With December right around the corner, it's time for communities throughout the Hudson Valley to celebrate the holiday season with tree lightings, festivals, and even parades. Here's a list of some of them. If you know of others, please let me know in the comments below and I'll add them here.

Dutchess County: (special thanks to Dutchess County Tourism.)

Friday, December 5:   Celebration of Lights Parade & Fireworks at 6:30 in the City of Poughkeepsie with marching musicians, giant puppets, classic cars, motorcycles, and Santa Claus on a fire engine. The parade starts on Main & Garden Streets with the first Christmas tree lighting on Main, near Market St. The parade then heads down Main to Clover St., where it convenes at Dongan Square Park for the second tree lighting. At 7:15, Poughkeepsie River District Business Association and Legion Fireworks present a winter fireworks display along the waterfront.

Friday, December 5: “Parade of Lights” with Santa & Millbrook Tree Lighting. Two holiday traditions are combined for a wonderful twilight event. The tree lighting ceremony is at the Tribute Garden Park entrance on Franklin Ave. 6:15pm. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on the Millbrook fire truck, leading a Parade of Lights of lighted floats and vehicles, traveling to the bandshell where hot food and beverages will be available. Live nativity scene, ice skating rink & carolers await.

Friday, December 5 : Pawling Tree Lighting/Decemberfest at 6pm. Charles Colman Blvd., Pawling. Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive with their reindeer to light the Christmas tree. Enjoy choral music, hot chocolate and cookies, and the festive charm of an old-fashioned village Christmas.

Saturday, December 6: Village of Fishkill Holiday Party and Tree lighting. Village Hall, Children’s crafts, Petting Zoo, refreshments and pictures taken with Santa. 3-5pm. Christmas tree is lit at historic Van Wyck Hall at 5pm.

Saturday, December 6: Sinterklaas Festival Day in Rhinebeck! A day-long, colorful celebration of dance, theatre and music all through the village. The spectacular Children’s Starlight Parade, featuring two-story tall, animated puppets carried by hundreds of volunteers, closes the day at twilight.  A non-denominational event based on the town’s Dutch heritage, Sinterklaas joins people of all ages and backgrounds, in a memorable celebration of children, art, and the light of the season. All day long, activities & performances of all types in churches, civic halls, Beekman Arms, and plenty of entertainers in the streets of Rhinebeck.

Saturday, December 6: Holiday of Lights Parade. Stanford Town Hall. Parade of lighted floats and vehicles; lighting of the town's holiday tree. Visits with Santa and gifts for kids at the party afterwards at the firehouse. Sponsored by Lions Club & Ladies Auxiliary. Parade 6pm.

Saturday, December 6: Festival of Lights at Tymor Park in the Town of Union Vale (Lagrange). Brighten this holiday season as the town once again flips the switch to nearly 150,000 LED lights at 6:30 pm. There will also be a collection of non-perishable food donations and unwrapped toys to be dispersed to food banks and toy drives.

Saturday, December 6: Christmas Tree Lighting at Schlathaus Park, corner of Myers Corners & All Angels Hill Rds. in Wappingers Falls from 5-7:30. Come and join a fun, old-fashioned, family event with refreshments, Christmas carols and gifts for the kids. And, of course, the guest of honor, the Jolly Old Elf himself, Santa Claus, who arrives on a fire truck!

Sunday, December 7: Hyde Park Recreation in conjunction with the Lions Club and Hyde Park PBA present Hyde Park's annual Candlelight Walk and Christmas Tree Lighting at 4:45. The Candlelight walk starts at the back of the Methodist Church on RT. 9 and proceeds to the Town Hall.Carols will be sung, a reading of "The Night Before Christmas", the tree will be lit and then Santa arrives.

Sunday, December 7: Christmas Tree Lighting at East Fishkill Community Ctr. in Hopewell Junction at 5pm. Entertainment by East Fishkill Chorus. Santa Claus visits. Refreshments served, followed by a tree lighting ceremony.

Sunday, December 7: Red Hook WinterFest. Celebrate the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Red Hook Winterfest with lots of fun activities, and culminates with a walk thru Red Hook Village to Memorial Park (across from the former IGA on Rte. 9) where a tree lighting ceremony will take place at 5:30pm. Visit Santa, take a Hayride, and decorate ornaments, all while you sip hot chocolate.

Saturday, December 13: Amenia Festival of Lights Parade, followed by the tree lighting ceremony.

Saturday, December 13:  City of Beacon + BeaconArts Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, coinciding with Beacon’s monthly Second Saturday celebration. The Wee Play Community Project organizes a simple craft for younger children under festive tents. Prior to Santa’s arrival, the Beacon Music Factory and the Center for Creative Education celebrate with music and dance. Santa arrives via pedi-cab provided by People’s Bicycle to officially welcome the spirit of the holidays to Beacon at 4pm. Sculptor Ed Benavente is the artist behind a beloved, unique tradition for Beacon.  The tree, which has doubled in size since it first appeared in 2011, is fabricated entirely of recycled bicycle parts. This year, surprise new upcycled elements will be added. 3pm-5pm. Cross & Main Streets green space

Saturday, December 13:“Winterfest” at Tivoli.3-5 at Tivoli Commons. Music and entertainment, with crafts & activities for kids. There will be a visit from Santa Claus before the Tree lighting ceremony. 3-5pm.

Chris Hyde
Getty Images News
Chris Hyde
Getty Images News
loading...

Ulster County:

Saturday, December 6:  Carols and Santa at High Falls-Marbletown Annual Tree Lighting from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the corner of Route 213 and Second Street in High Falls.  Gather at the tall evergreen tree in the center of town, adjacent to the Depuy Canal House for this FREE family annual holiday event that officially ushers in the holidays.  Bring a flashlight and join in the Christmas carols sung by Rondout Valley Intermediate Carolers, directed by Julianna McCarthy.

Sean Gallup
Getty Images News
Sean Gallup
Getty Images News
loading...

Sullivan County:

December 6- Christmas Eve: Dance of the Lights, a holiday light show synchronized with music, sponsored by Canal Towne Emporium. Shows nightly at 7pm in front of the Canal Towne Emporium until Christmas Eve.

Philipp Guelland
Getty Images News
Philipp Guelland
Getty Images News
loading...

Orange County:

Now thru Dec 28: Fri-Sat-Sun. Annual Holiday Boutique, Ottaway Education Building at Orange County Arboretum, Montgomery. The Friends of Orange County Arboretum will hold the Annual Holiday Boutique beginning Fri Nov 28 offering a selection of handcrafted items including ornaments, wreaths, garland, fresh centerpieces, miniature trees, knitted hats and scarves, holiday linens, honey collected from the Arboretum’s bee hives and more. This year the Friends will offer holiday wreaths that you can customize with decorations and ribbons of your choice. Volunteers will assemble the wreath while you wait. The Boutique will be held on Fri-Sat-Sun Nov 28, 29, 30 from 12-5pm and then run in conjunction with the “Holiday Lights in Bloom” program on Fri-Sat-Sun Dec 5-28 from 5-8pm. 845-615-3828.

Now thru Dec 2: Wed, Fri-Sat-Sun. Christmas on the Farm Trail with Eggbert, Devitts Nursery and Supply, New Windsor. Bring the family to visit Eggbert The Talking Egg. Christmas on the Farm Trail opens on Nov 29 and runs through Dec 21. Wed 1-4pm, Fri 5-8pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-4:30pm. 845-561-1968.

Thursday, December 4Village of Walden Recreation & Parks Department Presents: Christmas in the Square, Featuring Santa’s Arrival and Tree Lighting. Festivities begin at 5 pm in Municipal Square-Village of Walden. Events include: 5:00 - 1st viewing of the Live Nativity – Freedom Road Bible Church. 5:30 - “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” viewing on the big screen. 6:00 - Fox Hill Choir – Christmas Caroling. 6:15 - 2nd viewing of the Live Nativity – Freedom Road Bible Church. 6:45 - Walden Elementary School Community Choir – Christmas Caroling. 7:00 - Santa's arrival and tree lighting! Afterwards everyone is welcome to come to St. Andrew's Hall for free pictures with Santa and refreshments provided by the Walden Women's Club and Walden Community Council!

Friday, December 5: Tree Lighting in Washingtonville at Brotherhood Winery from 7-9. Annual tree lighting ceremony. Enjoy music, wine and festivities. Admission to the tree lighting is Free.

Saturday, December 6: The 9th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade in Pine Bush from 4-6. Enjoy live entertainment, cocoa and cookies, cider and donuts, games and prizes, live nativity and petting zoo, decorate your own gingerbread cookies, Not Just Country Line Dancers, Pine Bush Community Band, the Parade to bring in Santa, and the Lighting of the Tree at 6pm!

Saturday, December 6: 1-5pm. Winter Festival and Holiday Float Parade, Millpond Parkway in Monroe. There will be hot cocoa for all, hay rides with John Linderman, holiday music, crafts for the kids and a bonfire. Santa will be giving out candy canes. The first annual float parade will begin right after the festival (line up at 4pm). Parade kicks off at 5pm and will conclude with the tree lighting on the island and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes for best float. Rain date: Sun Dec 7. 845-782-8341.

Saturday, December 6: Goshen Tree Lighting Ceremony from 4-5. You are invited to the 2014 Goshen Tree Lighting Ceremony, a free event for all. There will be hot chocolate and cookies and, of course, Santa!

Saturday, December 6: 5-7pm. The Town of Wawayanda 14th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Senior Center in Shannen Park, Slate Hill. 845-355-5700.

Sunday, December 7: Greenwood Lake Tree Lighting Ceremony. Pictures with Santa 2 pm, Tree Lighting Ceremony 4 pm at Waterstone Road between Ambulance Building and Church of Good Sheperd, Greenwood Lake.

Sunday, December 7: Tree Lighting, Caroling, and Open House in Goshen from 5-6. Enjoy holiday activities with family and friends.

Saturday, December 13: 12:30-5pm. Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration, Sugar Loaf Art and Craft Village.This Sugar Loaf tradition includes carolers, horse and wagon rides with Santa and refreshments all reminiscent of an old fashioned holiday befitting the historic village and artisan community. A horse drawn wagon, along with Santa and Santa’s helper, will take passengers for a tour of the Craft Village where shops and galleries will be decked out in holiday cheer. Carolers from the Warwick Valley Chorale, and Warwick Middle School are scheduled to perform at 12:30pm while strolling through the town. The Sugar Loaf United Methodist Church will serve refreshments all day with Santa greeting children on the church porch at 3:30pm. There will be caroling while the tree is lit at 4:30pm.

Saturday, December 13: 11 am-8 pm Village of Montgomery Old Fashioned Holiday, Montgomery. This is an annual holiday event. Attractions include: bandstand music, Santa's arrival, baked goods and beverages, Village carolers, holiday shopping and dining, horse and carriage rides, children's activities. 845-457-9661 x 201.

More From WRRV-WRRB