Stony Brook University's Southampton campus is opening its grounds to the public on Thursday, December 10, for a Winter Wonderland that runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is free and open to everyone, and the afternoon includes skating on the campus's outdoor rink, live holiday music in the Avram Theater, a train ride around campus and a live ice carving. The university asks visitors to reserve free tickets in advance.

What is on the schedule

The campus lists the following for the two hours:

  • Ice skating on the outdoor rink.
  • Live holiday music, with seasonal performances inside the Avram Theater.
  • The Winter Wonderland Express, a holiday train ride that loops the campus.
  • Live ice carving, with a sculpture made on site.
  • A gingerbread bounce house for children.
  • Holiday workshops, including wreath-making and a Build-a-Wolf activity for families.
  • Food and treats, plus cornhole, holiday displays and a photo booth.
  • Wolfie and Scout, the university's mascots, on hand to meet visitors.

Each household can also take home one LED lantern while supplies last.

The one paid item

Everything on the list is free except the wreath-making workshop. It costs $20, which covers materials and instruction, and it requires a reservation, so families who want a wreath should sign up ahead of time rather than counting on a walk-in seat.

Bring a can

The afternoon doubles as a collection point for Lift a Neighbor, a community food drive. Visitors are asked to bring a canned good or another nonperishable item to help local families. The university says donations are appreciated and optional, so nobody is turned away without one.

About the campus

Stony Brook Southampton sits at 39 Tuckahoe Road in Southampton. The campus is home to the university's creative writing and film and television programs, the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences' Semester by the Sea, and several School of Health Professions programs, including physical therapy and occupational therapy. The Avram Theater, where the music is staged, is the campus's main performance space.

The event falls on a weeknight, two weeks before Christmas Eve, and runs into the early evening.

How to go

Winter Wonderland runs Thursday, December 10, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Stony Brook Southampton, 39 Tuckahoe Road, Southampton. It is free, with tickets reserved through the event page on the university's website, where the wreath workshop sign-up is also listed. For questions, the campus can be reached at 631-632-8000.

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