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Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Connecticut for Kids 2025

Get into the spirit of the season in 2025 with holiday activities like Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Photo courtesy of XL Center
Get into the spirit of the season in 2025 with holiday activities like Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Photo courtesy of XL Center
11/9/25 - By Jennifer Coe

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.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

The top Christmas activities are lighting up Connecticut in 2025! Holiday Lights photo courtesy of Lake Compounce
The top Christmas activities are lighting up Connecticut in 2025! Holiday Lights photo courtesy of Lake Compounce

Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Connecticut 2025- Lights and Decorations

Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium

East Hartford
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

Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven

New Haven
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

Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village

Mystic —FREE
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

Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce

Bristol
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

Lantern Light Village at Mystic Seaport

Mystic
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

Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park in Meriden

Meriden—FREE
November 28, 2025 - January 1, 2026
The Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park in Meriden, Connecticut, is a beloved annual event that transforms the park into a magical winter wonderland with over 300,000 sparkling lights. Each year, the festival features an array of displays, including illuminated animals, trees, and intricate holiday scenes, all beautifully arranged around the park’s lake and walkways.  READ MORE
All we want for Christmas are some fun things to do with the family! Santa Visits photo courtesy of Flamig Farm
All we want for Christmas are some fun things to do with the family! Santa Visits photo courtesy of Flamig Farm

Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Connecticut 2025 - Festivals

Watershed History Collective's Annual Gingerbread House Festival

South Windsor—FREE
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

17th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop

Greenwich
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

Firelight Festival at the Henry Whitfield Museum

Guilford
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

Annual Santa's Farm at Indian Rock

Bristol
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

Holiday Carnival at Olde Mistick Village

Mystic—FREE
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
All aboard for Christmas fun in Connecticut in 2025! Photo courtesy of The Shore Line Trolley Museum
All aboard for Christmas fun in Connecticut in 2025! Photo courtesy of The Shore Line Trolley Museum

Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Connecticut 2025 - Holiday Happenings

Santa Express and Northern Lights Limited at the Naugatuck Railroad

Thomaston
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

Visit Santa At The Shore Line Trolley Museum

East Haven
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

Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights at the Connecticut Trolley Museum

East Windsor
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

Holiday Express Train Show in Fairfield

Fairfield
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

Downtown Mystic Holiday Stroll & Lantern Luminary

Mystic—FREE
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Stroll the illuminated streets of downtown Mystic during this joyful community-oriented event marked by Christmas carolling and light displays. READ MORE
Holiday shows hit the stage all over Connecticut for 2025. Legacy Theatre photo by Sam Bibbins.
Holiday shows hit the stage all over Connecticut for 2025. Legacy Theatre photo by Sam Bibbins.

Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Connecticut 2025 - Shows and Performances

Songs of the Season at Grace Farms

New Canaan—FREE
Friday, November 28, 2025
Drop into the Sanctuary during your visit to enjoy improvisational performances of seasonal music from local artists, suited for the whole family. Registration is not required. READ MORE

Nutmeg Conservatory Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Bushnell

Hartford
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

Scrooge and Marley at the Legacy Theatre

Branford
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

The Fantastic Toyshop in Hartford

Hartford
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

World Ballet Company Nutcracker in Stamford

Stamford
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

Places featured in this article:

Fairfield Museum and Historical Society
Downtown Mystic

About the Author

Jenny Coe
Jenny Coe is a longtime Mommy Poppins writer and contributor and full-time mom to three boys. Jenny has also been a contributor at Patch and The Reminder (Hartford Courant). Here at Mommy Poppins, Jenny writes about great things for kids to do in Connecticut and New England, affordable fun, and nature experiences (her favorite!).
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