BUFFALO, N.Y. — The holiday season is officially here and several communities across Western New York are getting ready to celebrate the season.
Many tree lighting ceremonies are scheduled to take place in various locations over the next few weeks. You can check out some of the scheduled events below.
Buffalo
Tree of Hope
Roswell Park's annual Tree of Hope Celebration is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 10 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The annual event honors people who are touched by cancer. Channel 2 is a proud media sponsor this year's event. For the safety of the community, the event will be a virtual event this year. Anyone who wants to watch the event can do so by tuning into WGRZ - Channel 2 on Dec. 10.
ACV Auctions Christmas Tree Lighting
ACV Auctions is holding its downtown Christmas tree lighting celebration next month.
The annual event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and also serves as the official opening of the free ice-skating season. Skating will begin at Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza at 5 p.m., with the countdown of the tree lighting happening at 6 p.m. There will also be a fireworks display over Fountain Plaza.
"We are delighted to carry on the tradition of free ice-skating in the heart of Downtown Buffalo with Presenting Sponsor ACV Auctions," said Michael T. Schmand, executive director of Buffalo Place, Inc.
"In partnership with the City of Buffalo and Rotary Club of Buffalo, Buffalo Place has managed the operation of this outdoor ice-skating rink for 24 years. Renovations to Fountain Plaza provide residents and visitors with an enchanting outdoor winter activity to enjoy all season long."
In addition, the event will feature a visit from Santa from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. as well as holiday gifts. And this year Banner Farm of Perrysburg will be offering free horse and carriage rides around Fountain Plaza. There will also be live reindeer from Antler Ridge Farm in Hamburg.
Anyone looking to grab a bite to eat will be in luck. The Lunch Box will offer concession items in the event area.
Organizers note that while ice-skating is free, anyone who doesn't bring their own skates will be required to rent them. Ice skates are $2 for children and $3 for adults.
For more information about the event, click here.
Hertel Holiday Walk
The Hertel Business Association is holding its Hertel Holiday Walk on Friday, Dec. 3. The event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and will feature a tree lighting ceremony in front of St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church located at 1395 Hertel Avenue.
The event will also feature appearances from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, as well as shopping, food and drinks. But that's not all, according to event organizers, Dash's Market will be sponsoring cocoa for the kids, and New Era will be hosting a winter hat giveaway throughout the night.
Those who plan on attending the event are asked to bring non-perishable food items to help support FeedMore WNY. Donational barrels will be located by the church.
Cheektowaga
Cheektowaga Town Hall Christmas Tree Lighting
Cheektowaga will be holding its annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Monday, Nov. 29 at the Cheektowaga Town Hall. The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Those who attend the event will be able to enjoy some Christmas carols from the Elementary Choral Group from the Cheektowaga-Sloan School District on the front stops of Town Hall. There will also be a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus and photo opportunities with both.
In addition to the Christmas Tree lighting, there will also be a mini fire truck, ATV and police parade.
And don't forget to check out the Cheektowaga Historical Museum. Families will be able to walk through the museum, and children will have the chance to participate in a treasure hunt and tour the red train caboose.
During the event Supervisor Diane Benczkowski, Legislator Tim Meyers, and Assemblymember Monica Wallace will be holding a hat and glove donation drive. Donations will be accepted under the Christmas tent for the Cheektowaga Boys & Girls Club.
Click here for more information.
Light-A-Life Memorial Tree Lighting
The 33rd annual Hospice "Light-a-Life" memorial tree lighting ceremony is happening the first weekend in December.
This year the tree lighting ceremony will be happening in-person at the Hospice Mitchell campus, which is located outside of the Wilson Support Center at 150 Bennett Road in Cheektowaga. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. A virtual option will also be offered on Dec. 6 for those who cannot make it in-person. Click here to learn more.
According to event organizers, those planning on attending the in-person event must be vaccinated for COVID-19 and are required to wear masks.
Tree tags featuring loved ones' names on them can be purchased ahead of time, along with commemorative bells. For more information about how to purchase a tree tag or commemorative bells, click here.
Niagara Falls
The Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is kicking off the holiday season with a special tree lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 2.
Those who attend will be able to enjoy cookies, hot cocoa and a special performance from Buffalo's own Cami Clune. There will also be a special appearance from Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, Sabretooth, Billy Buffalo, Rex (the Buffalo Bandits' mascot) and Santa Claus himself.
The event will be held outside the resort’s Fourth Street entrance, above Seneca Square, and is scheduled to kickoff at 5 p.m. with the tree lighting happening at 6 p.m. Masks will be required for anyone looking to attend the event.
Can't make it in person? Don't worry, Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino will live stream the tree lighting on its Facebook page so you don't miss out on the fun.
“The holidays are all about timeless traditions and a spirit of togetherness,” said Kevin Nephew, Seneca Gaming Corporation President & CEO. “We’re excited to continue the tradition of our tree lighting to help bring light to this holiday season and to truly make this the most magical time of the year.”
Lewiston
Lewiston is holding a "Lighting of the Tree" event next month at Academy Park. The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
In addition to the holiday tree lighting, the event will feature live music and dance performances from the St. Peter School Choir and the Lewiston Dance Center.
For anyone who is looking to get a bit to eat at the event is in luck. Event organizers say there will be treats from the Lewiston Library. And Santa will be taking time out of his busy schedule to make an appearance.
The event is free to attend.
Depew
The Village of Depew is holding its Holiday Tree Lighting on Monday, Nov. 29.
The holiday event will take place at 6 p.m. at Fireman's Park located at 90 Gould Avenue. In addition to the tree lighting, there will be music by the Depew High School Chorus and open skate with a canned good donation.
Food trucks will be on site for anyone looking to grab a quick bite. There will also be marshmallow roasting.
Santa will also be stopping by. Event organizers say the big man in red will arrive on a fire truck to light the tree and read a holiday story.
West Seneca
West Seneca will be holding its first Christmas tree lighting celebration in December. The event was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, Dec. 11, but due to inclement weather in the forecast, the event was pushed back a week.
The celebration is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Dec. 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. behind the West Seneca Town Hall. The event will feature holiday musical entertainment, fire trucks, food trucks and children's activities including Santa's workshop.
For more information contact Dave Driscoll at (716) 697-1468 or Lynn Driscoll at (716) 725-7744.
East Aurora
Absolut Care in East Aurora will be holding its annual tree lighting celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Absolut Care will be lighting a tree outdoors on Main Street in the village. The tree lighting will start at 5 p.m. and will feature hot cocoa and other refreshments.
Fredonia
A holiday tree lighting ceremony is being held in the Village of Fredonia next month, featuring fun activities for the whole family.
The tree lighting will take place on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the park on Temple Street near Main Street. There will also be a fun family festival all day long.
As part of the event, there will be a holiday craft show featuring over 25 vendors at Fredonia Grange No 1 (58 W Main St) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be cookie decorating at the Fredonia Methodist Church, an adult ugly sweater contest, a basket raffle and the Festivals Fredonia Giving Tree, which will be collecting hates, gloves and boots for Fredonia Central School & Partners in Kind.
Then Santa will be coming to town around 10:30 a.m. to read stories at the Darwin R. Barker Library.
In addition to those events there will be food vendors in the park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as hot cocoa, Woodbury Winery and Three Chord Bourbon samples, and ornament crafting.
The holiday parade will kick-off at 5 p.m. with the arrival of Santa for the official tree lighting.
For more information, or to learn more about Fredonia's fun family festival, click here.
Salamanca
The Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino will be celebrating the holiday season on Wednesday, Dec. 1 with its annual holiday tree lighting.
Those who attend will be able to enjoy cookies, hot cocoa and a special performance from Buffalo's own Cami Clune. There will also be a special appearance from Santa Claus himself.
The event will be held near the resort's entrance and is scheduled to kickoff at 5 p.m. with the tree lighting happening at 6 p.m. Masks will be required for anyone looking to attend the event.
Can't make it in person? Don't worry, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino will live stream the tree lighting on its Facebook page so you don't miss out on the fun.
“The holidays are all about timeless traditions and a spirit of togetherness,” said Kevin Nephew, Seneca Gaming Corporation President & CEO. “We’re excited to continue the tradition of our tree lighting to help bring light to this holiday season and to truly make this the most magical time of the year.”