Past Events
There’s always something happening at Raynham Hall. Check out our Gallery of Past Events and make it a priority to be a part of the next one!
2025 Halloween Ghost Walk & Dance Party
One of our most beloved community traditions, the annual Ghost Walk, once again illuminated the historic streets of Oyster Bay during Halloween weekend! This year’s celebration culminated in a lively dance party in Townsend Park, where more than 400 costumed marchers joined our Halloween parade. The highlight of the evening was the debut of our spectacular new, larger-than-life Theodore Roosevelt puppet on horseback, flown by the Friends of Sagamore Hill.
A heartfelt thank-you to our amazing collaborators and vendors who made it all possible: our talented puppeteers; Processional Arts Workshop; Atlantic Steamer Fire Company; Rob Brusca; Town of Oyster Bay; Supervisor Joseph Saladino; Nassau County Police Department 2nd Precinct; TOB Public Safety; DJ John Hubbard; N.T. Designs; Gimme Burger; Outlaw Street Eats; The Toy Box; East Woods School; Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay; Oyster Bay Main Street Association; Oyster Bay – East Norwich Chamber of Commerce; Sanctuary Home & Patio; and Dean Yoder and Jonathan Grimm for their expert puppet technical support, and James Hogarty for photos and videos!
2025 A License to Quill
At this year’s annual benefit, A License to Quill, held at the breathtaking Rynwood Estate in Upper Brookville, we honored Brian Kilmeade, author of George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring that Saved the American Revolution, and James and Rita Roselle and Family, dedicated supporters of Raynham Hall Museum for over 25 years. A charming silent auction and a spectacular live auction, led by Peter Bahr, completed the night. Live entertainment by Nick Massimo Quintet and Oyster Bay pianist John Schwartzberg also delighted guests throughout the evening.
2024 Black & White Soiree
At this year’s annual benefit, the Black & White Soirée held at the breathtaking Rynwood Estate in Upper Brookville, we honored two board members, Joanna Badami, who chairs our collections committee with her intimate knowledge of historic items as a professional appraiser, and John Bralower, a historic preservation enthusiast. A charming silent auction offering, and a robust live auction led by Coordinator for Sotheby’s Private Sales, Peter Bahr, completed the night. Live entertainment by Nick Massimo Music and Oyster Bay pianist John Schwartzberg also delighted guests throughout the evening.
2023 Love Re-Awakened Ball
At this year’s annual benefit, we honored three local newspapers, Anton Media Group, The North Shore Leader, and Richner Communications/Oyster Bay Herald Guardian. Fourteen local designers led by benefit co-chairs Jamie and Frantz Arty of Oyster Bay and Tré & David LaVoúx-Ganci of Glen Cove, created fabulous tablescapes that left guests in awe on entering the ballroom at The Muttontown Club in East Norwich. Gorgeous silent auction items, a robust live auction led by auctioneer Russell Koster, and a roulette wheel of wine bottles for a “Spin-the-Bottle” game created by Jonathan Grimm completed the night. Live music by the legendary Lester Lanin Orchestra brought guests to their feet throughout the evening. The table designers included Jamie Arty of MonarchButterfly.com, Martine Arnoux of Balloons Couture NY, Dean Yoder & Jonathan Grimm of Dean Yoder Interiors, Denise Chetram, Mary Abbene of The Printery, Nicole Troncone of N. T. Designs with Elite Tent & Party Rental, Kassie Miller of the Locust Valley Garden Club, Randy Statham of Scarsella’s Flowers, Richard-Lael Lillard “The Gentleman Psychic,” Richard Schuster, Susan Bloom of Susan Bloom Interiors, Tré & David LaVoúx-Ganci with Muscari Flowers & Paul’s Nursery, Josephine Iannece of Glamorous Event Planners & Productions, and Tom Samet & Nathan Wold of Hamptons House Design with Peter Flammia of The Little Flower House.
2023 Valentine's Day Poetry Contest
Raynham Hall Museum, home to the first documented Valentine’s poem in the USA, hosted the winners of its 2023 Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest for students in grades 4 to 6. An awards ceremony, to which students’ family, friends, and teachers were invited, welcomed Town of Oyster Bay officials to bestow citations to each awardee. Students also received gift cards to the museum’s shop and passes for museum admission.
2022 Love in Springtime Ball
At this year’s annual benefit, we honored Richard and Paula Youngs Weir. Sixteen local designers led by benefit co-chairs Jamie and Frantz Arty of Oyster Bay, and Dean Yoder and Jonathan Grimm of Glen Cove, created astounding tablescapes that left guests’ jaws dropping on entering the ballroom at The Muttontown Club in East Norwich. Gorgeous silent auction items, a robust live auction led by auctioneer extraordinaire Russell Koster, and a roulette wheel of wine bottles for a “Spin-the-Bottle” game created by Jonathan Grimm completed the night. Live music by the legendary Lester Lanin Orchestra brought guests to their feet throughout the evening. The table designers included Jamie Arty of Season My Home, Dean Yoder and Jonathan Grimm, Richard-Lael Lillard (“The Gentleman Psychic”), Scarsella’s Flowers, Andrew Pascoe Flowers, Ltd., Glamorous Events Planners and Productions, NT Designs with Elite Tent and Party Rentals, Sanctuary Home and Patio, Tré La Voux and David Arazio Ganci, artist Rebecca Bahr, and artist Rebecca Lawton Flatters on behalf of luxury handbag company Saint Botolph.
Meet the Author: Nathaniel Philbrick
On Saturday, October 16, 2021, we hosted history author Nathaniel Philbrick. With about 75 friends in attendance, the event was a huge success.
The Reopening of Raynham Hall Museum
Check out the re-opening of the Raynham Hall Museum…let the new season begin!
Book Launch: Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution
Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth by authors Claire Bellerjeau and Tiffany Yecke Brooks, with foreword by Vanessa Williams.
Guests: Raynham Hall Executive Director, Harriet Gerard Clark; Vanessa Williams; moderated by Christopher Judge.
In January 1785, a young African American woman named Elizabeth was put on board the Lucretia in New York Harbor, bound for Charleston, where she would be sold to her fifth master in just twenty-two years. Leaving behind a small child she had little hope of ever seeing again, Elizabeth was faced with the stark reality of being sold south to a life quite different from any she had known before. She had no idea that Robert Townsend, a son of the family she was enslaved by, would locate her, safeguard her child, and return her to New York—nor how her story would help turn one of America’s first spies into an abolitionist. Robert Townsend is best known as one of George Washington’s most trusted spies, but few know about how he worked to end slavery. As Robert and Elizabeth’s story unfolds, prominent figures from history cross their path, including Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Benedict Arnold, John André, and John Adams, as well as participants in the Boston Massacre, the Sons of Liberty, the Battle of Long Island, Franklin’s Paris negotiations, and the Benedict Arnold treason plot.
At a time when historically marginalized voices and stories are at last being brought to the forefront, it’s exciting to learn about a true story explaining details of the Revolutionary War on Long Island, African American history in New York, and the valiant fight for independence in a world full of loss, heartache, and eventual triumph. Claire’s research and commitment bring history to life and reveal a new African American female hero . . . Liss. Enjoy! —Vanessa Williams