Category Archives: Old Westbury

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. December 16, 2023. Santa waves to visitors during Christmas at Westbury House during its final Saturday at Old Westbury Gardens on the former Phipps family estate on the Gold Coast of Long Island.

Christmas is All Around Old Westbury Gardens

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
December 28, 2023

Christmas at Westbury House

The mild weather was decidedly un-Christmassy as I walked up the path to Westbury House. But once I entered the festively decorated mansion, Christmas was all around.

Christmas at Westbury House

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. December 16, 2023. Santa Claus waves hello during Christmas at Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

 – Christmas OWG –

Christmas at Westbury House

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. December 16, 2023. The Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus sings during Christmas at Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

 – Christmas OWG –

Christmas at Westbury House

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. December 16, 2023. Three stuffed animal deer, one climbing out of a bubble bath, create a fanciful display in former bathroom of Mrs. Phipps during Christmas at Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens.(© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

 – Christmas OWG –

Christmas at Westbury House

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. December 16, 2023. The crimson bedroom is decorated with red poinsettias during Christmas at Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens.(© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Maura M. Brush, President & CEO of Old Westbury Gardens 

In November, Maura McGoldrick-Brush was named President & CEO of Old Westbury Gardens. She’s been with OWG since she became an intern in 1999, and is still involved with the Horticultural Internship Program which has expanded significantly since then.

Brush’s particular areas of focus include historic gardens, cultural landscapes, and continuing to develop Old Westbury Gardens as a welcoming, historically authentic place for visitors

Christmas at Westbury House

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. December 16, 2023. The COSTA family poses for photos with Santa Claus during Christmas at Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens.(© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)


Feature Photo  (at top of post, a triptych of three processed versions of image): Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. Dec. 16, 2023. Santa waves hello during Christmas at Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry, annparry.com)


Christmas at Westbury House at OWG:  my PHOTO GALLERY

Old Westbury Gardens:  SITE  •  JOIN

Girl Scouts of Nassau County:  GSNC.org

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Christmas at Westbury House

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. December 16, 2023. During Christmas at Westbury House, the formal dining room has a large Christmas tree in the windowed corner, at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. August 26, 2023. Members of the Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley wear their Scottish outfits at the Long Island Scottish Festival and Highland Games 2023 at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

Scottish Festival & Highland Games at Old Westbury Gardens

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
October 12, 2023

61st Annual Long Island Scottish Festival & Highland Games

At the 61st annual Long Island Scottish Festival and Highland Games at Old Westbury Gardens this summer, I left it to chance exactly where I’d spend my time.

VIDEOInis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band of Long Island:

I particularly enjoyed a variety of musical performances. In the above video, the Inis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band of Locust Valley plays a traditional Scottish marching song. 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. October 2023. Soprano NICOLE OLIVA entertained attendees during the 61st Annual Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Soprano NICOLE OLIVA (see above photo) sang, with lyric beauty and playful smiles, the song “All in the Golden Afternoon’ from the 1998 Disney animated feature film “Alice in Wonderland.’

VIDEO –  CHARLIE ZAHM movingly sings the mournful Scottish song “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond”:

After a while in the sun, I headed to the shady west side of Westbury House, which looked prettier than a postcard, literally, with the summer greenery and backdrop of clouds and blue sky.

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. Visitors walk by the West Porch of Westbury House during the 61st Annual Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

And I had great fun chatting (and photographing, of course) so many friendly attendees, who were often with family and always decked out in colorful traditional Scottish outfits. 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S., August 26, 2023, At right, KAYLEY, of Oceanside, holds Winnie, her 4-year-ld Norfolk terrier, and at left, Kayley’s sister ASHLYN, of Oceanside, holds Kasey, her Bichon Frisé, at the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

– Long Island Scottish Festival –

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. CRAIG MICHIE, a member of the Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley, tends the table displaying banner and drums of the Clan Gordon Highlander Pipe Band, during the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

– Long Island Scottish Festival – 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. L-R, DANIEL BLAINE, 11, is with his father DEVIN BLAINE, a member of the Clan Gordon Highlanders Pipe Band of Locust Valley at the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com) Click to see full outfits

– Long Island Scottish Festival – 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. Siblings (L-R) ALEXIO BARBOZA, 29, and LIEN BARBOZA, 27, of Westbury are members of the Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley. They wore traditional Scottish outfits at the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com) Click to see full outfits  

– Long Island Scottish Festival – 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. BOB SHEPHERD, of Connecticut, a member of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot, also known as The Black Watch, attends the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

– Long Island Scottish Festival – 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S., August 26, 2023. Scottish flags fly in the wind during the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Above photo: The Scottish flag in foreground is the Union Flag of 1801. It combines elements of the Irish Cross of St Patrick and the 1606 Union Flag . The flag in the background is the Royal Standard (or Banner) of Scotland, and is commonly called the Lion Rampant of Scotland.


Feature Photo (at top of post): Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. Members of the Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley wear traditional Scottish outfits at the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry, annparry.com)


Scottish Festival at OWG:  my PHOTO GALLERY

Old Westbury Gardens:  SITE  JOIN

Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley: facebook  • clangordonhighlanders.net

Inis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band (facebook):  @InishFada

Charlie Zahm Celtic… music:  charliezahm.com

Nicole Oliva (Soprano):  facebook.com/NicoleOlivaSoprano

CONTACT ME