Holiday Events In West Islip: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

WEST ISLIP, NY — There is no shortage of things to do in West Islip 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.

Here are holiday events going on near West Islip:

December 1, 2, and 3

• Town of Babylon Holiday Drive-Thru Experience
  • Babylon Town Hall
  • 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Witness the magic of holiday lights and decorations without stepping outside of your car. While admission is free guests are strongly encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the town's food pantry.

December 2

• Holiday Tree Lighting-Bayard Cutting Arboretum
  • Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Hwy, Great River, NY, 11739
  • 5:30 p.m.
• Town of Islip Holiday Drive-In Movie and Light Show
  • Brookwood Hall, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip
  • 5 p.m.
  • Get into the holiday spirit while staying in the comforts of your warm car. Guests will experience dazzling drive-thru Holiday Light Show, followed by a viewing of The Santa Clause at Brookwood Hall at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but all are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for donation.

December 3

• Town of Islip Holiday Festival & Market
  • Brookwood Hall, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip
  • 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Step right into the holiday spirit with the Town of Islip's annual Holiday Festival & Market, featuring a gingerbread house competition, ice skating, an ice carving demonstration, a fire pit with s'mores, food and craft vendors, and of course, Santa Claus. A holiday parade will take place at 4 p.m., followed by a 5 p.m. tree lighting. Shuttle buses will be provided.

December 4

• Village of Babylon Tree Lighting
  • Argyle Park, 4 p.m.

December 6

• East Islip Community Chamber of Commerce's Tree Lighting
  • Craig B Gariepy Memorial Park, Lowell and Connetquot Ave., East Islip
  • 5:30 p.m.
  • Join the East Islip Community Chamber of Commerce for an evening of tree lighting and musical holiday celebrations. Enjoy the performances of local band The Reactions, RCK Band and Chorus, dancers, baton twirlers, East Islip Theater Company, and everyone's favoite — Santa Claus.

December 18

• Menorah Lighting
  • Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce, 175 N Main St, Sayville
  • 6 p.m.
  • Join the Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce as they celebrate Hanukkah with a special menorah lighting, candle lit prayers, music, Hanukkah gelt, and mouth-watering potato latkes.

If you know of more tree or menorah lightings, or any holiday events, be sure to share in the comments.