Holiday Bucket List!

Meghan&Rich

Since I broke down today and started listing to Christmas music, I started thinking about our plans for the holidays!

We thought about doing one of those trains to the North Pole events, but I don't think having my tantrum loving Garrett on a train for 2 hours will end well, so we're going to shoot for that next year.  We usually go to Reilly's for their holiday activities, and I was thinking of checking out the Holiday Market in Market Square, but I was hoping to find some other ideas for this year.

Does anyone have any fun traditions or events planned for the holiday season?

egpitt22

Fun post!  

Meghan-what do they do at Reilly's?  I'll have to check out their site.  Also, since you mentioned the train idea, have you checked out the Washington Trolley Museum?  They have a Santa trolley...looks like it's cheaper than the other options I've seen and you wouldn't be stuck there for 2 hours if Garrett hates it!  http://www.pa-trolley.org/page11/page21/page21.html

The only thing I know for sure so far is that we'll do the lunch with Santa at our community center that I posted about a few weeks ago, the kids loved it last year. 

waltsgirl102503

I think we're going to try to go to Light Up Night this week.  I feel like Brody is finally old enough to not have to worry so much about him walking and bundling him up, etc.   My work is offering discount tickets to the Kennywood lights, so I think we'll do that.  We always go to a greenhouse type place near Century III called Meders to see Santa and they have live reindeer as well.   (Their santa pic is like $3 and you can also use your own camera unlike the rip off mall Santa!)  Our boro does a light up night with Santa, and it's always a fun time so we'll probably do that, too.  

My girlfriends and I get together to bake Christmas cookies, and this will be our 10th year so I always look forward to that as well.  

ETA: I just realized Light Up Night is next week not this week.  I'm so confused by Thanksgiving being so late this year...it's like I'm a week ahead all month!

Meghan&Rich

Emmy, we were at the trolley museum last month for a birthday party, which was when I had my realization that Garrett would not fare well confined in any space for more than 3 minutes.  Although, that is a good alternative - maybe we will try it again since it is not as much of a commitment $$ and time wise! 

Amber - I am off all month too.  That's why I don't feel bad about listening to Christmas music and making Christmas plans early, since we really won't have that much time after Thanksgiving!  I did forget about Kennywood, so I'll have to add that to our list.

ak111

We are going to try to do light up night downtown next Friday and also the Sewickley light up night which is the first Friday in December.  I plan to go to Yeck's Farm in Freedom to visit and get pictures with Santa although I have to check what Saturdays they do it.  We have to schedule in a day to go cut down our tree too.

ETA:  I took Keefer to see the Polar Express at the science center last year and would like to do that again too.     

lishie

I'm a holiday event failure. We did almost no fall activities and I don't know if we'll do any Christmas ones either. I'm terrible about that stuff.

We did the Kennywood lights the first year, and I really liked it. My parents always take the kids to Meders, that's their big holiday event each year. I'd like to see the phipps holiday flower show.

lishie

We did the Children's museum Christmas party the past few years and I really liked it. I hope to do that again.

4EvR&4AlWz

Pine Township has a great Holiday Dazzle (Santa, arts/crafts, cooking decorating games, horsedrawn carriage, ice carving, reindeer, all for free and then food vendors and other vendors with stuff for sale); the night ends with a great fireworks show (and it's early since it's dark early)!!  It's this Sunday from 4-8.  

We will be doing an Adams Township Santa Day on December 7th in the afternoon and then going to the Soergel's Snowflake festival that night, weather depending.

Last year, we went to Oglebay and I was so so so so so so so so disappointed.  I thought it was awful compared to Hartwood Acres...why oh why can they not bring that back?

I have one of the Pottery Barn advent/countdown calendar so I fill each day with an activity and a song....anything from hot cocoa in front of the fire, to Charlie Brown, to driving to see the lights, to making cookies, to taking around neighbor gifts, to mailing cards/Santa letter, etc.

We also put our tree up the Saturday after Thanksgiving and then on Sunday morning, I'll do our North Pole Breakfast where the Elf will come and I spray the table with Snow and the elf leaves "Snowball" donuts, letter, snacks, etc.

I also host a Cookies, Cocoa and Caroling event in my neighborhood the Thursday before Christmas where we have about 50 kids.  They do crafts, have some cookies, learn songs, carol for about 30-45 minutes then come back and have cocoa and cookies before going home.

egpitt22

some inspiration for anyone looking for ideas:

http://pittsburghmommyblog.com/2013/11/13/2013-christmas-in-pittsburgh-family-guide/

scubagirl81

We weren't expecting DS until about a week before Christmas, so we didn't really have any plans. But now that he's out, we may at least try to take him to get some Santa pictures somewhere (like maybe one of the malls during the day when it isn't too crowded). But of course he's too little to enjoy doing much else, so that's probably it  ;-)

Luckystar2

We are going down to South Carolina for thanksgiving to see the in laws. One of the parks near them sets up tons of Christmas lights, etc. so we plan to do that while we are down there.

I'm sure we will go see mall Santa. Ours lets you snap your own pic so that works out. I also want to do a breakfast with Santa. Last year we were really disappointed with the one we did so I plan to do a different one.

We have our advent calendar so I've got to find some little things for that. I think we may do the Lego advent calendar as well.

Our Elf will make an appearance after Thanksgiving.

Last year we did a secret Santa program that does gift donations. We asked to be matched with a kid around dd's age and got her wish list and shopped for her. We dropped off the gift and they let us look around at the tons of donated stuff. It was all a good experience for dd. we plan to do that again this year.

BethieB

4EvR&4AlWz said:

Pine Township has a great Holiday Dazzle (Santa, arts/crafts, cooking decorating games, horsedrawn carriage, ice carving, reindeer, all for free and then food vendors and other vendors with stuff for sale); the night ends with a great fireworks show (and it's early since it's dark early)!!  It's this Sunday from 4-8.  

Kristin, just an FYI - Pine Township's web site states there is a cost with the event.  $5 tickets at the door or $3 presale. http://twp.pine.pa.us/files/CCInformation_Applications_Forms/Holiday%20Dazzle%20Show%20Flyer%202013.pdf 

I don't want to over schedule anything this year, but we do plan to go to the Nutcracker on Sat night Dec 21st. It will be our first time; we scored awesome director's circle seats a few months back.   I ususally go to the Phipps flower show on the day they do the free Nutcracker story and dance with the Pgh Ballet, but they aren't doing it this year. And with limited weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I don't feel like forking out $100 for our family to go see flowers, no matter how pretty they are! I think instead we're going to the Christmas Tree Festival at Quality Gardens on Rt 228 on Nov 23rd. 

And we'll take the kids at some point to the Kennywood lights. We went the first year and it was awesome, and we have great memories of riding the merry go round listening to Christmas music seeing all the lights whirl by!

ryanthegirl

We plan to do the Santa Trolley at the PA Trolley Museum.

Thanks to those who posted about Meder's! I love that place, we buy a lot of stuff for our pond there. I had no idea they did Santa. 

We may check out Kennywood's lights this year, if I think G can handle it.

I'm so not in the Holiday spirit this year. I hope it kicks in soon. 

lilly25

BethieB said:

4EvR&4AlWz said:

Pine Township has a great Holiday Dazzle (Santa, arts/crafts, cooking decorating games, horsedrawn carriage, ice carving, reindeer, all for free and then food vendors and other vendors with stuff for sale); the night ends with a great fireworks show (and it's early since it's dark early)!!  It's this Sunday from 4-8.  

Kristin, just an FYI - Pine Township's web site states there is a cost with the event.  $5 tickets at the door or $3 presale. http://twp.pine.pa.us/files/CCInformation_Applications_Forms/Holiday%20Dazzle%20Show%20Flyer%202013.pdf 

I don't want to over schedule anything this year, but we do plan to go to the Nutcracker on Sat night Dec 21st. It will be our first time; we scored awesome director's circle seats a few months back.   I ususally go to the Phipps flower show on the day they do the free Nutcracker story and dance with the Pgh Ballet, but they aren't doing it this year. And with limited weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I don't feel like forking out $100 for our family to go see flowers, no matter how pretty they are! I think instead we're going to the Christmas Tree Festival at Quality Gardens on Rt 228 on Nov 23rd. 

And we'll take the kids at some point to the Kennywood lights. We went the first year and it was awesome, and we have great memories of riding the merry go round listening to Christmas music seeing all the lights whirl by!

Beth,

Have you done that Pine thing before? It sounds nice but going on a Sunday night, I try to avoid,haha. The tree festival sounds nice! Can I find info on that anywhere? We also went to the kennywood lights the first year and loooved it and definitely plan to do that again!! Santa comes to Cranberry next Friday so that is very exciting!!!

BethieB

I've not done the Pine thing before, but I think we'll try it. At the very least, be "in the area" to see the fireworks on Sunday night! LOL

Here's info on the tree festival at Quality Gardens...

http://www.quality-gardens.com/index.php/events-at-quality/283-hosanna-industries-festival-of-trees-nov-23rd 

northhillsbride

Being new to Houston, I have no idea what they offer. I guess I should start checking that out!

I have heard that our HOA does a Santa visit in December, but as we're only leasing, we don't get the newsletters. I'll have to get my neighbor to give us the scoop!

lilly25

BethieB said:

I've not done the Pine thing before, but I think we'll try it. At the very least, be "in the area" to see the fireworks on Sunday night! LOL

Here's info on the tree festival at Quality Gardens...

http://www.quality-gardens.com/index.php/events-at-quality/283-hosanna-industries-festival-of-trees-nov-23rd 

Thanks Beth!! Maybe I will see you at one of these:)

lala5507

lishie said:

I'm a holiday event failure. We did almost no fall activities and I don't know if we'll do any Christmas ones either. I'm terrible about that stuff.

We did the Kennywood lights the first year, and I really liked it. My parents always take the kids to Meders, that's their big holiday event each year. I'd like to see the phipps holiday flower show.

lala5507

lishie said:

I'm a holiday event failure. We did almost no fall activities and I don't know if we'll do any Christmas ones either. I'm terrible about that stuff.

We did the Kennywood lights the first year, and I really liked it. My parents always take the kids to Meders, that's their big holiday event each year. I'd like to see the phipps holiday flower show.

lala5507

lala5507 said:

lishie said:

I'm a holiday event failure. We did almost no fall activities and I don't know if we'll do any Christmas ones either. I'm terrible about that stuff.

We did the Kennywood lights the first year, and I really liked it. My parents always take the kids to Meders, that's their big holiday event each year. I'd like to see the phipps holiday flower show.

>:P

lala5507

lala5507 said:

lishie said:

I'm a holiday event failure. We did almost no fall activities and I don't know if we'll do any Christmas ones either. I'm terrible about that stuff.

We did the Kennywood lights the first year, and I really liked it. My parents always take the kids to Meders, that's their big holiday event each year. I'd like to see the phipps holiday flower show.

>:P

lala5507

lala5507 said:

lala5507 said:

lishie said:

I'm a holiday event failure. We did almost no fall activities and I don't know if we'll do any Christmas ones either. I'm terrible about that stuff.

We did the Kennywood lights the first year, and I really liked it. My parents always take the kids to Meders, that's their big holiday event each year. I'd like to see the phipps holiday flower show.

>:P

lala5507

lala5507 said:

lala5507 said:

lishie said:

I'm a holiday event failure. We did almost no fall activities and I don't know if we'll do any Christmas ones either. I'm terrible about that stuff.

We did the Kennywood lights the first year, and I really liked it. My parents always take the kids to Meders, that's their big holiday event each year. I'd like to see the phipps holiday flower show.

>:P

4EvR&4AlWz

BethieB said:

4EvR&4AlWz said:

Pine Township has a great Holiday Dazzle (Santa, arts/crafts, cooking decorating games, horsedrawn carriage, ice carving, reindeer, all for free and then food vendors and other vendors with stuff for sale); the night ends with a great fireworks show (and it's early since it's dark early)!!  It's this Sunday from 4-8.  

Kristin, just an FYI - Pine Township's web site states there is a cost with the event.  $5 tickets at the door or $3 presale. http://twp.pine.pa.us/files/CCInformation_Applications_Forms/Holiday%20Dazzle%20Show%20Flyer%202013.pdf 

Oops, I forgot. I got tickets a while ago but I guess I was trying to say t's not like Soergels where everything is $3 for each little activity