Friday, December 13
Kids Christmas Movie Night at Local Church
Families can enjoy a screening of the holiday favorite- The Polar Express, on an outdoor drive-in movie screen at Local Church, 1070 Portion Road, Farmingville. Lot opens at 6:30 p.m., movie begins at 7 p.m. The sound will play through your car radio as you watch from your seat. Hot chocolate and popcorn will be served, and children can experience a visit from Santa! Admission: FREE. For details, visit localchurchli.com.
Weekend of December 14
Breakfast with Santa at The Local Burger
Bring the whole family to enjoy Breakfast with Santa at The Local Burger, 62 East Main Street, Bay Shore from 10 a.m. to noon on December 14 & 15. Little ones will take photos with Santa, and give him their Santa Wishlist! For breakfast, enjoy scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast and more! Admission: $20/Person. For reservations, call (631) 647-8300.
Saturday, December 14
Lights on Liberty Street Opening Night
The 2024 Lights on Liberty holiday display will have an opening night celebration at 119 Liberty Street, Deer Park at 8 p.m. This magnificent display has been able to light up the community for 44 years, bringing families together each year. Lights on Liberty will remain lit until January 1. You don’t want to miss this sparkling event. For details, you can reach them on Facebook, facebook.com/lightsonliberty.
Sunday, December 15
Polar Express Experience at Oliver’s Playhouse
Bring your little one to the Polar Express Experience at Oliver’s Playhouse, 1225 Montauk Highway, Oakdale from 3-7 p.m. Each 90-minute session includes a magical trolley ride to the North Pole, meet & greet with Santa, a holiday craft, christmas carols, hot cocoa and more! Admission: $50/Child. For more details, call (631) 888-3808.
Wednesday, December 18
Sparkling Slime Ornaments at The Islip Public Library
Bring your child, grades 3-5, to make a sparkling slime at the Islip Public Library, 71 Monell Avenue, Islip from 6-6:45 p.m. Transform your glittering creation into a beautiful holiday decoration by storing it in the plastic ornament case provided! To register, call (631) 581-5933.
Thursday, December 19
Cocoa & Carols Holiday Sing-A-Long
Bring the family down for tons of fun holiday cheer at the West Islip Public Library, 3 Higbie Lane, West Islip at 7 p.m. Sing carols with your little ones and sip on delicious hot cocoa! To register, call (631) 661-7080.
Saturday, December 21
Santa Experience at Lily’s
Enjoy the magic of the holidays at the Santa Experience at Lily’s Babylon, 345 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon from 1-3 p.m. Indulge in an exquisite lunch buffet with unlimited winter sangria for parents & guardians. While enjoying a meal with loved ones, Santa will make an appearance for a meet and greet, so bring your cameras! Admission: $55/Adult, $20/Child. For reservations, call (631) 539-0816.
Sunday, December 22
Paint your Elf on a Shelf
Drop off your child ages 7+ for a fun holiday painting activity at Key to My Art, 10 West Oak Street, Amityville from 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Dress for mess and experience a fun holiday painting craft, as you paint an “Elf on a Shelf” on a canvas! All supplies are included with the admission fee. Admission: $30/Child. To register, visit keytomyart.com.
Weekend of December 27
The Nutcracker: Ballet Long Island
Ballet Long Island will perform The Nutcracker at CM Performing Arts Center, 931 Montauk Highway, Oakdale. Audiences will be transported by the Sugar Plum Fairy to The Land of Sweets and enjoy this family-friendly classic, set to the music of Tchaikovsky. Performances dates: 12:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. on December 27 and 28. Admission: $45/Person. Discounts available for group rates. For tickets and more information, visit balletlongisland.com.
Friday, January 17
Family Night Out: The Wild Robot
Bring the whole family to spend an evening watching the film, The Wild Robot, at Brentwood Public Library, 34 2nd Avenue, Brentwood at 6:30 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be provided. No registration required! For details, call (631) 273-7883.
ONGOING KIDS HOLIDAY EVENTS
Town of Islip Holiday Light Show
The Town of Islip Holiday Light Show, presented by the Town of Islip Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs is back with another magnificent showcase at Brookwood Hall, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip. Catch this stellar experience every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m., running through December 21. Admission: FREE. For details, visit islipny.gov.
Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Holiday Light Show
The 2024 GSSC Holiday Light Show at the Enchanted Forest will be hosted at Camp Edey, 1500 Lakeview Avenue, Bayport on Fridays & Saturdays through December 21. Enjoy hot chocolate and treats while walking through the trails of light displays!
Admission: $15/Regular Ticket, $12.50/Girl Scout Ticket. For more information about the event, contact lightshow@gssc.us.
Winter Wonderland at Waterdrinker Farm
Experience Winter Wonderland at Waterdrinker Family Farm & Garden, 633 Wading River Road, Manorville. Open on Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m through December 23. See thousands of twinkling lights, a vintage airstream village, Christmas tree farm and more! Admission: $20/Person. Children 2 & Under are FREE. For more details, call (631) 878-8653.
Frosty’s Big Day at CMPAC
Visit CM Performing Arts Center, 931 Montauk Highway, Oakdale, and catch a performance of Frosty’s Big Day! The delightful family theatre musical brings the beloved snowman to life in a heartwarming adventure. Show dates run through December 26. For tickets and more details, visit cmpac.com.
The Happy Elf at Argyle Theatre
Experience the new musical comedy, “The Happy Elf” at Argyle Theatre at Babylon Village, 34 West Main Street, Babylon. Performances run until January 5. You won’t want to miss this exciting musical experience with the whole family! Tickets and more information can be found at argyletheatre.com.
ChristmasLand at Tanger Outlets
Step into the world of ChristmasLand- an experience of all things Christmas at Tanger Outlets, 152 The Arches Cir, Via La Scala Suite 900, Deer Park. Explore the wonderland of Christmas cheer and be transported into an imaginative land with a one-of-a-kind interactive installation. Capture the magic of the holidays with stunning backdrops or indulge in festive snacks and warm beverages! For tickets and more information, visit christmaslandny.com.
Cartooning for Kids with Islip Arts Council
The Islip Arts Council will host two four-week sessions of a cartoon workshop at 1701 Sunrise Hwy, Suite N1 (next to Dick’s Sporting Goods Main Entrance) Bay Shore from 2-4 p.m. Session 1: January 4, 11, 18, 25. Session 2: February 1, 8, 15, 22. Kids ages 6+ will learn the basics of cartoon drawing in this fun program! Admission: $100 per child. For more information, visit isliparts.org.
Saturday Storytime at Barnes & Noble
Children of all ages are invited to Barnes & Noble’s weekly Storytime at Gardiner Manor Mall, 842 Sunrise Highway, Bay Shore at 11 a.m. Each week, a bookseller reads aloud old and new favorite picture books for everyone to enjoy. For details, call (631) 206-0198.
