Shop Local for the Holidays in Mystic Country

If you seek an outdoor shopping experience, visit Olde Mistick Village in Mystic for a great variety of gift shops, restaurants, and beyond. Starting November 21, you can experience the village's Holiday Lights Spectacular - the largest lights display in Southern New England - where over a half-million lights illuminate the village, its shops, and its pathways. And while you're there, be sure to visit the Toy Soldier, the first store to open in the village back in 1973.

If you're a bookworm or have one in your family - don't fret. Alice’s Haunted Little Bookshop in Olde Mystic Village is a small and unique bookshop, selling strange and "forgotten" books that are sure to pique the attention of your giftee. The Book Barn in Niantic is not only a Connecticut landmark, but it has a great selections of books, magazines, and more.

Downtown centers like Putnam, Mystic, and Stonington Borough allow for a great exploration of historic towns while a short walk gives you access to many locally-owned shops and restaurants. While in Stonington, be sure to stop at Glaze Handmade for fun and functional pottery pieces. For a more contemporary shopping experience, visit Downtown Storrs in Mansfield. The shops in Storrs, just outside the University of Connecticut campus, are filled with your favorite local shops. From May through October, enjoy fresh, locally sourced produce, meat, dairy, and more at the Storrs Farmer’s Market. While supporting the beloved UConn Huskies, be sure to stop by the Stix n Stones Cafe & Floral Shop for a mouthwatering bakery treat and to supply all of your seasonal floral necessities.