We like shopping as much as anyone, but we’re not crazy about Black Friday. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to reflect on our many blessings: why not keep that mindset going for the whole weekend and enjoy life here in the Hamptons? There’s plenty to do this weekend and all of it is free.
Southampton’s 20th Annual Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting is Saturday from 4:30-8PM at Agawam Park and the Southampton Cultural Center. The Parade of Lights will start at 4:30. You can watch on Windmill Lane, Nugent Street, Main Street, or Jobs Lane, and finish at Agawam Park where the tree lighting will begin at 5:00. Following the tree lighting, the Southampton Cultural Center is holding a holiday reception with Santa and refreshments for everyone to enjoy.
Go see a free movie. The March of the Wooden Soldiers, AKA Babes in Toyland, is one of our all-time favorites, starring Laurel & Hardy. It’s Saturday, November 26, from 1 – 3PM at the East Hampton Library. Register here.
Go to open house at Marders. Friday, November 25, from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM and Saturday the 26th (same times), enjoy homemade cookies and hot cider. There will be live music from 1PM-4PM and Birds of Prey from 1PM-3PM. Saturday will feature the Genesis Gospel Choir from 10AM-noon.
Attend SoFo’s Free Thanksgiving Open House. Saturday, November 26, from 10AM –4PM. Please bring canned goods or non-perishable food items to donate to the Bridgehampton & Sag Harbor Food Pantries and enjoy all of SoFo’s interactive exhibits.
Burn off some of those pie calories at Southampton Trails Preservation Society’s Annual Walk It Off Walk. Friday, November 25 from 10AM-noon. Meet at the end of Round Pond Lane in Sag Harbor for a moderately fast-paced hike to shed that Thanksgiving stuffing.
Tell Father Christmas what you wish for at the Annual Christmas at Lighthouse with Santa. There will be caroling, pony rides, and refreshments. It’s all at the Montauk Point Lighthouse, Sunday November 27 from 11AM to 4PM.
Contemplate art. Chase Edwards Contemporary gallery at 2462 Main Street in Bridgehampton is exhibiting featured artist Bill Tansey's new series titled "Water Marked," along with other featured gallery artists from November 1 to December 1.
Fall for an ARFan! Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-3PM, ARF will hold an adoption fair with vendors, music, bake sale, free giveaways, holiday photos, and most importantly, adoptable animals. Adoption fees are waived for approved applicants. It’s at the ARF Adoption Center, 91 Daniels Hole Road, Wainscott.
Create a Community Peace Mural with artist Mare Dianora at the Southampton Arts Center, noon on Friday, November 25. What does peace look like to you? A space for sharing ideas of how peace would look like to each of us, children and adults, will be created. Squares of paper and materials will be provided and added to a larger mural as they are created.
Finally: walk the beach. Any beach. Breathe in the fresh air, be happy to be alive, and be grateful to be here now and enjoying the beauty of the world.