The Out and About Mom Guide to Holiday Events in 2014 for Connecticut

Chanukah Celebration on the Glastonbury Green, presented by the Chabad Jewish Center, December 17, 6:30 pm, FREE (Glastonbury)

Latke Throwdown, Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford, December 17, 4:30-5:30 pm (West Hartford)

Edible Dreidels and Crafts, Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford, December 18, 4:30-5:30 pm (West Hartford)

Menorah Lighting at Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk, December 18, 5:30 pm, FREE (Norwalk)

Shabbat & Chanukah, Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford, December 19, 3:30 pm (West Hartford)

Hanukah Storytime at Barnes & Noble in Danbury, December 20, 11:00 am, FREE (Danbury)

Hanukah Storytime at Barnes & Noble in Farmington, December 21, 2:00 pm, FREE (Farmington)

Chanukah Family Fun Night with the Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford, held at Valley Sports Center, December 21 (Canton)

Hanukah Storytime at Barnes & Noble in North Haven, December 22, 11:00 am, FREE (North Haven)

Chanukah Cookie Decorating, Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford, December 22, 4:30- 5:30 pm (West Hartford)

Make Your Own Lego Menorah, Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford, December 23, 4:30-5:30 pm (West Hartford)

 

Christmas Trees

(alphabetical order)

Auer Farm, trees available November 29, pre-cut (Bloomfield)

Bees, Fleas, and Trees, trees available November 29, cut your own or pre-cut, OAAM Post  (Litchfield) 

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree Farm, trees available November 29, cut your own (East Hampton)

DeMaria Family Farm, trees available November 28, cut your own or pre-cut (Kensington)

Dzen’s Christmas Trees, cut your own (South Windsor)

Jones Family Farm, trees available November 22, cut your own or pre-cut (Shelton)

Karabin Farms, trees available November 29, cut your own or pre-cut, OAAM Venue Preview (Southington)

March Farm, trees available November 29, pre-cut, OAAM Venue Preview (Bethlehem)

Roses Berry Farm, cut your own or they can cut for you, OAAM Venue Preview (South Glastonbury)

Please note:  Dzen Tree Farm is not included in our listing this year because they are unable to sell trees on their property for the 2014 season.  This is the location with the live reindeer that I posted about last year.  You will be able to purchase their pre-cut trees at the South Windsor Farmer’s Market.

Gingerbread House Displays & Activities

(sorted by date)

Gingerbread House Festival Extravaganza at the Wood Memorial Library & Museum, November 28 – December 13; Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 am – 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am – 6 pm; FREE, OAAM Post (South Windsor)

Adventures in Gingerbread at the Springfield Museums, November 28 – December 31, OAAM Post  (Springfield, Massachusetts)

Gingerbread House Workshop at the Wood Memorial Library & Museum, registration is required, November 30 (South Windsor)

Gingerbread House PJ Party at KidsPlay Children’s Museum, December 5, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, OAAM Venue Preview (Torrington)

Gingerbread Day at the Noah Webster House, December 13, registration required (West Hartford)

Holiday Light Displays

(alphabetical order by venue)

Bright Nights at Forest Park, November 26 – January 4 (Closed December 1 & 2), OAAM Post (Springfield, MA)

Holiday Light Fantasia at Goodwin Park, November 27 – January 1, Daily, OAAM Post (Hartford)

Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park, November 25 – January 6, Daily, FREE, OAAM Post (Meriden)

Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce, weekends starting November 28, OAAM Post (Bristol) – – Use promo code “HOLIDAY2014” and receive $4 off an adult ticket

Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point Park, November 21 – January 6, Daily, OAAM Post (New Haven)

 

Holiday Performances

(alphabetical order)

A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Warner Theatre, December 6 – 7 & 13 – 14 (Torrington)

A Christmas Carol at the Shubert Theatre, November 28 – 30 (New Haven)

A Christmas Carol at the Hartford Stage, November 28 – December 28 (Hartford)

Christmas at Santa Claus Station at The Milford Center for the Arts, December 12-13 & 19-20 (Milford)

The Nutcracker at the Hartt School, Performed by the Hartt School Community Division, December 12-14 & 19-21 (West Hartford)

The Nutcracker at Hoffman Auditorium, Performed by the Ballet Theatre Company, December 18 – 21 (West Hartford)

The Nutcracker at Manchester High School’s Bailey Auditorium, Performed by the Connecticut Concert Ballet, December 13-14 & 20-21 (Manchester)

The Nutcracker at Mohegan Sun, Performed by the Albano Ballet, weekends December 12 – 21 (Uncasville)

The Nutcracker at the Welte Theater, Performed by the Albano Ballet, December 6 & 7 (New Britain)

The Nutcracker at the Middletown Performing Arts Center, Performed by the Albano Ballet, November 29 (Middletown)

The Nutcracker at the Shubert Theatre, Performed by the New Haven Ballet, December 19 – 21 (New Haven)

The Nutcracker at the Warner Theatre, Performed by the Nutmeg Ballet, December 6 & 7 (Torrington)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at The Bushnell, November 25 – 30 (Hartford)

 

Ice Skating Rinks

Foxwoods Rink & Winter Patio at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Open daily from November 28 – March 8 (Mashantucket)

Winterfest Hartford in Bushnell Park, November 28 – February 1, FREE Ice Skating daily and FREE Pictures with Santa each weekend, OAAM Post (Hartford)

Opportunities to Meet Santa

(alphabetical order by venue)

Winterfest Hartford in Bushnell Park, November 28 – December 22, Saturday – Sunday, noon – 3:00 pm, FREE picture, OAAM Post (Hartford)

Santa and Mrs. Claus at Old Mistick Village, November 28 – 29, FREE, bring your camera (Mystic)

Santa at Stew Leonard’s in Newington, Santa arrives via fire truck on November 28 and then will make regular appearances at the store daily until Christmas Eve, FREE, OAAM Venue Preview (Newington)

Christmas Village in Torrington, December 7 – 24, 1:00 pm – 8:30 pm (12/24 hours are 9:00 am – noon), Parade is on December 7 at 12:30, FREE but donations accepted, OAAM Post (Torrington)

Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus at the Wadsworth Atheneum, December 7 & 14 from 10:30 am – 1:30 pm and December 13 from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm, part of the Festival of Trees and Traditions event, OAAM Venue Preview (Hartford)

“Frozen” Ice Palace at the Westfarms Mall, November 6 – December 24 (West Hartford)

Annual Santa’s Workshop Event at Wickham Park, December 13 – 23, daily, FREE, non-perishable food item donations welcomed, bring your camera, OAAM Post (Manchester)

 

Trolley Rides

Santa on the Trolley at The Shoreline Trolley Museum, Weekends starting November 28th (East Haven)

Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights at the Connecticut Trolley Museum, November 28 – 30, December 5 – 7, 12 – 14, 19 – 21, 26 – 29, OAAM Post (East Windsor)

Train Displays

(alphabetical order by venue)

Holiday Train Display at Amato’s Toy and Hobby, Open weekends beginning November 22 through December 31 (additional hours and days the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas), FREE with a non-perishable food donation, OAAM Post (Middletown)

Holiday Toy Train Display at the Connecticut Cellar Savers Fire Museum, Mostly open on weekends from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm starting November 28 through the second week in January, check their full schedule here, FREE but donations accepted, OAAM Post (Portland)

Holiday Train Show at the Connecticut River Museum, November 21 – February 17 (Essex)

Holiday Express Train Show at the Fairfield Museum, December 5, 2014 – January 4, 2015 (Fairfield)

Train Display at Time Machine Toy and Hobby, Open year-round on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, December 7 & 21, FREE, OAAM Post (Manchester)

Train Rides

(alphabetical order by venue)

Santa’s Express at the Danbury Railroad Museum, December 13 – 14 & 20 – 21 (Danbury)

Santa Special at the Essex Steam Train, weekends starting November 28th, daytime event, tickets available, OAAM Venue Preview (Essex)

Santa Trains on the Naugatuck Railroad, November 30 – December 22, daytime and evening trips, OAAM Venue Preview (Thomaston)

Please note:  North Pole Express at the Essex Steam Train is not included in our list this year because it is sold out for the 2014 season.  Tickets go on sale in August, so be sure to sign up for their mailing list if you are interested next year.

Other Family-Friendly Events

November 23

Annual Tree Lighting at Yankee Candle, November 23, activities all day with tree lighting at 5:00 pm, FREE (South Deerfield, MA)

November 28

Santa Visit & Behind the Scenes Tour at the New England Air Museum, November 28, OAAM Venue Preview (Windsor Locks)

Santa Arrives at Stew Leonard’s in Newington, November 28, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, FREE (Newington)

November 29

Home Depot Kids’ Workshop: How to Build a Give and Save Bank, November 29, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, FREE (Most Stores)

Light the Lights in Danbury, November 29, FREE (Danbury)

Niantic Holiday Stroll, November 29, 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm, FREE (Niantic)

Santa Arrives by Tugboat at Mystic River & Mystic River Park, November 29, 2:00 pm, FREE (Mystic)

Tree Lighting and Lighted Holiday Boat Parade at Mystic River & Mystic River Park, November 29, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, FREE (Mystic)

Simsbury Celebrates, November 29, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm, FREE (Simsbury)

Santa Arrives by Helicopter at Yankee Candle Village, November 29, 9:00 am, FREE (Deerfield, MA)

Light Up Thomaston, November 29, 6:00 pm, FREE (Thomaston)

November 30

Trees in the Rigging Community Carol Sing and Boat Parade, November 30, 4:30 pm, FREE (Essex)

13th Annual Holiday Dazzle Light Parade in Putnam, November 30, 5:00 pm, FREE (Putnam)

December 1

How the Grinch Stole Christmas storytime at Barnes and Noble, December 1, 4:00 pm, FREE (Most locations)

December 2

Christmas Tales Storytime at the Russell Library, December 2, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, drop-in, FREE, OAAM Venue Preview (Middletown)

December 4

Holiday Stroll at Blue Back Square, December 4, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, FREE (West Hartford)

Downtown Manchester Holiday Tree Lighting, December 4, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, FREE (Manchester)

Wethersfield‘s Holidays on Main, December 4, FREE (Wethersfield)

December 5

First Friday Festival, Whoville Spectacular at Imagine Nation, December 5 (Bristol)

Polar Express Storytime at Barnes and Noble, December 5, 7:00 pm, FREE (Most locations)

December 6

Make Your Own Holiday Poppers Family Program at Connecticut Historical Society Museum & Library, December 6, Drop in between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, FREE, OAAM Post (Hartford)

Holiday Open House at the Cragin Memorial Library, December 6, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, FREE (Colchester)

Torchlight Parade & Holiday Tree Lighting at The Shoppes at Evergreen Walk, December 6, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, FREE (South Windsor)

Home Depot Kids’ Workshop: How to Build Holiday Yard Stakes, December 6, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, FREE (Most Stores)

Niantic Light Parade & Winterfest , December 6, 6:00 pm, FREE (Niantic)

Holiday Carnival at Olde Mistick Village, December 6, 12:00 pm, FREE (Mystic)

Tree Lighting and Festival of Lights Parade on Tolland‘s Town Green, December 6, FREE (Tolland)

December 7

Coventry‘s Christmas in the Village, December 7, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, FREE (Coventry)

December 12

Festival of Lights at the Mystic Aquarium, December 12, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, FREE with donation of a non-perishable food item (Mystic)

December 13

Second Saturdays for Families: Festival of Trees and Traditions at the Wadsworth Athenaeum, December 13, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, FREE, OAAM Venue Preview (Hartford)

December 14

Children’s Festival of Wreaths at the Darien Nature Center, December 14, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Darien)

Community Day at the New Britain Museum of Art, Theme: Holiday Party with the Nutcracker Ballet, December 14, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, OAAM Venue Preview (New Britain)

Holiday Carols at Stew Leonard’s in Newington, December 14, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, OAAM Venue Preview (Newington)

December 16

Frosty Tales Holiday Storytime at the Russell Library, December 16, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, FREE, OAAM Venue Preview (Middletown)

December 17

Children’s Holiday Ornament Creating at the Darien Nature Center, December 17th, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm (Darien)

December 18

Menorah Lighting at Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk, December 18, 5:30 pm, FREE (Norwalk)

December 19

Holiday Card and Gift Tag Drop-In Craft at Russell Library, December 19, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, FREE, OAAM Venue Preview (Middletown)

Ongoing

Christmas Town Festival in Bethlehem, December 5 – 6, FREE (Bethlehem)

Winterfest Hartford in Bushnell Park, November 28 – February 1, FREE Ice Skating (daily) and FREE Pictures with Santa (weekends), OAAM Post (Hartford)

Holiday Rides on Horseback at Drafty Pines Farm, November 29-30 & December 6-7, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, Facebook Page (Central Village)

Gillette Castle Holiday Tours, weekends November 29-December 21, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, OAAM Venue Preview (East Haddam)

Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop, November 28 – December 24 (Greenwich)

Festival of Lighthouses at the Maritime Aquarium, November 22 – January 19 (Norwalk)

Polar Express IMAX Movie at the Maritime Aquarium, November 28 – January 1; Friday, Saturday, & Sunday (Norwalk)

Holiday on Main Street in Middletown, November 28 and every Saturday through December, FREE (November 29, December 6, 13, & 20, times vary (Middletown)

Winter Wonderland at Ray of Light Farm, December 6 & 13, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, OAAM Venue Preview (East Haddam)

Ridgefield Holiday Stroll, December 5 from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm and December 6 from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, FREE (Ridgefield)

Elf Workshop Activities for Kids at Stew Leonard’s in Danbury, December 1 – 12, FREE (Danbury)

Elf Workshop Activities for Kids at Stew Leonard’s in Newington; December 4, 5, 11, 13; FREE; OAAM Venue Preview (Newington)

Holiday-Themed Cooking Classes for Kids at Stew Leonard’s in Newington, Various dates December 6 – 30, OAAM Post (Newington)

41st Annual Festival of Trees and Traditions at the Wadsworth Athenaeum, December 5 – 14, OAAM Venue Preview (Hartford)

We’ve listed a lot of events here, but we know there are probably many more great ones. If you have an event to add, let us know by leaving a comment on this post or emailing us at outandaboutmom@gmail.com. Thanks!

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