other animals, as well as food vendors, and Thousand Islands Winery. A link for the schedule can be found by clicking on "Seasonal Events" on the home page, and then on "Holiday Family Fun."

Weekends only, kids can ride a train...

...or a spinny-ride...

...or feed some animals...

...or climb through a fun house...

...or ride down a giant slide.

You can also get a great holiday family photo for your Christmas cards at The Garden Factory. There are pre-lit Christmas trees on display, plus tons of holiday decorations around - - you're sure to find a perfect backdrop for your photo.

The Garden Factory is stroller-friendly and there are indoor restrooms. While the trains and the activities are all indoors, the greenhouse is not heated. We usually keep our coats, hats, and gloves on while inside. There are food vendors available on weekends; during the week I would recommend bringing your own light snacks.

I hope you and your family have fun at The Garden Factory! As always, thanks for reading.