Where To Find Holiday Lights In The 5 Towns

FIVE TOWNS, NY — There is no shortage of things to do in and around the Five Towns to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

The annual tree lighting in Cedarhurst takes place on Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. at Andrew J. Parise Park.

In nearby Long Beach, the annual Kennedy Plaza Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony takes place on Friday, Dec. 2. The ceremony is at 5:30pm in front of City Hall.

A Chanukah menorah lighting is Sun., Dec. 18 at Kennedy Plaza.

In Bellmore, the Chanukah Menorah Lighting is on Wed. Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. It will take place near the LIRR train station at Petit Avenue and Bellmore Avenue.

In Rockville Centre, the Village Christmas Tree Lighting is Dec. 1.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland; and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California. Parades in the Five Towns may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big.

The 9th Annual Electric Light Parade in Long Beach begins on Ohio Avenue, and heads east on Beech Street to Grand Boulevard.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch near the Five Towns are:

The Holiday Light Tour and Scavenger Hunt take place on Sun., Dec. 4 in Malverne.

The Long Beach Farmers‘ Market holds the first “Light Up Long Beach Holiday Market,” on Fridays through Sundays as well as Wednesdays during December.