Crowds are expected to pack downtown Auburn as the city kicks off its holiday season with a pair of festive events on Saturday. The Downtown Holiday Parade begins at 3:30 p.m., followed by the Downtown Tree Lighting at 4:00 p.m. at the State Street Event Plaza.
But that’s just the beginning. Auburn’s annual Holiday Traditions Open House returns December 14, inviting the public to explore the city’s historic homes, museums, and cultural sites—all decked out for the season with free admission and family-friendly programming.
The Seward House Museum will host a Victorian-style Christmas open house from noon to 4 p.m., complete with festive décor, live music, and stories of the Seward family’s holiday traditions. Willard Memorial Chapel will offer free tours during the same hours, along with an organ concert, a holiday market, and a Reading with Santa that includes a free book for every child. Visitors can also catch a performance by the Genesee Street Voices inside the chapel.
At the Equal Rights Heritage Center, the celebration will run from noon to 5:30 p.m., with performances by the Bob Piorun Jazz Trio, Mozaic Spotlight Studio, and more. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand for festive photo ops throughout the afternoon. The Cayuga Museum of History and Art will feature decorations, refreshments, music by the Wada Music Studio, and a hands-on workshop with artist Nataliia Shynkarenko, who will lead guests in creating a Ukrainian Caroling Star.
The Schweinfurth Art Center will offer free admission from 1 to 5 p.m., showcasing the Quilts=Art=Quilts 2025 and Lyrical Moments exhibits. Guests can also paint their own ornaments and attend a trunk show by fiber artist Carol Boyer. At 2 p.m., the Auburn Chamber Orchestra will present its annual “Sounds of the Season” concert at the Auburn High School Auditorium, with sacred and secular holiday music—and a visit from Buddy the Elf.
The evening wraps up at St. Francis of Assisi Church, where the Stardusters All-Star Band will perform gospel, Christmas classics, and Harriet Tubman tributes from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by refreshments in Nacca Hall. The Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum will also host a Christmas Open House on December 14, featuring horse-drawn wagon rides, Model T rides, refreshments, and kids’ activities. From November 23 through January 31, the museum’s Festival of Trees will be open for visitors to explore and vote on more than 200 decorated trees.
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