Holiday

A gingerbread house contest sponsored by Project Most will wrap up with a free party and judging on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Most Holy Trinity school building on Meadow Way. 

The East Hampton Presbyterian Church’s “Wonderful Christmastime” holiday handbell concert is on Friday, and on Saturday at St. Luke's there's a performance of the “Christmas Oratorio” by Camille Saint-Saens and a singalong with a full choir.

The East Hampton Historical Farm Museum at the corner of North Main and Cedar Streets has invited Santa for a visit and photo opportunities on Thursday evening.

The popular Deck the Farm celebration at Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett happens on Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

Actual, real-life reindeer will be among the extremely jolly attractions at Saturday’s Magic of Montauk holiday fair, and on Sunday, Santa visits the firehouse.

A tree lighting, Santa at Long Wharf, Hanukkah at Temple Adas Israel and more.

A holiday tea at the Presbyterian church, live music on the steps of London Jewelers, and two concerts at the library are on tap this weekend.

For Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights celebrated by Jews every winter, eight days of menorah lightings and other festivities are planned from Bridgehampton to Montauk beginning Thursday night.

Sleigh bells ring: Are you listening? Here’s our carefully curated selection of the holly-est, jolliest events between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

There’s no easier way to cook for a crowd than to throw an old-fashioned holiday cocktail party, serving simple, make-ahead hors d’oeuvres. We'll help you master the art.

Wine has never been more popular than it is today (as we know from all the “You had me at merlot” and “Mama needs wine” T-shirts sold on Etsy). But what about . . . hot wine? Reporting in on the rich delight of Scandinavian glogg.

Journey back — way, way back — to winters past, when prosperity came from harpooned whales, kids flew up and down frozen Hook Pond on skates with sails at their back, and the annual businessmen’s holiday promotion was a raffle for a free ton of coal. Here, season snippets from the pages of The Star evoke the sights, smells, sounds, and snowy pastimes of Decembers gone by.

What to do with winter’s ugly vegetables —  all those ungainly, bumpy, stripey winter squashes that stock the farm stands this time of year, intimidating us with their sheer mass and quirky colors? Turn those ugly veggies into something beautifully delicious.

Home décor, like fashion, shouldn’t be generic, but should reflect the uniqueness of your personality, and that’s another reason to shop local, rather than at the homogenous big boxes this season. Here, a guide to small, special South Fork shops offering housewares to match your aesthetic

Cold winter night, nothing to do? Gather a group of friends, head to your corner bar, come up with a goofy team name (“Sherlock Homies” or  “Simple Minds”), and put on your thinking cap: Pub quizzes are popping up in restaurants and bars all over the East End.

Here’s Fireplace 101, in honor of chestnuts-on-an-open-fire season, with tips to help keep your burn safe, your wood dry, and your coziness level at the max.