In 2025 the Thomas Park tree lighting fell on a Tuesday, December 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. In 2026 the Locust Valley Chamber of Commerce has it on Saturday, November 28, two days after Thanksgiving, during the same two-hour window. Moving it changes how the whole season fits together. The lighting now lands on the weekend when many families are already home, and the Chamber's other two events follow on a Thursday evening and a Sunday midday.
The Chamber was founded in 1993, and Long Island Press reports that membership is limited to brick-and-mortar businesses in ZIP code 11560. That makes the season a production of the storefronts on Forest Avenue and Birch Hill Road, with the Matinecock Neighborhood Association as a partner on the tree lighting. The tree lighting gathers people in Thomas Park, the stroll brings them into the shops, and the carriage rides close the season on a Sunday before the holiday.
| Date | Event | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Annual Tree Lighting | 5–7 p.m., Santa at 6 | Thomas Park, 10 Elm St. |
| Wed., Dec. 2 | Gingerbread-house workshop; Book to Film, A Christmas Story | Per library calendar | Locust Valley Library, 170 Buckram Rd. |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Library holiday open house and sing-along | Noon–2 p.m., sing-along at 2 | Locust Valley Library |
| Thu., Dec. 10 | Holiday Champagne Stroll | 5–7 p.m. | Shops throughout town |
| Tue., Dec. 15 | Tea Love Paint n Sip, holiday edition | Registration required | Locust Valley Library |
| Sun., Dec. 20 | Winter Festival, Horse & Carriage Rides | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Through the hamlet |
Saturday in Thomas Park
The 2026 tree lighting listing promises giant inflatables, music, hot cider, hot cocoa and cookies, with Santa arriving at 6 p.m. The Chamber and the Matinecock Neighborhood Association produce it together.
Last year's listing gives a sense of the evening, though the 2026 lineup has not been posted in that detail. In 2025 the Locust Valley High School Jazz Band and Chamber Singers performed. Santa came in on a Locust Valley Fire Department truck. Frankfurters came from Million Dollar Deli and candy canes from G. Willikers. Both contributors are downtown storefronts. Country Plaza Delicatessen, which locals call Million Dollar Deli, is at 105 Forest Avenue. G. Willikers, the toy and gift shop, is at 22 Forest Avenue.
Local groups also paid for the park's current centerpiece. The Town of Oyster Bay reported in June 2021 that Tropical Storm Isaias had destroyed Thomas Park's gazebo. The Locust Valley Rotary Club covered the full $56,795 cost of a replacement, and the Matinecock Neighborhood Association paid $400 for a giant spruce planted next to the new gazebo. The Town called the park a gathering place for many residents and organizations. The association that bought that tree is now co-producing the evening held around it.
Thursday, December 10, is the merchants' own night
The Chamber's Holiday Champagne Stroll listing offers "holiday cheer and bubbly while you shop for gifts throughout town" from 5 to 7 p.m., and suggests booking dinner for afterward. Long Island Press described the stroll as a chance to see the decorated windows, meet merchants, shop for gifts and toast the season.
The date has moved around from year to year. In 2024 the Chamber listed the stroll on two Thursdays, December 5 and December 12, calling it a "Sip 'n Stroll" for complimentary bubbly and treats along Birch Hill Road and Forest Avenue. In 2025 it was one evening, December 4. The 2026 listing has a single date, Thursday, December 10, twelve days after the tree lighting.
The Chamber directory lists the shops below. Because the stroll covers the whole downtown, the list follows the streets.
Birch Hill Road
- Locust Valley Bookstore, 8 Birch Hill Rd., sells fiction, history, cookbooks, children's books, puzzles, stationery and cards. Its website lists Tuesday through Saturday hours.
- Sabrina and Blush share 12 Birch Hill Rd. Sabrina is a women's boutique and Blush sells accessories.
- Curds & Whey, 20 Birch Hill Rd., carries domestic and imported cheeses, specialty crackers and fine teas.
- INTERSTYLE Fashion & Home, 28 Birch Hill Rd., sells clothing, handbags, jewelry and home accessories.
- Marquis Wines & Spirits, 29 Birch Hill Rd.
- Chocolicious Chocolatier, 74 Birch Hill Rd., makes handcrafted chocolates. Locust Valley Florist shares the address.
- Loafers Bakery & Gourmet Shoppe, 175 Birch Hill Rd., sells breads, cakes, quiches, appetizers and dinners to go.
Forest Avenue
- G. Willikers, 22 Forest Ave., sells books, games, puzzles and early-learning toys.
- The Royal Native, 27 Forest Ave., sells gifts and clothing made from vintage textiles.
- J. McLaughlin is at 15 Forest Ave., The Spot LV at 23 and One Last Look Consignment at 37.
- R. Jabbour & Sons, 108 Forest Ave., sells bed, bath and table linens.
- Petals Floral & Party Design, 200 Forest Ave.
The Plaza
- Trace Carnell, 15 The Plaza, sells vintage designer clothing, jewelry and home décor.
- Hosted by Kelly Gaudreau, 23 The Plaza, sells tabletop pieces and offers design.
- Ooh La Shoppe is at 25 The Plaza and Le Joaillier Fine Jewelry at 33.
A few of these work well for hosting during the season. You can get table linens from R. Jabbour, tabletop pieces from Hosted, cheese from Curds & Whey, wine from Marquis, and a dessert course from Chocolicious or Loafers, all within walking distance of each other.
Where the Chamber's dinner advice leads
The stroll ends at 7 p.m., which is when dinner service starts. Several downtown restaurants have reservations or ordering on their own websites. Birch Hill Market & Bistro, 153 Birch Hill Rd., runs a market for meats and seafood alongside a French-inspired bistro, and its site has a reservation link. Two25, at 225 Birch Hill Rd., serves modern Italian food and posts its hours and reservation details. The Brass Rail, 107 Forest Ave., is a fine-dining restaurant and pub that takes reservations. Buckram Stables Cafe, at 31 Forest Ave., serves casual American food and has a bar. Its site notes limited seating and asks guests to call ahead for reservations. Basil Leaf Cafe, at 7B The Plaza, serves Italian food in small dining rooms and on a terrace. On a night when the whole downtown is out in the same two hours, the Chamber's tip to book ahead is practical advice.
The library covers the dates between
Locust Valley Library, at 170 Buckram Road, fills the gap between the two Chamber weekends. Its November program includes Kate MacKinnon's "For the Love of Beauty" retrospective, with a reception on November 8 and the show on view through November 30. That puts it in the same week as the tree lighting. The library closes early on November 25 and stays closed November 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving.
December starts busy. On Wednesday, December 2, the library holds its annual gingerbread-house workshop and a Book to Film program that pairs A Christmas Story with the book it came from. On Sunday, December 6, a holiday open house with décor, crafts and live music runs from noon to 2 p.m., followed by a sing-along at 2. On December 15, the holiday edition of Tea Love Paint n Sip includes a gingerbread-spice tea demonstration and tasting. Registration is required.
The library's dates fit around the Chamber's. Its open house on December 6 falls between the tree lighting and the stroll, and the paint night on December 15 falls between the stroll and the carriage rides.
Sunday, December 20, by carriage
The season ends during the day. The Chamber's Winter Festival listing offers horse-and-carriage rides from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and invites people to "take a nostalgic ride through our picturesque hamlet all decorated for the holidays." The windows decorated for the stroll ten days earlier are still up, and a carriage moves slowly enough to see them. The Chamber has not posted the route or the boarding spot, so check its event page closer to the date.
From Thomas Park on November 28 to the carriages on December 20, the season covers 22 days.
Locust Valley's holiday windows show how much a well-presented storefront adds to a street. A home on the market in winter benefits from the same care. If you are thinking about listing in the new year and want advice on staging, timing and pricing that fits this hamlet, Karen Sharf would be glad to talk it through over coffee after the stroll. Let's Connect.
