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Things To Do 0n Long Island this Weekend: Dickens Festival, Laurie Berkner, Tree Lightings

Thrill to the Girl Scouts Of Suffolk County's Holiday Light Show. Photo courtesy of Mass Mutual of Greater Long Island
Thrill to the Girl Scouts Of Suffolk County's Holiday Light Show. Photo courtesy of Mass Mutual of Greater Long Island
12/4/19 - By Jaime Sumersille

Experience the Chandlery of the 1800s as the Village of Port Jefferson magically transforms into the Dickensian era. Children can learn what it was like to live the privileged life during the 1930s in a Gold Coast mansion – and have fun doing it at the Vanderbilt Museum. 

View more than 60 trees decorated by different organizations as they light up Stony Brook Village. Best-selling artist Laurie Berkner will perform holiday hits at The Paramount. The unique Holiday Boat Parade showcases festively decorated vessels along Freeport's Nautical Mile.

Santa comes to Greenport; arriving at noon aboard a LIRR Greenport Scoot at the Railroad Museum of Long Island, as part of the village's month-long Holiday Festival.

See our Holiday Family Fun Guide for the best in seasonal entertainment, including our Christmas tree cutting guide, breakfast with Santa events, Hanukkah fun roundup, ice skating rinks and plenty of FREE events and activities. As always, our Event Calendar and December GoList are loaded with fun, daily happenings for Long Island kids.

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Channel your inner train lover at the Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers Open House. Photo courtesy of the Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers
Channel your inner train lover at the Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers Open House. Photo courtesy of the Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers

Things to Do on Long Island All Weekend

Port Jefferson Village Annual Charles Dickens Festival

Port Jefferson — FREE
The Village of Port Jefferson magically transforms into the Dickens era with streets filled with roaming characters such as Father Christmas, Dickens Mayor, Scrooge, the town crier, and the beloved chimney sweeps. READ MORE

Santa's Workshop at The Drowned Meadow Cottage

Port Jefferson — FREE
Meander through the whimsical rooms in Port Jefferson's historic Drowned Meadow Cottage. READ MORE

Jones Beach Magic of Lights Drive-Thru Show

Wantagh
The Magic of Lights drive-thru spectacular returns to Jones Beach and Nassau County's South Shore this holiday season. The display is stacked with new themed LED lighting displays and digital animations, plus plenty of returning favorites. READ MORE

Jones Beach Magic of Lights Drive-Thru Show

Wantagh
The Magic of Lights drive-thru spectacular returns to Jones Beach and Nassau County's South Shore this holiday season. The display is stacked with new themed LED lighting displays and digital animations, plus plenty of returning favorites. READ MORE

Greenport Holiday Festival

Greenport — FREE
Greenport's Holiday Festival lights up the village throughout December. From tree and menorah lightings, window decorating, crafts and Santa visits round out a festive  READ MORE

CANCELED - Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers Open House

Levittown — FREE
Thrill to one of Long Island's largest operating model train clubs. READ MORE

American Dance Theatre of LI Presents The Nutcracker

Brentwood
Warm your spirit this holiday season as you witness toys that come to life, a Christmas tree that grows before your eyes, flowers that dance, and snowflakes that waltz in this classic magical story. READ MORE

The Polar Express Trolley Ride

Riverhead and Southampton
Depart from The All Star in Riverhead or from The Omni/Hampton Jitney in Southampton and travel north, interacting with a character from the movie and listening to Liam Neeson’s reading of The Polar Express.  READ MORE

Bayville Winter Wonderland

Bayville
Bayville Winter Wonderland, Long Island's winter holiday park, is back for another season. Enjoy a ton of over-the-top holiday fun, including Santa's Toy Factory Funhouse, a holiday train ride, an ice skating rink, rock climbing, character meet-and-greets, holiday stories, a build-a-bear experience, ax throwing, and more.  READ MORE

Holiday for Toys at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies

Bellmore
Once a year, on a magical musical night, the toys come to life! READ MORE

Tea with Tink at Cultural Arts Playhouse

Syosset
Flutter over to the Cultural Arts Playhouse to watch performances and enjoy a complimentary meet-and-greet with all of the characters. READ MORE

Crafts, Cookies & Cocoa with Santa

Bellmore
Spend an hour with Santa! Crafts, cocoa, cookies and photos with the big man himself! READ MORE
More than a dozen boats make their way down Freeport Village's iconic Nautical Mile at the Holiday Boat Parade. Photo courtesy of the event
More than a dozen boats make their way down Freeport Village's iconic Nautical Mile at the Holiday Boat Parade. Photo courtesy of the event

Things to Do on Long Island Saturday, December 7

Children’s Workshop: ‘A Kid’s Life at Eagle’s Nest’ at the Vanderbilt Museum

Centerport
Children can learn what it was like to live the privileged life during the 1930s in a Gold Coast mansion – and have fun doing it – in a new workshop offered by the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s Education Department. READ MORE

Gingerbread House Decorating Workshops at CMEE

Bridgehampton
This holiday season, let your child’s confectionery creativity run wild during CMEE's annual Gingerbread House Decorating Workshops. Budding architects choose their materials, including vivid and vibrant edible goodies from our candy buffet, plan their designs, and decorate their own pre-built gingerbread houses.  READ MORE

Free Kids Crafting Kits at Home Depot

Various Locations — FREE
Pick up a free crafting kit and learn do-it-yourself skills and tool safety while creating a project. All of the instructions and materials are included, and at some locations a Home Depot staff member will guide you through the steps.  READ MORE

Holiday Boat Parade in Freeport

Freeport — FREE
This unique event showcases festively decorated boats along Freeport's Nautical Mile. Boat owners go all out decorating their vessels, and homeowners along the route adorn their yards with lights, too. READ MORE

Holiday LOL Paint Event at Key to My Art

East Rockaway
Paint a Holiday LOL Doll!  READ MORE

Holiday Spectacular at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center

Westhampton
Holiday Spectacular East Meets West version is a mash-up of song, dance, and theatre will feature holiday classics and fresh takes on the season. READ MORE

A Christmas Carol - Experiential at LICM

Garden City
Join the Long Island Children's Museum on the streets of 19th century London on Christmas Eve. Meet the Cratchit family, Mr. Scrooge, and the ghosts of past, present and future in this classic story of acceptance and understanding. READ MORE
Young kids on Long Island have a major reason to be excited this winter. Laurie Berkner will be coming to The Paramount in Huntington, New York. Photo courtesy of the band
Young kids on Long Island have a major reason to be excited this winter. Laurie Berkner will be coming to The Paramount in Huntington, New York. Photo courtesy of the band

Things to Do on Long Island Sunday, December 8

Christmas Tree Lighting at Heritage Trust

Mount Sinai — FREE
drink hot chocolate and eat cookies, listen to Christmas carols and hang out with Santa Claus in celebration of the official lighting of the Heritage Trust Christmas Tree.  READ MORE

Danfords Annual Tree Lighting Celebration

Port Jefferson — FREE
Gather around the tree in Bayles Park for Danfords Annual tree lighting complete with hot chocolate and cookies for the kids. READ MORE

Holiday Tree Competition in Stony Brook Village

Stony Brook — FREE
Cast a vote at Stony Brook Village Center's holiday tree competition. There will be 46 beautifully decorated trees lining the walkways in Stony Brook Village. READ MORE

Pancake Breakfast With Santa

Centereach
Centereach Fire Department Company # 3 presents Pancakes with Santa and Friends. READ MORE

Hanukkah Song and Story Time at The Dolphin Bookshop

Port Washington — FREE
Both the Hanukkah song and storytime events are open to all.  READ MORE

2019 Kids Holiday Festival

Melville
Start your holiday at the 2019 Kids Holiday Festival this year! A full day of fun for your entire family!​ READ MORE

Laurie Berkner: A Live Holiday Concert

Huntington
Best-selling artist Laurie Berkner performs a special holiday show at The Paramount. Playing all her hits from her Christmas album, this pop concert will have families singing and swaying.  READ MORE

Syosset Holiday Lighting Spectacular

Syosset — FREE
The Syosset-Woodbury Chamber of Commerce present their annual Holiday Lighting Spectacular on Sunday, December 8.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Village of Port Jefferson - Village Center
Van Nostrand Theatre, Suffolk County Community College,
Vanderbilt Mansion, Museum, Planetarium
Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center
Danfords Hotel, Marina & Spa
Centereach Fire Department Headquarters