December 2 - 23, 10am-4:30pm at Schenectady County Historical Society The Festival of Trees lights up Schenectady! Featuring 60+ artistically decorated fir trees, the Festival glows with the spirit of Christmas and the Solstice. Local artists, businesses, and non-profits have come together to turn the galleries of SCHS into a land of wintertide enchantment, and we warmly invite you to come stroll! When you stop in, be sure to vote for your top choices in 8 categories, including Cutest, Most Glamorous, and Most Creative trees! The Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for the Schenectady County Historical Society. Admission is $6 for adults 12+. You can purchase tickets here in advance or buy them at the front desk when you arrive.  

Each twilight at Mabee Farm brings a different array of lights and colors, as the warmth of the sunset transforms into deep blue, moon-lit skies. Join us as we explore Mabee Farm as it’s meant to be explored; awash in changing colors, the wind gusting outside, and the flickering lights of the Mabee house keeping us cozy and warm. A costumed Jan Mabee from the early 1700s will lead us through the house, which is decorated for the season. He’ll delve into the histories and mysteries of the Mabee Farm, and give us a taste of what life was like for settlers living on the edge of the wilderness.

Experience a recreated 18th century chocolate house at the Festival of Trees. Well-known historian Paul Supley will tempt your pallet and tickle your tastebuds with a trio of historic hot chocolates, including delicacies enjoyed by English kings and the middle-class settlers of the Mohawk and Hudson Valleys. You'll learn how easy it is to create and enjoy this wonderful treat favored by the ancestors. As a special finale to the evening, we'll taste a libation infused with port or madeira. All amidst the backdrop of glittering holiday lights and decorated fir trees!