Dec. 23: Christmas Services, Winter Break, Stores Open Late

Students are off from school (and some even graduated on Wednesday), just in time for the start of the Christmas services at local places of worship. Smith Haven Mall is once again open until midnight but the Village Center will operate on special business hours.

1. will hold a Christmas candlelight service at 7 p.m., the first of many holiday masses and other holiday events at local houses of worship. Check back on Three Village Patch at 9 a.m. for a guide to upcoming religious services.

2. Take a break from the crowds at the mall. Shops at are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday. The center also offers its own version of the mall gift card – a gift card that can be used at any of the shops in the village.

3. It's the first day of winter break for the Three Village Central School District. Students return to school on Jan. 3, but they can get a head start on their vacation homework assignments at the , which will operate on normal hours Thursday, will close at 3 p.m. on Friday, will be closed all day Saturday, and will open for its normal hours on Sunday.

4. Winter break is in full swing for Stony Brook University students, too – except, perhaps, for the more than 2,300 graduates who celebrated the completion of thir degrees on Wednesday. Watch for coverage coming up later on Three Village Patch.

5. Time is running out to catch a holiday favorite: at Theatre Three in nearby Port Jefferson, will play Thursday night at 8 p.m., one of its final four shows this season.