A Little Holiday Magic: CMEE Brings Gingerbread, Storytime and Creative Fun to the East End This November

From decorating gingerbread houses to meeting the woman behind Angelina Ballerina, the Children’s Museum of the East End is making the countdown to the holidays a little more magical.

November slips into the East End without fanfare. The traffic is gone, the beaches are empty, and families start wondering what to do with those chilly afternoons.

Over at the Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) in Bridgehampton, the vibe feels almost secret, like you’ve stumbled on something only insiders know: gingerbread houses to decorate, favorite storybook characters who step off the page, and hands-on creative chaos just waiting for kids with big imaginations.

CMEE isn’t slowing down for fall. Instead, the place is brimming with workshops and events this month, each one designed to give kids (and their parents) a fresh dose of play and discovery.

Here’s what November looks like at CMEE.

Gingerbread Houses, No Stress Required

Nov. 23  thru Dec. 23: Holiday decorating is a lot more fun when the house is already built. Starting November 23 and running right up through December 23, CMEE rolls out its Gingerbread House Take-Home Kits, which are the fast pass to a sugar-coated masterpiece without the scary collapsed walls. Each kit comes with a ready-made house and everything you need to plaster it with candy. They’re $40 and up, and you can grab them at the Museum during regular hours. Perfect for a chilly afternoon when everyone’s a little stir-crazy.

Angelina Ballerina Joins Storytime

Nov. 28: Some storybooks never really get old. On November 28, CMEE gives families a chance to meet Katharine Holabird, the writer behind Angelina Ballerina, at a special morning storytime. She’ll read from one of her classics at 10:30 a.m., and afterward, you can grab a book and have her sign it. That’s the kind of thing that gets treasured in a kid’s room for years.

Bonus: The book sales help support CMEE’s outreach programs, bringing museum fun and learning to kids all across the East End.

Fall Classes for Little Explorers

Tuesdays: CMEE’s regular lineup keeps rolling right through November with music, art, cooking, and sensory play—all made for the under-five set and the grownups who keep up with them.

On Tuesdays, Music with Ms. Leah brings babies and toddlers (ages 0–3) into a room full of music and motion, fostering those little leaps in brain development every parent craves. Sessions run 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; it’s $10 for members, $30 for nonmembers (museum admission included). Skip November 17 and 24.

Also on Tuesdays, Little Chefs takes over the kitchen for kids ages 2–4. Chopping, mixing, sampling—tiny hands do it all, working alongside adults to whip up straightforward, health-minded recipes. Classes are 10 to 11 a.m., $25 for members and $55 for nonmembers, including museum entry.

On Wednesdays:  Sensory Play invites little ones (18 months to 3 years) to dig into tactile experiments and open-ended activities. Think textures, squishy things, and curiosity on full display. Sessions run 10 to 11 a.m.; $10 for members, $35 for nonmembers. No class November 25.

Fridays are all about art. The stART Studio hands the paint, the paper, and the space over to kids ages 2–4, encouraging them to make messes and masterpieces out of whatever catches their eye. Fridays, 10 to 11 a.m., $10 for members, $35 for nonmembers; admission included.

A Museum for All Kinds of Weather

CMEE isn’t just about single events or classes. Interactive exhibits and play zones stay open all season, turning even the grayest weekend into an adventure. And nobody cares if your kid is loud or feels the need to try everything twice; the museum welcomes all abilities, all backgrounds, all winter long.

Planning helps, so register for programs early, and check the schedule, admission, and hours at www.cmee.org.

Because on the East End, family memories are made year-round, not just when the sun’s out.