Where To Find Holiday Lights In Freeport This Season

FREEPORT, NY — There is no shortage of things to do in Freeport 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 Bellmore Village Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Extravaganza are scheduled for Dec. 2 from 6-10 p.m. It will take place at the corner of Bedford Ave & Broadway/Petit Ave.

The Chabad of Bellmore-Merrick-Wantagh hosts a Chanukah menorah lighting on Sun., Dec. 18. Music will include in the celebration with the 12-foot menorah display.

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 near Freeport may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big.

Parades to catch here at home include:

The Holiday Boat Parade on Woodcleft Avenue on Freeport's Nautical Mile. It takes place on Dec. 4 at noon.

The vessels are uniquely decorated with the holiday spirit.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch near Freeport are:

• Rockville Centre Holiday Lights Contest, sign-up goes until Dec. 5
• In Malverne, the Holiday Light Tour and Scavenger Hunt take place on Sun., Dec. 4.