101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun on Long Island - 2023 | Kids Out and About Long Island <

101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun on Long Island - 2023

KidsOutAndAbout is Long Island's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! he activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!

If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!

If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for Long Island, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun! 

Santa Sightings

Starting Nov 9, 2023 Photos with Santa - Roosevelt Field
Nov 1, 2023 Letters To Santa - Riverhead Recreation
Dec 2023 Photos with Santa - Santa's Christmas Tree Farm LI
Nov 11 - Dec 19, 2023  Letter's to Santa - Hicks Nurseries
Nov  18, 2023 Holiday Pictures With Santa - Tanger Outlets, Deer Park
Nov 24 - Dec 23, 2023 Photos with Santa - Hicks Nurseries 
Nov 26, 2023 Port Jefferson Santa Parade
Nov 26, 2023 Santa at the Lighthouse - Montauk Point Lighthouse
Nov 26, 2023 Santa Parade & Visit - Port Jefferson
Dec 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 2023 Breakfast with Santa - Milleridge Inn
Dec 7, 14, 21, 2023 Dinner with Santa - Milleridge Inn
Dec 10, 2023 Brunch with Santa - Fire at the Ridge
Dec 10, 2023 Santa Brunch - The Long Island Aquarium
Dec 1 - 3, 2023 Santa Photo Holiday Celebration - Tanger Outlets, Riverhead

 

Old-Time Christmas

Dec 2 & 3, 2023 27th Annual Charles Dickens Festival - The Village of Port Jefferson
Dec 2 & 3, 2023 Holiday House Tours - Once Upon a Christmas - Sagtikos Manor
Dec 3, 2023 Historic Holidays at Hallockville
Dec 9, 2023 Flying Santa Reenactment - Fire Island
Saturdays and Sundays Dec 2 - 17, 2023 Christmas at Westbury House

 

Light Displays

 

Multiple Dates beginning Nov 9, 2023- Jan 7, 2024 LuminoCity Holiday Lights Festival - Eisenhower Park
Multiple Dates begining Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024 Winter Lantern Festival at Queens County Farm Museum
Multiple Dates starting Nov 17 - Jan 13, 2024 NYBG GLOW- New York Botanical Gardens
Nov 11 - Dec 31, 2023 Children’s Animated Christmas Story & Walk-Thru - Hicks
Select dates Nov 17, 2023 through Jan 7, 2024 (Select Dates) Holiday Lights - The Bronx Zoo
Nov 18, 2023 Annual Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting - Tanger Outlets, Deer Park
Daily Beginning Nov 21, 2023 Origami Holiday Tree - American Museum of Natural History
Nov 24, 2023 Tree Lighting - The Milleridge Inn
Open Nov 24, 2023 Astra Lumina - Queens Botanical Garden
Nov 25, 2023 Lighting the Lighthouse - Montauk Point Lighthouse
Nov 25 - Dec 30, 2023 (select dates) Suffolk County Girls Scouts present: Holiday Light Show
Dec 1, 2023 Christmas Tree Lighting - Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve
Dec 1, 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony - Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park
Dec 1, 2023 - Jan 2, 2024 Festival of Trees - Port Jeff Village Center
Dec 2, 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony - Belmont Lake State Park
Dec 2, 2023 Annual Community Tree Lighting - Port Jefferson Station
Dec 2, 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony - Orient Beach State Park
Dec 2, 2023 Tree Lighting Ceremony - Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium
Dec 2, 2023 Winter Wonder at the Garden - Queens Botanical Garden
Dec 3, 2023 Ronkonkoma Winterfest & Christmas Tree Lighting - Raynor Park
Dec 8, 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony - Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Dec 8 - 17, 2023 Holiday Light Spectacular - Holtsville Ecology Site
Dec 15, 16, 17, 2023 Bayville Haunted Christmas

 

Living Nativities

Dec 2, 3, 8, 9, 2023 Drive Through Live Nativity- Hosted by Stony Brook Christian Assembly

 

Holiday Theatre

Nov 25, 2023 The Polar Express & A Visit With Santa - Patchogue Theatre
Nov 25 & 26, 2023 36th Annual Nutcracker Ballet Production - Long Island Ballet Theatre
Dec 1 - 3, 2023 Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet - Madison Theatre
Dec 6, 2023 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Dec 7, 2023 Christmas on Ice - The Patchogue Theatre
Dec 9, 2023 Diamond Performance Company Presents: The Nutcracker - Patchogue Theatre
Dec 10, 2023 A Celtic Christmas By A Taste of Ireland - Madison Theatre
Dec 16 & 17, 2023 Eglevsky Ballet in The Nutcracker - Tilles Center
Dec 16 & 17, 2023 The Madison Theatre Christmas Celebration
Dec 16, 2023 The Brooklyn Nutcracker at Kings Theatre
Dec 16, 2023 O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi at Queens County Farm Museum

 

Holiday Concerts

Dec 2, 2023 Elf in Concert at Kings Theatre
Dec 8, 2023 Worship Live Holiday Tour - Kings Theatre
Dec 17, 2023 Laurie Berkner: A LIVE Holiday Concert at The Paramount
Nov 25 - Dec 17, 2023 (during normal business hours) Live Brass Band - Hick's Nurseries
Nov 25 - Dec 3, 2023 Christmas Choir - Hick's Nurseries
Dec 10, 2023 Long Island Flute Club Holiday Flute Choir - Old Westbury Gardens
Dec 17, 2023 Laurie Berkner LIVE! A Live Holiday Concert - The Paramount

 

Christmas Tree Experience

Opening Nov, 2023 Santa's Christmas Tree Farm
Saturdays & Sundays Nov 18 - Dec 17, 2023 Carter Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Farm
Opening Nov 24, 2023 Mike's Christmas Tree Farm
Open Nov - Dec, 2023 Christmas at Hicks
  Paul's Christmas Tree Farm
  Waterdrinker Family Farm
  Zuhoski Farms

 

Hanukkah

Dec 3, 2023 Hanukkah Family Day - The Jewish Museum
Dec 5 - 17, 2023 Chanukah at the Chai Center -- Chai Center
Dec 7, 2023 Menorah Lighting - Raynor Park
Dec 7, 2023 Grand Menorah Lighting - Kennedy Plaza
Dec 7, 2023 Menorah Lighting - Sayville Chamber House
Dec 7, 2023 Grand Menorah Lighting & Parade - Merrick LIRR
Dec 7, 2023 Menorah Lighting - PJST Chamber Train Car
Nightly Dec 7 - 15, 2023 Hanukkah Celebration - Mohonk Mountain House
Dec 10, 2023 Grand Menorah Car Parade & Chanukah Party
Dec 10, 2023 Chanukah Festival at Central Queens

 

Ice Skating

Open Nov 2023 Iceland
Open year round City Ice Pavilion
Open year round Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center at Bethpage Community Park
Open year round Christopher Morley Outdoor Skating Rink
Open Nov 2023 - March 2024 Grant Park Skating Rink
Open year round Marjorie R. Post Community Park Ice Rink
Open year round The Rinx at Hauppauge
Thursdays - Sundays The Rinx at Wyandanch
Nov 24, 2023 - Mar 10, 2024 The Rinx at Port Jefferson
Opening Dec, 2023 Bayville Winter Wonderland

 

Shopping & Craft Fairs

Nov 11 & 12, 2023

Hauppauge Craft & Gift Fair - Hauppauge High School

Nov 12, 2023

New York Solar Faire Indoor Holiday Market 

Nov 18 & 19, 2023

East Islip Craft & Gift Fair - East Islip High School

Nov 18 - Dec 24, 2023

Broadway Commons Mall Christmas Craft & GIft Show

Nov 24 - 26, 2023

Holiday Gift Shop Weekend - Sagtikos Manor

Nov 24 - 26, 2023

Country Parlor Holiday Folk Art & Gift Show

Nov 25, 2023

Small Business Saturday - "Patchogue Pole"

Nov 25 & 26, 2023

Christkindl Markt - Plattduetsche Park

Nov 26, 2023 - Mar 31, 2024

Merrick Winter Flea Market

Dec 2, 2023

Winter Wonder at the Garden at Queens Botanical Garden

Dec 2 & 3, 2023 St. James Craft & Gift Fair at Smithtown East High School
Dec 9 & 10, 2023 The Northport Winter Craft Fair - Northport High School
Dec 10, 2023 Patchogue Holiday Shop & Stroll
Dec 16 & 17, 2023 Selden Craft & Gift Fair - Newfield High School
Dec 19, 2023 Holiday Open House - Southampton History Museum

 

New Year's Fun

Dec 31, 2023 Fishes & Wishes – New Year’s Eve at Long Island Aquarium
Dec 31, 2023 Noon Year's Eve Party - United Skates of America, Seaford
Dec 31, 2023 Midnight on Main - Patchogue
Dec 31, 2023 Family New Year's Eve Party - United Skates of America - Seaford
Jan 1, 2024 New Year's Day Pajama Skate - United Skates of America - Seaford

 

New Year's Day Hikes

Jan 1, 2024

First Day Hike - Hempstead Lake State Park

Jan 1, 2024

First Day Hike - Connetquot River State Park Preserve

Jan 1, 2024

First Day Hike - Sunken Meadow State Park

 

Miscellaneous

Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 15, 2024 (select dates)

Holiday Train Show - New York Botanical Garden

Nov 18, 2023

Polar Plunge - Brook Haven, NY

Nov 19, 2023

Holiday Princess Tea Party - Long Island Aquarium

Nov 19, 2023

Patchogue Holiday Boat Parade

Nov 24 - Dec 23, 2023 (select dates)

Lifted Spirits: A Winter Festival - Fire on the Ridge

Nov 24, 2023 - Jan 2, 2024

Christmas House Long Island

Nov 25, 2023

17th Annual Miracle on Main Street - Patchogue

Nov 23, 2023 (Reservations Required)

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Milleridge

Dec 2, 2023 Holiday Wreath Making - Hempstead Lake State Park
Dec 3, 2023 Winter on Wellwood - Lindenhurst Gazebo
Dec 8, 9, 15, 17, 2023 Victorian Holiday Walking Tour - Cold Spring Harbor the Whaling Museum
Dec 10, 2023 Holiday Tales at the Castle - Castle Gould
Dec 12, 2023 Dinner with the Snow Sisters - Milleridge Inn
Nov 26 & 27, 2023 Winter Solstice Celebration - Vanderbilt Museum
Dec 27 & 28, 2023 Holiday Lights! Candle Making Workshop - Cold Spring Harbor the Whaling Museum
Dec 30, 2023 Winter Wonders Walk - Valley Stream State Park

Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!


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