Saybrook Starlight Festival

Let your holiday festivities begin in Old Saybrook as the town will host its fifth annual Saybrook Starlight Festival on Saturday, December 6^th, with restaurant specials throughout town and activities all day on Main Street as well as family fun on the Town Green from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Fun for all ages, the festival will feature:

• Visits with Santa

• Facepainting, Crafts and Games

• Stocking Walk on Main Street

• FREE Hot Cocoa & Snacks for Sale

• Holiday Carolers

• Extended Merchant Hours & Restaurant Specials

• Horse-drawn Wagon Rides

   

Family Fun & Town Green Activities

Family-friendly activities will be focused on the Town Green in front of the Town Hall located at 302 Main Street from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. There Acton Library will offer a craft table and scavenger hunt. Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services will sell tickets to participate in face painting by Skadoodlez and to purchase holiday cookies from Pursuit of Pastry and chili made by the local Masons along with other fun things. All proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. The Blue Star Moms will provide a table to decorate holiday cards for service members, and The Lions Club will sell lighted natural stick stars and popcorn while the Knights of Columbus will serve up hot beignets. Astra Dance Studio will again perform dances set to holiday tunes and the Van Epps Holiday Inflatables Walk returns with fun inflatable characters donated by the Van Epps family from the collection of decorations that used to adorn 122 College Street each year. The Starlight Café will also be open on The Kate’s patio with free hot chocolate provided by the Lions Club.

Returning this year after great success last year will be two food trucks: Frank Andrews Mobile Kitchen serving up their delicious pizza as well as Dude’s Donuts. The Senior Strings, a local group of mature musicians will also open the afternoon with songs of the season accompanied by ukulele, guitar and flute. And, the Old Saybrook Garden Club will again host a holiday greens table where adults and children can make memorable decorations with the help of local experts. Plus, visit the Youth & Family Services table for a chance to win one of two family four-packs to see I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas at the Kate on December 7^th.

Of course, no holiday celebration would be complete without a visit from Santa, who will arrive by fire truck at 1:30 p.m. He will be stationed in the gazebo on the Town Green until 3:30 p.m. Volunteers will be available to snap family pictures with Santa. 

Stocking Walk & Main Street Shopping

The popular Stocking Walk sponsored by the Greater Old Saybrook Chamber returns this year from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Purchase a stocking for $5.00 at the Chamber office at 1 Main Street starting at 10:00 a.m. on the day of the event or get yours at the pre-sale December 4^th – 5^th at the chamber during normal business hours. Bring your stocking to participating Main Street businesses who will help you fill it with small tokens in the spirit of the season. Only 250 will be sold with only 150 of those available for pre-sale!

Starlight Dining Specials

This year 14 Old Saybrook restaurants are offering Starlight Specials including tantalizing holiday cocktails and beverages, appetizer or meal specials, military and veterans discounts and live entertainment. Ashlawn Farm, Cuckoo’s Nest, Curry Queen, Dagmar’s Desserts, Fresh Salt and the Choo Choo Lounge at Saybrook Point Resort, Little Pub, Myrcene Ale Co., Nori, Old Saybrook Pizza Palace, Paperback Café, Penny Lane Pub, Sip Wine Bar, Sweet Luna’s and Swell. Check out all of the special offers by visiting the event website at https://www.sayoldsaybrook.com/saybrook-starlight-festival .

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides & Carolers

Good old-fashioned holiday fun on Main Street will also be part of the day, with free horse-drawn wagon rides from 1:00-4:00 p.m. by Allegra Farms. Pick up your ride at the Town Green. And don’t miss Christmas and Hanukkah selections performed by Connecticut Yuletide Carolers who will stroll up and down the street dressed in Victorian period garb.

More Information

In the event of inclement weather, family activities that were scheduled for the Town Green will be moved to the Old Saybrook Middle School. 

For more information about the day’s schedule, parking and restaurant specials, visit sayoldsaybrook.com. For questions email [email protected].