Entertaining the family during the holidays can be expensive, of course. Want an inexpensive option? Travel to view some of Long Island's most-decorated holiday homes.
Chances are, wherever you are on Long Island—from Port Washington to Port Jefferson—you'll find neighbors going all out to show off their decorating skills. These nifty displays include lights, nativity scenes, Santas, reindeer, misfit toys, and other beloved seasonal symbols.
We’ve traveled across Nassau and Suffolk to see what’s shining on local lawns, documenting for you our favorites for 2018. So get the family going, put the snacks in a sack, and be ready for some holiday music. Yes, some of these destinations offer seasonal tunes to get you and yours into the spirit. And come back often to Mommy Poppins to see what has been added to our gallery.
If holiday lights are your thing, check out these other spectacular LI displays. And for more seasonal fun, see our December GoList and guide to holiday fun on Long Island, where you'll find information on brunches and pictures with Santa, holiday performances, and more.
Sign up for our FREE newsletters to get posts like this delivered to your inbox.
Most homes turn on the lights each evening from about 5 to 11pm through New Year's Eve. Some owners even host special kickoff events or Santa evenings. As we remind you every year, these are all private homes. While owners expect sightseers, don't touch any displays or enter private property. Also, try to not get too noisy: Almost all of these homes are located on residential streets. And perhaps bring items or money for donation, as some homes collect for charity.
Be advised also that while these houses traditionally have done elaborate displays, some may have decided not to participate this year.
Have a holiday home you want to share with onlookers? Let us know via Facebook.
Holiday lights and a toy drive at 140 Cedar Avenue in Rockville Centre reinforce the true meaning of Christmas. Photo by Ian Stark
Nassau
Baldwin: 1016 Steele Boulevard
Bellmore: 2323 Centre Avenue, 325 St. Marks Avenue
Bethpage: 178 North Fifth Street, 32 Wilson Lane, 74 Broadway, 12 Stymus Avenue
East Meadow: 2013 North Jerusalem Road, 696 East Meadow Avenue
Farmingdale: 7 Normandy Drive, 5 Pinehurst Road
Levittown: 28 and 44 Serpentine Lane, 71 Wolcott Road, 117 Schoolhouse Road, 36 and 48 Club Lane, 58 Pinetree Lane, 38 Parkside Drive North
Lynbrook: 98 Fenimore Street
Massapequa: 427 and 431 Bleecker Drive, 170 North Wyoming Avenue, 136 Cleveland Avenue, 44 Ohio Avenue, 21 New York Avenue, 149 Connecticut Avenue, 57 Clark Avenue
Massapequa Park: 309 Philadelphia Avenue, 144 Koehl Street, 122 Atlantic Avenue, 501 Atlantic Avenue
Merrick: 1038 West Drive, 1796 Harvard Avenue, 2509 Yale Place
North Bellmore: 883 Beckman Drive North
Oceanside: 2621 Loftus Avenue
Plainview: 33 Jamaica Avenue
Rockville Centre: 140 Cedar Avenue
Seaford: 745 Arlington Drive, 3964 William Street
Wantagh: 3600 Manchester Road
Westbury: 15 Bright Street
RELATED: 13 great things to do with kids on LI during the holidays
Witness the glow of thousands of dancing Christmas lights at 5 Forest Lane in Coram.
Suffolk
Centereach: 14 Elwood Road
The Elm Avenue Dancing Light Show draws hundreds of sightseers each year to 65 Elm Avenue in Coram.
Coram: 5 Forest Lane, 65 Elm Avenue
Deer Park: 121 Liberty Street, 247 W. 20th Street
East Northport: 16 Mansfield Lane South
Farmingville: 107 Granny Road
Holbrook: 109 Glen Summer Road
Lindenhurst: 281 33rd Street,18 Hartford Street
North Babylon: 44 Greenwood Drive
RELATED: Nutcrackers and other holiday shows across LI in 2018
Fifth Street in Ronkonkoma is aglow with Christmas lights during the holidays.
Ronkonkoma: 8A Fifth Street
St James: 10 Arlington Street
RELATED: Polar Express and other Santa trains in the LI area in 2018
52 King Avenue in Selden delights with seasonal colors. Photo by James Stephen Smith
Selden: 52 King Avenue
1726 Quentin Street brings Christmas cheer to West Babylon with lights, toy soldiers, and other beloved characters. Photo by James Stephen Smith
West Babylon: 1726 Quentin Street, 33 Old Farmingdale Road
Yaphank: 29 Bergers Court
Unless noted, photos are courtesy of the families/houses
This article was first published in December 2012 and was updated for 2018 by writer Lisa Mancuso.
