Embracing Thanksgiving Traditions
“Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude.” — Nigel Hamilton
Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart it and was my father’s favorite holiday. It is a time for gathering with loved ones, sharing a meal, and creating cherished memories—no gifts or elaborate decorations required. Just good food and great company. The pandemic highlighted the vital importance of human connection, and I can’t wait to revel in the joyful noise and chaos that family gatherings bring. It’s a reminder of what truly matters.
If the thought of cooking and hosting feels overwhelming, here are two easy solutions:
1. Order a freshly prepared dinner, to serve at home. The Springside Inn, Balloons Restaurant, and Pure Catering are all offering pick up dinners, They’ll take care of everything, allowing you to impress your guests with ease.
2. Prefer to skip the dishes? Springside Inn, and 1833 Kitchen are offering Thanksgiving Day Dinner at their restaurants, no dishes to wash and no messes to clean up, leave everything up to them. Enjoy an stress-free meal without the cleanup!
The above are just a few suggestions, call your favorite restaurant to find out what specials they may be offering for Thanksgiving Day.
Kick off the Holiday Season
Thanksgiving traditionally marks the start of the festive season, and our local communities are bustling with activities to help you celebrate! From holiday parades to craft fairs, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Ring in the Holidays with family and friends and kick off The Finger Lakes holiday season in Auburn on November 30 with the Annual Holiday Parade in downtown Auburn, hosted by the BID/Business Improvement District. Come downtown to celebrate the kick-off of the holiday season, with pre-parade family fun from 2 – 5:00 pm at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center. Parade will begin at 5:00 pm on Genesee Street, and will end at City Hall, followed by an AHS Vanguard performance, a Genesee Street Voices choral performance, visits with Mr and MRs Claus and the City Tree Lighting Ceremony in the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center courtyard.
Annual Holiday Parade
Support Local on Small Business Saturday on November 30, make a point to support our local shops as they offer special deals to kickstart your holiday shopping. Remember, shopping local helps keep our community vibrant! Find unique deals & specials at boutique retail shops, eateries, breweries & more. Find unique holiday experiences, discounts, deals & specials
Auburn’s Annual Holiday Traditions Celebration.
One of my favorite things during the holiday is to join in the many holiday celebrations going on in our community starting with Auburn’s Holiday Traditions Celebration on December 8. The City of Auburn’s Historic and Cultural Sites invites everyone to experience the beauty, history and holiday magic of History’s Hometown. Museums and churches throughout the community are decorated for the season and will open their doors to the public offering free admission, music, refreshments, family activities and more. Click here for more information.
Holiday Traditions
Not to be missed is Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural & Country Living Museum Annual Festival of Trees and their Christmas Open House Celebration
Annual Festival of Trees, now-January 31. You will be amazed at the display of over 140 trees created and decorated by local businesses, community groups and artists. Come vote for your favorite tree and try to find the Tour Cayuga one. Everyone in the office had so much fun putting it together! They are also hosting a Christmas Open House Celebration on December 8 from 10am-4:00pm complete with horse drawn wagon rides. There is no admission fee for these family fun events and parking is free!
Festival of Trees and Open House
We are so lucky to live in a community that is bursting with art, music, theater, and history. Check our events listing page and you’ll find a lot of fun events or places to check out. The events page is updated regularly, so be sure to check it out often.
The staff at the Cayuga County Office of Tourism wishes you a very