Get out in CT this weekend with MLK Community Day at New Britain Museum of American Art. Event photo courtesy of the museum.
MLK Weekend 2026 in Connecticut: Best Things To Do With Kids
Lay back and let gravity do all the work with the best snow turning in Connecticut for families! Photo courtesy of Canva
Best Snow Tubing near Connecticut for Families in 2026
Bubbles are a classic free fun activity for Connecticut kids
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things to Do for Connecticut Kids
Find fun for all ages at these Connecticut attractions, museums, and things to do! Photo courtesy of the Yale Peabody Museum
Things To Do in Connecticut That Everyone Will Love—From Toddlers to Teens (and Parents Too!)
The kids can hang out and have fun with the top free things to do in Connecticut! Earthplace photo by Zoe Brown, courtesy of the center.
100 Free Things To Do in Connecticut with Kids
New England Family Travel Guide
Our ultimate Connecticut bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut with kids! Mystic Seaport photo by author Kelly Patino
Ultimate Connecticut Bucket List: 100 Things To Do With Kids in CT
Roll on in to the top birthday party places in Connecticut for teens and tweens in 2025! Photo courtesy of Bowlero
Fun Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Tweens and Teens in 2025
Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, Connecticut with Kids: Top Things to Do on a Weekend Getaway
By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
Best Museums for Kids in Connecticut: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums
Hop aboard for a trip through Litchfield County and fun things to do with kids! Naugatuck Railroad photo courtesy of the Railroad Museum of New England.
25 Things to Do With Kids in Litchfield, Connecticut
Indoor spots offer plenty of adventure in Connecticut.
GUIDE
Connecticut Guide to Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones
Bike the ground of Fort Trumbull. Photo courtesy Visit CT
GUIDE
Connecticut Day Trips & Weekend Getaways Guide
Photo courtesy of Flamig Farm
Best Petting Zoos in Connecticut: Animals Up Close at Farms and Petting Zoos
As classic as the roller rink or modern as a VR experience, these fun indoor places are perfect spots for teens and tweens to hang out! Photo by Ally Noel
Fun Places in Connecticut Where Tweens and Teens Can Hang Out Indoors
Parents can enjoy some relaxation when their kids spend time at the
10 Family-Friendly Hotels and Spa Resorts in Connecticut
A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures
The Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds in Connecticut
Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
Great Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Preschoolers
Find family fare and great deals at these Connecticut restaurants where kids eat free! Photo courtesy of Canva
Kids Eat Free: Connecticut Restaurants for Every Day of the Week
Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
A Dozen Short Hikes in Connecticut for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Take a step back in time with a visit to Mystic Seaport. Photo courtesy of Ally Noel
Top Attractions in Connecticut: Best Things to See and Do with Kids
From rolling hills and lakes to scenic views and summits, there's great outdoor adventure for families at Connecticut state parks. Photo courtesy of Visit CT
25 Connecticut State Parks and Forests That Are Great to Visit with Kids
Outdoor fun and healthy activity await at one of the top Connecticut playgrounds! Jonathan's Dream playground photo courtesy of O'Brien & Sons
Top Connecticut Playgrounds That Families Will Love
Run through the vineyards at Aquila's Nest. Photo courtesy of Aquila's Nest, Facebook
The Best Family-Friendly Vineyards and Wineries in Connecticut
Ride, splash, and have gallons of fun at the best outdoor water parks in New England! Splash Away Bay Water Park photo courtesy of Quassy Amusement Park
Best Outdoor Water Parks in New England for Family Fun
Practice new skills at Calf's Pasture Beach, photo courtesy of Norwalk Skate Park, Facebook
Top Skate Parks in Connecticut
Create colorful storm clouds out of shaving cream and food coloring.
  VIDEO
25 Preschool Science Experiments: Simple Science for Toddlers through Kindergarten Kids
Revel in nature's majesty at Webb Mountain. Photo by Ally Noel
Best Nature Centers in Connecticut To Visit with Kids
We’ve rounded up the best escape rooms in Connecticut for a fun family outing!
Awesome Escape Rooms in CT: Kid-Friendly Parties and Family Adventures
The festivities get downright magical with Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT! Photo courtesy of Dean Davids Magician
Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT That Come To You
Big fun comes roaring into Connecticut for kids this weekend! Dinosaur World Live photo by Pamela Wraith courtesy of the event
Dinosaur World Live, Cocoa and Trains, and More Fun Things To Do in CT This Weekend

Top Free Things To Do with Kids in CT in January 2026, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Kick off 2026 with fun and free things to do in Connecticut this January! Family Day event photo courtesy of the Yale University Art Galleries.
Kick off 2026 with fun and free things to do in Connecticut this January! Family Day event photo courtesy of the Yale University Art Galleries.
12/28/25 - By Jennifer Coe

It may be cold in Connecticut, but January 2026 activities are just beginning to warm up! Looking for FREE things to do? Enjoy Winterfest at Bushnell Park in Hartford to start the month. Get out and about for Adventures in Nature: The Frozen World at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic. And spend a day at the museum thanks to the annual Family Art Day at Yale Art Museum, 

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Connecticut this January—we're adding more events to the Connecticut Events Calendar every day.

More Things To Do in Connecticut This Week with Kids:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Winterfest in Bushnell Park brings free fun to Connecticut this January 2026. Photo by Andy Hart, courtesy of Winterfest in Hartford.
Winterfest in Bushnell Park brings free fun to Connecticut this January 2026. Photo by Andy Hart, courtesy of Winterfest in Hartford.

Fun Free Activities in Connecticut January 2026

First Day Hike at Dino State Park

Rocky Hill - FREE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
On Thursday, January 1st, the Dino State Park will have their annual “First Day Hike” event! From 10:00am to 1:00pm, there will be Interpretive Naturalists leading guided nature walks along the Red Trail at Dinosaur State Park. READ MORE

New Year's Day Hike in Broad Brook

Broad Brook - FREE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
2.5 mile hike kicks off at 1:00 pm. Food donations will be collected for our local Five Corner Cupboard (human and pet foods). READ MORE

Winterfest at Bushnell Park in Hartford

Hartford - FREE
January 2-4, 2026
Free skating 7-days a week at Winterfest on the east side of Bushnell Park over by the Pump House. Don’t have your own skates? Winterfest has free skate rentals too. READ MORE

La Befana An Epiphany Tale in New Haven

New Haven - FREE
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Enjoy a free play from the Italian American Historical Society of CT. Plus, celebrate 3 Kings' Day with activities, refreshments, & more! READ MORE

Who’s Been Here?: Animal Signs & Tracking at Denison Pequotsepsos

Mystic - FREE
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Spend the afternoon learning how to read the clues animals leave behind. From footprints to scat, uncover which creatures are active at the Nature Center and what their signs tell us. READ MORE

Los Tres Reyes Magos Celebration at Danbury Library

Danbury - FREE
Monday, January 5, 2026
Join DPL as they get ready for the upcoming Los Tres Reyes Magos celebration! Families will enjoy a bilingual reading of The Three Wise Men / Los Tres Reyes Magos and make a fun construction paper craft featuring the Three Kings. READ MORE

Adventures in Nature: The Frozen World at Denison Pequotsepsos Nature Center

Mystic - FREE
January 10, 2026
This month, explore the frozen side of nature as we dive into the science of ice. Through hands-on activities, learn how ice shapes the water cycle and affects the world around us. See how animals survive freezing temperatures (some even become “living icicles!”) and meet a few of our cold-hardy animal residents. READ MORE

Woodbury Fire Dept. Tree Burn

Woodbury - FREE
January 17, 2026
Say Goodbye to the Holidays with a Annual Tradition! The Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department invites you to the Annual Christmas Tree Burn. Event Highlights: Watch a demo of a single tree ignited to show how fast a dry tree burns and why we say, Water, Water, Water those trees! Then, watch as firefighters light the entire pile and watch the Christmas trees burn to mark the season’s end. READ MORE

Storytime at the Palace Theater

Waterbury
January 24, 2026
As part of the CommUNITY Spotlight series, bring your little ones to the Theater, meet authors and hear them read their works and then do a craft. READ MORE

Family Day at Yale Art Gallery

New Haven - FREE
January 25, 2026
On their annual Family Day, Yale invite families to explore our collections and buildings with storytelling and art-making activities for all ages. Enjoy learning more about the art right in New Haven.   READ MORE

Bald Eagle Viewing at Shepaug Dam

Southbury - FREE
Throughout January 2026
The Shepaug Eagle view site will be opening for it's 39th season December 21st, 2024 through March 9th, 2025. View these birds of prey in all their beauty. READ MORE

A.C. Gilbert's American Flyer Train Show

Hamden - FREE
Through January 25, 2026
​The Eli Whitney Museum delves into New Haven's past to bring back a special tradition dating back more than 60 years: The AC Gilbert American Flyer Train collection.  READ MORE
Photo courtesy of Mohawk Mountain
Photo courtesy of Mohawk Mountain

More Fun Things To Do in Connecticut this Winter

Best Snow Tubing near Connecticut for Families in 2026

Winter fun awaits with snow tubing in and around Connecticut! READ MORE

The Best Igloo Dining in Connecticut

Try outdoor dining in the winter with igloo dining in Connecticut! READ MORE

Best Indoor Water Parks in New England for Easy Family Getaways

In any kind of weather, New England indoor water parks mean family fun! READ MORE

10 New England Ski Resorts That Cater to Families

With lessons starting at age 2.5 and plenty of kid-friendly amenities, these New England ski resorts are perfect for family ski trips. READ MORE

CT Winter Vacation Guide: Best Getaways and Activities for Families

Find the best things to do with kids in Connecticut this winter! READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

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!).
Recent Articles By Jenny Coe:
Read more articles by Jennifer Coe.