Seasonal Delights

Old Bethpage Village Restoration concludes its season with "Candlelight Evenings, its annual 19th century holiday celebration, opening this weekend. It runs Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18 and Monday through Friday, Dec. 26-30. A visit to the historic village has become cherished tradition during the holiday season. Visitors have the special opportunity to experience holiday traditions of years past, in the ambiance of flickering candlelight. The village is decked out in its holiday best, with varied activities to enchant guests of all ages.Hear popular 19th century music and enjoy Magic Lantern Shows, held each night in the Visitor Center auditorium. The Magic Lantern, a predecessor of today's 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, featuring fiddle, pump organ, and traditional selections, happening throughout the village.Stories of Christmases past are retold each night, along with a bonfire and refreshments. Also, see the Village dancers perform traditional American dances. Everyone is welcome to join in the reels, quadrilles and contra dances. The Village will be closed during the day for this event; 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 or www.oldbethpage.org.

Frank Ohman's New York Dance Theatre presents its version of the holiday treat. It is the only one on Long Island that is modeled after the Lincoln Center production, according to Ohman, a former New York City Ballet soloist, and is performed in the Balanchine tradition from storyline to choreography. Ohman puts his own twist on the production, with original scenes and sequences. Over the last few years he has blended incidental Tchaikovsky music into the original score to create a special lullaby for Clara and her "wounded" Nutcracker, as well as a sequence between the naughty Fritz and a dancing bear. Then, in act II, he has added new choreography to the Kingdom of Sweets.A number of guests are featured in this production, including New York City Ballet soloists Jennifer Tinsley and Jason Fowler, Griff Braun, principal dancer with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Nicole Loizides of MOMIX, and Eric Ragan of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet. See it at Hofstra University's John Cranford Adams Playhouse, Friday, Dec. 16, 12 and 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 17, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 18, 1 and 6 p.m. For tickets, call NYDT at (631) 462-0964.

Step back in time at Old Westbury Gardens to view Westbury House decorated in its holiday splendor, before it closes for the season. This weekend is the final chance to visit and enjoy some of the holiday festivities.Friday night, Dec. 16, features Holiday Toast and Tours. Tour the house, enjoy wine, desserts, with holiday music, from 7-9 p.m. House tours are offered throughout the weekend. Saturday also features a Children's Holiday Tea, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Long Island's own Kende Trio performs, playing classical chamber music, along with holiday pieces, 1:30-2:30 p.m.Reservations are required for some events. For further information, contact (516) 333-0048 or www.oldwestburygardens.org. Old Westbury Gardens is located at 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury.

Always a good resource for children's activities, LICM has a number of programs of special interest during the holiday period.

Holiday Ornaments is offered on Saturday, Dec. 17, 12 and 2:30 p.m. Create some old-fashioned holiday decorations to take home, based on Czech Republic holiday traditions.

Celebrate Light: The Science of Solstice is a special program on the solstice, which occurs on Dec. 21 at 1: 35 p.m. Mark the solstice with a journey to discover the science behind seasons and why this is the shortest day of the year, Sunday, Dec. 18, 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Create candles to take home. Registration is required for some programs. The museum is at 11 Davis Ave., Garden City (off Charles Lindbergh Blvd.). For information and reservations, call (516) 224-5844.