Westchester's Winter Wonderland opens its season early this year with NovemberFest, four nights of a walk-through light show and holiday market at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, from Thursday, November 19, through Sunday, November 22. More than 80 local vendors set up under the lights, Santa takes photos, food trucks line the plaza and each night has its own program, from a wing-eating contest to a Santa Run and a mascot race.

The walk-through comes first. The drive-thru light show returns a week later, on Friday, November 27, and runs most nights through December 31.

Night by night

  • Thursday, November 19, 4 to 9 p.m.: A Candlelight Inn wing-eating contest, live music, and a joint celebration of two anniversaries: the Capitol Theatre's 100th and the Westchester Parks Foundation's 50th.
  • Friday, November 20, 4 to 9 p.m.: The holiday lighting, with DJ Serg and karaoke hosted by Yonkers Brewing Co.
  • Saturday, November 21, 4 to 10 p.m.: The third annual Santa Run, plus live music from Nine Days, Summer Fling and Jake Albi. Saturday is the one night that runs until 10.
  • Sunday, November 22, 4 to 9 p.m.: The second annual Mascot Dash, a DJ and kids' karaoke with Yonkers Brewing Co.

Music plays all four nights, and food and drinks are sold by local food trucks on the plaza.

Tickets

NovemberFest tickets are $20 for children under 12 and $30 for adults, and they are on sale now through the Winter Wonderland website. The event is sponsored by the Capitol Theatre, Bruni and Campisi, Bona Bona, Candlelight Inn, Wonder, and Orange Bank and Trust.

Then the drive-thru, from November 27

From Friday, November 27, through Thursday, December 31, Kensico Dam Plaza turns into a drive-thru light show open most nights from 5:30 to 9:45 p.m. The route is about 1.2 miles long and takes 30 minutes to an hour to drive, depending on traffic. Along the way, cars pass through the 175-foot Transporter Tunnel and down Rudolph's Runway, with Santa, elves and lighted angels along the route. It runs rain or shine, and tickets are on sale now.

Westchester's Winter Wonderland is presented by WMC Health and the Westchester Parks Foundation and operated by the Westchester County Parks Department, with sponsors including Con Edison, Wegmans, News 12 Westchester, Westchester County Tourism, WHUD and The Peak.

Getting there

Kensico Dam Plaza is at 1 Bronx River Parkway in Valhalla, NY 10595, at the north end of the Bronx River Parkway below the Kensico Dam. Tickets for both NovemberFest and the drive-thru are sold online through the Winter Wonderland website.

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