Connecticut's Christmas season is here with a variety of holiday activities happening all over the state. There are so many Christmas events, it's hard to know where to start! Make the drive to see the Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium or the Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point in New Haven. Buy your tickets now for Visits on the Farm with Santa and Friends. And enjoy free events like the amazing Wood Library & Museum's Annual Gingerbread House Festival.
For more seasonal fun in November and December, spend some time looking through our Connecticut Holiday Guide for things kids love to do. Like the top Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains in New England 2025. For even more of latest and best family-friendly Christmas and holiday activities in CT, follow Mommy Poppins on Facebook and Instagram.
Insider Tips for Families Enjoying Holiday Fun in Connecticut
- The best times to attend Christmas Events and Holiday Activities are on weekdays (whenever possible); look for events with timed entry if waiting with little ones is going to be a challenge.
- Attending off-peak hours (like weekdays) will help you avoid crowds
- Many events offer advanced ticket purchasing, which is great for minimizing waits and maximizing fun!
Christmas Events in Connecticut FAQ
Q: What are the best Christmas events in Connecticut for kids?
A: Families love the Santa Express and Northern Lights Limited at the Naugatuck Railroad.
Q: Where can kids see Christmas lights in Connecticut?
A: Some of the most magical light displays are at the Magic of Lights, Lantern Light Village at Mystic Seaport, and Holiday Lights at Lake Compunce.
Q: What holiday activities are free in Connecticut?
A: Free holiday fun includes the Wood Library & Museum's Annual Gingerbread House Festival.
Q: Is the Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights good for kids?
A: Yes, Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights at the Connecticut Trolley Museum is very family-friendly and a holiday tradition loved by all ages.
Q: Where can we meet Santa in Connecticut ?
A: The Annual Santa's Village at Indian Rock and the Visits on the Farm with Santa and Friends are prime spots, but families can also find Santa at local holiday markets and events across Connecticut.
Latest Videos

Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Connecticut 2025- Lights and Decorations
November 26, 2025 - January 3, 2026
Magic of Lights is a dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations. Experience Magic of Lights from the comfort and safety of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path of East Hartford’s new holiday tradition. One carload, one price. Read More
November 21 - December 31, 2025
The Fantasy of Lights has become a holiday tradition for thousands of families from all over Connecticut and New England. The mile-long route features over 60 displays and 100,000 lights. Many of the displays are animated and some are fitted with LED bulbs, making them more colorful and vibrant. Read More
November 21, 2025 - January 31, 2026
Olde Mistick Village has created an old fashioned Holiday Light Spectacular for you and your family. In fact, this event will be the largest holiday lights display in southern New England! Read More
November 28 - December 28, 2025
Bring the family for one last memory-making visit to Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce. The event will be retired after 2025, so don’t miss your last chance to mingle among a half million twinkling lights throughout the park. Read More
December 5 - December 20, 2025
Take a journey through time this holiday season at Mystic Seaport Museum! What connects the festive seasons of bygone days to the present? The spirit of love that enchants us all. Love for each other, for seasonal traditions of every kind, for twinkling lights and carolers. Read More

Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Connecticut 2025 - Festivals
November 28 - December 21, 2025
One of the largest gingerbread house displays in New England features an incredible array of candy covered houses. The Festival will take place with the Watershed History Collective and will be held at NOMAD's this year. Read More
November 28 - December 24, 2025
The 17th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa's Workshop presented by Jenny Allen & Kristen Studwell at Compass Real Estate is proud to once again support Kids in Crisis for the seventeenth consecutive year by donating a portion of every Photo with Santa to Kids in Crisis. Read More
Friday, December 5, 2025
Gather outside Connecticut’s oldest house and escape the darkness of the approaching winter solstice in the glow of festive luminaria, lanterns, and outdoor fires. Read More
December 5 - December 20, 2025
Celebrate the holiday season with s’mores, caroling, cookies & hot cocoa, crafts, and of course, visiting with the farm animals. Read More
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Stroll around the Olde Mistick Village to view custom decorated wreaths, enjoy live music, visit with Santa, find great gifts, and more. Read More
Weekends in December 2025
Visit with Santa, Mrs Claus and the Grinch (great picture opportunities!), enjoy a trolley ride with Frosty out to Reindeer land and visit our outdoor petting zoo and have a free cup of grain to feed the animals. Read More

Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Connecticut 2025 - Holiday Happenings
November 22 - December 23, 2025
The Naugatuck Railroad offers two different Christmas train experiences: the daytime Santa Express and the evening Northern Lights Limited. Read More
November 28 - December 21, 2025
Come and take a ride to visit Santa and grab your holiday photos! Take a stroll through the decorated trolley barns and take a ride on a real antique trolley car. The station and trolley yard will be decorated for the holidays so there are plenty of photo ops. Dress for cool temps! Read More
November 28 - December 30, 2025
Halls are decked inside and outside at the Connecticut Trolley Museum with more than 15,000 lights for this annual event. Guests board enclosed trolley cars for a ride down a tunnel of lights as they sing traditional Christmas carols with their trolley car operators. Read More
November 29 - December 31, 2025
Young and old alike delight in the large and small scale model trains winding around spectacular winter villages and beautiful holiday scenery. Read More

Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Connecticut 2025 - Shows and Performances
November 29 & 30, 2025
The Nutmeg Ballet's Nutcracker is a staple of the holiday season in Connecticut, beloved as a tradition for countless families. Under the direction of Victoria Mazzarelli, this iconic story set to the masterful music of Tchaikovsky ignites the imaginations of children and adults alike. Read More
December 3 -14, 2025
Branford's Legacy Theatre presents a musical prequel to A Christmas Carol. Based on R. William Bennet's award wining book Jacob T. Marley, this heartwarming holiday show is sure to entertain the entire family. Read More
December 5 - 7, 2025
It’s 1943, and it's Christmas Eve in Hartford. Virginia and her mother are preparing for the holiday. With Virginia’s father away at war, the season does not feel the same, but Virginia is still determined to make this Christmas special. The G.Fox & Co. Toyshop is the most fantastic place during Christmastime in the city. Read More
Saturday, December 27, 2025
The most favorite Christmas classic of all is coming to the Palace Theatre this Holiday Season and you are invited to the show! A part of the World Ballet Series, the Nutcracker is performed live by a multinational cast of 50 professional ballet dancers gathered to bring the most beloved holiday tradition to life. Read More