Savoring the season

For those who have been busy with those seemingly endless holiday tasks, there’s still plenty of opportunity to partake of holiday fun. There’s much to do to keep everyone in a festive mood. Here’s another look at holiday happenings.

Celebrate The Season
Nassau County Museum of Art is inviting holiday revelers to gather on its lawns for a tree lighting ceremony and songfest, Friday. At 6 p.m. a candle-lit procession across the museum’s sweeping lawns will begin at the front steps of the museum. Kevin Covais, of “American Idol” fame, joins Kelsey McCabe, a finalist in the county’s Reach for the Stars talent competition, for the vocal program immediately following the tree lighting. The cast of singers and choral groups includes Alison’s Folk Group of St. Raymond’s, East Rockaway; Hempstead High School Choir; Sacred Heart Academy’s Chamber Chorus and Chamber Orchestra; United Cerebral Palsy Nassau's Creation; 2009 Nassau County Reach for the Stars First Place Winner Robbie Rosen, of Merrick; 2009 Nassau County Reach for the Stars Second Place Winner Sarah Shaiman, of Westbury; and 2008 Nassau County Reach for the Stars First Place Winner Crystalyn Wynter, of South Hempstead.
The event is free, but reservations are required. Email reservations to nassaumuseum.org. The museum will be open during the evening, with half-price admission: $5 adults and seniors, $4 for children 12 and under. Nassau County Museum of Art is located at 1 Museum Dr. (off Northern Blvd.), Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9338, ext 12 or www.nassaumuseum.org.

Old Bethpage Village
Old Bethpage Village Restoration ends its season with “Candlelight Evenings,” its annual holiday tradition. The festive 19th century celebration runs Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19-20, and Saturday through Wednesday, Dec. 26-30. A visit to the historic village has become cherished tradition during the holiday period.
Visitors have the opportunity to experience holiday traditions of years past, in the “Hallmark card” setting of flickering candlelight. The village’s historic homes are decorated in their holiday best, with varied activities to enchant guests of all ages.
Enjoy the Magic Lantern Shows, held each night. The Magic Lantern, a predecessor of the slide projector, entertained Victorian Americans with hand-colored glass slides of famous persons, places and events, which often included humorous “moving” slides.
And what’s a holiday without music? Musical entertainment varies nightly, including a brass quartet playing popular seasonal tunes, with traditional American dancers performing the dances of the period.
Readings of classic children’s holiday stories are featured each night, along with a bonfire and refreshments. Visitors can warm around the bonfire in the village’s crossroads, and enjoy hot mulled cider and ginger cookies. This year’s event also includes a holiday crafts fair, held in the Visitor’s Center. “This is a wonderful family tradition on Long Island that continues to provide a unique holiday experience,” said OBVR Site Director Jim McKenna.
The Village will be closed during the day, open 5-9:30 p.m. Visitors are welcome to bring flashlights to guide their way. $10, $7 seniors and children 5-12. Old Bethpage Village Restoration is on Round Swamp Rd., Old Westbury. (516) 572-8400.

Old Westbury Gardens
Old Westbury Gardens concludes its 50th anniversary year with a holiday celebration. This weekend is the final chance to visit and enjoy some of the holiday festivities before Old Westbury Gardens closes for the season.
Friday night, Dec. 18, features a Snow Queen celebration. Tour the festively decorated Westbury House, then create snow globe and icicle ornaments, 6:30-8 p.m.
House tours of Westbury House continue throughout the weekend. Bring the kids to create crafts and share their holiday wishes with Santa.
On Sunday, Dec. 20, puppeteer Vit Horejs of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre entertains visitors with a show featuring traditional, 24-inch tall marionettes. Horejs has delighted audiences all over the world these marionette puppets handcrafted by 19th Century Czech puppetmakers. The festivities conclude at 5 p.m., with spirited performance by the Long Island Harmonizers, representing the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Old Westbury Gardens is located at 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. (516) 333-0048 or www.oldwestburygardens.org.

Long Island Choral Society
The holiday season would not be complete without a performance of Handel’s Messiah. Locally, the Long Island Choral Society continues its 81st season with a performance of the Advent and Christmas portions of George Frederick Handel’s great oratorio, on Friday. The choir has performing the Messiah yearly since 1929. The concert will also include selections from Benjamin Britten’s popular work, “A Ceremony of Carols.” Artist-in residence Karen Hansen-Gellert opens the festive concert with a solo performance on the Double Bass.
Featured soloists are Soprano Michèle Eaton, Mezzo-Soprano Hai-Ting Chinn, Tenor Douglas Perry, and Baritone David McFerrin. Hear the Messiah, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m. The performance takes place at Cathedral of the Incarnation, 50 Cathedral Ave., Garden City. (516) 594-2926 or www.lics.org.

Long Island Children’s Museum
Always a good resource for children’s activities, Long Island Children’s Museum focuses on celebrations around the world during the holiday period. Programs of interest include:

Holiday Lights – Examine how candles are traditionally used in celebrations all over the world, and have been multicultural symbols of light and life, Saturday, Dec., 19, at 3 p.m. Make candles to take home and light up the holiday season. For ages 5 and up.
Holiday Short Film Festival – Enjoy some family time with a “short film” festival at the LICM Theater, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19-20, 1:30 p.m. Presented with the Brooklyn International Film Festival’s KidsFilmFest, guests can view a special collection of films celebrating the holidays and winter. For ages 3 and up. The Long Island Children’s Museum is located at 11 Davis Ave. (off Charles Lindbergh Blvd.), Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or www.licm.org.