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Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2022 on Long Island: Turkey Trots, Light Shows, and Breakfast with Santa

The magical light displays at Old Westbury Gardens will captivate your family. Photo by the author
The magical light displays at Old Westbury Gardens will captivate your family. Photo by the author
11/22/22 - By Jaime Sumersille

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the holiday weekend.

Work up an appetite for your Thanksgiving feast by participating in a family-friendly turkey trot on Thursday morning. Or, get some activity in by driving or walking through a lantern show or a light show. For a throwback feel, check out how Christmas was celebrated in 1863 at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

If you're more interested in indoor activities this holiday weekend, you can view miles of tracks and trains at the West Island Model Railroad Club Open House in Hicksville or the TMB Model Train Show in Farmingdale. Or keep the feast going by booking reservations to grab breakfast with jolly old St. Nick himself.

Check out other holiday shows and more ideas for seasonal fun in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Long Island Kids. And, as always, our Long Island Family Activity Calendar is a must-visit for picks any day of the week. 

More Things to Do on Long Island This Week With Kids:

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Shake a leg in the Garden City Turkey Trot, held on Thanksgiving morning. Photo courtesy of the event
Shake a leg in the Garden City Turkey Trot, held on Thanksgiving morning. Photo courtesy of the event

Things to Do on Long Island Thanksgiving Weekend 2022

Montauk Run for Fun Turkey Trot

Montauk
Thursday, November 24
Step up for the Montauk Run for Fun Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning on the west side of the circle. READ MORE

Garden City Turkey Trot

Garden City
Thursday, November 24
Walkers, runners, and strollers are welcome to participate in the Garden City Turkey Trot, held on Thanksgiving morning. READ MORE

Port Washington Thanksgiving Day Run

Port Washington
Thursday, November 24
This 5-mile loop runs through four Port Washington villages on Thanksgiving Day morning begins and ends on Manorhaven Park, overlooking Manhasset Bay. READ MORE

Huntington Thanksgiving Run

Huntington
Thursday, November 24
The fun run begins at 8:30am. The popular rain-or-shine event benefits the Townwide Fund of Huntington. READ MORE

Santa Meet & Greet and a Free Movie in Bellmore

Bellmore–FREE
Friday, November 25
The Bellmore Chamber of Commerce ushers in the holiday season with it annual Santa visit, making five stops throughout the town, followed by a free movie. READ MORE

Elf Workshops at the Long Island Explorium

Port Jefferson
Friday, November 25
Join the Long Island Explorium for Elf Workshops this winter. Kids can make a gift and engage in some STEM learning along the way. READ MORE

West Island Model Railroad Club Open House

Hicksville–FREE
Friday, November 25-Sunday, November 27
West Island Model Railroad will host its annual open house on three weekends this winter. View their 5,600-square-foot model railroad, operating on 11 miles of double tracks. READ MORE

Katharine Holabird of Angelina Ballerina at CMEE

Bridgehampton
Saturday, November 26
The Children’s Museum of the East End welcomes back "Angelina Ballerina" and "Twinkle" author Katharine Holabird on November 26 for an engaging event. READ MORE

Wantagh Chamber of Commerce Winter Wonderland

Wantagh–FREE
Saturday, November 26
Enjoy raffles, music, Irish step dancing, the Wantagh American Legion Pipe Band, a holiday lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa Claus. READ MORE

Lighting the Montauk Lighthouse

Montauk–FREE
Saturday, November 26
The annual tradition returns to get the entire family into the holiday spirit. Christmas music will fill the air as the lighthouse is adorned with beautiful lights.  READ MORE

South Fork Natural History Museum Free Open House

Bridgehampton–FREE
Saturday, November 26
The South Fork Natural History Museum is hosting a free open house on November 26 with a self-guided nature treasure hunt and more. READ MORE

Family Wampum Workshop at the Whaling Museum

Cold Spring Harbor
Saturday, November 26
Discover this ancient craft and learn what it continues to mean to Indigenous Long Islanders. Create a wampum-style beaded accessory of your own to keep.  READ MORE

Long Island Garden Railway Holiday Show

Sayville–FREE
Saturday, November 26
The Long Island Garden Railway Holiday Show travels to three locations this holiday season. READ MORE

Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Show

Farmingdale–FREE
Saturday, November 26-Sunday, November 27
Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club presents a 4,000-square-foot model railroad with 10 trains running on 19 scale miles of track. READ MORE

1863 Thanksgiving Celebration at Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Old Bethpage
Saturday, November 26-Sunday, November 27
Enjoy the holidays in a place where the clock is always turned back to the 19th century. Historical demonstrations include an open fire roasting and traditional music. READ MORE

Santa Parade in Port Jefferson Village

Port Jefferson–FREE
Sunday, November 27
This jolly ol' parade begins at the Patchogue LIRR train station on Main Street at 3pm and includes floats, vintage cars, and more. READ MORE

Colonial Games at Connetquot River State Park Preserve

Oakdale
Sunday, November 27
Take a journey to the past and visit Colonial America. Leave that smart phone behind in modern times and test your coordination with a ball and cup. How far can you roll a hoop?  READ MORE
Check out the light displays at LuminoCity in Eisenhower Park. Photo courtesy of the the festival
Check out the light displays at LuminoCity in Eisenhower Park. Photo courtesy of the the festival

Ongoing Things To Do on Long Island Throughout Thanksgiving Weekend

Jones Beach Magic of Lights Drive-Thru Show

Wantagh
The Magic of Lights drive-thru spectacular returns to Jones Beach and Nassau County's South Shore this holiday season. The display is stacked with new themed LED lighting displays and digital animations, plus plenty of returning favorites. READ MORE

Riverhead Holiday Light Show

Riverhead
Visitors enjoy an incredible drive-thru experience featuring more than 1 ½ miles of holiday light displays at the Riverhead Holiday Light Show.  READ MORE

LuminoCity Festival at Eisenhower Park

Manhasset
LuminoCity returns to Long Island, this year at Eisenhower Park. The 2022 theme, Pure Magic, is inspired by the traditional art of Chinese lantern festivals, featuring light art displays.  READ MORE

Winter Wonderland at Waterdrinker Family Farm

Manorville
Head to Waterdrinker Family Farm for a fun winter day. Skate on the synthetic ice or cozy up around the fire and enjoy s'mores, hot chocolate, and more. Food trucks make occasional appearances, too. READ MORE

Shimmering Solstice at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury
Become captivated and charmed by the magical light displays set along Old Westbury Garden’s paths and grounds.  READ MORE

Christmas House Long Island

Westbury
Christmas House Long Island is an indoor, one-of-a-kind, fully immersive Christmas experience. Take a wondrous walk through all things Christmas, followed by a glorious gift shop and sweets wonderland. READ MORE

The New York Winter Lantern Festival–Nassau Drive-Thru Adventure

Roslyn
The NYC Winter Lantern Festival returns for the 2022 holiday season with a spectacular drive-thru at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn. Driving through illuminated tunnels and Chinese lanterns inspired by outer space, visitors move between planets, rockets, astronauts, and more. READ MORE

The New York Winter Lantern Festival - Suffolk Winter Lantern Festival

Smithtown
The NYC Winter Lantern Festival takes place at the Smithtown Historical Society, transforming the grounds with spectacular lantern displays featuring flowers, animals, and more.  READ MORE

Christmas Animated Story at Hicks Nurseries

Westbury–FREE
Visiting the Christmas Children’s Story at Hicks Nurseries has been a family tradition on Long Island for generations. This year's theme is A Stroll with Santa. READ MORE

Girl Scouts Of Suffolk County Holiday Light Show

Shirley
See the dazzling lights, amazing vignettes, and holiday scenes at the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County's Smith Point Light Show. Traverse 1 1/2 miles of dazzling holiday displays, including a new Girl Scout Way.  READ MORE

Bright Lights at the Vanderbilt Mansion

Centerport
Thousands of warm, white lights will create holiday magic inside and outside the Mansion and illuminate trees, wreaths, garlands, guest rooms, walkways, and the Vanderbilt Library. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Wantagh Preservation Society
Sayville Historical Society
Connetquot River State Park Preserve
Smithhaven Mall