An old-fashioned holiday

The holiday countdown continues this weekend with celebrations that focus on holiday pleasures of an earlier era. You’ll find holiday fun all around the area, so step out and partake of some of these annual cherished festivities that everyone will enjoy.

Old Bethpage Village
It’s a tradition for Old Bethpage Village Restoration to conclude its season with “Candlelight Evenings,” the annual 19th century holiday celebration, opening this weekend. It runs this weekend, Dec. 18-19 and Sunday through Thursday, Dec. 26-30.

A visit to the historic village has become cherished tradition for Long Islanders during the holiday season. Candlelight Evenings offers a ‘Hallmark card” holiday setting as flickering candles illuminate the village’s historic homes, which are grandly decorated for the holiday season.
The village is decked out in its holiday best, with varied activities to enchant guests of all ages. “Residents” welcome everyone on opening night, Dec. 18, with a tree lighting ceremony, followed by entertainment, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Hear popular 19th century music and enjoy Magic Lantern shows, held each night in the Visitor Center auditorium. The Magic Lantern, a predecessor of the modern slide projector, entertained Victorian Americans with hand-colored glass slides of famous persons, places and events, which often included humorous “moving” slides. Music varies nightly, including a brass quartet playing popular seasonal tunes and traditional American dancers, performing throughout the village. Everyone is welcome to join in the reels, quadrilles and contra dances. Stories of Christmases past are retold each night, along with a bonfire and refreshments. Also browse among all sorts of crafts items at a holiday crafts fair, held Saturday and Sunday. The village is closed during the day for this event; it’s open 5-9:30 p.m. Visitors are welcome to bring their own candle lanterns or flashlights to guide their way. Old Bethpage Village Restoration is on Round Swamp Rd., Old Westbury. For information, contact (516) 572-8400.

Old Westbury Gardens
Step back in time at Old Westbury Gardens to view Westbury House decorated in its holiday splendor, at the conclusion of its holiday celebration. This weekend offers the final chance to visit the Gardens and enjoy some of the holiday festivities.
Stop by the estate Friday and Saturday evening for Westbury House’s popular Holiday Toast and Tour. Walk about Westbury House, enjoy wine, desserts, and holiday music, at 7 p.m. House tours are also offered throughout the weekend. Saturday features a Gingerbread House and Garden, at 2 p.m., where kids can enjoy refreshments while creating a gingerbread house and garden using natural materials. Reservations are required for these events. Old Westbury Gardens is at 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For further information, contact (516) 333-0048 or www.oldwestburygardens.org.

Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center
The holiday season has arrived at Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center, which welcomes families to a special open house, “Sanctuary Traditions,” on Saturday. The festivities, from 1-4 p.m. include storytelling, a caroling choir, making ornaments, activities to help wildlife, and, of course, plenty of cookies. Everyone is invited to stroll the grounds, while Shrieber High School’s Tri-M Honor Society Choir sings traditional holiday songs and leads visitors in caroling,
Kids will enjoy hearing the beloved holiday story, “The Yapon Tree,” read by Wildlife Care Coordinator Alice Bryant, which encourages children to help wildlife by creating edible ornaments from nuts, seeds and fruits, and decorating an outdoor tree for an animal feast! Guests will then be encouraged to make some of these treats and decorate a tree at the Sanctuary for wildlife.
After creating some edible ornaments for wildlife, families can make ornaments to take home to decorate. Children can even make special holiday gifts for their
loved ones.
Registration is recommended for this event. Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center is located at 134 Cove Rd., Oyster Bay. Call (516) 922-3200 or e-mail calbanese@audubon.org.  

Long Island Children’s Museum
Always a good resource for children’s activities, LICM has a number of programs of special interest during the holiday period. Visitors can create their own puppets, explore how candles are used in holiday celebrations around the world and enjoy a winter-themed film festival, among other activities. Also, for those who haven’t had an opportunity to explore LICM’s popular exhibit, “Toys: The Inside Story,” this is the time to do so, since the exhibit closes on Jan. 2.
During the week, from Tuesday through Thursday (through Dec. 23), families can drop by the museum’s inner lobby and create a one-of-a-kind puppet in a cup.
The weekend features a range of workshops and events. Kids, ages five and up, can explore candle-making techniques at “Holiday Lights,” as families make candles to lighten up the holiday season, on Saturday, at 3 p.m. Also, everyone can relax in the LICM Theater and enjoy holiday films, both Saturday and Sunday. These short films, provided by the KidFilmFest of the Brooklyn International Film Festival, will take the audience on adventures through the holidays and winter season.
Registration is required for some programs. The Long Island Children’s Museum is at 11 Davis Ave. (off Charles Lindbergh Blvd.), Garden City. For information and reservations, call (516) 224-5800 or visit www.licm.org.