Long Island Kids' Activities December 20-21: Live Holiday Shows, Animated Lights, Winter Wonderland, Brunch With Santa & More

12/18/14 - By Jaime Sumersille

We all know that holidays can be a stressful time. Take the reins and and head out with the family this weekend to a live theater, animated light show, gingerbread decorating, menorah lighting or breakfast with Santa. 

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Holiday at Old Westbury Gardens - Old Westbury. Decorated period rooms, Santa, cookies and cider, this is a holiday celebration. 10am–1pm: Create ornaments to decorate Santa’s tree. (Free with admission.) Cost: $8 General Admission; $5 Seniors and children (3-17); Members free.

Animated Christmas Holiday Story - Westbury. At Hicks Nursery, visitors can walk through an animated holiday story, sit on Santa's lap and pet real reindeer. Cost: Free (non-perishable food donations suggested).

Family Time: Gingerbread Decorating 101 - Babylon. At Bubble, the whole family can decorate gingerbread men, houses, trees and more. Cost: $14.99+. Call to reserve.

Let's Celebrate the New Year - Port Jefferson. At the Maritime Explorium, museum-goers can explore the principles of geometry and design a Times Square ball. Through Jan. 4. Cost: $5/person.

Holiday Model Train Exhibit - Babylon. This model train tells a visual story about the Babylon Trolley system that used to carry passengers from Amityville to Babylon Village. It is 240-sq. ft. large. Through Jan. 4. Cost: Free

The Wizard of Oz - Smithtown. Live performance at Smithtown Performing Arts Center. Runs through Jan. 25, 2015. Cost: Adults/$35, Children under 12/$20.

Peter Pan - Oakdale. At CM Performing Arts Center. Live performance. Runs through Jan. 4, 2015. Cost: $20-27.

The Snow Queen - East Islip. A frozen adventure of Hans Christian Anderson's classic tale. Live theater. Cost: $10/ticket.

Mary Poppins - East Islip. Live performance of the classic tale. Also on Dec. 27, 28. Cost: $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (over 65), $18 for students, and $15 for children 12 and under in advance. All tickets are $27 at the door.

Holiday Lights Spectacular - Wantagh. At Jones Beach, see the new and expanded holiday village with more than 150 animated scenes, hot beverages, snacks and a s'mores pit. Through Jan. 2, 2015. Exceptions listed. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Cost: $25/car on Fri-Sun. $20/car Mon-Thurs.

Bayville Winter Wonderland - Bayville. Runs through Jan. 4, 2015. Santa's Toy Factory Funhouse, Captain Bay's Yo Ho Holiday Light Show, Bayville Holiday Express Train Ride, A Magical Meeting with Santa Arctic Ice Skating Adventure, Bradley Bay's Rock Climbing, Holiday Character Meet and Greet, Holiday Arts and Crafts and Holiday Story Telling. An arcade, indoor rock climbing and the Beaches and Cream Soda Shop. Miniature golf and Ropes Course - weather permitting. Cost: $21/per person.

Boardwalk Lights - Long Beach. A free holiday nautical themed light show display on the boardwalk. The festivities will run through mid-January from Long Beach Boulevard to Magnolia Boulevard. The Boardwalk Lights will be open every evening from 5-9pm. Cost: Free.

Girl Scouts Of Suffolk County Holiday Light Show - Bayport. Through Dec. 21. Open 5-9pm. Drive through a mile-long wooded trail filled with light displays and holiday vignettes. Note: The holiday village will not be open this year. Cost: Monday-Thursday $15 per car, Friday-Sunday $20 per car (must purchase tickets online/by phone in advance).

Winter Ball - Great Neck. Snow White, Olaf, Elsa, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and more will greet guests. Face painting, balloons, photographers and a DJ with prizes and gifts. Interactive show, singing, dancing, etc. Shows on Saturday (English) and Sunday (Russian/English) Cost: $75 for adults and children 5 and over. Children 2-17 yrs are $35/child. Children attending free of charge up to 24 months) will not have their own seat and will have to sit on the adult's lap.

Saturday, December 20

Puppet Show - East Hampton. See what happens in the puppet show, Santa Gets Fired at Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre. Cost: $12/kids, $8/under age 3, $10/parents and grandparents.

Breakfast With Santa - Riverhead. At the Long Island Aquarium. Seating times: 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm. Enjoy a buffet breakfast in the Sea Star Ballroom, visit the resident fish, and make a special holiday keepsake. Cost: Kids 3-12 & Senior Citizens, $39.95; Adults, $42.95.

Story Time Saturday - Setauket. At Gallery North, kids can enjoy a book reading and holiday craft. Cost: Free.

Breakfast With Santa - Garden City. At the Garden City Hotel, seatings at 8:30am or 11am. Cost: See event details.

Holiday Baking Lessons – Hicksville. Christmas and Hanukkah baking lessons where kids can make gingerbread, chocolate sleighs and holiday cookie ornaments. Cost: $39-49.

Winter Wonderland at the Whaling Museum - Cold Spring Harbor. Every Saturday in December from 1pm-4pm, The Whaling Museum and Education Center of CSH museum is turned into a “Frozen”-themed winter wonderland. Our exhibits and workshops are dazzling with sparkles and snowflakes. Enjoy self-serve snow-tastic crafts for all ages and a winter-themed scavenger hunt. All free with paid admission. Cost: Free w/ museum admission.

Barnaby Saves Christmas - Port Jefferson. Live performance at Theatre Three. Cost: $10/ticket.

Science Saturday at the Long Island Science Center – Riverhead. Enjoy a day at the Long Island Science Center. Cost: $5/person.

Character Night With Elf on the Shelf - Coram. Forest Lane Lights is a 20,000 light dancing Christmas lightshow. Bring the kids to meet the elf on the shelf in person. Cost: Free.

Craft for Kids at Lakeshore Learning Store – New Hyde Park. Thanksgiving craft at the Lakeshore Learning Store. Cost: Free.

Hanukkah Candle Lighting - East Hills. Lights, treats, candy and songs in the JCC lobby. Cost: Free.

Menorah Lighting - Long Beach. At 5pm in Kennedy Plaza. Cost: Free.

Sunday, December 21

Brunch With Santa and Mrs. Claus - Farmingdale. 10am, 12pm and 2pm seatings. Cost: $29.95, $18.95 kids under 10; $8.95 kids under 4.

Brunch With Santa at Watermill Caterers - Smithtown. Seatings at 10:45am, 11:20am, 12:15pm, 1pm and 1:45pm. Cost: Adults $41; Children 3-12, $23.

Breakfast With Santa - Seaford. At United Skates of America, join Santa and other characters for breakfast. Tickets include pancakes, eggs, bacon, bagels, coffee, tea, fruit punch and visits from the characters. This is a non-skating event. Cost: $20 per adult, $15 per child and Children 2 and under are free.

Open Studio: Penguin Collage - Sayville. Mini Monet offers this crafting session. Call ahead to register. Cost: $15/child. 

Max & Ruby in the Nutcracker Suite - Westbury. Live show at New York Community Bank Theatre. Cost: $25-54 (used code word PRESENTS for $30 tickets through Dec. 20).

Winter Wonderland Holiday Bash - Wantagh. Princesses Anna and Elsa will be present. Art, face painting, photo booth, and a Rockin Railroad holiday performance. Cost: $12/nonmembers.

Main photo: Animated holiday show at Hicks in Westbury.