Babylon Village has put its holiday season on the calendar, and most of it happens in one building. The Nathaniel Conklin House on Deer Park Avenue, the village-owned historic house, hosts photos with Santa for pets and families in November, then a cookie contest and an evening open house in December, before the village lights its tree in Argyle Park on Sunday, December 6.

November

Santa Paws Pet Photos, Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dogs and other pets sit for a photo with Santa at the Conklin House.

Picture Perfect Holiday Photos, Sunday, November 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Family holiday portraits at the house, early enough in the season to make it onto this year's cards. Reservations are required and are made through Eventbrite.

December

Holiday Cookie Contest, Thursday, December 3, 6 p.m. Home bakers bring a batch to the Conklin House to be judged. Entrants pre-register through the Babylon Village Historical and Preservation Society or the Babylon Public Library.

Holiday Open House, Friday, December 4, 6 to 9 p.m. An evening inside the house decorated for the season.

Tree Lighting and Wassail Bowl, Sunday, December 6, 4 p.m. The village lights its Christmas tree in Argyle Park, and the Historical Society serves its wassail bowl the same afternoon, a holiday tradition of hot spiced punch.

About the house

The Conklin House carries a long Babylon history of its own. It is named for Nathaniel Conklin, a major landowner who ran a tannery in the village, and it had already changed hands by 1815. In 1871 it was moved from Main Street to the spot it stands on now. From 1915 it was a boarding house run by Mary Mentz, and from 1945 to 1989 it served as the local headquarters of the American Red Cross. When the Red Cross planned to sell it, possibly for demolition, the Village of Babylon bought it and began restoring it in 1990. Its rooms now include a Victorian room, a Red Cross room and a store, and a steering committee of residents, the mayor and the trustees guides it.

Also this week

Before the holiday events begin, the village holds its Veterans Day Parade on Wednesday, November 11, at 10 a.m.

If you go

Where: Nathaniel Conklin House, 280 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon; the tree lighting is in Argyle Park
When: November 14 and 15; December 3, 4 and 6
Details: villageofbabylonny.gov

Sources