MAIN Christmas USA Christmas in New York

Besides the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center and a variety of other New York City Christmas events, the rest of the state is a winter wonderland of year-end traditions and celebrations.

From Niagara and Buffalo, to Long Island and the Hudson River Valley - a New York State of mind is a dazzling one to behold during the holidays.

Why do we love New York? Let us count the ways at Christmas ....

DID YOU KNOW? New York State Christmas fun facts

• Everybody knows that the fictional town of Bedford Falls was the setting for the classic holiday movie, "It's a Wonderful Life", but did you know that the town of Seneca Falls, NY was its real-life inspiration? Every year, the "It's A Wonderful Life Festival" celebrates its Hollywood heritage during the second weekend in December at the It's a Wonderful Life Museum.

• The No. 1 holiday attraction in Syracuse? Look no further than Wegman's 2-mile drive through Onondaga Lake Park featuring hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights in settings like the Land of Oz, a Victorian village, and a fantasy forest. You can see it all at Lights on the Lake.

• Dutch traditions were a big influence in Olde New York. To prove it, Rhinebeck and Kingston still hold annual Sinterklaus festivals that take place in the Hudson Valley every year in December, when the holiday hoopla includes Dutch treats, kids craft activities, and Sinterklaus (Dutch for Santa Claus) leading a colorful parade through town.

More about Christmas in New York around the Web:.

Christmas in Montauk - Join the fun at the eastern tip of Long Island with information on Winter Holidays at the Lighthouse, the East Hampton tour of historic houses, and other area seasonal surprises.

Corning Christmas - Bright and colorful Corning kicks off the holidays with marching bands & parade floats, tree lightings and sing-alongs in and around Historic Market Street in the Gaffer district..

Farmer's Museum Candlelight Evening - Country charm at its finest in Cooperstown featuring horse-drawn wagon rides, caroling around the bonfire, a visit with St. Nick and wassailing all around.

Christmas Tree Farms in New York State - A comprehensive directory of precut or pick-your-own Christmas tree farms by region including Long Island, upstate, southeast and western New York.

also see in Travel -> Best New York State Tourist Attractions

New York State Fall Foliage | New York Outlet Malls

New York Ski Resorts

Christmas in the Northeast & New England