Enjoy the Weekend on Long Island Without Packing a Suitcase (or Losing Your Mind)

By the time mid-December rolls around, most Long Island families are doing their best impression of holiday jugglers: one hand on the to-do list, one hand on a peppermint latte, and both eyes twitching from school concerts, Secret Santa emails, and the sudden realization that Christmas is basically tomorrow.

So instead of hiding in the pantry with a bag of chocolate chips or panic-shopping for gifts you know you’ll return, let’s do something a little healthier for your sanity: get out of the house, enjoy the magic of the season, and maybe even make a memory or two that doesn’t involve assembling toys at 1 a.m.

Here’s how to spend the weekend of December 12–14 on Long Island with a mix of lights, laughs, and holiday joy — minus the stress spiral.

Friday: Glow up your evening

If you're craving something you can actually walk through (because the kids need to burn off that December-level energy), LuminoCity at Eisenhower Park is glowing all evening. Giant lantern sculptures, animated displays, glowing creatures — it’s basically the North Pole after a Red Bull. Your kids will lose their minds in the best way, and you’ll get at least six new profile-picture options.

And if you’re thinking, “Indoor. Warm. Festive. Please.” then Christmas House Long Island at Broadway Commons is your move. Every room is a different Christmas theme, like the holidays exploded in the best possible way. Great for photos, great for kids, and great if you want to feel like you stepped inside a holiday movie without actually dealing with Toronto filming weather.

Saturday: Parades? No. Lights? Yes… and also puzzles.

Saturday is prime holiday-outing real estate. Start with something bright: another round of Magic of Lights or LuminoCity if you didn’t get your fill of sparkle yet (don’t worry, no one ever does).

But if you want a twist — something festive with a bit of brainpower — head to Dine & Decode: Santa’s Lost List in Massapequa Park. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., you’ll eat, laugh, solve mysteries, and help Santa find his missing list. It’s the only place on Long Island where you can say “Pass the garlic knots” and “We’re running out of clues!” in the same sentence.

Looking for something more classic? Bayville Winter Wonderland is open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., turning the adventure park into a mini holiday village. Lights, music, warm drinks, and the perfect amount of wholesome family chaos.

And if you want something peaceful — like “I love the holidays, but I also love my sanity” peaceful — the Port Jefferson Festival of Trees stays open until 8 p.m. Wander through dozens of beautifully decorated trees and quietly judge which one you’d steal if you had a bigger living room.

Sunday: Brunch, markets, and maybe just a little more magic

Sunday mornings were made for two things: pajamas… or brunch. If you’re leaving the house, make it worth it and grab seats for brunch with Santa & Mrs. Claus at Windows on the Lake starting at 10 a.m. The kids get Santa, you get waffles, and everyone wins.

If brunch isn’t the vibe but shopping is, the Broadway Mall Christmas Vendor Fair runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. You’ll walk in saying “We’re just browsing” and walk out with three handmade ornaments, a scented candle, and a knitted hat you didn’t know you needed.

Want more outdoor holiday charm (and fewer opportunities to overspend)? Swing back through Port Jefferson Festival of Trees, or head into Bayville Winter Wonderland for one more dose of sparkling nostalgia.

Or, if you’re feeling brave and want a final hit of festive adrenaline, book a round at the Santa’s Workshop Escape Room in Rockville Centre. Nothing says “holiday bonding” like arguing over clues while trying to save Christmas under a 60-minute timer.

Final Thought

Whether you want to stroll, sip, shop, solve mysteries, or simply survive, Long Island has more than enough happening the weekend of December 12–14 to get you out of the house and into the holiday spirit — without crossing a bridge, boarding a plane, or losing your mind in a crowd of last-minute shoppers.

And if somewhere between the light shows and the brunch buffet you start wondering if it’s time to upgrade your living space next year… Well, that’s a conversation I’m always here for.

But first? Go enjoy the weekend. Long Island is glowing — literally — and you deserve a little magic.