With December right around the corner, it's time for communities throughout the Hudson Valley to celebrate the holiday season with tree lightings, festivals, and even parades. Here's a list of some of them. If you know of others, please let me know in the comments below and I'll add them here.

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Dutchess County: (special thanks to Dutchess County Tourism.)

Friday, December 1:   Celebration of Lights Parade & Fireworks at 6:30 in the City of Poughkeepsie with marching musicians, giant puppets, classic cars, motorcycles, and Santa Claus on a fire engine. The parade starts on Main & Garden Streets with the first Christmas tree lighting on Main, near Market St. The parade then heads down Main to Clover St., where it convenes at Dongan Square Park for the second tree lighting. Around 7:15, Poughkeepsie River District Business Association and Legion Fireworks present a winter fireworks display along the waterfront.

Friday, December 1: “Parade of Lights” with Santa & Millbrook Tree Lighting. The parade begins at 6, followed by the tree lighting,  and Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving on the Millbrook fire truck

Friday, December 1 : Pawling Tree Lighting/Decemberfest at 6pm. Charles Colman Blvd., Pawling. Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive with their reindeer to light the Christmas tree. Enjoy choral music, hot chocolate and cookies, and the festive charm of an old-fashioned village Christmas.

Saturday, December 2: Arlington Holiday Festival with a visit from Santa, a parade and fireworks. Holiday fun all day long!

Saturday, December 2: Village of Fishkill Holiday Party and Tree lighting. Village Hall, Children’s crafts, Petting Zoo, refreshments and pictures taken with Santa. 2:30-4:30. Christmas tree is lit at historic Van Wyck Hall at 5pm.

Saturday, December 2: Pleasant Valley Festival of Lights. A day of fun for the whole family beginning with a pancake breakfast with Santa, craft sale, chili cook-off, parade, and tree lighting.

Saturday, December 2: Sinterklaas Festival Day in Rhinebeck! A day-long, colorful celebration of dance, theatre and music all through the village. The spectacular Children’s Starlight Parade, featuring two-story tall, animated puppets carried by hundreds of volunteers, closes the day at twilight.  A non-denominational event based on the town’s Dutch heritage, Sinterklaas joins people of all ages and backgrounds, in a memorable celebration of children, art, and the light of the season. All day long, activities & performances of all types in churches, civic halls, Beekman Arms, and plenty of entertainers in the streets of Rhinebeck.

Saturday, December 2: Holiday of Lights Parade. Stanford Town Hall. Parade of lighted floats and vehicles; lighting of the town's holiday tree. Visits with Santa and gifts for kids at the party afterwards at the firehouse. Sponsored by Lions Club & Ladies Auxiliary. Parade 6pm.

Saturday, December 2: Festival of Lights at Tymor Park in the Town of Union Vale (Lagrange). Brighten this holiday season as the town once again flips the switch to nearly 150,000 LED lights at 6:30 pm. There will also be a collection of non-perishable food donations and unwrapped toys to be dispersed to food banks and toy drives.

Saturday, December 2: Christmas Tree Lighting at Schlathaus Park, corner of Myers Corners & All Angels Hill Rds. in Wappingers Falls from 5-7:30. Come and join a fun, old-fashioned, family event with refreshments, Christmas carols and gifts for the kids. And, of course, the guest of honor, the Jolly Old Elf himself, Santa Claus, who arrives on a fire truck!

Sunday, December 3: Hyde Park Recreation in conjunction with the Lions Club and Hyde Park PBA present Hyde Park's annual Candlelight Walk and Christmas Tree Lighting at 4:45. The Candlelight walk starts at the back of the Methodist Church on RT. 9 and proceeds to the Town Hall. Carols will be sung, a reading of "The Night Before Christmas", the tree will be lit and then Santa arrives.

Sunday, December 3: Christmas Tree Lighting at East Fishkill Community Ctr. in Hopewell Junction at 5pm. Entertainment by East Fishkill Chorus. Santa Claus visits. Refreshments served, followed by a tree lighting ceremony.

Sunday, December 3: Red Hook WinterFest. Celebrate the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Red Hook Winterfest with lots of fun activities, and culminates with a walk thru Red Hook Village to Memorial Park (across from the former IGA on Rte. 9) where a tree lighting ceremony will take place at 5:30pm. Visit Santa, take a Hayride, and decorate ornaments, all while you sip hot chocolate.

Sunday, December 3: See Santa at the Amenia Town Hall from 3:30-5, followed by the tree lighting ceremony.

Saturday, December 9:  City of Beacon + BeaconArts Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, coinciding with Beacon’s monthly Second Saturday celebration. The Wee Play Community Project organizes a simple craft for younger children under festive tents. Prior to Santa’s arrival, the Beacon Music Factory and the Center for Creative Education celebrate with music and dance. Santa arrives via pedi-cab provided by People’s Bicycle to officially welcome the spirit of the holidays to Beacon at 4pm. Sculptor Ed Benavente is the artist behind a beloved, unique tradition for Beacon.  The tree, which has doubled in size since it first appeared in 2011, is fabricated entirely of recycled bicycle parts. This year, surprise new upcycled elements will be added. 3pm-5pm. Cross & Main Streets green space

Saturday, December 9:“Winterfest” at Tivoli.3-5 at Tivoli Commons. Music and entertainment, with crafts & activities for kids. There will be a visit from Santa Claus before the Tree lighting ceremony. 3-5pm.

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Ulster County:( with special thanks to Ulster County Tourism)

Friday, December 1: 7-8:30. Town of Gardiner’s  Annual Caroling  Through Town and Christmas Tree Lighting. Take photos with Santa and the Grinch, enjoy hot cocoa and baked goods.

Saturday, December 2; 5pm: Electric Fire Truck parade and Tree Lighting in Ellenville down Canal Street to Liberty Square. Meet Santa and other holiday guests.

Saturday, December 2:  Carols and Santa at High Falls-Marbletown Annual Tree Lighting from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the corner of Route 213 and Second Street in High Falls.  Gather at the tall evergreen tree in the center of town, adjacent to the Depuy Canal House for this free, family, annual holiday event that officially ushers in the holidays.  Bring a flashlight and join in the Christmas carols.

Friday, December 8; 6-8: Light up the Hamlet of Highland. Santa’s Workshop will be open for visits with Santa, enjoy special performances, games, caroling, and the tree lighting.

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Sullivan County: (with special thanks to Sullivan Catskills Tourism)

Saturday, December 2; 11 am-9:30 pm: Holiday in Hurleyville, a day of fun, festivities, and art. Things to do all day and as evening approaches the tree will be lit followed by more performances.

Saturday, December 2; 5-6: Santa Express Liberty Arrival.  Festivities start at 4 with singing, dancing, and cocoa, and then Santa arrives!

Saturday, December 2, 5-6: Annual Rock Hill Tree Lighting at Dutch’s Tavern at 5. Enjoy refreshments and live music after the lighting. They also are accepting new, unwrapped toy donations for children and families in need.

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Orange County: (with special thanks to Orange County Tourism)

Friday, December 1; 4-6: Tree Lighting at HONORs in Middletown, with activities and a visit from Santa.

Friday, December 1; 6-9: Town of Tuxedo Christmas Tree Lighting and free family movie night. The tree will be lit at the Tuxedo train station, followed by the movie at the Tuxedo Free Library.

Friday, December 1; 6-7:  Tree Lighting Celebration in New Windsor. Visit with Santa and Mrs Claus, as well as other holiday characters. Plus, music, dancing, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more.

Friday, December 1: Tree Lighting in Washingtonville at Brotherhood Winery from 7-9. Annual tree lighting ceremony. Enjoy music, wine and festivities. Admission to the tree lighting is Free.

Saturday, December 2; 4:30-6: Tree Lighting in Goshen. Carols and singing, hot chocolate and cookies, storytelling, and Santa’s arrival.

Sunday, December 3; 3-6: Tree lighting in Cornwall at the Highland Engine Company. Christmas music, horse and carriage rides, tree lighting, and more.

Thursday, December 7; 6-8: Village of Walden Recreation & Parks Department Presents: Christmas in the Square, Featuring Santa’s Arrival and Tree Lighting. Festivities begin at 6 pm and end at 7:15 with Santa’s arrival and the tree lighting.

Saturday, December 9: Tree Lighting and Parade in Pine Bush from 3-5. Enjoy live entertainment, cocoa and cookies, cider and donuts, and more.

Saturday, December 9: 1-5pm: Winter Festival and Holiday Float Parade, Millpond Parkway in Monroe. There will be hot cocoa for all, hay rides,  holiday music, crafts for the kids and a bonfire. Santa will be giving out candy canes. The first annual float parade will begin right after the festival (line up at 4pm). Parade kicks off at 5pm and will conclude with the tree lighting on the island and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes for best float. Rain date: Sun Dec 7. 845-782-8341.

Saturday, December 9: 11 am-3 pm: Village of Montgomery Old Fashioned Holiday, Montgomery. This is an annual holiday event. Attractions include: bandstand music, Santa's arrival, baked goods and beverages, Village carolers, holiday shopping and dining, horse and carriage rides, children's activities. 845-457-9661 x 201.

Now thru Dec 23: Fri-Sat-Sun; 5-8:  Take a stroll through the beautiful, Holiday Lights in Bloom throughout the  Orange County Arboretum, Montgomery.

Now thru Dec 24: Wed, Fri-Sat-Sun. Christmas on the Farm Trail with Eggbert, Devitts Nursery and Supply, New Windsor. Bring the family to visit Eggbert The Talking Egg. For hours, call 845-561-1968.

If we missed any, please let us know and we'll add it to the list.

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