Category Archives: Family fun

LuminoCity Light Show at Eisenhower Park

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
December 20, 2025

Three generations of our family visited LuminoCity’s winter holiday light show at Eisenhower Park soon after it opened this year.

Fantasy Winter Fairyland is the theme for the stunning event, which runs through January 1, 2026.

East Meadow, New York, U.S. Nov, 23, 2025. A winged soldier points his sword at rider on her antlered steed at the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Since it was 46 degrees Fahrenheit the Sunday we visited, it was see-your-breath weather. But that didn‘t stop us from having an unhurried, long visit. I arrived by 4:30 PM, and my family joined me soon after.

East Meadow, New York, U.S. November 23, 2025. Winged soldiers with their swords drawn climb on an ice archway and giant snowman at the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park on Long Island. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

– Lumi’s Utopia –

East Meadow, N.Y., U.S., Nov. 23, 2025. A woolly mammoth and a saber-tooth tiger are two animals in the prehistoric section of the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

– LuminoCity 2025 –

Lumi’s Utopia was one of my favorite sections because of its collaboration with the Long Island Children’s Museum, which I’ve enjoyed going to with my young grandchildren, and blogged about in the past.

As the display in this photo explains:

“Lumi’s Utopia is an annual art initiative that transforms kids’ hand-drawn 2D artwork into handcrafted 3D light sculptures. We believe every child is a natural artist, and their drawings provide a window into their dreams, thoughts, and emotions.

“What you see here are featured works from this year’s drawing competition co-hosted by LICM, and online submissions, all inspired by the festival theme and adding even more wonder and creativity to the experience through the lens of young artists.”

PHOTOS of 3D light displays based on two of the young artists’ 2D drawings:

East Meadow, New York, U.S. Nov. 23, 2025. A princess that can fly is a display based on a drawing by MIRANDA SQUIRES, 8, at the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park. Squires’ drawing was one of the artworks the Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) chose to become a display. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

– Lumi’s Utopia –

East Meadow, New York, U.S., November 23, 2025. Neema the Magical Fairy is a display based on a drawing by MACKENZIE CRETTOL, 15, at the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park. Her drawing was one of the artworks the Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) chose to become a display. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

– LuminoCity 2025 –

East Meadow, New York, U.S. Nov, 23, 2025. A large Holiday Express train, with several cars visitors can go inside, is on display at the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Though the rest of my family left around 6 PM, I stayed until after 7:30 PM to capture more photos with my Nikon Z8 camera.

While with my family, I used my newish NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II lens.

After they left for dinner, I switched to my old-faithful, fun AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED lens.

For fisheye fans, I added some equipment and settings info next to the photo at the end of this post.

East Meadow, New York, U.S. November 23, 2025. Snow-covered evergreens and giant flowers are light displays at the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park on Long Island. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Our family looks forward to LuminoCity becoming a winter holiday tradition.

East Meadow, New York, U.S. Nov, 23, 2025. Santa Claus, in his sleigh pulled by reindeer, is a popular Christmas display at the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

LuminoCity 2025 –

East Meadow, New York, U.S. Nov, 23, 2025. The message “The best holiday gifts are the traditions that help make memories shine!…” is on a sign near the entrance of the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

FEATURE PHOTO (click: related photo): East Meadow, New York, U.S., Nov. 23, 2025. Families gather in front of the Castle in the Air at the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, Long Island. (© 2025 Ann Parry)

links for your convenience:

LuminoCity 2025 East Meadow: my PHOTO GALLERY

LuminoCity 2025

Long Island Children’s Museum

Eisenhower Park

CONTACT ME

about fisheye photo below: Nikkor Z8 camera • Nikon FTZ adaptor • 6-15mm, f/3.5-4.5E Nikkor fisheye lens • focal length 15 mm • 1600 ISO • Matrix metering • 0.8 subject distance • auto white • dimensions (before downsizing for post): 7135 x 5504 pixels • process application: DxO PhotoLab 9.2.0

East Meadow, New York, U.S., Nov. 23, 2025. Large 3D LuminoCity letters are in front of Castle in the Air at the LuminoCity holiday lights festival at Eisenhower Park. Fantasy Winter Fairyland is the 2025 theme for the fun family event in Nassau County, Long Island. (© 2025 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Viewing Solar Eclipse 2024 at Cradle of Aviation Museum

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
April 9, 2024

Long Island sees 90% solar eclipse

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. ANDEW KRAHM, of Rockville Center, gasps as he views the 90% partial eclipse of the sun by the moon at Cradle of Aviation Museum. His mother, BARBARA KRAHM, at right, is also wearing ISO 123-122 filter safety glasses CAM gave with admission, on Long Island.(© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. ANDREW KRAHM, of Rockville Center, views the 90% partial solar eclipse at Cradle of Aviation Museum. He and BARBARA KRAHM, at right, are wearing eclipse glasses CAM gave with admission. (© 2024 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

Cradle of Aviation Museum publicized its 4.8.24 solar eclipse events online well in advance of yesterday’s celestial extravaganza.

And many of the thousand+ visitors decided to view the eclipse at CAM because they saw News12 Long Island segments about it earlier in the day.

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. Young son holds special eclipse glasses over his eyes as his family views 90% partial eclipse of the sun by the moon at Cradle of Aviation Museum. CAM gave ISO 123-122 filter safety glasses with admission, on Long Island. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Before the eclipse started, CAM had special events for all ages: a lecture and show in its all-digital Catholic Health Sky Theater Planetarium, a telescope viewing, and hands on activities, including outdoor chalk art.

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. 90% solar eclipse, in sky at left, is above the statue ‘The First American Woman in Space’ honoring astronaut Sally Ride, in front of the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Hundreds of CAM visitors watched the partial solar eclipse on Long Island.(© 2024 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

A major bonus was that each visitor, with admission, got a pair of eclipse glasses safe to directly view the sun: ISO 123-122 filter safety eclipse glasses. Why many visitors found this a draw:

1. Those who didn’t get eclipse glasses beforehand found out It was difficult-to-impossible to find ones at the last minute.
2. Some were concerned about the eclipse glasses they already had because of reports that unscrupulous vendors were selling ones they falsely claimed met safety standards for directly viewing the sun.

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. LYNN FIONA, 22, of Patchogue, wears special filter glasses to view the 90% partial eclipse of the sun by the moon at Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. LYNN FIONA, 22, of Patchogue, wears special filter glasses to view the 90% solar eclipse at Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island. (© 2024 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

solar eclipse at CAM

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. Cradle of Aviation Museum volunteer MADELYN views 90% partial eclipse of the sun by the moon at the museum. CAM gave ISO 123-122 filter safety glasses with admission, on Long Island. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. Cradle of Aviation Museum volunteer MADELYN views 90% solar eclipse at the museum. CAM gave ISO 123-122 filter safety glasses with admission, on Long Island. (© 2024 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

solar eclipse at CAM

4.8.2024 Birthdays:

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. PETER ANGIONE, 55, of Levittown, wears a hat and shirt saying this solar eclipse day is his birthday. Visitors viewed 90% solar eclipse at Cradle of Aviation Museum.(© 2024 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

“…I’m happy to be here because it’s my birthday… We won’t be getting totality here – we’ll get about 88% – 90% – but I’m so happy to be here because it’s my present from Mother Nature…” – Peter Angione, 55, from Levittown, at Cradle of Aviation Museum, April 8, 2024. (see photo above)

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. Mom, wearing shirt saying this solar eclipse day is her birthday, has hands on daughter’s shoulders as their family views 90% solar eclipse at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2024 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. RAVI ANAND and his young daughter JIANNA ANAND, pointing to the sky, of Jericho, view 90% partial eclipse of the sun by the moon at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. RAVI ANAND and his young daughter JIANNA ANAND, pointing to the sky, of Jericho, view 90% solar eclipse at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2024 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

solar eclipse at CAM

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. SUTTON family, L-R, PRIYA , 7; mom KOREN, 50; PRESTON, 7; and dad DANNY, 51, view 90% partial eclipse of the sun by the moon at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. SUTTON family, L-R, PRIYA , 7; mom KOREN, 50; PRESTON, 7; and dad DANNY, 51, view 90% solar eclipse at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2024 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

FEATURE PHOTO (at top of post) – Garden City, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. CLARISSA, of Westbury, wears eclipse safety glasses as she views 90% solar eclipse at Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Solar Eclipse 2024 at CAM: my PHOTO GALLERY

CAM site: Cradle of Aviation Museum

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