Advance tickets are not available. Please purchase tickets at the front desk when you arrive. Celebrate the season as we fill our galleries with lighted fir trees! Decorated from classic to kooky Christmas styles, the Festival of Trees glows with the enchantment of the holidays. Join us throughout December for a shimmering, festive season. The Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for, and a partnership between, the Schenectady County Historical Society and the YWCA NorthEastern NY. Admission is $6 for adults 12+. Consider supporting these two community organizations by sponsoring a tree! Please visit our Festivals page to register!
No advance tickets. You can purchase admission at the front desk when you arrive. The Festival of Trees is open a little later on Friday nights! Celebrate the holiday season with us as we fill our galleries with dozens lighted fir trees, each one uniquely hand-decorated. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our sites to enjoy the shimmering displays of glittering fir trees. The Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for both Schenectady County Historical Society and YWCA NorthEasternNY. Admission is $6 for adults, 12 and up.
Sinterklaas, also known as Saint Nicholas, is dear to the hearts of Dutch children. He can be recognized by his eye-catching red cape with red miter and his long white beard. In this kid-friendly program, we will be putting a twist on a classic, and painting our very own Santa- inspired gourds.
Schenectady’s Stockade is beautiful any time of year but the holidays always bring out a certain magic! In this walking tour we’ll explore the lights and sights of this historic district while learning the ways in which generations past celebrated the season. Light refreshments will be served, and guests are invited to explore the sparkling Festival of Trees before and after the tour!
Author Don Ackerman will be here to discuss his new book, "Who Runs This Town: A Political History of Schenectady and its Governments." The book traces the evolution of government in Schenectady from its founding through 2020 and the political events and people who shaped it, including the rise and fall of a number of Schenectady politicians. Mr. Ackerman was a middle-school Social Studies teacher in the Niskayuna School District for 30 years. He was elected to the Schenectady County Legislature in 1983 and served for sixteen years. Ackerman has also held numerous political positions including as a Delegate to the Democrats National Convention three times, NYS Democratic Committee for over 40 years and several local political positions. He is married to Kay, and the couple have two children and two grandchildren. This event is free and open to all. It will be livestreamed via the Schenectady County Historical Society Facebook page for anyone interested in attending virtually.
The Mabee Farm Historic Site will be closed from December 24 to 27 and from December 30 to January 1. As of January 1st we will be open for winter hours: Fridays and Saturdays at 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm for tours.
People have long celebrated the winter solstice, greeting the year’s longest night with songs, drinks, and merriment. From the pagan rituals of Yuletide to the trimmings of modern Christmas, we’ll explore the history of the holidays from the perspective of Mabee Farm. The house, properly decked in festive decor by the Hugh Platt Garden Club, will be open for tours from 5-7pm, and at 6pm, we’ll feature a special performance of historic carols sung by our very own Schenectady Historical Wassailers. Each ticket includes a warm drink of wassail (for adults) or hot chocolate (for kids), best enjoyed around the campfire. This is an outdoor performance- be sure to dress warm!