The first weekend of December 2025 will transform St. Lawrence County into a regional holiday destination, featuring major community events, unique local shopping, and festive historical programming across multiple towns.

The weekend is anchored by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Craft, Food & Wine Holiday Market and the Traditional Arts in Upstate New York Holiday Open House, offering ample opportunity for residents and visitors to shop local and immerse themselves in North Country traditions.

The weekend begins with a festive celebration in Canton:

Friday, Dec. 5: Historical Kickoff

The St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture invites the public to its annual Holiday Open House at the Silas Wright Historic House & Museum, 3 E. Main St., Canton, from 3 p.m.to 7 p.m. The museum will be fully decorated for the holidays, featuring live music, refreshments, self-guided tours, and family crafting stations. Admission is free.

Saturday, Dec. 6: Shopping, Parades & Craft Traditions

TAUNY Holiday Open House & Gingerbread Contest: Traditional Arts in Upstate New York hosts its annual event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The TAUNY Center, 53 Main St., Canton. Highlights include live music by the MadStop Fiddlers, an Instrument Petting Zoo, and hands-on workshops. The Folkstore will feature gifts from over 150 local artisans. Admission is free.

The following schedule of events will take place at The TAUNY Center

10 a.m. to noon: Gingerbread House Making Workshop*

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Cookie Making in the TAUNY Kitchen

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Instrument Petting Zoo

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: MadStop Fiddlers Concert with Gretchen Koehler

2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Holiday Fragrances Beeswax Candlemaking Workshop*

*Workshops may require preregistration or limited seating. Visit TAUNY's website, tauny.org, for complete details.

The STLC Craft, Food & Wine Holiday Market arrives in Canton on Saturday and Sunday.

Prepare for the biggest shopping event of the North Country holiday season. For the first time ever, the wildly popular STLC Craft, Food & Wine Holiday Market is coming to Canton, transforming the community into the ultimate destination for unique holiday gifts.

This annual showcase, presented by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, gathers the finest regional producers of homemade and value-added goods—from exquisite crafts and artisanal foods to local wines—all under one roof for a festive, weekend-long shopping experience. 

The highly anticipated two-day show takes place on Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5, children under 12 free. 

The new home for this massive event is the Leithead Fieldhouse on the St. Lawrence University campus.

Light the Night Holiday Parade:The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Potsdam will host the annual Light the Night Holiday Parade in downtown Potsdam. The parade steps off down Market Street at 6 p.m., followed immediately by the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Ives Park at 6:30 p.m.. Floats and community entries will line up starting at 5 p.m. Parade details and applications are available at www.potsdamchamber.com.

Elves @ Work Community Christmas Party:

Liberty Utilities sponsors this free family gathering at the Massena Moose Lodge from 1 to 3 p.m., featuring games, crafts, and visits from the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who.

Sunday, Dec. 7: History and Exhibits

The weekend concludes with a look at local history:

Potsdam Public Museum Holiday Open House: The museum, 2 Park St., Potsdam, hosts its Holiday Open House and the opening of its new exhibit, "Fur, Feathers & Fashion," from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit explores the local history of trapping and the historic use of pelts, furs, and feathers in clothing. Admission is free.