17 Events This Weekend to Get into the Holiday Spirit
It’s the first weekend in December—the time to start celebrating the holidays is here. From live shows, to hearth-side gatherings and a parade, enjoy Christmas and Hanukkah fun from Riverhead to East Hampton.
Lighting of the Windmill
Stony Brook Southampton, 239 Montauk Highway, Southampton
Friday, December 5, 5–7 p.m.
Wolfie, voted Long Island’s favorite college mascot, will be on hand for the celebration, which will include a photo booth, holiday treats, crafts for children and steaming cups of hot cocoa. The event will showcase Stony Brook Southampton’s new food program, run by the Amagansett Food Institute, featuring local artisinal foods. New York State Senator Ken LaValle will also join the festivities. Admission to the Windmill Lighting is free and open to the public.
Topping Rose House Tree Lighting Ceremony
Topping Rose House, 1 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton
Friday, December 5, 6 p.m.
Join Topping Rose House for a merry evening of carols, holiday snacks, hot cocoa, and mulled wine. Free. toppingrosehouse.com
A Spectacular Christmas Carol
Guild Hall, 158 Main Street, East Hampton
Friday, December 5, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 6, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, December 7, 2 p.m.
Our Fabulous Variety Show presents its fourth annual holiday show, A Spectacular Christmas Carol, a re-telling of the classic Dickens’ tale, A Christmas Carol, told through the twists and turns of a variety show. Tickets range from $15 to $40. Visit ourfabulousvarietyshow.org.
East Hampton Village Santa Parade
Main Street and Newtown Lane, East Hampton
Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m.
The Santa Parade begins on Main Street, continues on to Newtown Lane, and ends just before the railroad tracks. Kids can meet Santa! Featuring Dan’s Papers founder Dan Rattiner as Santa Claus.
Country Christmas Shoppe
Prosper King House, 116 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays
Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Historic-themed items, holiday ornaments, note cards and more for sale. 631-728-0887. hbhps.org
Southampton Country Holiday Presents “It’s a Wonderful Village”
Main Street, Southampton Village
Saturday, December 6, 1–4 p.m.
Have a stroll through the village and be entertained with carolers, horse and buggy rides, hay rides, hot chocolate, cookies and more.
Little Lucy’s Holiday Pooch Party
91 Jobs Lane, Southampton
Saturday, December 6, 1–4 p.m.
Take pictures with Santa Claus and your dog. Cocktails and doggie delectables will be served. Adoptable dogs from Southampton Animal Shelter will be on hand. Guests are asked to bring a gift for shelter dogs, such as toys, leashes, treats or blankets. Call 631-287-2352 or visit littlelucysboutique.com.
Tree Light Up and Visit with Santa
Long Wharf, Sag Harbor
Saturday, December 6, 3–5 p.m.
Meet with Santa Claus before the tree is lighted at 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce. sagharborchamber.com
Riverhead SantaCon
Downtown Riverhead
Saturday, December 6, 3 p.m.–midnight
The East End’s first holiday-themed pub crawl, SantaCon, is headed to downtown Riverhead. The pub crawl calls for all participants to dress up as Santa Claus—the more complete the costume, the better—and walk from one bar to the next spreading holiday cheer. Nine restaurants and bars on Main Street will be participating, each offering special promotions and activities for SantaCon participants. It costs $10 to participate, with proceeds benefiting The Brendan House Project, a long-term care residence for veterans and civilians with physical and cognitive disabilities. Bracelets are available, for cash, at all participating bars: Suffolk Theater, Vines and Hops, Joe’s Garage & Grill, Tweeds, Crooked Ladder Brewing Company, Digger O’Dells, Cliff’s Rendezvous, Dark Horse Tavern and Hotel Indigo. To reserve with a credit card, visit suffolktheater.com or visit the Suffolk Theater box office at 118 East Main Street.
Hearthside Cheer
Rogers Mansion, 17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton
Saturday, December 6, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Southampton Historical Museum hosts a holiday party at the Captain Albert Rogers Mansion built in 1843 by a successful whaling merchant. The Greek Revival Mansion will be filled with bountiful hors d’oeuvre, sumptuous sweets and an open bar. A piano player will perform contemporary and traditional holiday songs on a baby grand piano. The parlors and sitting rooms will be festooned with garlands of fresh winter greens and flowers. Colorful antique holiday decorations can be seen on the many trees that decorate the many reception rooms in the Mansion. Admission is $50 in advance or $60 at the door. To order tickets, call 631-283-2494.
Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum Holiday Party
200 Main Street, Sag Harbor
Saturday, December 6, 5–7 p.m.
The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum hosts its inugural holiday cocktail party. Drinks and hors d’oeuvre will be served in the Sage Parlor, which will be festively decorated. Steve Shaugnessy will play jazz between a holiday set from local carolers. Tickets are $25. Call 631-725-0770 or visit sagharborwhalingmuseum.org.
Holiday Winterfest
Main Street, Westhampton Beach
Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m.
Festivities begin with holiday movies for kids at Hampton Arts Twin Cinema. Then, beginning at noon, discover the year-round shops and restaurants as they host kids activity craft stations, holiday treat stations, and holiday discounts, while visiting with Olaf at the Village Green. Starting at 2 p.m. is storytime with Mrs. Claus in the Westhampton Free Library.
Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop
Children’s Museum of the East End, 376 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton
Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Children’s decorate their own pre-built gingerbread houses. The cost is $30 per house including museum admission, or $20 for CMEE members. Reservations a must Call 631-537-8250.
Festival of Lights: Christmas Tree & Menorah Lighting
Main Street, Westhampton Beach
Saturday, December 6, 6–7:30 p.m.
The annual Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting ceremony takes place on The Village Green. Caroling by the Westhampton Beach High School chorus and The Hampton Synagogue’s Youth Choir will fill the evening with the festive sounds of the season, free hot cocoa and cookies, and the arrival of Santa Claus by fire engine tops off the evening. Sponsored by The Greater Westhampton Chamber of Commerce, The Hamptons Interfaith Council & The Incorporated Village of Westhampton Beach. Call 631-288-3337 for additional details.
Lighting of the Vines and Wreath Auction
Wölffer Estate Vineyard, 139 Sagg Road, Sagaponack
Saturday, December 6, 6–8 p.m.
The awe-inspiring lighting of the vines features 15,000 LED lights illuminating the vineyard. The evening also includes a silent auction of holiday wreaths and other decor, designed by artists, designers and business owners throughout the community. Proceeds of the auction benefit Fighting Chance, offering free cancer counseling across the East End of Long Island. Vanessa Trouble will perform holiday jazz. Passed hors d’hoeuvre, wine and hard cider, mulled wine and more will be served. Admission is $75 for age 13 and up, and $35 for ages 12 and under, plus tax. For tickets, visit wolffer.com.
c/o The Maidstone Tree Lighting
207 Main Street, East Hampton
Sunday, December 7, 4–6 p.m.
c/o The Maidstone and The Living Room Restaurant will present the annual tree lighting. he tree lighting event will feature festive activities such as live holiday music from East Hampton High School choir, visits with Santa, cookie decorating, holiday refreshments and more. Non-perishable food items will be collected for the East Hampton Food Pantry. There will also be a toy drive for Toys for Tots. A collection box will be available for new unwrapped toys throughout the holiday season. Following the treelighting, the special Swedish Holiday Menu will be available for dinner for $42 per person. Call 631-324-5006.
Holiday Tree Lighting and Visit with Santa
The green across from the firehouse, Hampton Bays
Sunday, December 7, 5 p.m.
View the tree lighting then come back to the firehouse for cookies, hot chocolate and photos with Santa Claus.