Follow the Lights to Holiday Cheer!

A holiday experience for people of all ages. Enjoy Magic of Lights in East Hartford from the comfort of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path. At every turn, the magical route is overflowing with spectacular light displays that bring your favorite holiday themes and characters to life.

There's also the Hebron Lions' Lights in Motion, a family-friendly drive-through with over 1 million lights digitally synchronized to music.

Join in on a fun, one-of-a-kind, family-friendly indoor festival of lights! Dazzling light gardens, glowing activities, delectable seasonal treats, and live entertainment are all in store for you at Glow Gardens in Hartford, which returns Nov. 20 through Dec. 23.

See Olde Mistick Village transformed into a holiday wonderland. Explore the Holiday Lights Spectacular from Nov. 20 through the end of January 2027, with over a half-million lights decorating shops and restaurants for families and holiday enthusiasts to enjoy. 

Kick off the holiday season with Trees in the Rigging Boat Parade in Essex, happening Nov. 29. Watch a parade of vessels dressed up in holiday lights sail along the Connecticut River. 

In the shoreline town of Niantic, families will enjoy the holiday festivities during the Niantic Light Parade on Dec. 12. Meanwhile, the annual Torchlight Parade in Old Saybrook (also on Dec. 12) kicks off the holiday season with musicians, more than 20 floats, and marching groups for the entire family to enjoy.

Lantern Lights: A Mystic Holiday is a popular holiday attraction at the Mystic Seaport Museum, running from Dec. 3 to Dec. 23 this season. Step back in time and experience a celebration of Christmas as it was in a 19th-century seafaring town.

In Old Wethersfield, enjoy caroling and a tree lighting at the Annual Holidays on Main event on Dec. 5, set in the heart of the historic town.

The Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor hosts an annual “Winterfest & Tunnel of Lights," a trolley ride that carries visitors into the festive season! Visitors can ride the open “electric sleigh” through the “Tunnel of Lights” accompanied by motormen singing traditional Christmas carols.

As the trains travel through the cold winter wilderness, passengers will be able to visit Santa and play with his Elves during the Santa Express at the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston, an afternoon event. During the Northern Lights evening train ride, you will be taken directly to the North Pole, picking up Santa and Mrs. Claus along the way. Once on board the train, they will take turns visiting with all those on board as the train glides through the night. 

All aboard the Snow Clipper at the Danbury Railway Museum! Take a ride in a vintage train through the historic railyard to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus.