Lights, Santa, Action...Hot Holiday Events on the East End

Santa Claus is coming to town…and village, and hamlet, and other spots along the East End, and he’s bringing a tradition of parades, tree lightings and more holiday events in his sleigh.

Thursday, December 5

Quack the halls, it’s time for the annual Holiday Lighting of the Big Duck in Flanders (7 p.m.)

Friday, December 6

Annual windmill lighting at Stony Brook Southampton (5–7 p.m.)

Saturday, December 7

The annual Santa Parade in East Hampton (10 a.m.) is ready to roll down Main Street—and don’t miss Santa greeting the kids after the parade at the Huntting Inn on Main Street (around 11 a.m.).

Southampton Country Holiday presents its annual “It’s a Wonderful Village” celebration (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Enjoy a host of events throughout the village, including a three-day Christmas Marketplace at the Southampton Center with artisan crafts and a farmers market, plus enjoy storytelling and holiday delights. Children young and old can meet Santa (Dec. 7, 1–3 p.m.) and enjoy horse and buggy rides (1:30–3:30 p.m.) that leave from the Chamber office and run down Main Street and Jobs Lane,

The Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum will hold its 12th Annual Winter Festival (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), featuring live dance and musical performances, an art market with authentic Native-made jewelry, art and other hand-crafted traditional and contemporary pieces, demonstrations, food, children’s activities and more.

A new tradition in Greenport, the second annual Shellabration (Dec. 7–8, noon to 5 p.m.) invites East Enders to keep it local by sampling and celebrating the freshly harvested Peconic Bay shellfish, deliciously paired with North Fork wine

Westhampton Holiday WinterFest (starting at noon), where participants can ride the Westhampton Beach Holiday Trolley to events around the Village—local stores host kids’ craft and holiday treat stations, carolers stroll the streets, and then all gather for the annual Christmas tree and menorah lighting ceremony (6:30 p.m.) on the Village Green, with caroling by the Westhampton Beach High School chorus and Hampton Synagogue’s Youth Choir, and Santa Claus coming by fire truck!

Sip hot cider while the kids visit with Santa and the musicians from the Bridgehampton School entertain all with holiday selections, followed by the 20th annual holiday tree lighting at the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton (3–5 p.m.)

Annual windmill lighting on Long Wharf Sag Harbor.

Wölffer Estate Vineyard will celebrate the holidays with a day of events (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) including holiday gift bazaar, a gala cocktail party, the inaugural Festival of Trees and a countdown to the Lighting of the Vines.

Sunday, December 8

Santa visits the Montauk Firehouse during Star Bright Lighting weekend, where businesses vie for the title of Best Decorated Montauk Business. By this point, Sweet’tauk’s second annual Handmade for the Holidays fair is well underway, held every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas Eve (34 South Etna Avenue), the fair features a variety of goods handmade by local artists.

Santa visits the windmill on Long Wharf in Sag Harbor.

On the North Fork, enjoy the Greenport Fire Department Christmas Parade (1 p.m.) with Rudolph, Santa and Co.

Saturday, December 14

The 24th Annual Holiday Tour of Inns, B&Bs and Special Places follows on December 14. Included on the tour is the famed Pollock-Krasner House in Springs. Local properties, dolled up for the holidays, will be open from noon until 4 p.m.

Saint Nick returns to Southampton village for his annual visit to Rogers Memorial Library (2–4 p.m.)

Sunday, December 15

Experience 225 years of holiday celebrations with costumed guides musicians, festive foods, and period interiors of the decorated homes along East Hampton’s historic Main Street (4:30–7:30 p.m.)

Friday, December 20

Few traditions on the East End match Nancy Atlas playing the Stephen Talkhouse, and the holidays are no exception during her Christmas Spectacular show (8 p.m.)

Wednesday, January 1

Montauk Point on January 1 sees another tradition—the annual pilgrimage of Koreans and Korean-Americans to watch the first sunrise of the New Year. Korean culture calls for the first sunrise to be seen from the easternmost accessible point of land, and Koreans from Long Island and the New York metro area traditionally make the pre-dawn trip to Montauk Point to greet the sun and anticipate all that the New Year holds, as the lighthouse becomes awash in golden sunlight.

For more details and additional events, visit the DansPapers.com Calendar.