An old-fashioned celebration at Old Bethpage Village

Besides fighting the crowds at Jones Beach and Eisenhower Park this weekend, another option for holiday fun is to step back in time at an old-fashioned holiday outing.

‘Sheep To Shawl’ at Old Bethpage Village
Old Bethpage Village Restoration’s annual Memorial Day weekend activities provide a relaxing look at the region’s past, culminating with a commemoration of Decoration Day on Monday, as it was observed in the early years of this holiday.
The village’s endearing resident sheep are invariably the stars of the weekend, with a range of related activities, such as sheep shearing, wool-spinning and weaving, to involve visitors of all ages on Saturday and Sunday. At the popular sheep-shearing demonstrations, a farmer skillfully applies a set of hand shears to remove fleece from the village’s flock of sheep. The craft of wool spinning is demonstrated, and the kids can help with the preparation of wool just before it is spun into yarn, known as “wool carding.” The wool is woven on a loom to create fabrics and coverings for the village’s historic homes. The event takes place at Powell Farm, a 19th-century barn originally located in Syosset.

The weekend’s festivities include many other activities as well. Afternoon entertainment features the Old Bethpage Village Dancers performing 19th-century contra-dances (and wearing attire of the time), accompanied by fiddle and dulcimer. Rousing tunes from the Old Bethpage Village Brass Band add to the celebratory atmosphere. There are also horse-drawn carriage demonstrations by the Paumanok Driving Club, involving hitching and driving the elegant carriages throughout the village grounds, along with a display of classic Model A Fords by members of the Model A Ford Club.
Then, on May 30, at 2 p.m., Civil War “veterans” commemorate Decoration Day as it was first observed in the early 1870s, complete with a parade, a solemn patriotic program, and ceremonies at the Village Cemetery to honor departed veterans.
Old Bethpage Village celebrates Memorial Day Saturday through Monday, May 28-30; 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Admission: $10 adults, $7 seniors (60+) and children 5-12. Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage. (516) 572-8400.

A Presidential Holiday
President Theodore Roosevelt’s home at Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay is the setting for a patriotic presidential-style celebration, Saturday through Monday.
Visitors can visit the home, grounds and nature trails all weekend-long and enjoy a holiday program, “The Roosevelt Family and their Sacrifices during the First World War,” This free program will be presented by Park Ranger Scott Gurney inside the Farm Shed adjacent to the Visitor Center.
The Sagamore Hill Band presents a special concert on Monday, at 2 p.m., on the front porch of President Roosevelt’s home. The band will perform a spirited concert of patriotic music, along with a special performance of the Golden Star in honor of Quentin Roosevelt, President Roosevelt’s youngest son, who died in combat on July 14, 1918. The Golden Star was composed by John Philip Sousa in March 1919, and was dedicated to Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt and other Gold Star mothers of the First World War.
Visit Sagamore Hill, May 28-30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 12 Sagamore Hill Rd., Oyster Bay. (516) 922-4788.