50 Holiday Activities for Families in CT
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Reindeer, gingerbread, lights and caroling — I love it all. Connecticut has so many fun activities to enjoy this season with the whole family. I’ve created a list of 50 family-friendly holiday events and activities in Connecticut. There is sure to be something that your family will enjoy.
Some of these events are new for the 2018 Christmas and holiday season and some are old favorites. Many of the events are free of charge, others require preregistration (make sure to book those early). I have a few new ones that I’d like to enjoy this year. Did your favorites make the list or do you have a suggestion for somewhere new to visit? I’d love to hear it.
Happy Holidays! I wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday!
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Santa HQ – Danbury Fair Mall in Danbury, CT
November 8 – December 24, 2018
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The North Pole Express – Essex Steam Train in Essex, CT
November 8 – December 26, 2018
Coach Tickets (Su – Th) – $35.50, First Class – $66.50, Friday & Saturdays from November 23 – December 22 are additional $10; Children under 1 – Free -
Santa’s Flight Academy – West Farms Mall in West Hartford, CT
November 8 – December 24, 2018
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The Christmas Elf 2 – Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT
November 10 – December 29, 2018
Tickets $19.75 – $23.75
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Fantasy of Lights – Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, CT
November 16 – December 31, 2018
$10 per car/family van
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Holiday Train Show – Connecticut River Museum in Essex, CT
November 16, 2018 – February 19, 2019
Free with museum admission
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Gingerbread Lane – The Children’s Museum in West Hartford, CT
November 16, 2018 – January 27, 2019
Included in price of admission
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Silver Lights Festival – Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT
November 20, 2018 – January 1, 2019
FREE
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Holiday Lights Fantasia – Goodwin Park in Hartford, CT
November 22, 2018 – January 1, 2019
$15 per car – print $2 off coupon
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Ice Skating – Winterfest Hartford – Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT
November 23, 2018 – January 6, 2019
FREE
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Holiday at the Farm – Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby, CT
November 23 – December 16, 2018 (Thurs – Sun) from 10 – 4 PM; Fridays in December 4 – 7 PM
Donations Welcome
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Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT
November 23 – December 23, 2018 (Fri, Sat & Sun)
Adults -$15.99, Children (10 & younger) & Seniors (60+) -$10.99, Ages 0-3 – Free
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Lantern Lights Tour – Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT
November 23 – December 23, 2018
Adults – $33, Youth (4 – 17) – $26, Children 3 & Under – Free
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Gingerbread House Festival – The Wood Library in South Windsor, CT
November 23 – December 15, 2018
FREE
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Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop – Greenwich, CT
November 23 – December 24, 2018
Reindeer Feeding – Free
Photo packages start at $29.99 -
The Polar Express 3D – CT Science Center in Hartford, CT
November 23 – December 23, 2018 (weekends only)
$5 general ticket, 2 and under – Free
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Winterfest & Tunnel of Lights – CT Trolley Museum in East Windsor, CT
November 23 – December 30, 2018 (Fri, Sat & Sun)
Friday & Sunday: Adults – $13, Seniors (62+) – $12, Youth (4-12) – $10, Under 4 – $3
Saturday: Adult -$15, Seniors (62+) – $14, Youth (4-12) – $10, Under 4 – $3
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Northern Lights Limited- Naugatuck Railroad in Thomaston, CT
November 23 – December 23, 2018 (Fri, Sat & Sun)
First Class: Adults – $55, Seniors – $55, Children (3-12) – $55, Under 3 – $1
Coach: Adults – $30, Seniors – $30, Children (3-12) – $30, Under 3 – $1
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Magic of Christmas – Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT
November 23, 2018 – January 6, 2019
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Santa’s Trolley Winter Wonderland – The Shoreline Trolley Museum in East Haven, CT
November 23 – December 16, 2018 (weekends) – trains start at 11 AM
$10 per person
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Gingerbread Workshop – Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, CT
November 24 – December 23, 2018 (Sat & Sun)
$19.99 per person
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Shark Diving Santa – Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT
November 24 – December 30, 2018 (Thursday, Saturday & Sunday) 12:15 PM
Free with Admission
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Festival of Trees & Traditions – Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT
November 29 – December 9, 2018 (closed 12/3 & 12/4)
Members – $3, Adults – $18, Seniors – $15, Students – $8, Children (17 & under) – $3
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Lamp Light Stroll – Downtown Milford, CT
November 30, 2018 from 5 – 9 PM
FREE
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Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival – Burr Homestead in Fairfield, CT
November 30 – December 2, 2018
Adults – $10, Seniors & Students – $5
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical – Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT
November 30 – December 1, 2018
Tickets start at $34.50
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Trees of Hope – Ronald McDonald House of CT in New Haven, CT
December 1 – 9, 2018 from 10 AM – 5 PM
FREE
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Holiday Poppers – CT Historical Society in Hartford, CT
December 1, 2018 from 10 AM – 1 PM
FREE
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Holiday Express Train Show – Fairfield Museum in Fairfield, CT
December 1 – 31, 2018; Mon – Thurs from 10 AM – 1 PM; Fri 10 AM – 7 PM;
Weekend & Dec 26-31 from 10 AM – 4 PM
Adults – $5, Students – $3, Children 6 and over – $3, Under 6 – Free
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Breakfast with Santa – New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT
December 1, 2018
Adults – $25, Children (ages 4 – 14) – $20
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A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Drama – Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT
December 1, 2018
Adults – $12, Children (6-16) – $8
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Brunch with Santa – Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, CT
December 1- 23, 2018 (select dates & times)
Adults – $39.95; Ages 7-12 – $19.95; Ages 3-6 – $6.95; Ages 2 & Under – Free (price does not include tax)
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Stamford Heights & Lights – Downtown Stamford, CT
December 2, 2018 at 5 PM
FREE
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Fire on Ice – Blue Black Square in West Hartford, CT
December 2, 2018 at 4 PM
FREE
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Festive Family Fun Day – The Bushnell in Hartford, CT
December 2, 2018
FREE
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Menorah Lighting Celebration at Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk, CT
December 3, 2018 at 5 PM
FREE
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Christmas Town Festival – Bethlehem, CT
December 7, 2018 from 5 – 10 PM; December 8, 2017 from 9:30 AM – 4 PM
FREE
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Festival of Lights – Old Mistick Village & Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT
December 7, 2018 from 5 – 9:30 PM
FREE with non-perishable food donation per guest
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Polar Pajama Party – CT Science Center in Hartford, CT
December 8, 2018 (members) from 4:30 – 8:30 – $5 per person
December 9, 2018 (non-members) from 4:30 – 8:30 – $16 per person, $5 members
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The Nutcracker – The Bushnell in Hartford, CT
December 8 – 9, 2018
Tickets start at $38
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Winter Festival – North Haven Fair in North Haven, CT
December 8, 2018 from 10 am – 4 pm
Donation to North Haven Food or Toy Bank
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Light Parade – Niantic/East Lyme, CT
December 8, 2018 at 6 PM
FREE
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Santa Claus Christmas Village – Torrington, CT
December 9 – 23, 2018 from 1 – 8:30 PM; December 24, 2018 from 9 AM – 12 PM
FREE
- Treetacular- Stew Leonard’s in Danbury, CTDecember 12, 2018
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Santa’s Workshop – Wickham Park in Manchester, CT
December 12 – 23, 2018 from 3 – 6 PM (weekday), 1 – 5 PM (weekend)
FREE
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Breakfast with Frosty – Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT
December 15 – 23, 2018 (Sat & Sun) from 8:30 – 10 AM
$25 per person (non-members); $20 per per (members) – includes zoo admission and breakfast
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The Nutcracker – Shubert Theatre in New Haven, CT
December 15 – 16, 2018 at 1 PM & 5 PM
Tickets start at $24
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Pizza with Penguins and Santa – Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT
December 16, 2018 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Adults – $24.95, Ages 0-10 – $20.95
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Brunch with Santa – Saint Clements Castle in Portland, CT
December 16, 2018
Adults – $35.95 +tax, Children (4-12) – $16.95+tax, 3 & Under – Free
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A Magical Cirque Christmas – The Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT
December 24, 2018 at 8 PM
Tickets start at $27
* Be sure to check with each event before attending as dates, times and prices may change
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