STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — From candlelight tours and holiday markets to comedy nights and festive family activities, this weekend\u2019s events bring seasonal magic to the borough.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s your guide to what\u2019s happening this weekend on Staten Island.<\/p>\n
Multi-Day Events<\/p>\n
Evergreen Walk | Dec. 11 and 13, 1-2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Discover the beauty of winter at Snug Harbor with a guided tour showcasing broadleaf and needle leaf evergreens throughout the grounds. This seasonal walk takes visitors through the Pond Garden, Chinese Scholar\u2019s Garden, Tuscan Garden, White Garden, and highlights specimen trees that remain vibrant during the colder months.<\/p>\n
Cost: $10 general admission; Students\/Seniors\/Members receive 10% discount (tickets here<\/a>)<\/p>\n Location: Visitor Info Booth at Snug Harbor on Chapel and Gazebo roads, Staten Island, NY 10301<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Historic Richmond Town Candlelight Tours | Dec. 12-13, 5-8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Step back through time to experience the holiday pleasures of centuries past. Evening tours illuminated by candlelight showcase more than three hundred years of yuletide on Staten Island, where culture and foodways from many countries combine to create something that is uniquely New York.<\/p>\n Cost: $40 (tickets here<\/a>)<\/p>\n Location: 441 Clarke Ave., Staten Island, NY 10306<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n The 22nd Annual Christmas Show | Dates below<\/p>\n A grandmother shares a treasured holiday tale that takes audiences on a magical journey from the North Pole to Times Square, Clove Lake Park and The Rainbow Room, concluding with a stunning Living Nativity scene. This spectacular two-hour production showcases over 100 volunteer performers, including local talent and the Richmondettes dance ensemble, accompanied by a live orchestra. Special pre-show performances include Petrides High School Choir and Orchestra on Friday evening and Marsh Avenue School Chorus before Saturday\u2019s matinee, information here<\/a>. This cherished annual tradition serves as a fundraiser for the theatre\u2019s ongoing restoration. <\/p>\n Cost: $15-$55 (Sunday special: $15-$35) (tickets here<\/a>)<\/p>\n Location: St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island, NY 10301<\/p>\n Dates & Times (doors open one hour before showtime):<\/p>\n Dec. 12: Show starts at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14: Shows start at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Killmeyer\u2019s 2nd Annual German Christmas Market | Dec. 13-14, 1-5 p.m.<\/p>\n A two-day German-styled Christmas market event at the historic Killmeyer\u2019s Beer Garden on Staten Island. Come shop local for the holidays! Wander through the vendor market, sip seasonal drinks and enjoy the charm of one of Staten Island\u2019s most iconic spots, decked out for the holidays. From handcrafted gifts to German treats, there\u2019s something for everyone.<\/p>\n Cost: Free to attend (register here)<\/a><\/p>\n Location: Killmeyer\u2019s Old Bavaria Inn, 4254 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island, NY 10309<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Friday, Dec. 12<\/p>\n Film Screening: Die Hard (1988) | 2-4 p.m.<\/p>\n Watch the classic action film starring Bruce Willis as NYPD officer John McClane, who must stop terrorists at a Los Angeles office building during a Christmas party. Refreshments provided during the screening. Rated R. <\/p>\n Cost: Free<\/p>\n Location: St. George Library Center, 5 Central Ave., Staten Island, NY 10301<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Swiftie BINGO & Craft Party! | 3:30-4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Celebrate Taylor Swift\u2019s birthday with themed BINGO, bookmark crafting, photo props, and cootie catcher making. Best for ages 5 and up with a parent\/caregiver. Space is limited.<\/p>\n Cost: Free (register here<\/a>)<\/p>\n Location: Richmondtown Library (Community Room), 200 Clarke Ave., Staten Island, NY 10306<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Entre la Coca: Unrooted Forests: Ecology, Memory, and Reciprocity in Tatiana Arocha\u2019s Practice | 4-6 p.m.<\/p>\n Join artist Tatiana Arocha and curator Juliana Steiner for an intimate conversation and exhibition walkthrough of \u201cEntre la Coca y el Oro.\u201d Over coca tea, they\u2019ll discuss the exhibition\u2019s themes of ecology, displacement, reciprocity, and care, exploring how ancestral knowledge intersects with extractive economies in Arocha\u2019s work. <\/p>\n Cost: $5; Students\/Seniors $4 (includes gallery admission) (tickets here<\/a>)<\/p>\n Location: Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Building C, Main Hall Gallery at Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terr., Staten Island, NY 10301<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Vic DiBitetto \u2013 Comedy Night | 9-10:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Get ready for non-stop laughs as Vic DiBitetto returns to Max\u2019s Es-Ca Pavilion for a night of unforgettable comedy. Known for his high-energy performances and viral rants, Vic brings his signature humor back to Staten Island.<\/p>\n Cost: $80 (tickets here<\/a>)<\/p>\n Location: Max\u2019s Es-Ca, 1559 Richmond Road, Staten Island, NY 10304<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Saturday, Dec. 13<\/p>\n Birding: Christmas Bird Count | 10 a.m.-noon<\/p>\n Participate in this annual citizen science initiative with the Urban Park Rangers as you help identify and count bird species throughout the park. While walking woodland trails, you\u2019ll learn to recognize birds by their plumage, songs and behaviors. All observations will be recorded and contributed to the Audubon Society\u2019s yearly census.<\/p>\n Cost: Free<\/p>\n Location: Nevada Avenue Parking Lot, High Rock Park, 200 Nevada Ave., Staten Island 10314<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Cookies, Crafts and Cocoa with Santa at McDonald Playground Field House | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.<\/p>\n Celebrate the season with hot chocolate, cookie decorating with festive toppings and holiday craft-making activities. Families can create ornaments and other seasonal keepsakes while enjoying the cheerful atmosphere. Don\u2019t forget your camera for photo opportunities with Santa Claus himself!<\/p>\n Cost: Free (register here<\/a>)<\/p>\n Location: Austin J. McDonald Playground Fieldhouse, Myrtle Avenue & Broadway, Staten Island, NY 10310<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Subtle Bodies: Self-Reflection Through Aura Photography \u2013 Special Year End Session | noon-2 p.m.<\/p>\n Join returning participants of the Subtle Bodies program for a special year-end gathering focused on personal reflection and growth. This session brings together the cohort to examine how their aura photographs have evolved over the past year and what these changes reveal about their personal journeys through 2025. The workshop includes a new creative writing exercise, group discussion about the meaning of colors in your portraits, and guided journaling time. Led by Alice Austen House educator Kristen Bartley, this quarterly series uses the AuraCam6000 system to create individualized portraits based on readings from your hands. <\/p>\n Cost: $30 (tickets here<\/a>)<\/p>\n Location: Alice Austen House, 2 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10305<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Holiday Splendor | noon-3 p.m.<\/p>\n Join the Conference House for a festive celebration of the season with their annual Holiday Splendor event. Visitors can experience the historic mansion decorated in its seasonal finest while enjoying holiday-themed activities and tours. This special event offers a unique opportunity to see the historic site in its winter glory before the museum closes for its seasonal break.<\/p>\n Cost: Free to attend<\/p>\n Location: Conference House, 7455 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10307<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n The Case of Antonio Meucci and the Telephone: Just the Facts | 2-4 p.m.<\/p>\n Join Professor Emerita Dr. Frances R. Curcio from Queens College, CUNY, as she discusses her latest publication examining the life and innovations of Antonio Meucci. This evidence-based presentation explores historical documents and testimonies surrounding the controversial question of who truly invented the telephone. Dr. Curcio, an award-winning educator and Italian American scholar, co-authored this compelling work with Dr. Myra Zarnowski. The afternoon will include insights into Meucci\u2019s contributions to communication history and his rightful place in American innovation.<\/p>\n Cost: $5-$10 (tickets here<\/a>)<\/p>\n Location: Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, 420 Tompkins Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe Polar Express\u201d (2004) | 2-4 p.m.<\/p>\n Cozy up for a screening of the holiday classic \u201cThe Polar Express.\u201d Snacks provided and ornament-making activity included. For children and their parents\/caregivers. Rated G.<\/p>\n Cost: Free<\/p>\n Location: Port Richmond Library, 75 Bennett St., Staten Island, NY 10302<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n Sunday, Dec. 14<\/p>\n Nature Exploration Hike | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Take a peaceful walk through the William T Davis Wildlife Refuge trail with NYC\u2019s Urban Park Rangers. This guided nature hike offers visitors a chance to learn about the diverse plant and animal species that inhabit this unique Staten Island ecosystem. Perfect for nature enthusiasts and families looking to explore the outdoors.<\/p>\n Cost: Free<\/p>\n Location: Park Drive North and Signs Road, Freshkills Park, Staten Island, NY 10314<\/p>\n More information here<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018A Nostalgic Christmas\u2019 | 1-5 p.m.<\/p>\n Get ready to relive the golden era of music when the stage will be set for an unforgettable afternoon of timeless harmonies and sentimental rhythms. \u201cA Nostalgic Christmas,\u201d an upcoming holiday doo-wop oldies show, and hosted by J & R Productions, will harken back to the 1950s and 60s, a time when street corners echoed with a cappella sounds and simple, heartfelt lyrics that captured the spirit of the sacred season. The musical extravaganza, that also promises to include plenty of dancing, will promote the sounds of crooner, Carl Thomas, who\u2019ll perform tunes made famous by Frank Sinatra, The New Xpressions, and Dean Martin and Marilyn Monroe tribute artists.<\/p>\n Cost: $100 (for reservations and questions, phone 732-598-1949 or 917-669-4640.)<\/p>\n Location: Historic Old Bermuda Inn, 301 Veterans Road West, Staten Island, NY 10309<\/p>\n