CALENDAR OF EVENTS • DECEMBER 2018 • CALENDAR OF EVENTS • DECEMBER 2018
SATURDAY | DECEMBER 1
Poinsettia & Railway Exhibit: Winter
Wonderland continues through Sunday,
January 6, 2019. See how we transform our
tropical paradise into a holiday wonderland.
10am-5pm. Botanical Gardens, 2655 South
Park Ave., Buffalo. 716-827-1584. www.
buffalogardens.com
Gingerbread Wonderland continues
through Saturday, December 22. This
large, life-size gingerbread village features
visits with Santa, cookie decorating, face
painting, ice sculptures, kids crafts, live
entertainment & more! Visit website for
schedule. Niagara Falls Culinary Institute,
28 Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls. www.
nfculinary.org
Festival of Trees The NY Power Authority
(NYPA) features a dazzling display of
artificial evergreen trees, adorned with
energy efficient lights as part of the annual
Festival of Trees event, 9am-5pm daily.
The trees are decorated by area non-profit
groups and will be on display from Dec.
1-31. Parking & admission are FREE.
Visit www.nypa.gov/niagarapowervista for
a complete schedule of activities. Power
Vista at the Niagara Power Project, 5777
Lewiston Rd., Lewiston. 716-286-6661.
Breakfast with Santa Enjoy a delicious
homemade breakfast with Santa at Beaver
Meadow, 9am-Noon. Activities include
crafts & storytelling. $7 adults; $5 children
ages 4-12; 3 & under are FREE. Beaver
Meadow Audubon Center, 1610 Welch
Rd., North Java. 585-457-3228. www.
buffaloaudubon.org
Let’s Get Physical When it’s too cold
to play outside, come and warm up with
energy exercises that feel a lot like play!
We open our gym for children to run, jump,
hop, and skip on the first and 3rd Saturday
of each month, 11am-2pm. Explore &
More Children’s Museum, 300 Gleed
Ave., East Aurora. 716-655-5131. www.
exploreandmore.org
Polar Express Train Ride departs
December 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 &16, allowing
children to experience the magic of the
classic Christmas movie (based on the book)
18 WNY Family December 2018
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
www.tifft.org. Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200
Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo.
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WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 5
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3 4 5 6 7 8
Explore Even More Twice each
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Wednesday, from October-March, at
9:30am and 10:30am, preschool students
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 and their caregivers participate in an hour-
program targeted to develop skills
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 long
essential for success in Kindergarten.
Advance registration is required by calling
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during a one-hour train ride. Songs from the
movie play over the sound system, while
entertainers dressed as chefs move through
the train cars, delivering cookies and hot
chocolate to the passengers. The ride even
includes story time. Thirty minutes into the
ride, the Polar Express stops at the North
Pole to pick up Santa himself! Santa rides
back to Medina with everyone, handing out
bells to all the children. Medina Railroad
Museum, 530 West Ave, Medina. 585-798-
6106. www.medinarailroad.com
Santa on the Carrousel Ride the Big
Carrousel with Santa from Noon-2pm, have
your picture taken with him, and get ready
for a visit from Mickey & Minnie Mouse at
12:30pm! Admission: $6/person. Additional
dates (with different characters): Dec. 8 &
15. Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum,
180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda. 716-
693-1885. www.carrouselmuseum.org
14th Annual Fairgrounds Festival of
Lights continues December 1-2, 7-9, 14-16,
19-23; 5pm-9pm. Rudolph’s Holiday Fun
Zone, North Pole Experience with Santa,
Christmas Tree Forest, Train Rides & more
included in your carload admission of $25.
Hamburg Fairgrounds, 5600 McKinley Pkwy.,
Hamburg. www.fairgroundsholiday.com
TUESDAY | DECEMBER 4
Little Tykes Mini Nature Camp Enjoy a
morning of fun and exploration in our early
childhood classroom, 9:30am-11:30am.
Storytime, crafts, outdoor investigation
and more help to foster the nature explorer
in your child. A different theme each
month. Kid-friendly snacks provided! Pre-
registration required. Non-Member: $7 per
child with adult. Call 716-825-6397 or visit
716-655-5131 ext. 14 and cost is $1 plus
price of admission. Explore & More
Children’s Museum, 300 Gleed Ave., East
Aurora. www.exploreandmore.org
THURSDAY | DECEMBER 6
A Winter’s Fest Eve Join us as we
celebrate the Christmas season in Victorian
style. Each room in our c.1823 house will
feature the exhibit “The Night before
Christmas” based on the poem by Clement
Clarke Moore. Enjoy homemade cookies,
hot mulled cider, children’s activities, and
tours. Local musicians “Another Thyme”
will entertain. For ages 6 and up. 6pm-
8:30pm. Reservations are not needed - just
drop by. Col. William Bond/Jesse Hawley
House, 143 Ontario St., City of Lockport.
716-434-7433.
FRIDAY | DECEMBER 7
Play Late ‘Till 8 The first Friday of every
month, Explore & More keeps its doors
open late for an extended night of art and
play! Tonight we’ll be making Graham
Cracker Houses! $3 per house material fee
in addition to price of admission. Explore
& More Children’s Museum, 300 Gleed
Ave., East Aurora. 716-655-5131. www.
exploreandmore.org
Au-Some Aquarium Special evenings
dedicated to providing a safe, supportive
and sensory friendly environment where
families with autism and other special
healthcare needs can meet, learn, and have
fun together. Families will enjoy a touch
tank, a sea lion show, art activities, gluten-
free snacks and information provided by
community resource specialists. 6pm-8pm.
This month’s theme: PENGUINS. Cost is
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