Christmas at the Sands Point Preserve

The Island Now
State Senator Elaine Phillips reads to children during a Christmas event at the Sands Point Preserve (Photo courtesy of Jana Raphael-McDonough)

The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy hosted more than 430 guests at the annual Holiday Tales at the Hearth family event on Sunday, December 3, setting a new record at the first of four celebratory events during the month of December.

Coming up is the Not Quite Christmas Cabaret and dinner takes place on Saturday, December 9; Sessions in Hempstead House features an evening of holiday jazz on Thursday, December 14; and the Winter Solstice Preservers’ Dinner honors the Conservancy’s supporters on Thursday, December 21, 2017.

Holiday Tales at the Hearth celebrates a multitude of traditions from around the globe, with stories read aloud by special guest readers Senator Elaine Phillips, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Happy Montessori’s Anita Sethi, and Scottie and Elf in the mansion’s library. During the three-hour event, children had fun with winter-themed craft activities, a world holiday treasure hunt for older children, live jazz music by Bach to Rock professional instructors and traditional holiday songs played on the massive Wurlitzer organ.

Families also took guided nature walks with Tree Sisters founder Hildur Palsdottir and David Jakim, founder of the Port Washington Monarch Butterfly Alliance; they will be leading monthly nature walks every second Sunday.

The December 9 Not Quite Christmas Cabaret, created by composer Steven Lutvak, features Broadway performers Emily Skinner (Prince of Broadway, Side Show, Billy Elliot), Nicholas Ward (Frozen, On the Town, In Transit, Annie Get Your Gun), and Lauren Worsham (Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Candide, Putnam County Spelling Bee) – and a superb dinner and dessert by Philip Stone Caterer.

The final 2017 Sessions in Hempstead House concert on December 14 features Solomon Hoffman and Bobby Katz’ original holiday jazz arrangements in a magical concert in the Winter Living Room. This casual evening includes outstanding wines generously donated by Post Wines.

The Winter Solstice Preservers’ Dinner on Thursday, December 21, is an invitational complimentary evening for the Conservancy’s major supporters and features a special concert by members of the renowned Lark Quartet. For information about Conservancy membership, contact 516.570.2248.

Hempstead House, a 50,000 square foot Tudor style mansion listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is decorated for holidays, and guided tours are available on Wednesdays and most weekends. Falaise tours are now closed for the winter and will resume in May 2018.

Concert tickets can be purchased online or on the ticket line: 516.304.5076. For information about the Preserve and all programs, and to purchase a 12-month membership for free admission to the park and discounts to many events, see www.SandsPointPreserve.org, call 516.571.7901 or visit the Gatehouse at 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY, 11050, open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.

The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to maintain and operate the 216-acre waterfront grounds and historic mansions and to provide a range of cultural events in Hempstead House and Castle Gould and educational programs for families and schools in the Phil Dejana Learning Center and Outdoor Classroom.

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