This season will be the first time KeyBank has lighted the trees surrounding its building to honor unity in the community. At 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, a candlelight vigil presented by Chino & Evelyn Ingram for the upcoming venue, The Castle, will be held. The event has been coordinated by volunteers of the Concern Citizens Action Program to bring together the community for a special night of Unity. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.

The Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs will offer Holiday Hayrides from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 18 at Burnet Park. The horse-drawn wagon rides through an illuminated Burnet Park will conclude with a visit with Santa. Rides are $2 per person. Online pre-registration is required and opens starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Syracuse.recdesk.com

The Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs will offer Holiday Hayrides from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 18 at Burnet Park. The horse-drawn wagon rides through an illuminated Burnet Park will conclude with a visit with Santa. Rides are $2 per person. Online pre-registration is required and opens starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Syracuse.recdesk.com

Seatings begin at 9, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19. Tickets include admission to tour the Syracuse Zoo. Cost is $21.95 adults and $9.95 youth aged 3-12 for Zoo members; non-member tickets are $24.95 adults and $12.95 youth. Children 2 and under are free. Tickets are available at www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/brunch-with-santa.

This annual holiday family celebration food bag distribution is organized by members of the Southside Food Pantry, NAN-SYR, The Greater Syracuse Southside Neighborhood Association and support from Assembly member Pamela Hunter.

Syracuse Joined Artists, Musicians and Singers (JAMS) will host live musical entertainment on Wednesday evenings during the month of December at Salt City Market. These performances are sponsored in part by a small grant from CNY Arts. On Dec. 29, Sam Wynn and Mike Serafim will perform.

Keep kids engaged with fun for the whole family this winter at the Everson Museum. Every Sunday explore the galleries, enjoy art-making, storytelling and more from 2 to 4 p.m. Members and children under 12 are free; cost for non-members is $8.

This year's conference theme is "Avenues for Advocacy, Investing in our Future." This hybrid event will have both in-person and virtual options to attend. Registration is free and open to all.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh will deliver the 2022 State of the City at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, from the soon-to-open JMA Wireless technology manufacturing plant located on Syracuse’s South Side. The new facility is a central element of Walsh’s Syracuse Surge strategy for inclusive growth in the New Economy. For COVID-19 safety, the address will be open to a limited in-person audience by invitation. It will be broadcast on WCNY Public Broadcasting Channel 24.