The Holiday Season, Connecticut-Style

You know it’s Christmas when the lights go up all over town. From professional displays to neighborhood light shows, there are so many places to visit if you want to get into the spirit of the season of light. Start with the Hartford’s Glow Gardens and for more family fun travel to Magic of Lights in East Hartford, or the Fantasy of Lights in New Haven. For classic Christmas décor, visit the Florence Griswold Museum’s Holiday Magic or the Festival of Trees and Traditions at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Click Learn More for additional ideas!

Connecticut Christmas season ramps up with all kinds of annual celebrations, some of which are only a day or a weekend, while others last well into December. Experience the Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa's Workshop. Check out the Christmas Village in Torrington, Santa's Workshop at Wickham Park in Manchester, or partake in Olde Mistick Village's annual Holiday Lights Spectacular.  Click Learn More to search for the most up-to-date event listings!

Connecticut is full of Christmas tree farms that stretch to every corner of the state. Many offer tractor and sleigh rides, hot cocoa, wreaths and even Santa sightings. Try Allen Hill Farm in Brooklyn, Jones Family Farm in Shelton, Winterberry Farm in Killingworth, Charlie Brown’s in East Hampton or Hickory Ridge Tree Farm in Coventry. Find more farms, plus tree cutting tips by clicking Learn More.

From outlets and malls to boutiques and artisan galleries, you’ll find all kinds of places to shop for unique Christmas gifts in Connecticut. There are craft bazaars and open studios, too. The Shops at Yale in New Haven are just one of the places you can go for great shopping, dining and holiday celebrations all season long — find more holiday shopping spots here. And since it's extra important to support Connecticut businesses, we’ve even got ideas for you on where to purchase Connecticut made products, too!

In Connecticut, Santa Claus makes his way around the state early, and he is a particular fan of train travel… and sometimes boats! Book your tickets early to see him on Santa's Trolley in East Haven or the Santa Express at the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston.  And find cheer aboard Winterfest & the Tunnel of Lights at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor. Don’t miss Santa's Walking Wonderland in Bristol, or find more ways to see Santa here. Click Learn More to find other places to visit for the holidays in December.

Grab your tickets to festive holiday shows like A Christmas Carol at the Hartford Stage, holiday movies at the Warner Theatre, Cirque Du Soleil's 'Twas the Night Before and Christmas on the Rocks at TheaterWorks Hartford.  Or see timeless ballet performances like New England Ballet Theatre presents: The Fantastic Toyshop or The Nutcracker at the Warner Theatre or the Shubert. 

Find more about Connecticut theater here.

Grab your group and head to boozy holiday events like Mix & Mingle at Mohegan or the Ugly Sweater Party at Dudleytown Brewing Company. Plus, don't miss holiday bar crawls like the Stamford and New Haven Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl, Willimantic’s Jingle Bars Pub Crawl, and the Magic of Middletown Pub Crawl. 

Attend Menorah lightings, Shabbat services, craft workshops, and more this season to celebrate the Jewish “festival of lights". Find events for the whole family here.

Celebrate the holiday in “Christmas Town” at the Bethlehem Christmas Town Festival on the first weekend in December. And don’t forget to have your holiday cards stamped at the Bethlehem Post Office!

Looking for still more ways to get in the Christmas spirit? Visit these other holiday towns!