Smithtown Historical Society Ushers in the Holiday Season

Smithtown Historical Society Ushers in the Holiday Season

by -
0 42

The cold, rain and even COVID were no match for the Smithtown Historical Society’s annual Heritage Country Christmas. Despite changes due to the pandemic, local families still had a chance to welcome the festive season on the society’s grounds.

Every year the historical society hosts its holiday festival that includes tours of its historic homes, live music, carolers, costumed volunteers, crafts, a shadow puppet show in the Frank Brush Barn, raffles and more.

In the past, attendees were able to visit at any time and stay as long as they liked. This year, the historical society sold tickets online and limited the hour-long sessions to 50 guests to help ensure social distancing. Also, all activities were held outdoors.

Originally planned for Dec. 5, the event had to be postponed to Sunday, Dec. 6, due to the rain Saturday. Families found many of the usual activities including caroling, a winter hayride and a visit with Santa Claus. Helping Santa were elves sent over from the Smithtown Center for Performing Arts who invited children to take photos on a stage decorated for the holidays. Visitors also had the chance to enjoy s’mores over the fire, sip cocoa and watch historic cooking.

One guest during the 4 to 5 p.m. timeslot could be heard saying she wanted to thank the historical society for organizing the event because she was looking forward to celebrating the holidays at a community event, even if it meant doing so in the cold.

Priya Kapoor, executive director of the historical society, said in an email Monday that the event was a success. “We saw families enjoying, and kids having fun on the grounds,” she said.

Kapoor said the historical society was grateful for all the volunteers, board members, local elected officials and the Suffolk County Police Department for their help.

“Special thanks to Michael Mucciolo from Smithtown Performing Art Center for helping us decorate our grounds,” she said. “We are grateful to our sponsors for always supporting us, and special thanks to PSEG Long Island for energy-efficient LED lighting.”