Please note: If the initial 5:00 PM time slot is sold out, click on the "other times" button for additional options. 

Also note: Although tickets are sold at half-hour intervals, your visit is not limited to 30 minutes. Please stay and explore at your leisure. 

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum opened its third annual holiday event, Bright Lights: Celebrate the Season, on Saturday, November 26. The event is open beginning at 5:00pm with the last planetarium show at 7:40 pm, and Mansion tours and visits with Santa continuing until 8:30pm. Bright Lights continues Saturdays and Sundays and December 22. 

Thousands of warm-white lights create holiday magic inside and outside the Mansion and illuminate trees, wreaths, garlands, guest rooms, walkways, and the Vanderbilt Library.

The event includes Candlelight Tours of the decorated Vanderbilt Mansion, visits with Santa and friends in his workshop, a children’s scavenger hunt, and a 15-minute Holiday Laser show in the Reichert Planetarium. In addition, the Stoll Wing and Habitat wild-animal dioramas and the Hall of Fishes marine museum are open for visitors. Also open: the Vanderbilt Café and Gift Shop, located in the Planetarium lobby.