Holiday festivities at downtown districts

Lynbrook

The village is celebrating the holiday shopping season with a visit from Santa Claus, who arrives by firetruck, on Nov. 26 at 8:30 a.m. in the Earle Avenue Parking Field No. 8. Later that day, the Lynbrook UA Theater will play a children's movie at 10 a.m., said William Gaylor, president of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce.

The winter celebration on Atlantic Avenue will be Dec. 4 from 4 to 7 p.m. There will be a tree lighting ceremony, caroling, a horse-drawn sleigh, rides and more. On Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m., there will be the blessing of the Creche on Merrick Road and Blake Avenue.

There will also be holiday rides at the parking field on Dec. 17 from noon to 3 p.m. The lighting of the Menorah will be Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. Most stores will stay open until 7 or 8 p.m.

Northport Village

The village's holiday season festivities begin with its annual tree-lighting ceremony Friday at 7 p.m. Live reindeer will be holding court at the foot of Main Street by the harbor from 4 to 7 p.m., and the event will include hot chocolate donated by merchants as well as caroling and Santa Claus on a fire truck. On Nov. 26, the Northport Hardware Co. will hold its annual Leg Lamp Lighting Ceremony at 7 p.m., with Northport Mayor George Doll on hand to flip the switch on the emblem from the movie "A Christmas Story."

Two-hour parking downtown will be free from Nov. 25 until after New Year's Day, with local Boy Scouts volunteering to cover the meters. Downtown merchants will post Christmas trees in front of their stores, and a roving Santa will greet shoppers from Dec. 19-24, from noon to dusk.

The Northport Chamber of Commerce will also hold food drives, with bins in local stores to collect items that will be donated to the Ecumenical Lay Council Food Pantry at the First Presbyterian Church of Northport.

Babylon Village

The Village of Babylon's 19th annual Old-Fashioned Village Christmas celebration begins Friday, Dec. 2, with the arrival of Santa Claus on a horse-drawn carriage at 5 p.m. He will tour the village to the accompaniment of music and caroling from local groups.

The event runs until 9 p.m., with hot chocolate and cookies from local bakeries. The rain date is Dec. 9.

"This kicks off our gift season," said Jon Taylor, who owns the Village Frame and Art Gallery and is also president of the Babylon Village Chamber of Commerce. Many merchants will stay open late Thursday and Friday nights throughout December, and some will keep Sunday hours as well, he said.

Street parking in the village is free for the holiday season.

East Hampton Village and Montauk

Montauk hopes to draw visitors with some outdoor events this holiday season, including the traditional weekend party at the Montauk Lighthouse.

The holiday decorations at the lighthouse will first be lit during a party from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 27, with a rain date of Dec. 3. The Christmas at the Lighthouse party, complete with Santa, will be Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a rain date of Dec. 4.

The community's Starlight Holiday Lighting Weekend, which includes decorating Christmas trees on the hamlet green and a competition for the best-decorated storefront, has been moved back because of a delay in getting the trees delivered. That will now be Dec. 2, at about 5 p.m., according to the Montauk Chamber of Commerce.

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East Hampton has a wide range of family-friendly activities planned. On Dec. 9, Town Crier Hugh King will lead a lantern tour of Main Street and five historic buildings, including the Mulford House and Home Sweet Home. Tickets are $15, and reservations are required. Call 631-324-6850.

On Dec. 10, the chamber of commerce will sponsor Holiday Strolls from noon to 6 p.m. in the East Hampton Village and Amagansett business districts.

On Dec. 11, there will be a Christmas tree lighting at the Maidstone Inn in East Hampton, with a party from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be cookies for children to decorate, plus coffee, hot cocoa and hot cider. The event is free, and there is a raffle -- tickets are $5 -- to benefit the East Hampton Food Pantry.

Patchogue Village

Patchogue's two marquee holiday events -- the Christmas Holiday Boat Parade and Christmas Parade on Main Street -- will seek to drive traffic to the South Shore village's central business district.

The boat parade, in its 18th year, is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday on the Patchogue River. The Main Street parade, in its 49th year, will proceed down Main Street on Nov. 26 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Both events are designed to bring commerce to Patchogue's downtown, home to many restaurants, retailers and the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, said Gail Hoag, executive director of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce.

Parade-goers "can have dinner in the village, they can shop," Hoag said.

More information about the boat parade is available at patchogueboatparade.com

Southampton, Bridgehampton and Hampton Bays

In Southampton, Santa Claus will make an appearance Nov. 26, at the "Magic on Main -- A Celebration of Wishes Granted By Make-A-Wish of Suffolk County." The event, which runs from 1 to 5 p.m., will also have plenty of music, hot chocolate, cookies, pictures with the jolly ol' elf and horse-drawn carriage rides. Proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for terminally-ill children.

On Dec. 3, it's the "It's a Wonderful Village" Holiday Stroll. All along Main Street there will be horse and buggy rides from 1:30 to 3 p.m., and carolers and choirs. The annual parade of lights starts at 4:45 p.m. followed by the traditional Christmas tree lighting at Agawam Park at about 5:15 p.m.

Contact the Southampton Chamber of Commerce at 631-283-0402 or info@

southamptonchamber.com

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In nearby Bridgehampton, take an afternoon to make an evergreen wreath for above that mantel. The event is Dec. 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. and is sponsored by the Peconic Land Trust. The cost is $30, a fee that includes a wreath and some materials, like berries and dried flowers. But bring your own embellishments, and don't forget work gloves and clippers.

Call Robin Harris at Peconic Land Trust at 631-283-3195 or contact events@peconicland trust.org. Space is limited, so it's best to reserve a spot at the work bench.

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Hampton Bays will be in the holiday spirit as it holds its annual tree lighting and a 4:30 p.m. visit with Santa on Dec. 4, across the street from the firehouse on Montauk Highway. There will be complimentary hot chocolate, cookies and gifts for children at the event, which is sponsored by the Hampton Bays Chamber of Commerce and the Hampton Bays Fire District.

Great Neck

Now through Jan. 31, the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement Discount is offering free coupons for shoppers to use in 26 shops and boutiques, and six restaurants or food stores in the village. The coupons are for $5, $10 and $20 off at select vendors, including Kron Chocolatier, Pancho's Border Grill, Poultry Mart, Aura Salon & Style Lounge, Celebrity Florist, Jildor Shoes, Tennis Junction, Vision Associates and W Jewelers.

Call 516-829-1301 to get coupons or download them at ShopGreatNeck.com. Downloaded coupons can be copied and used multiple times, though only once per purchase, said Maria Coscia, event manager at the Great Neck BID.

"Most stores, they have their own thing going on in the holiday season," she said. "It just brings more business into town."