What to do with kids in Rochester over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus three dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
The Mall at Greece Ridge · 271 Greece Ridge Center Dr, Rochester, NY 14626
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 3 evenings (Dec 7, Dec 14, Dec 21).
Eastview Mall · 672 Eastview Mall, Victor, NY 14564-9611
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 3 evenings (Dec 7, Dec 14, Dec 21).
Homes around Greater Rochester · Greater Rochester, NY
Good to know: Festively decorated homes across the area join this self-guided tour, and the gift supports local children and families.
Henrietta Public Library (Community Room and grand staircase) · 625 Calkins Rd, Rochester, NY 14623
Good to know: The library calls this its annual party. Music and dancing in the Community Room lead to a countdown on the grand staircase, where confetti cannons fire at noon. They're loud, so bring ear protection for little ones who startle easily.
Webster Public Library, Community Room · Webster
Good to know: Kids make crafts and then count down to a balloon drop at noon.
Ontario Play & Cafe, 1861 Scottsville Road · Rochester
Good to know: Live music, dancing, party hats and noisemakers, ending with a countdown to noon.
Homes around Greater Rochester · Greater Rochester, NY
Good to know: Festively decorated homes across the area join this self-guided tour, and the gift supports local children and families.
If it snows
Every hill here depends on snow, so check the park’s status page the morning you go. Tubing hills set height minimums, listed on each card.
Black Creek, Ellison, Mendon Ponds, Northampton and Webster parks
Sledding is only allowed on the designated hills. No equipment rentals in the parks.
Official page ↗
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in RochesterEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in RochesterEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in RochesterFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in RochesterIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in RochesterBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in RochesterHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in RochesterParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in RochesterKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in RochesterParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in RochesterPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in RochesterBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in RochesterChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in RochesterDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Of the four places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Lamberton Conservatory, Seneca Park Zoo and Rochester Museum & Science Center are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.
Open with posted hours: Memorial Art Gallery (Closes at 3 p.m.). On the calendar: Santa Photos at The Mall at Greece Ridge and Santa Photos at Eastview Mall.
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.
On the calendar for Jan 1: Child Advocacy Center Holiday Lights Tour. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Monroe County Parks sledding hills. All of them need snow, so check the park’s status page first.
Child Advocacy Center Holiday Lights Tour. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Rochester, through the holidays.
