The Village of Westbury will light its holiday tree on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at the Village Recreation Center, 348 Post Avenue. Festivities begin at 3:00 p.m., and the tree is lit at dusk. The village is hosting the afternoon together with the Westbury/Carle Place Chamber of Commerce, and this year the program also includes a Holiday Cookie Competition open to home bakers, with judging and prizes awarded during the celebration.

The village posted both events on its official website, along with flyers for each. The village calendar lists the combined afternoon as the Village Tree Lighting, Recreation Holiday Festivities and Holiday Cookie Competition, running from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

What Happens at the Tree Lighting

The Recreation Center sits on Post Avenue, and the afternoon is built around the Recreation Department's holiday festivities before the main event: switching on the lights once the sun goes down.

The event is organized by two partners:

  • The Village of Westbury, through its Recreation Department, which runs the afternoon program at the Recreation Center.
  • The Westbury/Carle Place Chamber of Commerce, the local business group that co-hosts the annual lighting with the village.

The village flyer does not list an admission fee for the tree lighting. Residents with questions about the schedule, accessibility or parking can call the Recreation Department at 516-334-5560 or email [email protected].

The Holiday Cookie Competition

The village has also posted a Holiday Cookie Competition tied to the tree lighting. Bakers bring their cookies to the Westbury Recreation Center on December 5, and judging and prizes are awarded during the holiday festivities that afternoon, starting at 3:00 p.m.

Key details from the village's flyer:

  • Sign-up deadline: Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
  • How to enter: Register at bit.ly/westburycookies or by scanning the QR code on the village's flyer.
  • Where: Westbury Recreation Center, 348 Post Avenue, Westbury.
  • When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, with judging and prizes during the afternoon festivities.
  • Questions: Westbury Recreation Center at 516-334-5560 or [email protected].

The flyer does not list an entry fee, categories or judging criteria. Bakers who want to know how many cookies to bring, whether entries need to be homemade, or whether there are separate divisions for children and adults should ask the Recreation Department when they register. Signing up early also gives the village time to plan table space for the entries.

Planning Your Visit

The Recreation Center is on Post Avenue, the village's main commercial street, which makes it simple to pair the tree lighting with an early dinner or a stop at a local shop.

A few practical tips for the day:

  • Arrive early. Festivities begin at 3:00 p.m., and the village lists the lighting itself at dusk.
  • Dress for the weather. Early December evenings on Long Island are cold, and temperatures drop quickly once the sun sets.
  • Bakers, build in time. If you are entering the Cookie Competition, plan to drop off your entry at the start of the festivities so it is ready for judging.
  • Check before you go. The village posts updates on its website, and the Recreation Department can confirm weather plans or any schedule changes.

How to Take Part

Mark Saturday, December 5, 2026 on the calendar and plan to be at 348 Post Avenue by 3:00 p.m. If you want to compete, register for the Holiday Cookie Competition by Tuesday, December 1 through bit.ly/westburycookies or the QR code on the village flyer. For anything else, the Westbury Recreation Department is reachable at 516-334-5560 and [email protected], and the full announcements and flyers are posted on the village's website.

Sources