Christmas villages pop up in Jericho, Bayville and Baldwin
Delaney Berlese, 2, and her father, Joe Berlese, from Bethpage look in the window of the General Store at the Milleridge Inn Christmas Village in Jericho. Credit: Linda Rosier
Glittering lights twinkle in every direction as the scent of freshly baked cinnamon bread fills the air. Kids and parents line up to visit with Santa Claus while carolers, dressed as Charles Dickens characters, sing “Deck the Halls.” Welcome to Milleridge Village, an extension of the Milleridge Inn in Jericho.
“I come in here and it feels like Christmas town,” says Erin Mavroudis, 34, of Nesconset. “I love the beauty of the lights and decorations. No other place has this.”
Mavroudis, who grew up in Hicksville, has been coming to dine at the inn and walk through the village, a nine-store plaza and commons area, since she was a little girl. She and her husband, Lou, even had their wedding reception at the Milleridge Cottage.
“There’s a lot of tradition here,” she says. “This is a special place for us.”
The village offers an array of shops, from housewares at Cranberry Cottage to baked goods at the Bread & Jam Bakery to a shop that’s strictly dedicated to Christmas paraphernalia. Visit Santa at his workshop Thursdays through Sundays (photos are $10) and stop at Murphy’s Café for Milleridge’s signature peppermint ice cream with bits of candy cane.
Before dinner at the inn, Bob and Joyce Porter of Syosset stop by the village to do some shopping. The couple, married for 50 years, have warm memories of bringing their grandchildren here.
“I love the ambience,” Joyce Porter says. “Everyone is smiling and happy. It’s just so nice to be around.”
OTHER HOLIDAY VILLAGES
NASSAU COUNTY CHRISTMAS VILLAGE WINTER WONDERLAND
Last year, Nassau County introduced a pop-up Christmas Village Winter Wonderland at Milburn Lake behind the Coral House in Baldwin. This year the tradition continues with even more fanfare.
Guests can shop at more than 30 vendors selling clothing and jewelry, stuffed animals and Christmas wares. Carolers, trumpeters and local high school choruses perform holiday classics every half-hour under heated tents. Horse and buggy rides ($8) will be offered down Merrick Road, while a trackless train ($5) runs along the property.
If you are hungry for a holiday treat, s’mores ($4) are served over open firepits as well as roasted chestnuts ($4), gingerbread cookies ($2) and hot cocoa ($2). Photo ops with Santa ($2-$10, depending on frame) will be available along with ice sculpture demonstrations and stocking and ornament decorating.
“The atmosphere is very festive,” says Butch Yamali, owner of the Coral House. “It’s similar to what they offer in Bryant Park in Manhattan.”
WHEN | WHERE 4-8 p.m. Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 70 Milburn Ave., Baldwin
INFO 516-223-6500, coralhouse.com
ADMISSION Free
BAYVILLE WINTER WONDERLAND
Bayville Winter Wonderland is a village geared to kids with a pay-one-price amusement park approach to the holidays that includes a variety of attractions.
Santa’s Toy Factory Funhouse provides a 3-D walk-through presentation where you can see different scenes from the man in red’s workshop. Captain Bay’s Yo Ho Holiday Light Show tells the tale of the pirates’ first Christmas in an outdoor illuminated experience.
Children can ice skate with characters such as a reindeer or a Christmas bear (skate rentals included) while adults can order a seasonal cocktail ($11) such as Sugar Cookie Tini (cookie dough vodka with half and half) or The Grinch (vodka with melon liquor and apple pucker) served rinkside.
Elves offer story time and a Holiday Express train ride goes around the entire park. Children can build their own dream bear ($18, plus clothing) or have a meeting with Santa ($10), which includes a 5-by-7 photo in a frame and a letter from the North Pole mailed to each child’s home.
WHEN | WHERE Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 16, open 6-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6-10 p.m. Fridays, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 3 (closed Dec. 24-25) at 8 Bayville Ave., Bayville
INFO 516-628-8697, bayvillewinterwonderland.com
ADMISSION $22
OTHER HOLIDAY VILLAGES
NASSAU COUNTY CHRISTMAS VILLAGE WINTER WONDERLAND
Last year, Nassau County introduced a pop-up Christmas Village Winter Wonderland at Milburn Lake behind the Coral House in Baldwin. This year the tradition continues with even more fanfare.
Guests can shop at more than 30 vendors selling clothing and jewelry, stuffed animals and Christmas wares. Carolers, trumpeters and local high school choruses perform holiday classics every half-hour under heated tents. Horse and buggy rides ($8) will be offered down Merrick Road, while a trackless train ($5) runs along the property.
If you are hungry for a holiday treat, s’mores ($4) are served over open firepits as well as roasted chestnuts ($4), gingerbread cookies ($2) and hot cocoa ($2). Photo ops with Santa ($2-$10, depending on frame) will be available along with ice sculpture demonstrations and stocking and ornament decorating.
“The atmosphere is very festive,” says Butch Yamali, owner of the Coral House. “It’s similar to what they offer in Bryant Park in Manhattan.”
WHEN | WHERE 4-8 p.m. Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 70 Milburn Ave., Baldwin
INFO 516-223-6500, coralhouse.com
ADMISSION Free
BAYVILLE WINTER WONDERLAND
Bayville Winter Wonderland is a village geared to kids with a pay-one-price amusement park approach to the holidays that includes a variety of attractions.
Santa’s Toy Factory Funhouse provides a 3-D walk-through presentation where you can see different scenes from the man in red’s workshop. Captain Bay’s Yo Ho Holiday Light Show tells the tale of the pirates’ first Christmas in an outdoor illuminated experience.
Children can ice skate with characters such as a reindeer or a Christmas bear (skate rentals included) while adults can order a seasonal cocktail ($11) such as Sugar Cookie Tini (cookie dough vodka with half and half) or The Grinch (vodka with melon liquor and apple pucker) served rinkside.
Elves offer story time and a Holiday Express train ride goes around the entire park. Children can build their own dream bear ($18, plus clothing) or have a meeting with Santa ($10), which includes a 5-by-7 photo in a frame and a letter from the North Pole mailed to each child’s home.
WHEN | WHERE Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 16, open 6-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6-10 p.m. Fridays, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 3 (closed Dec. 24-25) at 8 Bayville Ave., Bayville
INFO 516-628-8697, bayvillewinterwonderland.com
ADMISSION $22
THE MILLERIDGE VILLAGE
WHEN | WHERE 11 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday at 585 N. Broadway, Jericho
INFO 516-931-2201, milleridge.com
ADMISSION Free ($10 Santa photos)
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
