The sculpture garden on Hands Creek Road opens after dark for four weekends this season. LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton runs LongHouse Illuminated on Fridays and Saturdays from November 27 through December 19, 2026, and this year it adds something the earlier editions did not have: light works by five visual artists placed through the grounds.

Five artists, one evening walk

The artists are Elias Hansen, Christine Sciulli, Randy Polumbo, Scott Bluedorn and Michele Oka Doner. Their pieces sit along a route through the gardens with lit trees and paths lined in small lights, and visitors walk it at their own pace.

Regular daytime hours at LongHouse are Wednesday to Sunday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.. The Illuminated evenings keep the grounds open past that, until 7 p.m., on the event nights.

ZIMA! along the way

The walk includes live performance. The performance company Neo-Political Cowgirls presents ZIMA! (the Polish word for winter), created and directed by Kate Mueth: a series of short scenes drawing on dance, theater and folklore from different cultures. Visitors come upon them at stops along the route rather than in a seated show.

A market and a craft table at the end

The route ends at the LongHouse Pavilion, where a holiday market of gifts and handmade goods is curated by Sunshine, and The Shine Studio leads a seasonal, nature-based craft for visitors of any age.

Pick your session

Tickets are timed in two windows each night. Twilight Glow lets you enter any time from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and watch the grounds change as the sun goes down. Night Magic lets you enter from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., when the installations are in full darkness. Final entry is 6:30 p.m. and the grounds close at 7 p.m.

If the weather is severe on a scheduled night, LongHouse will move that evening to Sunday, December 20, notify ticket holders by email that day, and carry the tickets over automatically.

Also on the December calendar

LongHouse added a second session of its December wreath-making workshop with director of horticulture Shelby Miller on Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., after the first one filled. No experience is needed, and light bites and drinks are served in the Gallery.

If you go

When: Fridays and Saturdays, November 27 to December 19, 2026; sessions at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Rain date: Sunday, December 20
Where: LongHouse Reserve, 133 Hands Creek Road, East Hampton
Tickets: reserve a session through LongHouse Illuminated
Phone: 631-329-3568

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