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!
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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 | |
Nov 18 & 19, 2023 |
East Islip Craft & Gift Fair - East Islip High School |
Nov 18 - Dec 24, 2023 | |
Nov 24 - 26, 2023 |
Holiday Gift Shop Weekend - Sagtikos Manor |
Nov 24 - 26, 2023 | |
Nov 25, 2023 |
Small Business Saturday - "Patchogue Pole" |
Nov 25 & 26, 2023 |
Christkindl Markt - Plattduetsche Park |
Nov 26, 2023 - Mar 31, 2024 | |
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 | |
Nov 24 - Dec 23, 2023 (select dates) |
Lifted Spirits: A Winter Festival - Fire on the Ridge |
Nov 24, 2023 - Jan 2, 2024 | |
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!