Long Island is truly a special place during the holidays. From Polar Express rides to light shows and craft fairs, the holiday spirit is everywhere. Adding to that excitement this season are three new lantern shows that will bring smiles as far as the eye can see. 

Whether you want to be up close or stay warm in the car, read on for details about the walk-thru LuminoCity Festival in Manhasset and the drive-thru Lantern Festival in Roslyn. Enjoy another speclal show at the Queens County Farm Museum, just over the border from Nassau.  

These events are unlike any other; you won’t want to miss them. We will, of course, be updating our Long Island Holiday Guide as the season draws closer. In the meantime, enjoy these great illuminations.   

Nestled in the charming North Shore community of Glen Cove, the new Garvies Point Playground is destined to become a family favorite. You can’t miss the massive sail-shaped climbing tower, a nod to Long Island Sound, that acts as a backdrop. With all of the sights and sounds, you and your kids will love this place.

The playground is located on Dickson Street along the eastern side of Hempstead Bay and is part of a $1.3 billion, mixed-use development. The area has been completely revitalized from idle industrial lots to a vibrant place to live and play. 

Read on for our review, and see our guide to Long Island parks and playgrounds for more outdoor inspiration.   

Home to more than 200 animals sprawled across 30 acres of land in Manorville, the Long Island Game Farm is entering its 50th year. A family-owned and operated business, this animal farm/petting zoo offers unique opportunities to get up close to rare animals. 

After you get your furry fix here, check out the other animal farms and petting zoos on Long Island 

Long Island has finally joined the Dallas-based Topgolf family with a location in Holtsville. Topgolf, a tech-driven place with 102 climate-controlled bays, boasts a seasonal chef-driven menu, drinks, live music, and year-round programming in a three-story outdoor space. Kids can tee off for a digitized round of golf, and while a hole-in-one isn't guaranteed a visit full of excitement is!

Long Island has plenty more sports-centric fun zones for your competitive crew. Or try a round of mini golf instead!

Exhibits at East Garden City's Cradle of Aviation Museum do more than merely teach visitors and dole out facts. While parents and teenagers can enjoy learning about America's aviation and space history, small children can enjoy a host of interactive features at this great Long Island museum. Aspiring pilots and astronauts: Get ready to blast-off to the Cradle of Aviation Museum. 

Whether your child is a natural ham or a kid with a great imagination who feels a little shy, a theater class on Long Island is a fun way for children to build confidence. Experience in the performing arts improves verbal skills, which are especially valuable when kids present oral reports in school. Those with theater backgrounds find themselves drawing on skills they developed in all kinds of ways. When it's time for college entrance and job interviews later in life, kids with performing arts experience can have an edge. 

We are lucky to have many theaters and programs that host acting classes for children here on Long Island. Read on for our picks for budding thespians.

For additional class suggestions, see our Classes and Activities Guide for Long Island Kids.

Since 2005, The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze has been a must-do Halloween attraction for our neighbors in Westchester County, its popularity multiplying annually along with its sizable, stunning installation. In 2020 the Blaze added a second location at Old Bethpage Village Restoration on Long Island.

Read on for the inside scoop on Long Island's own Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze, which opens on Wednesday, September 22, and learn why this visually striking, aesthetically inspiring walk-through exhibit belongs on your fall bucket list. Stay tuned to our Halloween Guide for more seasonal, spooky fun.

Gymnastics is a multidimensional sport that improves endurance, strength, and flexibility, as well as grace and poise. Few sports challenge participants in so many areas.

Gymnastics classes on Long Island can help a shy child learn to express him or herself in a whole new way. There are many class options available, from mommy-and-me programs for younger kids to beginner and advanced gymnastics instruction for older students.

For additional class suggestions, see our Classes and Enrichment Guide for Long Island Kids.