With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, the countdown is on until Christmas and Hanukkah, and that means a smorgasbord of merry and bright decorations lighting up our Hamptons hamlets. Plenty of South Fork spots 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
While not exactly a tree lighting, specifically, the Bonac Festival of Lights is back for the holiday season, kicking off this Friday, Nov. 28, at the historic Mulford Farm (10 James Lane, East Hampton). Now in its fourth year the festival is presented 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 between Thanksgiving and Christmas (last night is Saturday, Dec. 20). The cost to enter the light show for adults is $12, $6 for kids. enjoy illuminated snowmen, carolers, elves, and the North Pole! In addition to the light displays, there will be food, vendors, music, characters, and Santa Claus on selected nights. All proceeds from Bonac Lights support college scholarships for East Hampton High School students.
The Bonac Festival of Lights is at historic Mulford Farm this year
This Saturday, Nov. 29, is the annual lighting of the Montauk Point Lighthouse (2000 Montauk Highway), marking the start of the holiday season at The End. Set to occur from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Meet Santa Claus and have your picture taken with him at the lighthouse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30 while sipping on some delicious hot chocolate donated by Hampton Coffee and munching on cookies donated by the Montauk Bake Shoppe. This event is free, but donations are appreciated. On Monday, Dec. 1, it’s the beginning of the month-long local business decorating contest, where the Montauk business community gets into the holiday spirit. running through Dec. 31, which culminates with a panel of judges voting on their picks for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, set to be announced on Jan. 2. Sponsored by the Montauk Chamber of Commerce (aka Visit Montauk).
SantaFest comes to East Hampton Village next weekend, kicking off on Friday, Dec. 5 with SantaFest Eve, featuring a Sip & Shop from 4 to 7 p.m. along Newtown Lane to support local businesses. On Saturday, Dec. 6, festivities begin a holiday market at Village Hall (86 Main St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) with Santa Claus touching down, via helicopter, in Herrick Park (67 Newtown Lane) around 11 a.m. and quickly after, leading a parade down Main Street starting around noon, complete with marching bands, floats and lots of holiday magic. Next, Old Saint Nick will be in his Hamptons workshop at Millstone Park (61 Main St.). Swing by to snag a free pic with Kris Kringle before unleashing your creativity in a sugary Candyland adventure at Sam’s Restaurant (36 Newtown Lane). Meet, Santa’s better half, Mrs. Claus, for pony rides at the Ladies Village Improvement Society (95 Main St.) from 1 to 4 p.m. East Hampton Middle School hosts a screening of Elf (at 2 p.m.). Smokey Buns (68 Park Place) hosts a North Pole Ice Bar, an outdoor pop-up featuring lights, holiday music, frosty cocktails, and the fanciest ice bar you’ve ever seen from 1 to 5 p.m., right before the day ends with a tree lighting ceremony back at Herrick Park around 5 p.m.
Festivities across East Hampton Town include the day-long SantaFest throughout the village along with the annual lighting of the lighthouse out in Montauk. (Left photo courtesy of WordHampton, right photo courtesy of Montauk Historical Society)
Scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, the Life-Saving & Coast Guard Station Museum (160 Atlantic Ave.) hosts a tree lighting ceremony from 4 to 5:30 p.m. While the actual lighting is slated to take place at 5:30 p.m. sharp, all are welcome to come early to make decorations for the holiday tree using clamshells and other gifts from the sea. Then hang your ornament and join for some holiday caroling.
Chabad of the Hamptons hosts menorah lightings across East Hampton Town this holiday season. On Thursday, Dec. 18, the fifth night of Hanukkah, there’ll be a lighting at 4 p.m. at Ashawagh Hall in Springs (located at 780 Springs Fireplace Road) with music, donuts and latkes. On Sunday, Dec. 21 (the eighth night of Hanukkah) there’ll be a menorah lighting at the Montauk Village Green. On Saturday, Dec. 20, it’s the annual Menorahcade, a wonderful opportunity to show your Jewish pride. Cars line up at 17 Woods Lane at 6 p.m., it starts at 6:15, and ends at the Amagansett flagpole on Main Street at 7 p.m. For more information call 631-324-5800.
Sag Harbor
This Saturday, Nov. 29, Sag Harbor’s First Presbysterian Church, aka Old Whalers’ Church (44 Union St.) holds its annual tree lighting at the tail end of their craft fair. Set to happen at 5 p.m. The church’s Christmas pageant and church holiday party is set for Dec. 21. During the pageant, there are performances from the all-female acapella singing group the Sweet Adelines as well as from the Sag Harbor Community Band.
Sag Harbor will have a couple tree lightings across the village, while Temple Adas Israel hosts a menorah lighting on Dec. 14. (Top left photos courtesy of Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce, right courtesy of Old Whalers’ Church, bottom left courtesy Temple Adas Israel)
Help the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce light up Sag Harbor with the spirit of the holiday season at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. Festivities are set to pop off on Long Wharf at the Bay Street Theater courtyard with holiday music by Sarah Conway and the Playful Souls. Tree lighting will take place at approximately 5 p,m. with the music and celebrating expected to last about a half hour afterward. Later on in the month, on Sunday, Dec. 14, Temple Adas Israel hosts a menorah lighting at the beginning of Long Wharf in Sag Harbor beginning at 6 p.m. in honor of the first night of Hanukkah.
Southampton
On Saturday, Dec. 6, all are welcome to sing carols with the Bridgehampton School Band, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, visit with Santa — courtesy of the Bridgehampton Lions Club — and help light the tree on the front lawn of the Hampton Library (2478 Main Street, Bridgehampton, 631-537-0015). Festivities start at 3:30 p.m.
The Southampton Decorations Committee is putting out all the holiday stops in their annual parade of lights, slated for around 4:30 p.m. this Saturday. Featuring decorated vehicles representing
local volunteer fire and EMS departments, the parade ends at Agawam Park, where the tree lighting ceremony takes place around 5:30 p.m. Southampton High School’s Voices of Southampton will perform with the evening culminating with a fireworks display overhead.
A tree and menorah lighting celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Westhampton Beach Village Green (on the corner of Mill Road and Main Street) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Westhampton Beach Chamber of Commerce.
A Christmas tree lighting is at Canoe Place Inn (239 East Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, 631-763-6300) on Dec. 5 from 6 p.m., with a special visit from Santa. This family-friendly event features a special visit from Santa, live holiday music, and all the joy of this cherished community tradition. Bring your loved ones together to celebrate the season, while sipping mulled wine, hot cider, and rich hot chocolate by a cozy crackling fire in the study and Good Ground Tavern. It’s an unforgettable night filled with warmth, music, and holiday cheer that you won’t want to miss!
The holiday season stays magical on Shelter Island with tree lightings and caroling next week. (Photos by Eleanor P. Labrozzi)
Shelter Island
Winterfest comes to the Rams Head Inn (108 Ram Island Drive, Shelter Island,631-749-0811) this Saturday, Nov. 29, sure to bring visitors a day of delightful, family-friendly holiday cheer. Enjoy sights and sounds of Christmas with live music and holiday singalongs featuring William Cento, Lenore’s Jazz Trio and many more. Feed the sheep (it’s called Rams Head for a reason, people!), enjoy hot cocoa and cider (both kid-friendly and adult versions), take part in cookie decorating and ornament-making, and get your caricature drawing done. There’ll be brunch and dinner served, along with roaring fire pits and s’mores. Tree lighting is slated for just after dusk.
The Shelter Island Chamber of Commerce‘s annual tree lighting is this Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. Join in the fun at the front of the Town of Shelter Island Police Department Headquarters (4 North Ferry Road) for music and caroling, and the ceremonial lighting of the Town tree. Afterward, walk down to the Shelter Island Community Center to warm up with some hot chocolate and cookies, and have your photo taken with Kris Kringle himself.
