Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Manlius for 2026, and here is what he found: 4 family events. The magic runs from December 5 (Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa) through December 23, with Kids Club: Cocoa and Carols (December 15), Toddler Story Time: Christmas (December 22) and Preschool Story Time: Christmas (December 23) along the way. We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our New York Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Manlius
- 4 Christmas events for kids in Manlius
- Meet Santa: Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa (December 5)
- Also on the list: 1 Christmas show and 2 story times
- Season: December 5 (Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa) to December 23 (Preschool Story Time: Christmas)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
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- 2 Story time
- 1 Santa
- 1 Shows
- 1 Breakfast and treats
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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Manlius
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Holiday show
Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa
- When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10:30 to 11:30 am
- Where: Village Auditorium, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave, Manlius, NY 13104 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page; registration required
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Donna B of Music with Donna B leads a family sing-along of familiar carols and some newer tunes, with plenty of jingle bells for kids to ring in time. There is room to move and dance, and Santa joins the celebration.
The program is Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Village Auditorium rather than the library's own rooms. Registration is required, and the library uses it to send reminders and any weather updates. The page lists no price.
Parent tip: Park near the Village Offices entrance, because the library notes the Senior Center door is not open on Saturdays. Seats are limited, so register early.
- Host
- Manlius Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Village Auditorium, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave, Manlius, NY 13104 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Manlius events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Manlius daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Manlius.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 3 more Manlius events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Manlius.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Manlius before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 2 Story time
- 1 Santa
- 1 Shows
- 1 Breakfast and treats
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Manlius every week.
Holiday event
Kids Club: Cocoa and Carols
- When: Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 4 to 4:45 pm
- Where: Manlius Library, Story Time Room, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave, Manlius, NY 13104 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page; registration required
- Ages: Ages 5 to 8
Expand to see the parent tip
Miss Windy and Miss Anne host this club meeting for kids ages 5 to 8 in the library's Story Time Room. Children sip cocoa and join a festive sing-along of holiday carols.
It meets Tuesday, December 15, 2026, from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. Registration is required, and each child has to be signed up separately. The page lists no price.
Parent tip: At 45 minutes it is a short stop after school, but seats are limited, so register siblings one by one rather than under a single name.
- Host
- Manlius Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Manlius Library, Story Time Room, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave, Manlius, NY 13104 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Manlius events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Manlius daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Manlius.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday story time
Toddler Story Time: Christmas
- When: Tuesday, December 22, 2026, 10:30 to 11:30 am
- Where: Manlius Library, Story Time Room, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave, Manlius, NY 13104 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page
- Ages: Ages 0 to 3 with an adult caregiver
Expand to see the parent tip
Karen Porcello leads this Christmas edition of the library's toddler story time in the Story Time Room. Children from birth to age 3 share stories, rhymes and songs meant to build early language and social skills.
It runs Tuesday, December 22, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Each child must come with an adult caregiver. The page does not mention registration or a price.
Parent tip: This one is pitched at ages 0 to 3, so older preschoolers will fit better at the Christmas preschool story time the next morning. Plan to sit and sing along with your toddler, since a caregiver has to stay.
- Host
- Manlius Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Manlius Library, Story Time Room, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave, Manlius, NY 13104 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Manlius events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Manlius daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Manlius.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday story time
Preschool Story Time: Christmas
- When: Wednesday, December 23, 2026, 10:30 to 11:30 am
- Where: Manlius Library, Story Time Room, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave, Manlius, NY 13104 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page
- Ages: Geared to ages 2 1/2 to 5, all welcome, with an adult caregiver
Expand to see the parent tip
The Christmas session of the library's preschool story time brings stories, songs and activities to the Story Time Room with presenter Karen Porcello. It is planned around children ages 2 and a half to 5, with literacy, thinking and social activities suited to that age.
It meets Wednesday, December 23, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. All ages are welcome, and children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. The page does not mention registration or a price.
Parent tip: Because all ages are welcome, this is the easier pick if you have a preschooler and a younger sibling in tow two days before Christmas. A full hour is long for some little ones, so sit where you can step out for a break.
- Host
- Manlius Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Manlius Library, Story Time Room, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave, Manlius, NY 13104 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Manlius events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Manlius daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Manlius.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our New York Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Manlius Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa in Manlius on December 5; the last runs to December 23. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & SantaManlius · Dec 5
- Kids Club: Cocoa and CarolsManlius · Dec 15
- Toddler Story Time: ChristmasManlius · Dec 22
- Preschool Story Time: ChristmasManlius · Dec 23
Looking further afield? Our New York Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Syracuse, Morrisville, Brewerton and New Hartford. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Manlius
Nobody knows for certain which Roman the town of Manlius is named after: the name belonged to several important Romans, and the record of which one was honored has been lost. In this Onondaga County town southeast of Syracuse, Christmas for kids gathers around the Manlius Library, with carols, cocoa and Santa on the calendar.
How Manlius celebrates
Christmas for kids in Manlius centers on the Manlius Library, one of three libraries in the town that the article lists as branches of the Onondaga County Public Library. The season opens on December 5 with the Holiday Musicfest, when Donna B leads carols and jingle bells in the Village Auditorium and Santa joins in. On December 15 the Kids Club for ages 5 to 8 meets for cocoa and a carol sing-along with Miss Windy and Miss Anne. The Story Time Room then hosts Christmas story times for toddlers on December 22 and preschoolers on December 23, both led by Karen Porcello.
Fun facts about Christmas in Manlius
The town of Manlius was founded in 1794, along with Onondaga County, after first being settled around 1790, and it began as a township of the Central New York Military Tract. Trade from the Erie Canal helped the early town develop, and Old Erie Canal State Historic Park is among its listed locations. The town takes in three villages, Manlius, Fayetteville and Minoa, and the article's opening puts its 2020 population at 33,712.
Traditions today
- Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa: Families sing carols and ring jingle bells with Donna B in the Village Auditorium, and Santa joins the celebration.
- Kids Club: Cocoa and Carols: Children ages 5 to 8 gather with Miss Windy and Miss Anne for cocoa and a sing-along of holiday carols.
- Toddler Story Time: Christmas: The library's youngest visitors, from birth to age 3, share stories, rhymes and songs with a caregiver at the Christmas session.
- Preschool Story Time: Christmas: Karen Porcello leads stories and songs geared to ages 2 and a half to 5 on December 23.
- The Story Time Room: Three of the four holiday programs meet in this room at the Manlius Library.
A fact for kids
Long before it was called Manlius, Onondaga people lived in a town here that had an earthwork and walls all around it, and French explorers visited around 1654. The spot is now Indian Hill Memorial Park.
Questions about Christmas in Manlius
When was Manlius founded?
The town of Manlius was founded in 1794, at the same time as Onondaga County, and the article says the current town was first settled around 1790. It started out as a township of the former Central New York Military Tract.
How did Manlius get its name?
The town carries the name Manlius, which was shared by several important Romans. It was a township of the former Central New York Military Tract, and the article notes that nobody knows any longer exactly which Manlius was being honored.
Is Manlius a town or a village?
Both. The town of Manlius in Onondaga County includes a village also called Manlius, along with the villages of Fayetteville and Minoa. The village of Manlius sits near the southern town line at the junction of state routes 92 and 173. The history on this page describes the town.
Who lived in the Manlius area before the town was founded?
In the 17th century, Onondaga people settled a town on the south side of what later became Manlius. French explorers visited around 1654 and described an earthwork ringed by walls. The town was occupied through 1682, and the site became Indian Hill Memorial Park.
How did the Erie Canal shape Manlius?
According to the article, the economy tied to trade from the Erie Canal contributed to the town's early development. Old Erie Canal State Historic Park is listed among the places within the town today, alongside Green Lakes State Park and its two lakes.
What happens at Christmas for kids in Manlius?
The Manlius Library has four holiday programs in December 2026: the Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa on December 5, Kids Club: Cocoa and Carols on December 15, Toddler Story Time: Christmas on December 22 and Preschool Story Time: Christmas on December 23.
Who organizes the Christmas programs in Manlius?
All four programs listed here are run by the Manlius Library, and each page names Windy Cardarelli as the event contact. Donna B of Music with Donna B presents the Musicfest, Miss Windy and Miss Anne host Cocoa and Carols, and Karen Porcello presents both Christmas story times.
Where do the Manlius Christmas programs take place?
The Holiday Musicfest on December 5 is held in the Village Auditorium, and the library suggests parking near the Village Offices entrance. The Cocoa and Carols club meeting and both Christmas story times meet in the Manlius Story Time Room at the library.
Do the Manlius Christmas programs cost anything or need sign-up?
None of the four library pages lists a price. Registration is required for the Holiday Musicfest and for Cocoa and Carols, where each participant registers separately. The two Christmas story time pages do not mention registration, only that children must come with an adult caregiver.
Does Santa visit Manlius at Christmas?
Santa is part of the Holiday Musicfest with Donna B on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Village Auditorium. The program is listed for all ages, including toddlers, preschoolers and kids 5 to 8, and registration is required.
Sources
- Manlius, New York, Wikipedia
- Family Fun: Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa, Manlius Library
- Kids (Ages 5-8) Club: Cocoa and Carols, Manlius Library
- Toddler Story Time: Christmas, Manlius Library
- Preschool Story Time: Christmas, Manlius Library
Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every New York city.
Manlius Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What is the best Christmas event for kids in Manlius to start with?
Start with the Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in the Village Auditorium. It is open to all ages and mixes carols, jingle bells and a visit from Santa. Families with younger children can follow up with the library's Christmas story times on December 22 and 23.
Where can kids see Santa in Manlius?
Santa joins the Holiday Musicfest with Donna B on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Village Auditorium. The Manlius Library runs the program and requires registration. The page describes Santa celebrating with families during the music and does not mention photos or a separate visit line.
Are the Manlius Library Christmas programs free?
The library's event pages do not list a price for the Holiday Musicfest on December 5, Cocoa and Carols on December 15, or the Christmas story times on December 22 and 23, 2026. None of the pages mention a fee or tickets for sale. Check with the library if you want to confirm before you go.
Which Christmas events in Manlius need registration?
Two do. Registration is required for the Holiday Musicfest with Donna B & Santa on December 5 and for Kids Club: Cocoa and Carols on December 15, 2026, where each child is registered separately. The pages for the toddler and preschool Christmas story times on December 22 and 23 do not mention registration.
Are there Christmas story times for toddlers and preschoolers in Manlius?
Yes. Toddler Story Time: Christmas on Tuesday, December 22, 2026, is for children from birth to age 3, and Preschool Story Time: Christmas on Wednesday, December 23 is geared to ages 2 and a half to 5. Both start at 10:30 a.m. in the Story Time Room, and children need an adult caregiver with them.
Where is the Holiday Musicfest held and where should we park?
The Holiday Musicfest on December 5, 2026, is held in the Village Auditorium instead of the library's Story Time Room. The library suggests parking close to the Village Offices entrance, since the Senior Center door is not open on Saturdays. The other three holiday programs meet in the Manlius Story Time Room.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Manlius?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s New York Christmas train rides guide. This Manlius guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.