It’ll be beginning to look a lot like the Holidays across the East End. Now that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas and Hanukkah are fast approaching, plenty of South Fork hamlets are gussying up as they don their respective holiday-themed decorations via tree lightings, placing menorahs, holiday singalongs and other festive fun.
Here’s a selection of where to get into the spirit of the holiday season.
East Hampton Town
Get lit, holiday style, in Montauk. On Saturday, Nov. 30, the annual Lighting of the Lighthouse fun (located at 2000 Old Montauk Highway and brought to us by the Montauk Historical Society) starts at dusk (around 4:30 p.m.). Enjoy a singalong of holiday music with Sarah Conway and the Playful Souls while sipping on hot chocolate donated by Hampton Coffee Company. Catch a visit from Santa Claus at the Lighthouse on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also on Sunday, it’s the beginning of the month-long local business decorating contest, which culminates with a panel of judges voting on their picks for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners announced at the end of December. Sponsored by the Montauk Chamber of Commerce (aka Visit Montauk).
While not exactly a tree lighting, specifically, the Bonac Festival of Lights is back for the holiday season, kicking off this Friday, Nov. 29, at East Hampton High School (2 Long Lane). Now in its fourth year and hosted by the East Hampton Masonic Lodge, Star of the East Lodge No. 843, the walk-through festival features over 70 holiday themed light displays, slated to be open on Friday and Saturday nights from 5:30 to 8 p.m. every weekend through Dec. 21. The cost to enter the light show for adults is $12, $6 for kids. Hot chocolate and popcorn will be available for purchase. Money raised will go to student scholarships and the East Hampton High School Student Association (to date, over $23,000 has been distributed to graduating seniors).
On Friday, Dec. 6, the festival will offer a holiday celebration in the high school cafeteria with performances from the music department as well as holiday crafts, food trucks and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The annual fire truck decorating competition will also occur. For more information, call 631-907-3500.
SantaFest comes to East Hampton Village on Saturday, Dec. 7, kicking off with Santa Claus making his grand entrance by helicopter, touching down in Herrick Park (67 Newtown Lane) around 11 a.m. The day continues with a holiday market at Village Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. while a Santa parade containing marching bands, floats and lots of holiday magic starts at noon. Swing by an outpost of Santa’s Workshop at Millstone Park (61 Main St.), unleash your creativity in a sugary Candyland adventure at The Huntting Inn (91 Main St.) and meet with Mrs. Claus for pony rides at the Christmas tree at the Ladies Village Improvement Society (95 Main St.) from 1 to 4 p.m. East Hampton Middle School hosts two screenings of The Grinch (at 1 and 3 p.m.) and the day ends with a tree lighting ceremony back at Herrick Park around 5 p.m.
In Amagansett, the Life-Saving & Coast Guard Station Museum (160 Atlantic Ave.) is hosting its Second Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. Working with the Kiwanis Club of East Hampton, the light-up of the tree will be at 5:45 p.m. sharp and all are welcome to join in for free hot cider, cookies and light music plus a few arts and crafts for the kids.
Southampton Town
Southampton Chamber of Commerce and the Southampton Christmas Decorations Committee host the annual “Firetruck Parade of Lights” this Saturday, Nov. 30, beginning around 4:30 p.m. on Windmill Lane and featuring decorated vehicles from the town’s volunteer fire and EMS departments. The parade ends at Agawam Park, where at around 5:30, there’ll be a tree lighting ceremony and holiday songs sung by Southampton Middle and High Schools’ Voices of Southampton. Santa will be on the steps of the Southampton Cultural Center (25 Pond Lane) and the evening culminates in a fireworks display, ensuring the holiday tradition of Southampton Village remains merry and bright.
Hampton Bays has its own “Holiday Funday” on Sunday, Dec. 1, starting with a holiday stroll down the hamlet’s Main Street. Enjoy face painting and music, take pics with the Grinch while shopping and enjoying sweet treats from 1 to 4 p.m.
From 2 to 4 p.m. there’s a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the Hampton Bays Chamber of Commerce’s new office (located at 15A West Montauk Highway), with light bites and giveaways. Kids can participate in the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt at participating businesses along Main Street and there’ll be a magical sleigh ride with the Friends of the Hampton Bays Library at 4 p.m.
The day ends with a tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. at the Hampton Bays Firehouse (69 West Montauk Highway) with a special appearance from Santa. Also in Hampton Bays, Canoe Place Inn (239 East Montauk Highway) hosts its own Christmas Tree Lighting on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine invites all to kick off the holiday season at the annual Big Duck Lighting in Flanders. Starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the beloved Flanders landmark (located at 1012 Route 24), the event is a classic Christmastime community tradition for more than 30 years. Originally built in 1931 by duck farmer Martin Maurer, the 93-year-old Big Duck was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
Get festive at Stony Brook Southampton, with a windmill lighting and holiday gathering on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Set for the Stony Brook Southampton Library (39 Tuckahoe Road), all are welcome to enjoy refreshments, children’s crafts and face painting plus an alumni-sponsored photo booth. Call 631-632-6873 for more info.
On Saturday, Dec. 12, The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center (551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton) will hold its own Holiday Bazaar from 2 to 6:30 p.m. with a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m.
A Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Celebration is in downtown Westhampton Beach on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the village green (on the corner of Mill Road and Main Street) starting at 5 p.m. All are welcome to join the Westhampton Beach Chamber of Commerce as they welcome the holiday season for “where the Hamptons begin.”
Sag Harbor
Baron’s Cove (31 West Water St.) in Sag Harbor hosts its annual tree lighting ceremony on Friday, Dec. 6, starting at 4 p.m. There’ll be live music from Brad Penuel Band in the bar room as well as carolers and a visit from Kris Kringle from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Actual tree lighting will be at 7 p.m. Gather ‘round the fireplace, wet your whistle with eggnog, hot chocolate and candy cane martinis and snack on warm gingerbread cookies.
Help light up Sag Harbor with the spirit of the season. From around 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, a small celebration with music and a tree lighting (at around 5 p.m.) are set for the grassy patch at the beginning of Long Wharf, between the Windmill and Bay Street Theater, with help the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Live holiday music will be provided by Sarah Conway and the Playful Souls. Later in December, the annual menorah lighting will be at the same location, as the first night of Hanukkah beginning at sundown on Wednesday, Dec. 25 (with the lighting beginning at around 6 p.m.).
Eastport
Eastport Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Eastport/Tuttle Parent-Teacher Organization for two tree lightings this year, on Friday, Dec. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. All are welcome to come light the Eastport Elementary School tree as well as the tree located in the downtown business district, with help from the Eastport Fire Department. Celebrations will include special appearances from Santa, a small parade down Main Street, a holiday market and fun festive activities for all ages.
Shelter Island
The Rams Head Inn (108 Ram Island Drive) on Shelter Island hosts its annual Winterfest and tree lighting on Saturday, Nov. 30. Decorate cookies with the kiddos, make sustainable tree ornaments (time to put that pinecone collection to good use!), feed the sheep, listen in on some children’s stories and enjoy live piano holiday singalongs. Hot chocolate, hot cider and s’mores will be available for purchase and there’ll be a classical concert from the Shelter Island Friends of Music at 5 p.m.
On Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 5 p.m. all are welcome to gather in front of the Town of Shelter Island Police Department Headquarters (44 North Ferry Road) for the annual ceremonial tree lighting put on by the Shelter Island Chamber of Commerce. The evening will be full of music, caroling and good cheer, including a quick walk to the American Legion for free hot chocolate, homemade cookies and plenty of photo ops with jolly old Saint Nick himself.
Riverhead
For this holiday season, there’s a whole holiday extravaganza set for downtown Riverhead (at the Riverhead Town Square, 125 East Main St.). Festivities will be on Saturday, Dec. 7, and will include a slew of fun-filled activities to ring in the holiday season. Scheduled events will include: a Lions Club parade (including a prize for your pet with the best holiday spirit) at 1 p.m., a visit from Santa (slated to arrive by boat) at 2:30 p.m., a bonfire at 2:45 p.m., a musical program featuring Riverhead High School, School of Rock, East End Arts and the East End Disability singers at 3 p.m. and a tree lighting at 5:15 p.m. Throughout the day there’ll be complimentary hot cocoa as well as games, crafts, juggling and treats. To participate in the parade, email [email protected]. Holiday bedecked boats are welcome to join the Santa flotilla on the Peconic River. Rain date is Sunday, Dec. 8.
