What's open on Christmas Day on Long Island
Niklaus Alexander posing on Santas sled with father, Ivor, and mother, Debbie, of North Babylon, as Rudolf pulls the sleigh at the Magic of Lights Holiday Village at Jones Beach in Wantagh. Credit: Howard Simmoons
On Christmas Day, several holiday-themed attractions and activities are on tap for those who get restless for an outing. Here are six options including a "Frozen"-themed kids pajama party, a drive-through light show, a sit-down with the Grinch and even a movie marathon.
Plan a family fun day
300 Forest Dr., East Hills
See Olaf, Anna and Elsa in a screening of "Frozen" on Christmas Day. Credit: Disney
This Christmas Day tradition includes breakfast, a pajama party — yes, kids can wear pjs — and a big-screen showing of "Frozen" (2013), 10 a.m. to noon at Sid Jacobson JCC. It’s a sing-along version of the Disney animated children’s classic, so youngsters can belt out "Let it Go" and "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?" along with Anna, Elsa and Olaf on screen.
Cost $18 per family
More info 516-484-1545, sjjcc.org
Drive through the Magic of Lights and Toyota Holiday Village
150 Bay Pkwy., Wantagh
Tree, snowflake and Barbie lights at the Magic of Lights Jones Beach holiday light show in Wantagh. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Two million lights went into creating this year’s drive-through, which takes you along roadways lined with holiday displays and familiar characters created with LED technology at Jones Beach State Park. New attractions include zoo animal and North Pole scenes, a toy soldier spectacular in Toyland and an expansion of the 12 days of Christmas display. Warm up at the Toyota Holiday Village, where the concession will be selling gourmet hot chocolate items and visitors can make s’mores (weather permitting), see illuminated trees and a menorah display and take pictures with the Grinch, 5 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day. .
Cost Starting at $30
More info magicoflights.com
Marvel at light displays at the Riverhead Holiday Light Show
Take a drive through the Riverhead Holiday Light Show at Splish Splash. Credit: BOLD Media
2549 Splish Splash Dr., Calverton
Give the whole family a treat on mile-long drive-through light tunnels and displays synchronized to a holiday music soundtrack, 5 to 9 p.m. at Splish Splash. The show features hundreds of dazzling, larger-than-life displays, which change yearly, and include holiday, dinosaur and outer space themes this time around, says spokesman Danny Dwyer.
Cost Tickets cost $25 online or $30 at the gate.
More info holidaylightshow.com
Do a movie marathon
See new releases like "Wicked" and "A Complete Unknown" during the holiday break. Credit: Universal Pictures / Searchlight Pictures
Grab some hot buttered popcorn, strawberry Twizzlers and a seat at a multiplex near you. Christmas Day offers a grab bag of new releases including the torrid Nicole Kidman romancer, "Babygirl"; "Nosferatu," the latest take on the ancient Transylvanian neck biter, and two biopics: "The Fire Inside," starring Ryan Destiny as Olympics boxer Claressa "T-Rex" Shields, and "A Complete Unknown," with Timothée Chalamet playing a young Bob Dylan. Or, catch "Wicked" starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for some whimsical feels.
See holiday displays at RXR Plaza
102 RXR Plaza, Uniondale
The outdoor Rockefeller Center-style holiday tree won't be on display this year but RXR Plaza is still open with decorations moved inside to the atrium/lobby, which is open 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
Park in the RXR lot, step inside the building, and stroll through a festive scene under the glass-ceilinged atrium. The display features smaller evergreens and palm trees covered with lights and colorful snowflake mobiles hanging from above.
Cost Free
More Info 516-683-0339
