For eight winters, the Riverhead Holiday Light Show has been the East End's answer to the question every Long Island family asks in December: where can we go see the lights without standing in the cold? This year there are two answers. A brand new Holiday Light Show opens on the grounds of Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, and the Riverhead show moves to a new home in Calverton. Both open on Friday, November 20.

A mile of lights, from your front seat

The format is the same at both: you drive. At the entrance you are given a radio frequency, and once you tune in, the holiday music in your car is timed to the lights outside it. The route runs about a mile, past light tunnels, towering scenes and animated characters, and takes 20 to 25 minutes at a crawl. Nobody has to find a parking spot or keep the kids warm on a walking path, and the organizers say you are welcome to bring your own holiday treats, and even the dog.

A white SUV drives a dark route lined with lit holiday figures at a Holiday Light Show
Photo: BOLD Media

New for Nassau: the Coliseum

The Nassau County Holiday Light Show is new this year, set up on the grounds of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale. For families in Nassau and western Suffolk, that turns a drive to the East End into something you can do on a school night.

“We’re excited to premiere the Nassau County Holiday Light Show alongside Riverhead to the Long Island community,” said Matthew Glaser, CEO of BOLD Media, which produces the show. “Our displays celebrate a diversity of holiday traditions, ensuring there’s something for everyone.”

Riverhead's show moves to Calverton

The Riverhead Holiday Light Show keeps its name for its ninth season but moves to Calverton Executive Airpark in Calverton, with an all new layout, new scenes and new animated displays. If your family has done the Riverhead show before, expect a different drive this year.

Tickets

Admission is sold per car, not per person, for a vehicle carrying up to eight passengers with a seat belt for each.

  • General Admission, $35: one visit on the date you choose. At both shows.
  • Flex Pass, $55: one visit on any night the show is open, offered for a limited time.
  • Season Pass, $129: unlimited visits all season, Riverhead (Calverton) only.
  • Long Island Combo Pass: one ticket for both shows. Check the ticket page for the price.

Tickets are on sale now for the Nassau County show and the Riverhead show in Calverton. The show says all sales are final, so pick your night with the forecast in mind.

When to go

Both shows run on select nights from November 20 through December 31, opening at 5 PM. Not every night is a show night, so check the calendar on the show's locations page before you head out, and the weather closures page on a stormy evening.

Looking for more to do this season? Our events calendar has what's happening across the Island, and Your Weekend sorts it for the towns you care about.