The first weekend of November has a ton of Halloween events still happening. Check out the Halloween guide to squeeze in some last minute chills and thrills before the official end of the scary season.
As Halloween comes to an end, so does daylight savings time on November 4. Long Island residents will be gaining an extra hour but don’t let the extra hour fool you because the holidays will soon be creeping up on locals. From turkey carvings to menorah lightings, why not get an early start on the harvest with the extra time! Thanksgiving decorations are already hitting the shelves of local stores, and the autumn air welcomes the season of giving across Long Island. The weather has certainly become cooler, and the colorful leaves are falling off of the trees, which will soon be bare. Let the beauty of the changing season inspire you to think about what to do for Thanksgiving.
Many locals have their own holiday and seasonal traditions but why not change it up a little, and enjoy some of the fun traditions that are enjoyed in communities across LI. From turkeys and festive foods to gift shopping and goobly-gobbly things to do, enjoy the rest of the fall season with family, friends and shopping! LongIsland.com’s 2013 November Guide is filled with festive activities the whole family can enjoy!
Veterans Day
Veteran’s Day is celebrated on Monday, November 11 which honors all the men and women who served for our country in the U.S military, their selflessness and willingness to sacrifice themselves for both the good of the people and of our country. Check out some events to help show your support for our veterans:
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Indoor Golfing To Support Veterans at Eagle Golf of Bayshore
53 West Main Street, Bayshore, NY 11706
646-321-7134
Friday, November 1st - 6 PM
$25
Enjoy an evening of golf with prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive and best overall performance, an indoor putting contest. There will be fabulous foods, free soda and water. The proceeds benefit AMVETS.
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Veterans Food Pantry at Suffolk County United Veterans
1380 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901
631-924-8088 ext. 1501
Friday, November 1st - Friday, November 29 - 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Help support Suffolk County Veterans as well as their families to receive supplementary food by donating non-perishable foods.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah falls in November this year and the lights of menorahs will be seen earlier than usual. Check out a few of the menorah lightings happening on Long Island. For a full list of menorah lightings, click here!
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Great Menorah Car Parade and Lighting FREE
2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick, NY 11566
516-833-3057
Wednesday, November 27th
Come out to Merrick for the Great Menorah Car Parade and Lighting! Bring the whole family! See event listing for specific times.
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Ronkonkoma Menorah Lighting at Raynor Beach Park FREE
Ronkonkoma Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
631-963-2796
Saturday, November 30th
The Menorah Lighting will be lead by Rabbi Steven Moss who will lead in prayer and song. Hot potato latkes and chocolate gelt will be available for the whole family! See event listing specific times.
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St. James Menorah Lighting at The Triangle FREE
Route 25A and Lake Avenue, St. James, NY 11780
631-584-8510
Wednesday, November 27th - Wednesday, December 4th - 4 PM
The Menorah will be lit for 8 nights. Treats will be available each night.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday primarily celebrated in the United States and Canada known as the day of giving thanks for the harvest as well as the previous year. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. The roots come from the 17th century when the Pilgrims and the Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which became known as the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. In the mid 19th century, President Abraham Lincoln officially proclaimed that Thanksgiving be celebrated each November.
Today, residents across Long Island come together with family and friends to enjoy each other’s company while munching on tasty treats and delicious dinners ranging from foods like pumpkin pies, apple pies, cranberry sauce, corn, all types of vegetables, turkey and so much more! There are endless possibilities for what kinds of delicious dishes you can put together. With so much flavorful food, there many just not be any leftovers.
Carving a turkey on Thanksgiving day can be an art and skill in itself. Show off your carving skills by checking out our guide on how to properly carving a turkey.
Of course, cooking and staying at home is not for everyone. There are many restaurants and venues across Long Island which will be serving Thanksgiving dinner to locals. Check out some that may be near you:
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Harvest Sunset Dinner at Villa Lombardi’s
877 Main Street, Holbrook, NY 11741
631-444-1454
Thursday, November 21st - 6PM to 9PM
$100
Enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal while supporting the Pediatric MS research at Stony Brook Children’s hospital.
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Thanksgiving at Glen Cove Mansion
200 Dosoris Lane, Glen Cove, NY 11542
516-671-6400
Thursday, November 28th - 1 PM
$55
The Glen Cove Mansion welcomes locals to enjoy a festive meal inspired by historic menus of the Gold Coast Era. The Thanksgiving Buffet will be served in the elegant Garden Ballroom, featuring sweeping views of the formal English-style gardens and acres of groomed lawns.
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Thanksgiving Dinner at the Fox Hollow
7725 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, NY 11797
516-921-1415
Thursday, November 28th - 1PM to 5PM
$49.95
Celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday at the Fox Hollow and enjoy an extensive buffet with all the trimmings which is prepared by our award winning chefs!
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Thanksgiving Native American Feast at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve
50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove, NY 11542
516-571-8010
Saturday, November 23rd - Sunday, November 24th - 10AM to 4PM
$5
Celebrate the Native American culture with hands-on activities which include pottery-making, primitive fire-building and on-site cooking. Authentic Native American cuisine; artifacts and tool technology will be displayed. Face painting with natural pigments, and use of the atlatl will also be demonstrated. Movies celebrating Native American life will be shown throughout.
Turkey Trots
Participate in a Turkey Trot near you and be in the running to win an actual frozen turkey for your family’s Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey sure can taste better when it’s free! Turkey Trots are also the perfect way to burn off some calories before indulging in a deliciously filling feast. Check out LongIsland.com’s Turkey Trot 2013: Get in a Jog Before You Get Gobblin’ for a whole list of all the trots you can participate in!
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2013 Smiles Turkey Trot at Corey Beach Park
The Great South Bay, Blue Point, NY 11715
Thursday, November 28th - 9 AM
Don't miss out on this Turkey Trot in support of “Smiles Change Lives.” The 5K Run will be a fun run with no chips, no official times and no age group prizes but just top 5 male and female overall. The 5K and Walk is $25 and the Kids' Fun Run is $15.
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Matthew’s Turkey Trot and Chicken Run at West Harbor Memorial Park
W. Harbor Drive, Bayville, NY 11709
Saturday, November 16th - 9 AM
$30
Participate in the chicken run and turkey trot to benefit the Matthew Fetzer Foundation and their Holiday Toy Drive for children battling cancer.
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Turkey Trot at Oyster Bay High School
150 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
516-313-5491
Thursday, November 28th - 9 AM
$30
Race a USATF Certified 5k course with chip timing and get involved in a $100 Teddy Roosevelt costume contest or $100 turkey costume contest.
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36th Annual Garden City Turkey Trot at St. Paul’s School
285 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Thursday, November 28th - 8:30 AM
Celebrate Thanksgiving with a 1.54 mile Fun Run and a 5 mile Turkey Trot before the big feast.
Black Friday
Thanksgiving may be a day of giving thanks but that also means Black Friday is here. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Many locals have off from work and school, giving them time to spend with family and friends as well as shopping. Different retail stores offer mind-blowing discounts on a variety of products that you wouldn’t find anywhere else at any other time of the year many of which are known as doorbusters. Stores open up really early and even stay open later than normal. Crowds of people swarm the doors and wait in line to get the best of these specials. Cyber Monday is a play on Black Friday where all the deals on products can be found online and purchasing the items online. Get the exclusive look at the the best bargains and deal with our 2013 Black Friday Shopping Guide.
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Black Friday Celebration in Stony Brook
Main Street on the Harbor, Stony Brook, NY 11790
631-751-2244
Friday, November 29th - 12PM to 6:30PM
Shop at over 35 shops with great sales and enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, a petting zoo, holiday carolers, wine tastings and much more!
Holiday Craft Fairs and Shopping
As if Black Friday wasn’t enough, there are plenty of holiday fairs throughout November filled with gifts and arts and crafts that may just be the perfect gift for someone in your family or even a friend. Check out some holiday sales happening to help you get started early on your Christmas shopping:
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Christmas Fair at First Congregational Church of Bay Shore
1860 Union Blvd, Bay Shore, NY 11706
631-665-0091
Saturday, November 2nd - 10AM to 7PM
$11
First Congregational Church 115th Annual Christmas Fair features baked goods, Christmas novelties, jams, jellies, pickles, toys, books, jewelry, vendors, fresh vegetables and more. A Roast Beef dinner will be served from 5-7pm.
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Broadway Mall Craft and Gift Fair
358 Broadway Mall, Hicksville, NY 11801
718-241-4630
Tuesday, November 5th - Sunday, November 10th - 10AM to 9PM
Shop indoors at Broadway Mall indoor and take a look at a variety of crafts and gifts that someone you know will sure love!
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Harvest Artisan Fine Craft Fair at St.Paul’s Field House
295 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
631-563-8551
Saturday, November 9th - Sunday, November 10th - 10AM to 5PM
$5
Shop around for a variety of items from a selection of artisans featuring leather, jewelry, clothing, pottery, original art, fiber, holiday decor, gifts and more. Over 100 artisans will be present to customize your order and answer questions.
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Holiday Fair at Temple Sinai
270 Clocks Blvd, Massapequa, NY 11758
917-913-6023
Sunday, November 10th - 10AM to 4 PM
Come do some holiday shopping with over 30 vendors selling handmade items, makeup, clothing, accessories, pocketbooks, household items, baked goods, unique gifts and so much more! There will also be raffles & 50/50 drawing.
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Thanksgiving-kah Holiday Sale at Temple Tikvah
3315 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
(516) 746-1120
Sunday, November 17th - 10AM to 12:30PM
Come to the annual Holiday Fair where there will be a variety of reasonably priced items for children and adults to purchase. Highlights include handcrafted jewelry, toys, books & gift items for Hanukkah and other occasions.
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Autumn Art & Craft Festival at Independence Plaza
Middle Country Road, Selden, NY 11784
631-563-8551
Saturday, November 16th - Sunday, November 17th - 10AM to 6 PM
$5
Enjoy a unique shopping experience and gift giving that is appreciated for years there is no better place to shop. Over 125 artisans with an eclectic selection of hand-crafted jewelry, fine art, stained glass, pottery, fiber, unique home accents, gourmet food, holiday items and more.
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22nd Annual Holiday Craft Fair at Trinity Regional School
1025 5th Avenue, East Northport, NY 11731
631-754-3764
Saturday, November 16th - 10AM to 4PM
Come out ot the 22nd Annual Holiday Craft Fair with over 70 tables offering beautiful handmade crafts and gift items. This is a great opportunity to start your holiday shopping. There will also be a snack bar, bake sale, raffles and prizes and free admission. Great fun for the entire family.
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Holiday Shopping at Bellmore Knights of Columbus
2333 Bellmore Avenue, Bellmore, NY 11710
516-987-1266
Sunday, November 17th - 10AM to 4 PM
Enjoy over 40 vendors that will be selling interesting crafts and products. Fundraiser is for the John Theissen Children's Foundation.
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Rapid Fire Arena Holiday Fair
225 Montauk Highway, Moriches, NY 11955
Saturday, November 23rd - 12PM to 5 PM
A great way to get a jump on holiday shopping with crafts, food, jewelry, home goods, candles, pocketbooks, paintings by a pig, bounce house and more!
Pumpkin Picking
Pumpkin season still isn’t over! If you still have not picked out a pumpkin at one of the local farms, it’s not too late! We even got you covered on how to pick out a pumpkin. Pick out the right pumpkin for you and you can even make some pumpkin pie!
Cold-weather fun
The weather outside is getting cooler but that doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself up in your home. Check out some cold weather fun to keep you from freezing your toes.
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Go to a museum
Learn about the history of Long Island or some other neat and interesting things!
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Watch a movie
Cuddle up in a blanket and sip on some hot chocolate with your favorite movie or go to the movies for a film that you have been dying to see!
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Read a book
With a variety of reads from fiction to nonfiction, get lost in the pages of a good book!
Whatever you decide to do this year’s Thanksgiving Day, don’t forget to check out other things to do to mark on your calendars!
