It’s the holiday season, and folks are getting ready to attend different local events to celebrate. Suffolk County has been keeping bright amid the holiday season with its first Winter Lantern Light Festival at the Smithtown Historical Society.
This is an event you don’t want to miss out on. The lantern festival has attracted over 150,000 guests at its many other events and has quickly grown in popularity right here in Suffolk County.
Known as the Suffolk Lantern Festival, this display offers many different lanterns ranging from animals, fish, and flowers to dinosaurs and mushrooms. These Chinese lanterns are all handmade by artisans, who have dedicated decades to their craft, to offer guests an unforgettable walkthrough experience.
Also, contrary to popular belief, the event is not geared toward a celebration of Christmas. It is rather a celebration of art and lights while offering its many unique and wonderful photo opportunities.
Executive Director and Director of Development & PR at the Smithtown Historical Society Priya Kapoor shared her excitement regarding hosting the first winter festival in Suffolk County.
“It’s a new way of bringing the community together,” Kapoor told the Stony Brook Media Group in early December. “A lot of people who are coming on the grounds have been saying that they love it and they never knew the Historical Society existed in their backyard.”
“So this is a different way of ours to show the community that we are here and they should be coming all year round,” she added.
On the lanterns, Kapoor said, “they’re very attractive and enjoyable, and kids love it.”
Adults do too. “This was really cute,” said Paulina Lombardo, of Stony Brook. “I actually heard about it through a friend and wanted to come because it sounded like something different to do. My kids enjoyed it. It’s cold out here but it was a nice little walk that kept them entertained. Something cute to do if you’re looking to switch things up.”
This lantern festival, located at 239 East Main Street, will be open from Friday, December 23 to January 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Yes, you can even plan to visit on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. But not to worry, if you can’t get there during a crazy end-of-year week, the last weekend to view is January 6 – January 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets start at $12 for Youth and $22 for General Admission, which grants you two hours of viewing the different handmade lanterns along a bright walkway. You may purchase online, or at the event. If purchasing online, you may use coupon code CITYSPARK to get 20% off on your tickets. All other information is available on the Smithtown Historical Society’s website at Smithtownhistorical.org.
The event has been running since early November and will end on January 8, 2023. For more updates and information, be sure to visit their website or contact @winterlanternfestival on Facebook and Instagram.
The Messenger Papers wishes everybody a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
