'Tis the season for holiday adventures

The holiday countdown continues with all sorts of spirited heart-warming festivities, many that remind us of those time-honored rituals of an earlier era. Take some time to sample some of the season’s delights, which can be found throughout the area.

Old Bethpage Village
December always sparkles at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, which welcomes everyone to take a journey back in time during “Candlelight Evenings,” its popular 19th century holiday celebration. The annual festivities, which are held now through Sunday, serve as a festive finale to its season; the village closes for the winter after the holiday celebration.
A visit to the historic village — all aglow in its “Hallmark Card”-inspired setting as flickering candles illuminate the historic homes that are all dressed up 19th century-style — is a much-anticipated ritual for many at this time of year. The nighttime experience lends a distinctive charm to the fascinating setting.

The village shows off its holiday finery, with activities to enchant guests of all ages, all set within the confines of a rural valley locale. Hear popular 19th century music and enjoy other forms of entertainment of from that era, including a brass quartet, fiddlers playing popular seasonal tunes and traditional contra-dancers. Local ensembles also participate —all happening throughout the village.
Stories of Christmases past and classic children’s holiday tales are retold each night, set against the backdrop of the grandly decorated Christmas tree circa 1866. Visitors can gather around a rousing bonfire in the village’s crossroads and enjoy hot, mulled cider and other refreshments at the Noon Inn.
You can even pick a gift or two, at the holiday craft show, which is also a part of the festivities.
The village is open 5-9:30 p.m., Dec. 15-18, for this event; it is closed during the day. Visitors are welcome to bring their own candle lanterns or flashlights to guide their way. Admission is $10, $7 seniors and children 5-12. Old Bethpage Village Restoration is on Round Swamp Rd., Old Westbury. For information, contact (516) 572-8401 or www.obvrnassau.com.

A Christmas Carol at Adelphi University
Charles Dickens’ timeless holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol,” comes alive in a radio-style staged reading at Adelphi University. The annual reading, dramatized by Barbara Feld and directed by Adelphi’s Dr. Brian Rose, is shared with community on Sunday.
Feld’s adaptation of the beloved tale, features Dr. Rose, a professor in the Department of Theatre, and more than a dozen student actors. Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, along with the other characters from this treasured story, are vividly portrayed in this always-popular retelling.
The one-hour performance is free, in the spirit of “A Christmas Carol”; everyone attending is encouraged to contribute a donation of non-perishable food items to be distributed at the Mary Brennan Interfaith Nutrition Network in
Hempstead.
See “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 17, at 2 p.m., at Adelphi’s Olmsted Theatre, 1 South Ave., Garden City. For more information, call (516) 877-4000 or visit http://aupac.adelphi.edu.

Old Westbury Gardens
Westbury House, the elegant country estate at Old Westbury Gardens, provides a festive glimpse of early 20th century holiday merriment, before it, too, closes for the winter. The celebration, in its final weekend, offers a peek at what a holiday celebration was like during those opulent decades of the early 1900s when the Phipps family lived there.
The period rooms in which John S. (Jay) Phipps — the eldest son of Henry Phipps, Andrew Carnegie’s partner at Carnegie Steel — and his family spent their days are impeccably decorated with wreaths, mantelpiece drapes, topiaries, plants and other horticultural arrangements. Antique clothing and toys add to the appeal of the decorated rooms. Bring the kids to create some holiday crafts, share their holiday wishes with Santa and enjoy hot cider and cookies on the West Porch.
“Throughout the warmer months visitors are understandably drawn to our 200 acres of grounds which include some of the most beautiful gardens in the world,” says Old Westbury Gardens Communications Director Vince Kish. “Some people actually skip touring the house, which is a shame, because the place is really quite magnificent.”
 “During December, Westbury House really gets to shine. This weekend is the last opportunity to visit Westbury House. To make things easier for all us who are at work and can’t easily get to places until after rush hour, we are extending our hours until 9 p.m. on Friday evening. With all the Christmas trees, fireplace mantelpieces, and other decorations, the house is beautiful at any time of the day. But the lights, welcoming, warming fire in the entry hall, and any number of other things look just a bit more festive in the evening.”
 “We are especially proud of our Holiday Gift Shop. It contains a truly eclectic collection of unique items including classic toys and tree ornaments, fragrances, books, calendars, and much more. And for tea lovers, especially for visitors who have enjoyed one of our holiday tea and tour events, a selection of teas that have been specially blended for Old Westbury Gardens are available. And all the browsing and shopping takes place in a blissfully serene atmosphere, at a relaxed, leisurely pace.”
The festivities conclude with a snow globe workshop, on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. Kids, ages 6-10, can create a waterless snow globe with glass etching cream. The fee is $15, including materials and admission for accompanying adult. Registration is required.
The holiday celebration concludes Dec. 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Old Westbury Gardens is located at 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For further information, contact (516) 333-0048 or www.oldwestburygardens.org.

Christmas Village at Milburn Lake
Nassau County’s Christmas Village and Winter Wonderland is back at Milburn Lake in Baldwin, with spirited holiday festivities for all ages.
The colorfully decorated village — an authentic 1800s setting inspired by that holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol” — will be bustling throughout the weekend, Friday through Sunday. Do some holiday shopping; enjoy entertainment, caroling, horse and buggy rides, along with a fire pit and refreshments, as well as ice and woodcarving, and activities for the kids. And, of course, Santa makes an appearance.
Visit the Christmas Village, Dec,. 17-18, 12-5 p.m., at Miburn Lake (behind the Coral House), 70 Milburn Ave., Baldwin. Call (516) 223-6500 for more information.