Every December, the Vanderbilt offers seasonal holiday events that have become popular traditions at the spectacular mansion of William K. Vanderbilt II – the tree lighting in the courtyard; the holiday dinner; tours of the mansion, decorated by local designers and garden clubs; and seasonal shows in the Planetarium
Holiday hours
The Museum and Planetarium will be closed on Thanksgiving, but open on Friday, November 27, 2015, the day after Thanksgiving. The Museum and Planetarium also will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24-25, and on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, December 31 and January 1.
Holiday events
Friday, November 27 – Tuesday, January 5
Tours of the Decorated Vanderbilt Mansion
The Friday after Thanksgiving is the first day each year that visitors can see the decked halls of the Vanderbilt. Tours are at 12:30, 1:00, 2:00 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.
The spectacular results of local designers and decorators charm hundreds of visitors throughout the season. Tours cost $5 person, plus general admission – $7 for adults, $6 for seniors 62 and older and students with ID, and children age 12 and under, $3.
Saturday, November 28
Annual Tree Lighting: Vanderbilt Mansion Courtyard,
This free event, open to the public, begins at 4:00 p.m. with a performance by the Northport Chorale of holiday favorites and Christmas carols – followed at 4:30 by the lighting of the tree and the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served.
Saturday, December 5
Holiday Dinner in Vanderbilt Mansion
This popular event, held in the festively decorated Vanderbilt Mansion, offers limited seatings of 50 at 6:00 and at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person. A benefit for the Museum’s education programs, the dinner sells out quickly, so early reservations are strongly recommended. To purchase tickets, call 631-854-5579.
Dinner in the Vanderbilt Mansion is a time-machine trip to the 1930s, a taste of the elegant Gold Coast life of a lost era. The evening begins with wine and hors d’oeuvres in one of the natural-history galleries, followed by a guided tour of the festively decorated mansion. The formal dinner is served in the mansion’s glass-walled Northport Porch overlooking the harbor lights, with dessert in the Lancaster Room.
Saturday-Sunday, December 26-27
Twilight Tours of the Vanderbilt Manson
These evening (7:00 to 9:00) tours, offered each year during the Holiday Season include hot chocolate and cookies. Admission: $10 for adults, $9 for students and seniors (62 and older), and $5 for children 12 and under.
This event is a treat for visitors, and the only time of the year the Vanderbilt family’s private living quarters can be seen at night.
Seasonal Planetarium shows
The Vanderbilt’s Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium will offer two seasonal shows. Both begin on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving weekend, through Sunday, January 3. (See Planetarium page for schedule.)
The Longest Night: A Winter’s Tale – This show represents a new advance in full-dome planetarium video storytelling that seamlessly combines live-action video of life-sized puppets with 3-D animation. This timeless fable of courage, generosity and renewal follows a young girl’s quest to save her village. Ages 10 and older.
Link to trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4JhyFuOfgA
Season of Light – Created by Loch Ness Productions, this video explains the astronomy of the winter skies, and explores the historic, religious and cultural celebrations of the holiday season – including Christian, Jewish, Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi. For the whole family.
Link to trailer:
