Things to Do in Syracuse in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Syracuse
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- December hits that sweet spot where you get crisp mornings around 10°C (50°F) perfect for walking tours, then warming to comfortable 17°C (63°F) afternoons - locals call this 'sweater weather' and it's genuinely the most pleasant time to explore on foot without melting
- Despite 10 rainy days on paper, Syracuse gets 0.0 mm (0.0 inches) of actual rainfall in December, which sounds contradictory but means you're dealing with brief mist or drizzle rather than downpours - the kind of weather where a light jacket is all you need, not an umbrella that'll turn inside out
- The holiday season transforms Armory Square and Downtown into something actually special rather than touristy - locals are out shopping at the Regional Market, the tree lighting at Clinton Square draws real crowds (not just tourists), and you'll catch Syracuse University basketball season in full swing at the Dome, which is genuinely the best way to understand this city's identity
- December is shoulder season for hotel pricing but you still get full restaurant availability and museum hours - you're saving 30-40% on accommodations compared to summer graduation weekends or October homecoming, while everything you'd want to do is still fully operational and staffed
Considerations
- That 70% humidity combined with temperatures hovering just above freezing creates this particular kind of dampness that cuts through clothing - it's not the dry cold you can layer against, it's the wet cold that makes 10°C (50°F) feel colder than 0°C (32°F) in drier climates, and first-time visitors consistently underestimate this
- Daylight ends around 4:45pm in December, which sounds manageable until you realize most outdoor activities need to wrap by 4pm - this compresses your sightseeing day significantly, and the gray overcast conditions mean it feels darker earlier than the actual sunset time suggests
- Syracuse gets an average of 127 cm (50 inches) of snow annually, and while December isn't the worst month (that's January-February), you're still looking at potential lake-effect snow events that can drop 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) overnight - this can shut down day trips to the Finger Lakes or delay flights, and locals will tell you the weather forecast is more suggestion than prediction
Best Activities in December
Destiny USA Mall and Indoor Entertainment Complex
December weather makes this the sixth-largest mall in America suddenly make sense - when it's 10°C (50°F) and drizzly outside, having 2.4 million square feet of shopping, restaurants, a comedy club, ropes course, and mirror maze under one roof is actually brilliant planning. The holiday decorations go up right after Thanksgiving and locals genuinely use this as a gathering spot, not just tourists killing time. The indoor go-kart track and WonderWorks museum are legitimately fun when outdoor plans get weathered out.
Erie Canal Museum and Heritage Area Walking Tours
December is actually ideal for the Canal Museum because you're indoors learning the history, then stepping out for brief walks along the canal path when weather permits - the variable conditions mean you can duck back inside when it gets uncomfortable. The museum sits in the 1850 Weighlock Building, which is the only remaining structure of its kind, and in December they run special holiday programming about 19th-century winter canal life. The surrounding Armory Square neighborhood is walkable in short bursts, and you can warm up in cafes every few blocks.
Everson Museum of Art and Cultural Institution Circuit
Syracuse has this cluster of museums within 1.6 km (1 mile) of each other - the Everson, MOST Science Center, and Onondaga Historical Association - which is perfect for December's short daylight and unpredictable weather. You can hit 2-3 in a day with minimal outdoor exposure. The Everson's collection of American ceramics is genuinely world-class (not just regional bragging), and the building itself is an I.M. Pei design worth seeing. December means smaller crowds than school field trip season (spring/fall) but full programming.
Syracuse University Campus and Carrier Dome Basketball Games
December means basketball season at the Dome, and if you want to understand Syracuse's identity, you need to catch a game - the student section (which you can't sit in, but watching it is half the experience) is genuinely one of the most intense in college sports. The campus itself is worth walking when weather allows - the Hall of Languages and Crouse College are beautiful 1870s architecture, and the Lubin House has rotating art exhibits. Campus tours run year-round but December means you see it as students do, not during summer when it's empty.
Regional Market and Local Food Scene Exploration
The Regional Market runs year-round on Saturdays 7am-2pm, and December is when locals are shopping for holiday meals, which means the energy is completely different from summer tourist season - you're seeing actual Syracuse food culture, not a show for visitors. The vendors selling salt potatoes (a Syracuse specialty you won't find elsewhere), local apples, and Hofmann hot dogs are the real deal. Pair this with visits to Pastabilities or Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (both local institutions that started here), and you've got a legitimate food day that works regardless of weather.
Green Lakes State Park Winter Hiking
Located 15 km (9 miles) east of downtown, Green Lakes is worth the drive in December if you get one of those clear, crisp days - the meromictic glacial lakes (meaning the water layers don't mix) look otherworldly when partially frozen, and the 8 km (5 miles) of trails around the lakes are genuinely beautiful in winter. The variable December weather means you might hit perfect conditions or you might get socked in with fog, but that's part of the gamble. This is where locals go to escape the city, and you'll see more dog walkers and trail runners than tourists.
December Events & Festivals
Clinton Square Holiday Tree Lighting and Ice Rink Opening
Typically happens the Friday after Thanksgiving, so early December, and this is genuinely the kickoff to Syracuse's holiday season - locals actually show up for this, it's not just a tourist thing. The ice rink stays open through February and is free to use (skate rentals around 5 USD), and it's right downtown so you can combine it with dinner in Armory Square. The tree lighting itself involves local school choirs and takes maybe 30 minutes, but the rink is the real draw for the next two months.
Lights on the Lake at Onondaga Lake Park
This drive-through light display runs mid-November through early January, and it's become a genuine Syracuse tradition - over 2 million lights along a 4 km (2.5 mile) route around the lake. It sounds cheesy, and it is, but locals will tell you it's worth doing once, especially if you've got kids or just want something easy on a cold December night. You stay in your car the whole time, which is honestly perfect for December weather. Proceeds benefit the park, so it's supporting something real.
Winterfest at Armory Square
Mid-December weekend event that takes over the Armory Square district with ice sculptures, live music, food vendors, and a chili cook-off that locals take surprisingly seriously. The ice sculptures are actually impressive - professional carvers, not just blocks with faces carved in - and the event runs 11am-9pm Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday. It's cold standing around outside, obviously, but the restaurants and bars in Armory Square stay open late and you can duck in to warm up between sculptures.