December in the Finger Lakes

By December, the summer crowds are long gone, the fall foliage tourists have left, and the Finger Lakes reveals its winter character. Average highs are in the mid-30s, lows drop into the teens and 20s, and the sun sets before 5 p.m. The lakes, still radiating stored summer heat, rarely freeze (Seneca and Cayuga, the deepest, almost never freeze fully), which creates fog and mist effects that photograph beautifully and make the landscape feel cinematic.

This is not a month for swimming or gorge hiking — most state park trails close or become treacherous with ice. But December has its own draw: holiday festivals, Christmas shopping in small-town downtowns, ice wine tastings, and the kind of cold-weather coziness that makes fireplaces, hot cider, and warm restaurant kitchens feel like destinations in themselves.

Holiday Festivals and Light Displays

Skaneateles Dickens Christmas: Running weekends from late November through mid-December, this is the best holiday event in the Finger Lakes. Professional actors in period costume perform Charles Dickens scenes on the streets of Skaneateles — Scrooge arguing with Bob Cratchit on Genesee Street, carolers in Victorian dress, Father Christmas distributing candy to children. The village shops stay open late with hot cider and holiday specials. Horse-drawn carriage rides circle the downtown. Free to attend; the village fills up, so arrive early for parking. Friday and Saturday evenings are the most immersive, with performances starting around 4 p.m.

Ithaca Festival of Lights: Typically held on a single evening in early December on the Ithaca Commons. Live music, luminarias lining the pedestrian mall, a tree lighting ceremony, and food vendors. The Commons shops stay open late. A more low-key event than Skaneateles, but warm-spirited and worth attending if you are in town.

Lights on the Lake (Syracuse/Onondaga Lake Park): Technically outside the Finger Lakes proper — about 45 minutes north of Skaneateles — but many Finger Lakes visitors combine a Skaneateles day trip with this drive-through light display. Over two miles of animated light displays along Onondaga Lake. Runs late November through early January. $6 per car on weeknights, higher on weekends.

Canandaigua Christmas in the Village: A weekend event in early December with a parade, tree lighting, horse-drawn carriage rides, and Main Street shops open with holiday specials. Canandaigua’s downtown, anchored by the 1870s Granger Homestead, dresses up well for the season.

Watkins Glen Winterfest: A smaller event on a December weekend with a parade, craft vendors, and activities for kids. Less polished than Skaneateles or Canandaigua but genuinely community-driven.

Ice Wine Season

December and January are ice wine harvest season in the Finger Lakes — one of the few regions in the world with the consistent cold to produce it. Ice wine is made from grapes left on the vine until temperatures drop below 17 degrees Fahrenheit, typically in December or January. The water in the grapes freezes, concentrating the sugars and acids into an intensely sweet, complex nectar that is pressed from still-frozen clusters.

Several wineries along Seneca and Keuka Lakes release their ice wines in December and hold special tastings:

• Wagner Vineyards (Lodi, Seneca Lake): Produces ice Riesling most vintages. Their tasting room is open year-round, and December tastings are uncrowded — you may have the tasting bar to yourself on a weekday.
• Glenora Wine Cellars (Dundee, Seneca Lake): Open year-round with a warm tasting room, restaurant, and inn. Their Riesling ice wine is a reliable pour. The Veraisons restaurant serves dinners with wine pairing that feel especially appropriate on a cold December evening.
• Hunt Country Vineyards (Branchport, Keuka Lake): One of the most respected ice wine producers in the Finger Lakes. Their Vidal Blanc ice wine is a benchmark bottle. The tasting room is cozy and the staff is knowledgeable about the ice wine process.

A half-bottle (375 ml) of Finger Lakes ice wine typically costs $25 to $45 — expensive relative to table wine, but a fraction of the cost of German or Canadian ice wines of similar quality.

Shopping in Small Towns

December is the month when the Finger Lakes’ small downtown shopping districts are at their most charming. String lights on Main Streets, window displays in independent shops, and fewer crowds than summer make Christmas shopping in these towns genuinely pleasant.

Skaneateles: The strongest independent shopping in the region. Gallery stores, clothing boutiques, kitchen shops, and a handful of stores selling local goods (cheese, wine, honey) that make excellent gifts. The Sherwood Inn on Genesee Street serves lunch and dinner in a building that dates to 1807.

Ithaca: The Ithaca Commons has a mix of independent shops and chains. GreenStar Co-op has a gift-worthy selection of local foods and products. The Ithaca Farmers Market runs a holiday market in December with handmade crafts, baked goods, and artisan products.

Corning: The Gaffer District on Market Street has a concentrated stretch of galleries, artisan shops, and specialty stores. The Corning Museum of Glass gift shop is one of the best museum shops in the state.

Canandaigua: South Main Street has antique shops, boutiques, and cafes in historic buildings. More spread out than Skaneateles but with a similar independent character.

Indoor Activities for Cold Days

Corning Museum of Glass: Open year-round, and arguably the best museum visit in the Finger Lakes. The hot glass demonstrations, gallery of historical glass, and make-your-own-glass experiences run daily. Plan for 2 to 4 hours. In December, the museum is decorated and less crowded than summer. Adult admission is around $20; kids 17 and under are free.

The Strong Museum of Play (Rochester, 45 min. north): If you are traveling with children, the Strong Museum is the best rainy-day or cold-day option in the region. One of the largest children’s museums in the world, with interactive exhibits, a carousel, a working diner, and the National Toy Hall of Fame. Plan for at least half a day.

Winery tasting rooms: Many Seneca Lake wineries stay open through December, and the tasting experience in winter is markedly different from summer — quieter, more personal, and with staff who have time to talk about the wine in depth. Hermann J. Wiemer, Ravines Wine Cellars, and Fox Run Vineyards all maintain winter hours. Call ahead to confirm, as smaller wineries keep irregular schedules in the off-season.

Outdoor Activities (Yes, Even in December)

Bristol Mountain (Canandaigua): The closest downhill ski area to the Finger Lakes opens in mid-to-late December, depending on snowfall and snowmaking. 38 trails, 1,200 feet of vertical, and night skiing on many runs. Lift tickets run $60 to $80 for adults on weekends. About 30 minutes south of Canandaigua and an hour from Geneva.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing: Taughannock Falls State Park, Watkins Glen State Park (rim trail only — the gorge trail is closed in winter), and Finger Lakes National Forest all have trails suitable for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when snow cover is adequate. The Keuka Outlet Trail between Penn Yan and Dresden is also excellent for winter walking and skiing.

Winter birding at Montezuma NWR: Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, is a major stopover for migratory birds. December brings wintering raptors — bald eagles, rough-legged hawks, short-eared owls — to the marshes and fields. The auto tour loop is open year-round.

Where to Stay in December

Hotel rates drop significantly in winter. Properties that charge $250+ per night in July often run $120 to $160 in December. Inns with fireplaces and restaurants on-site are the best December lodging — you want to be able to walk from your room to dinner without getting in the car.

• The Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars (Dundee): Rooms with Seneca Lake views, an on-site restaurant, and the tasting room steps away. Winter packages with wine-paired dinners.
• Geneva on the Lake (Geneva): A Stickley-furnished resort on the lake with suites, a dining room, and formal gardens. The holiday decorations are extensive.
• The Sherwood Inn (Skaneateles): Right on Genesee Street, walking distance to Dickens Christmas events. Rooms in a historic building with a restaurant that serves dependable American cooking.

For more on visiting in the colder months, see our January and February off-season guide, and for fall planning, our October guide.