Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

Exploring Hicks Nurseries

Hicks Nurseries is a place where families go to make memories, celebrate the season, and stop to smell the flowers with the little ones. Heading into the garden center, you’ll walk right into seasonal fun. The expansive space in Nassau County includes both indoor and outdoor areas. There's ample parking and no charge for browsing.

The garden center is the largest on Long Island, and it offers a wide variety of plants for indoor and outdoor use, plus birding supplies, patio furniture, garden statues and fountains, and more. The real magic for families is in the fun annual festivals the garden center staff has become pros at producing!

Spring blooms greet visitors to the 20,000-square-foot Flower and Garden Festival each March.

Seasonal Must-Do's at Hicks Nurseries for Families

Spring Flower and Garden Festival

Spring is in full bloom at Hicks Nurseries with its 34th annual Flower and Garden Show. Located inside a 20,000-square-foot greenhouse, the annual show focuses on a different theme each year. This year's installation is inspired by cultural traditions from around the world. Kids are immediately dazzled by the vivid colors and stunning gardens, which house more than 7,000 plants.

A scavenger hunt adds to the fun for kids of all ages, so pick up an activity sheet as you head into the show, then let the kids explore. Bring a camera for some great photo-ops.

Plant a Summer Rainbow

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and the perfect time to plant a family garden to create a season of memories. A visit to Hicks Nurseries in the summertime means kids can enjoy exploring the garden center’s tropical-feeling indoor greenhouse and the outdoor space as they choose their favorite flowers. Its 12-themed summer display gardens blossom in the outdoor nursery and a knowledgeable Hicks Nursery staff helps guide first-time gardeners.

RELATED: Guide to Long Island's Waterdrinker Family Farm: Flowers, Festivals, and Fun

Otto the Ghost is the seasonal star of fall at Hicks Nurseries.

Otto the Ghost and the Fall Harvest Festival

Fall at Hicks Nurseries means Otto the Ghost has arrived. Kids adore the famous ghost and his FREE, animated walk-through story. The little ones can even meet Otto and snap a photo with him on select dates.

Hicks also hosts a Fall Festival packed with autumn family fun. One of our favorite fall festivals on Long Island, visitors at Hicks Nurseries can conquer a hay maze, enjoy pumpkin decorating, play lawn games, do craft projects, and more. Some activities are free, while there is a charge for others. Weekends and holidays come with more happenings, but also larger crowds!

Bring hearty appetites to this festival, too, as food and treats are available from its Country Kitchen daily. Fudge-dipped donuts and roasted corn on the cob are two tasty highlights. Weekends bring food trucks with even more options.

Photo-ops are plentiful, so be sure to bring the camera. Pets can even join the action with an adorable Halloween pet parade. This annual festival runs from mid-September through October.

RELATED: Amazing Petting Zoos on Long Island Where Kids Can Meet the Animals

The holiday season brings an animated Christmas story for kids to enjoy.

Christmas Magic at Hicks Nurseries

For the winter season, Hicks Nurseries transforms into a holiday wonderland. Families can visit Santa beginning Black Friday or simply mail a letter to Jolly Old St. Nick from Hicks and even get a reply. Just be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Santa and his elves star in an animated Christmas story walk-through, which opens in mid-November as a kick off to the holiday season. Adults can enjoy Hicks Nurseries' elaborate decorations, which make a perfect backdrop for a holiday photo.

Of course, while you're there, you can choose your Christmas tree, wreaths, and more seasonal decor to bring some festive cheer home. Hicks sets the mood with a live brass band entertaining visitors on weekends as Christmas music rings through the garden center. All the holiday fun is completely FREE.

No matter the season, Hicks Nurseries shines. Its annual events have cemented themselves as family favorites to generations of Long Islanders—including my own family. My kids can’t wait for our visits. Celebrating the seasons brings so much joy to kids, and Hicks Nurseries knows how to do it right.

Know Before You Go to Hicks Nurseries

• Parking and admission are always FREE.
• The garden center is handicap and stroller accessible.
• Restrooms are easily available for the family.
• Hicks is open year-round. Outdoor events may change with the weather. Bookmark the Hicks Nurseries' website for all the latest event information before heading out.