Unfortunately, Jones Beach will not feature its usual Holiday Lights this year. However, for those who want to experience a light show that's similar, the Jones Beach website is referring people to another Holiday Light Show on Long Island this year.

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County is holding its Sixth Annual Holiday Light Show, started on December 3 and running through December 30 (closed on December 24 and 25.) It's on Lakeview Avenue in Bayport from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The cost is $12 per car. For more information: Sixth Annual Holiday Light Show or email lightshow@gssc.us.

Read more about:

• Christmas Tree & Menorah Lightings on Long Island
• Long Island Christmas Tree Farms
• Christmas Day & Christmas Eve Dinners at Restaurants on Long Island
• Christmas & Hanukah Dinner Takeout on Long Island
• December Calendar of Events on Long Island
• Performances of The Nutcracker on Long Island
• New Year's Eve on Long Island

On Tuesday, December 22, Councilwoman Dorothy L. Goosby's Town of Hempstead Kwanzaa Event will start at 4 p.m. The event is FREE and open to the public. This celebration of the principles of Kwanzaa will feature song, dance and stories. There will also be a free feast at the end of the event.

This year's performers will be:

• The Hempstead High School Choir
• Laymen for the Christ Male Chorus
• Gloria Eve Performing Arts
• Classical pianist Gamar Josama
• The Uniondale High School Jazz Band

For more information, please visit Councilwoman Dorothy L. Goosby's website.
_{Photo © iStockphoto}

Next week, when schools are closed for the holiday recess, bring the kids to the Long Island Children's Museum for some fun. Note: the museum is open on Thursday, December 24 till 3 p.m., closed on Friday, Christmas Day, but open on Saturday, December 26, Sunday, December 27 and Monday, December 28.

There will be some special programs:

• On Tuesday, December 22 and Wednesday, December 23, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., kids can make special decorations made of foam and glitter. For all ages. Free with museum admission.
• Saturday, December 26 at 1 and 3 p.m., there will be a short film festival of movies about the holidays and winter that kids 3 and up will enjoy.
• Sunday, December 27 at 1 and 3 p.m., bring the whole family to the live children's musical ensemble, the Silly Dilly Band. For ages 3 and up. Fee: $4 with museum admission, $3 LICM members.
• Monday, December 28 at 1 and 3 p.m., , an original piece created especially for LICM using the ancient technique of hand and glove puppets. Members of the Chinese Theater Works have created an exciting adaptation of the Monkey King story with a western twist. For ages 3 and up. Fee: $4 with museum admission, $3 LICM members, $8 Theater Only.
• Also on Monday, December 28 - at 2:30 p.m.: Chinese Calligraphy. Children ages 7 and up will learn the art of creating Chinese scrolls, using rice paper, calligraphy brushes, sumi ink, and authentic seals. For ages 7 and up. Fee: $3 with museum admission, $2 LICM members.


The Long Island Children's Museum is located at 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY. Museum admission: $10 for adults and children over 1 year old, $9 seniors, free to museum members and children under 1 year old. For additional information, call (516) 224-5800.

See also Long Island Children's Museum.
_{Photo © Linda Tagliaferro}

Come to the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center on Sunday, December 20 from 1 to 2 p.m. and sing holiday carols, drink hot apple cider and enjoy the spirit of the season. It's great family fun and open to all ages.

Don't forget to dress for the weather. Bring a blanket and your holiday spirit to keep warm. This is a FREE program.

The Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center is located at 134 Cove Road in Oyster Bay. For more information, please call (516) 922-3200 or email trsac@audubon.org.

You might also be interested in:

• Christmas Tree & Menorah Lightings on Long Island
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• Ice Skating Rinks on Long Island

_{Photo © iStockphoto}

As the gift giving season is in full swing, the huge shopping mall, the Americana Manhasset, offers extended holiday hours through Wednesday, December 23rd. Mondays through Saturdays, you can shop from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sundays, the extended shopping hours are from 12 noon to 6 p.m.

Please note the following exceptions:

• On Thursday, December 24, the hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• On Thursday, December 31, the Americana Manhasset will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Additional exceptions to these hours may apply to some stores in the mall. Always call first to double-check. For more information, please visit the Americana Manhasset website or call (516) 627-2277.

Shop at stores like Bottega Veneta, Brooks Brothers, Cartier, Malandrino and others. Take a photo tour of the Americana Manhasset to view some of the many upscale stores at this famed mall.

The completely redesigned Apple Store, Roosevelt Field opens today, Thursday, December 10 at 6 p.m., on the lower level of the Roosevelt Field mall near Bloomingdale's.

As always, you can shop for Apple products from computers to iPhones, take free workshops, visit the Genius Bar and more. If you're one of the first 500 visitors to the redesigned store, you'll get a free Apple T-shirt while supplies last.

The Apple Store, Roosevelt Field is located at 630 Old Country Rd., Garden City, NY. For more information, please call (516) 248-3347 or visit the Apple Store, Roosevelt Field.

You might also be interested in The Apple Store, Manhasset.

On Monday, December 14, bring the family for a spin at the Second Annual World Series of Dreidels, presented by the Mid Island JCC, 45 Manetto Hill Road, Plainview, NY. The winner will receive a trophy and a grand prize. Note: you must register by Friday, December 11th.

The festivities start at 5:45 p.m. and continue through 7:30 p.m., when there will be a community menorah lighting at the corner of Manetto Hill Road and Washington Avenue. The cost is $12 for non-member adults and $10 for their child. (Maximum $36 per non-member family.) $10 per adult member, $8 for their child. (Maximum $30 per member family.)

For more information or to register, please call (516) 822-3535, extension 334.

You might also be interested in:

• Christmas Tree & Menorah Lightings on Long Island
• Christmas & Hanukah on Long Island
• Hanukah on Long Island

_{Photo © iStockphoto}

On Monday, December 14, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Chabad of Roslyn and Chabad of Eastern Queens will present Chanukah on Ice! at Iceland, 3345 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park, NY. Doors open at 6 p.m. so you can rent your skates, and at 6:30 p.m., there will be a menorah lighting followed by open skating. $10 admission includes skate rental. $5 for non-skaters. Food will be sold separately.

For more information, please go to Chabad of Roslyn website or call (516) 484-3500.

You might also be interested in:

• Christmas Tree & Menorah Lightings on Long Island
• Christmas & Hanukah on Long Island
• Hanukah on Long Island
• Ice Skating Rinks on Long Island

_{Photo © iStockphoto}

Get into the holiday spirit and bring the whole family to a heartwarming performance that everyone will enjoy. Gian Carlo Menotti's opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors will be performed on Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. at Adelphi University's Performing Arts Center (AU PAC). The part of Amahl will be played by 12-year-old Syosset resident Ritayan Chakraborty and the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra will accompany the cast.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and Adephi alumni and $7 for students. There's a family package of four tickets with an invitation to a pre-show holiday party with cookies and cider. Call for details. For more information, please call the AU PAC box office at (516) 877-4000 or visit AU PAC.

To learn about more things to do this month, please go to December Events on Long Island and Christmas & Hanukah on Long Island.

The Nassau County Museum of Art presents its Celebrate the Season program on Friday, December 18 from 6 to 8 p.m., and Levittown resident Kevin Covais, famed for his American Idol performances, will be on hand to join a cast of singers and choral groups who will fill the air with music at the museum's lawns right after the 6 p.m. holiday tree lighting.

Kelsey McCabe, a finalist in Nassau County's Reach for the Stars talent competition, will also sing and there will be choral performances by choral performances featuring Alison's Folk Group of St. Raymond's, East Rockaway; Hempstead High School Choir; Sacred Heart Academy's Chamber Chorus and Chamber Orchestra; United Cerebral Palsy Nassau's Creation; 2009 Nassau County Reach for the Stars First Place Winner Robbie Rosen of Merrick; 2009 Nassau County Reach for the Stars Second Place Winner Sarah Shaiman of Westbury; and 2008 Nassau County Reach for the Stars First Place Winner Crystalyn Wynter of South Hempstead.

This is a FREE event, but reservations are required. Please email reservations to nperau@nassaumuseum.org. The Nassau County Museum of Art will be open during the during the event and will feature half-price admission -- $5 for adults and seniors and $4 for children 12 and under. Members are always free. Refreshments will be available outdoors for purchase from Elegant Affairs.

Nassau County Museum of Art is located at 1 Museum Drive in Roslyn Harbor, Northern Boulevard.

You might also enjoy reading:

• Christmas Tree & Menorah Lightings on Long Island
  
• Performances of The Nutcracker on Long Island
  
• December Calendar of Events on Long Island
  
• Long Island Christmas Tree Farms

_{Photo © American Idol}