New Enchanted Forest holiday village coming to Suffolk
The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County is expanding their Holiday Light Show offerings to Southaven County Park in Yaphank beginning Nov. 26. Credit: Girl Scouts of Suffolk County
A new Enchanted Forest holiday village is coming to Southaven County Park in Yaphank beginning in November, including a walking path of holiday displays that leads families into an outdoor area to take photos with Santa, make s’mores around a fire pit and eat a picnic dinner on outdoor tables among trees twinkling with lights.
The new offering is an addition to the annual drive-thru Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Holiday Light Show at Smith Point County Park in Shirley, says Tammy Severino, president and CEO of the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. The Enchanted Forest experience “is much more up close and personal,” she says. “It will be very magical.”
A heated tent will feature take-your-own photos with Mr. Claus. S’mores kits will be for sale, as well as hot cocoa and other refreshments, Severino says. Families can also bring their own food, she says. Giant games such as Jenga will be included for family play, and music will set the mood.
“They may be cold on the outside, but they should feel warm and fuzzy on the inside,” Severino says of visitors.
Southaven County Park, at 761 Victory Ave. in Yaphank, is a short drive from Smith Point County Park, 1 William Floyd Pkwy. in Shirley, so people can still choose to just attend the drive-thru show, buy a combo ticket for the Enchanted Forest or attend the Enchanted Forest only, Severino says. People who purchase a combo ticket will get two different QR codes and can attend both activities the same night or return on a different day.
The Enchanted Forest will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays only from Nov. 26 to Dec. 18, and then nightly from Dec. 26 to 30. The drive-thru opens Nov. 26 and runs through Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24 and 25) from 5 p.m. to either 9 or 10 p.m., depending on the day, says Jenna Kierstedt, creative director for the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.
Ticket sales start Oct. 1 at gssclightshow.org (631-543-6622). Early bird tickets can be purchased through Nov. 25; drive-through is $20; Enchanted Forest is $10 a person or save by purchasing a combo ticket to both shows for $36 for up to five people, with each additional person costing $5. On Nov. 26, prices go up nominally both online and at the gate, Kierstedt says. Purchasers can use their tickets for any day of their choice.
The event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, supporting events for the members throughout the year, Severino says.
A new Enchanted Forest holiday village is coming to Southaven County Park in Yaphank beginning in November, including a walking path of holiday displays that leads families into an outdoor area to take photos with Santa, make s’mores around a fire pit and eat a picnic dinner on outdoor tables among trees twinkling with lights.
The new offering is an addition to the annual drive-thru Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Holiday Light Show at Smith Point County Park in Shirley, says Tammy Severino, president and CEO of the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. The Enchanted Forest experience “is much more up close and personal,” she says. “It will be very magical.”
A heated tent will feature take-your-own photos with Mr. Claus. S’mores kits will be for sale, as well as hot cocoa and other refreshments, Severino says. Families can also bring their own food, she says. Giant games such as Jenga will be included for family play, and music will set the mood.
“They may be cold on the outside, but they should feel warm and fuzzy on the inside,” Severino says of visitors.
Southaven County Park, at 761 Victory Ave. in Yaphank, is a short drive from Smith Point County Park, 1 William Floyd Pkwy. in Shirley, so people can still choose to just attend the drive-thru show, buy a combo ticket for the Enchanted Forest or attend the Enchanted Forest only, Severino says. People who purchase a combo ticket will get two different QR codes and can attend both activities the same night or return on a different day.
The Enchanted Forest will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays only from Nov. 26 to Dec. 18, and then nightly from Dec. 26 to 30. The drive-thru opens Nov. 26 and runs through Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24 and 25) from 5 p.m. to either 9 or 10 p.m., depending on the day, says Jenna Kierstedt, creative director for the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.
Ticket sales start Oct. 1 at gssclightshow.org (631-543-6622). Early bird tickets can be purchased through Nov. 25; drive-through is $20; Enchanted Forest is $10 a person or save by purchasing a combo ticket to both shows for $36 for up to five people, with each additional person costing $5. On Nov. 26, prices go up nominally both online and at the gate, Kierstedt says. Purchasers can use their tickets for any day of their choice.
The event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, supporting events for the members throughout the year, Severino says.
Beth Whitehouse writes about families, parenting and great things to do with the kids on Long Island. She’s been a Newsday editor and shared a 1997 Newsday staff Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the crash of TWA Flight 800.
