After Thanksgiving, Montauk Lights Up

Christmas starts right out of the gate  in Montauk this weekend with caroling and the lighting of the gazebo and the lighthouse, early Santa sightings, a book fair at the library, and children's festivities at the .

This is the third year that the  will be  with holiday lights in addition to its navigational beam. The switch will be thrown at 5:15 on Saturday evening, and the lights, which have already been strung along the perimeters of the beacon and the house itself, will be visible to visitors and mariners each evening from that time through the early days of January.

In the first year, 2008, thousands of people flocked to see the lighting of the  thousands of white lights, an affair organized by the Montauk Historical Society's Lighthouse Committee. There was a line of traffic that went all the way back to downtown Montauk.

Last year, things were a little quieter, according to Henry Osmers, the lighthouse historian. It was cold and windy last year, whereas in the first year, "it was 45 degrees, but it was dead calm."

"My gut feeling," he said, is that this year's event will be about the same, attendance-wise, as it was last year. He said the forecast was for cold, but no rain.

"Let's hope for the best," he said with what sounded like a tinge of nerves. The lights have been tested, and there will be a guest speaker -- whose name he could not disclose -- who will throw a "huge fake switch" at the appointed hour. It is Osmers's task to walkie-talkie Brian Pope, the assistant site manager, who will flick the real light switch inside the building.

"It all falls to me to say, 'Now!' at the right time," Osmers said. He said he hoped the walkie-talkies would work.

Drama is not the only enticement -- not by far. Sarah Conway and friends will supply music, parking (usually $8) is free at this time of year, and lighthouse museum admission will be free. Commemorative mugs -- Osmers called them "interesting collectors' items" -- and opportunities for caroling will be offered once again. Santa Claus has been invited.

These events start at 4:30 and end at 7, after the regular lighthouse museum hours from 10:30 to 3. You might want to pen them in at the same time that you're marking  your calendar for the following day: Weather permitting, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Christmas at the Lighthouse will bring Santa Claus, who will pose for photos, pony rides, free admission, refreshments, and a chance to shop for Montauk-themed gifts in the lighthouse gift shop. The tower will be closed for climbing, but oh well.

If the weather is bad, or if the lighting of the lighthouse was cancelled (its rain date is  Dec. 4), then Christmas will arrive at the Lighthouse on Dec. 5, instead.

But first comes : Organized by the , the singing starts at about 2 p.m. on Friday, at the gazebo on the Montauk Green. In addition to warming their vocal chords with holiday notes and hot chocolate (or apple cider), children will be able to make ornaments to hang on Christmas trees, decorate their homes with, or give as gifts. Speaking of giving, unwrapped toys for kids 12 and under can be dropped off at this time, and so can canned goods for all those who could use some thoughtfulness.

Those activities wrap up at 4 p.m., but carolers who stick around will be able to see the  at 5 p.m. on the gazebo and on the greenery at the, um, green. Judges will survey the decor at nearby stores, as the Montauk Pioneer has prizes to award to merchants with the best-decked windows.

The  traditionally has lots of nifty gifts at its , which takes place this year from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. From clothing to recycled cookie tins and ice skates to hand-crocheted Christmas tree ornaments and afghans to brand-new offerings or home-baked confections, there's usually lots to look through and lots of neighbors to get reacquainted with here.

Don't stay too long, though, as the  will have a  going on right across the street. It runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the same day, and plenty of bargains, inspired gifts, and friendly faces can be found here, too.

If the kids start to grouse about all this browsing, it might be time to head down to the Montauk Yacht Club, where Montauk Youth will present them with another chance, at 1 p.m., to make holiday ornaments and, at 2 p.m., to sing carols. Once again there will be hot chocolate and cider-drinking from commemorative mugs.

The event ends at 3 p.m., which is just as well, because at 4:30 -- drumroll from the little drummer boy, please -- the festivities surrounding the annual lighting of the Montauk Lighthouse commence.