Holiday Lights Spectacular Returns to Jones Beach State Park, Long Island
The drive-through Holiday Lights Spectacular is returning to the West End of Jones Beach in November, continuing a Long Island holiday tradition revived in the park last year after a seven-year absence. Partnering with Live Nation, the Holiday Lights Spectacular is a 2.5-mile drive offering visitors the opportunity to view more than 150 animated and synchronized light displays that will create a colorful and marvelous holiday experience.
This year, the Holiday Lights Spectacular will feature new themed display sections throughout the park and an expanded holiday village with an ice skating rink. The Holiday Village will again feature pictures with Santa, holiday refreshments, holiday music, local school choir performances and a Hay Maze that will provide a magical journey through the sparkling lights in the Holiday Village. Fan favorite displays, such as the 12 Days of Christmas and Santa’s Beach Party, will also return.
The Holiday Lights Spectacular takes place from dailly from dusk until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. Friday and Sunday, from Friday, November 20 through Sunday, January 3.
Admission for the Holiday Lights Spectacular is $20 per vehicle during the week and $25 on weekends and holidays. Every Tuesday, “2 for Tuesdays” will offer visitors the opportunity to drive through the Holiday Lights Spectacular a second time for free. All other nights, a second trip through the lights for same night re-entry will cost half price. Wednesday nights will be designated as “pet nights,” and families who bring their pets will get a free Santa photo. Every weekday, visitors who bring a canned food item will receive $3 off admission at the door. The food will be donated to food banks in Long Island and New York.
For more information, visit https://www.seetheholidaylights.com/
Annual Thanksgiving Native American Feast At Garvies Point Museum And Preserve
Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, one of the most fascinating places to discover Native American traditions on Long Island, will be holding its Annual Thanksgiving Native American Feast on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. This celebration of Native American culture has been held the weekend before Thanksgiving for more than 25 years.
Participants will enjoy hands-on activities including: face painting, sample Native foods, learn tool making, pottery making, dugout canoes, fire making, open-fire cooking, use the Atlatl (spear-throwing), artifacts, and nature trails. Native American films will be shown hourly. Participants can also take this opportunity to view the museum’s exhibition hall, which explores Long Island Native American culture and archaeology, as well as New York State and Long Island geology.
The event is fun for families and all ages will be engaged. Special program fee of $5 per person; children under 4 are free with adult. There is no entry fee for Friends of Garvies Point members.
Garvies Point Museum and adjoining 62-acre preserve are located at 50 Barry Drive in Glen Cove. Regular admission to the museum is $3 for adults, $2 children 5-12 years. The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For more information about Garvies Point Museum, call: (516) 571-8010/11 or visit the website at www.garviespointmuseum.com.
1863 Thanksgiving, Candlelight Evenings at Old Bethpage Village Restoration
The annual “1863 Thanksgiving Holiday Celebration” at Old Bethpage Village Restoration will be held on two consecutive weekends: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21 and 22, and Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors to Old Bethpage Village, the re-created mid-19th Century village, will be able to enjoy the sights and aromas of an old-fashioned Thanksgiving including decorated pumpkin pies baked in a beehive oven, and turkey roasted over an open fire. In addition, each afternoon, Traditional Fiddle music will be played, and children’s stories will be read several times each day.
Candlelight Evenings
Old Bethpage Village Restoration will hold its magical Candlelight Evenings on Dec. 17, 18, 19, and 20, 5 to 9:30 pm. Experience the village as it would have been at night during this lovely season. There will be caroling, stories of Christmases past, a traditional 1860’s Christmas tree display, traditional music, a bonfire, and hot apple cider available.
Old Bethpage Village Restoration provides visitors with a unique and wonderful opportunity to step back in time and experience life in a recreated mid-19th Century American village set on more than 200 acres.
Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Road (Exit 48 of the Long Island Expressway), 516-572-8401; Adults/$10, children 5-12/$7 (under 5 are free); and $7 for seniors and volunteer firefighters.
