Christmas on Long Island 2026: The Complete Guide

Long Island turns the holidays into a season of drive-through light shows, Victorian festivals, lighthouse lightings and Gold Coast mansions dressed for Christmas. Here’s the complete 2026 guide, with links to every detailed post.

Key 2026 Dates

Light Shows

All Long Island light shows: Magic of Lights Jones Beach, LuminoCity, Nassau Coliseum, Riverhead, Sayville Falls.

Tree Lightings and Village Celebrations

Town-by-town tree lightings, Huntington Holiday Spectacular, Northport Leg Lamp, Stony Brook Village, Port Jefferson Dickens Festival, the Hamptons and North Fork.

Historic Holidays

Westbury House, Gold Coast mansions, Old Bethpage candlelight evenings.

Santa

Santa on Long Island, Flying Santa at Fire Island, Bayville Winter Wonderland, Polar Express Trolley.

Shows

• Eglevsky Ballet Nutcracker at Tilles Center (Dec 19–20).
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Engeman Theater, Northport (Nov 12 – Dec 27).
• Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre, Oakdale (Nov 21 – Dec 27).
• Theatre Three’s A Christmas Carol in Port Jefferson.

Getting Around

The LIRR reaches most villages from Penn Station and Grand Central Madison; a car is easiest for drive-through light shows and the East End.

Plan a Long Island Holiday Weekend

Nassau County (closest to NYC)

Drive through Magic of Lights at Jones Beach, walk LuminoCity at Eisenhower Park, tour Westbury House on a December weekend and see the candlelit Old Bethpage Village.

North Shore

Huntington’s Holiday Spectacular, Northport’s leg lamp lighting and the Engeman Theater’s Grinch, then the Port Jefferson Dickens Festival and Stony Brook Village.

East End

The Montauk Lighthouse lighting, Sag Harbor’s Light Up the Harbor, Greenport’s Parade of Lights and North Fork winery tree lightings. See Christmas in the Hamptons & North Fork.

Getting There

The LIRR runs from Penn Station and Grand Central Madison to most villages, including Port Jefferson, Huntington and Montauk. For drive-through light shows and East End weekends, a car is easiest. Avoid the Long Island Expressway at rush hour, especially on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

With Kids

Bayville Winter Wonderland, the Polar Express trolley, Santa on the Farm and the Aquarium Santa brunch are family favorites. See all Santa visits on Long Island.

Shopping

Long Island’s malls, like Roosevelt Field, plus village Main Streets in Huntington, Port Jefferson, Northport and Sag Harbor, are great for holiday shopping, along with seasonal fairs like the Magic of Montauk Holiday Fair.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Christmas events on Long Island?

Magic of Lights at Jones Beach, LuminoCity at Eisenhower Park, the Port Jefferson Dickens Festival, Christmas at Westbury House and the Montauk Lighthouse lighting are highlights.

How do I get to Long Island Christmas events from NYC?

The LIRR reaches most villages from Penn Station and Grand Central Madison. A car is easiest for drive-through light shows and the East End.

What is the best Christmas event on Long Island?

Magic of Lights at Jones Beach, LuminoCity at Eisenhower Park and the Port Jefferson Dickens Festival are among the most popular.