The rooms of Westbury House, the mansion at the center of Old Westbury Gardens, will be decorated for Christmas for three weekends in December, with Santa, cookies and cider, and a program of concerts and workshops in between. The season opens with a tree lighting on Friday evening, Dec. 4, and reservations for the house's Christmas teas open to the public on Monday, Nov. 16.

The weekends

Christmas at Westbury House runs Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6; Dec. 12 and 13; and Dec. 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission to the gardens is 2:30 p.m. and last admission to the house is 3 p.m. Admission includes the decorated rooms, the seasonally dressed gardens, a visit with Santa, and complimentary cookies and cider.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for visitors 62 and older and full-time students with ID, $12 for ages 7 to 17, and free for children 6 and under and for members.

What is on the calendar

  • Friday, Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m.: First Night and Tree Lighting Ceremony
  • Saturday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m.: embroidery class
  • Sunday, Dec. 6, 11:30 a.m.: Meet the Authors holiday book signing, included with admission
  • Sunday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m.: caroling by the Long Island High School for the Arts, included
  • Wednesday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m.: pajama storytime
  • Saturday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m.: Children's Christmas Party
  • Sunday, Dec. 13, 2:30 p.m.: Long Island Flute Club holiday flute choir concert, included
  • Thursday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m.: beaded snowflake ornament workshop
  • Saturday, Dec. 19, 1 p.m.: Girl Scouts Chorus of Nassau County, included
  • Sunday, Dec. 20, 1 p.m.: Calhoun High School Choir, included

Programs marked included come with general admission; the others are booked separately through the Gardens.

Christmas tea and a tour

Separate from the weekend visits, Westbury House serves Christmas teas followed by a guided tour of the decorated house. The Cream Tea, offered Tuesday through Thursday, brings scones, Devonshire cream, sweets and tea. The Full Afternoon Tea, on Wednesdays only, adds tea sandwiches and desserts. Public reservations open Monday, Nov. 16, and the seatings are limited, so that date is the one to mark.

Before then

The Gardens and Westbury House are open on weekends through Dec. 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless noted. November weekends bring a piano and song concert in the Red Ballroom and a storybook stroll for young children on Nov. 7.

Plan your visit

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