What to Do This Holiday Season

November 25, 2015 - Families, Featured - Tagged: Calendar of Events, Weekly Updates - no comments

The official start of the holiday season, Black Friday, is here! (And our deals are here.) We know it was a long time coming (Thanks, Hallmark Channel, for playing those first movies back ON Halloween), but now you can turn up the merriment to full Santa level. And we’ve got just the places for you to do it. Check out our list of lights, cocoa, and reindeer throughout North America below!

O Christmas Tree at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit’s experiences are “Beyond All Inclusive, Beyond All Compare,” and that includes their holiday celebrations. Have a natural Christmas tree delivered to your suite either decorated or with decorations (lights, ornaments, a star, and a Nativity scene) for you to arrange. Plus, you can also buy toys to be delivered gift wrapped to your room!

Around the resorts, guests will find holiday merriment during Christmas Morning with Santa, which includes a photo with the jolly elf himself, a special gift from the resort, and celebrations around a giant Christmas tree. Throughout the season, kids can enjoy making Christmas-themed crafts at Santa’s workshop and can even make a donation inside Santa’s House for the Casa Haga de Puerto Vallarta charity.

Christmas sand sculptures, holiday movies at Pancho’s Drive-In Movie Theater, and special events at the Teen’s Club and Kids Club make the season—and your vacation—bright!

Related: Paradise Found, Grand Velas!

Dreaming of a Sandy Holiday

Forget the snow and coldness of December and head to the sunshine and beaches in the Caribbean and Mexico at AMResorts! You still get all the joy of the holiday season with festive decorations for Hanukkah and Christmas, plus special dinners and buffets, and if you’re staying at one of AM’s family-friendly resorts, a visit for the Jolly Elf himself. Party into 2016 with spectacular New Year’s Eve parties and then a fabulous New Year’s Day brunch.

‘Tis the Season…to travel!

Here is a rundown of some of North America’s most merry holiday events!

Now-Dec. 20—San Francisco: The Great Dickens Christmas Fair recreates old London at the Cow Palace Exhibitions Halls for five weekends with food and drink in five pubs, clothing and accessory booths, traditional dancers, and of course, performances of A Christmas Carol.

Now-Dec. 24—New York City: The Holiday Market at Union Square is back with homemade jewelry, fine art, clothing, toys, food, and drink, all within a holiday setting of garland, lights, and snow.

Now-Dec. 31—Hershey, Pa.—HersheyPark twinkles with more than four million lights at its annual Christmas Candylane, which also offers visits from Santa and nine live reindeer, ice skating, holiday-themed entertainment, and rides (including four of the park’s roller coasters).

Now-Dec. 31—Orlando, Fla.: Winter Wonderland on Ice, Elmo’s Christmas Wish, a Sea of Trees, and The Polar Express Experience are just a few of the shows and activities at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, which lights up the theme park on select weekends.

Now-Jan. 2, 2016—Ashville, N.C.: Christmas at Biltmore House lights up winter with hand-decorated Christmas trees (including a 35-foot Fraser fir inside the Banquet Hall), more than a thousand poinsettias, garlands, lights, and live music. (Daytime Celebrations run until Jan. 10; Candlelight Christmas Evenings run until Jan. 2.)

Now-Jan. 2, 2016—Asheville, N.C.: In conjunction with the former designer of holiday decorations at Walt Disney World, The North Carolina Arboretum transforms into a winter wonderland with spectacular lighting throughout the gardens, enhanced by hot chocolate and an outdoor s’mores station.

Now-Jan. 2, 2016—Stanley Park (Vancouver): Bright Nights Christmas Train offers more than three million twinkling lights upon the Christmas train and the Stanley Park Train Plaza, plus displays at the plaza and live performers on the train route.

Now-Jan. 3, 2016—Buena Park, Calif.: Knott’s Berry Farm becomes Knott’s Merry Farm during the holiday season with the Snoopy ice show, a Calico Christmas with a craft village and festive food, a lightshow in Ghost Town and even snow!

Now- Jan. 3, 2016—Bryson City, N.C.: Loved The Polar Express? Then see it come to live with the Polar Express Train on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. More than 70,000 passengers each year enjoy the motion picture soundtrack, warm cocoa, and a treat while listening to the magical story before reaching the North Pole and Santa!

Now-Jan. 6, 2016—Anaheim, Calif.—The Happiest Place on Earth becomes the Merriest Place on Earth when the Disneyland Resort presents A Christmas Fantasy Parade, the Jingle Cruise, “it’s a small world” holiday, Haunted Mansion Holiday with the characters from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, World of Color – Winter Dreams, Disney Viva Navidad, the Buena Vista Street Holiday Tree Lighting, and more.

Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge returns for its 10th season https://t.co/b3C0rsWOmF pic.twitter.com/ts1ly2JDkN

— Vancity Buzz (@VancityBuzz) November 23, 2015

Nov. 27, 2015-Jan. 3, 2016—Vancouver: Experience the winter wonderland of Capilano Canyon Lights, celebrating its 10th year with thousands of lights over the suspension bridge, Treetop Adventure, Cliffwalk, rainforest, and canyon. Plus, see the world’s largest living Christmas tree, decorate gingerbread cookies, and more!

December—New Orleans: The Big Easy has its own holiday traditions all month long with “reveillon” (Creole) dinners; caroling in Jackson Square; light displays, a two-mile train ride, and holiday decorations City Park, Botanical Gardens, and Carousel Gardens; bonfires on the levees; concerts at St. Louis Cathedral; and Christmas in the Warehouse District, called “SoHo of the South.”

Dec. 2, 2015-Jan. 6, 2016—New York City: The Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting kicks off the Christmas tree lighting events in New York with a star-studded spectacular. (Tree stays lit until Jan. 6 at 8 p.m.)

Dec. 3-19—Myrtle Beach, S.C.: The Nights of Thousand Candles lights up the Brookgreen Gardens, featuring more than 5,500 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights, plus cider, carolers, bells, and other holiday entertainment.

Dec. 4, 2015-Jan. 2, 2016—Orlando, Fla.: Holidays come to Universal Orlando® Resort with Grinchmas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida®, and concerts by Mannheim Steamroller, the best-selling holiday artist.

Dec. 5—Newport News, Va.: Hollydazzle City Center at Oyster Point Fountain Plaza ignites the holiday season with fireworks, special effects, and musical performances.

Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26-30—Winter Haven, Fla.: Christmas Bricktacular Event at LEGOLAND Florida Resort wows with a 30-foot tall LEGO Christmas tree made of 270,000 LEGO bricks, life-sized LEGO decorations (like Santa and his reindeer), holiday scavenger hunts, competition builds, and more.

Dec. 5-23; 26-30—Encinitas, Calif.—San Diego Botanic Garden sparkles as the Garden of Lights with more than 125,000 lights across 37 acres of beautiful flora, plus holiday fun like horse-drawn carriage rides, marshmallow roasting, snow for sledding, puppet shows, and holiday carolers.

Dec. 5, 2015—Jan. 3, 2016—Universal City, Calif.—Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates Grinchmas with The Grinch himself, a 60-foot three, Who-ville singers, cookie and ornament decorating, and more!

Dec. 6—Chicago: Join more than 70,000 riders for the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade, and one of the perks of the parade participants is being able to ride 20 miles through Chicago without having to stop for any red lights.

Dec. 6—Brooklyn, N.Y.: Celebrate Chanukah with live music and hot latkes at the 32-foot tall Menorah at Grand Army Plaza.

Dec. 7—New York City: The Park Avenue Tree Lighting began more than 70 years ago as a way to honor the men and women who had died in World War II. Now it represents the peace that followed and the sacrifices made to retain it. The lighting takes place after a ceremony outside the Brick Presbyterian Church.

Dec. 31—Buena Park, Calif.—Knott’s Berry Farm celebrates the New Year with live concerts, swing dancers, DJs, a buffet, and all the Christmas merriment of Knott’s Merry Farm, like Snoopy’s Merriest Tree Lighting show and Christmas Time is Here with Charlie Brown and the gang.

Dec. 31—Winter Haven, Fla.: LEGOLAND Florida drops a giant brick to ring in the New Year at a kid-friendly midnight (i.e. 7 p.m.). Fireworks, DJs, and more make this a favorite event for adults and children alike.

Dec. 31—Cancun, Mexico: The Pyramid, Luxury at Grand Oasis and Grand Oasis Cancun will host an epic New Year’s Eve Beach Party with music duo Empire of the Sun and DJ Steve Angello. (One ticket per adult is included in reservations booked on or after 10/23; guests who booked earlier can purchase tickets at the resort on a first-come, first service basis—subject to availability.)

Jan. 1, 2016—Pasadena, Calif.—The 127^th Rose Parade takes to the streets with 44 floral floats for a two-hour trek accompanied by marching bands and high-stepping equestrians, leading up to the annual Rose Bowl Game.

Winter Events

The holidays might be over, but you can still enjoy the season of winter at these world-class events. (Yes, most of them are in Canada. They have to like winter there!)

January 2016—Canadians love their snow! Banff SnowDays is a winter wonderland of ice carving, snow sports, including 3-on-3 ball hockey tournaments, Travelers All-Star Curling Skins Game, ski and snowboarding pro demonstrations, sleigh rides, ice staking, dog sledding, and a 40-foot ice climbing wall; included is the Ice Magic Festival for amateur and professional ice carvers.

Jan. 21-31—Park City, Utah: One of the most star-studded movie festivals, Sundance Film Festival brings Hollywood A-listers for 10 days of movies, discussion, and skiing! But wait to go until the second weekend. Though you’ll miss Brad Pitt, you won’t miss that buzz movie.

Jan. 29-Feb. 15—Quebec City, Canada: The largest winter carnival in the world is the Québec Winter Carnival with night parades, a queen’s ball, a canoe race across the St. Lawrence River, an obstacle course sleigh race—and more than 200 events a day!

Jan. 29-Feb. 15—Ottawa, Canada: Winterlude is back with the world’s largest skating rink, ice sculpting competitions, and North America’s largest snow playground.