Kick off the holiday week at the fun and festive Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade. Photo courtesy of the Montgomery Parks MNCPPC
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LuminoCity will light up the night in Gaithersburg, Photo courtesy of LuminoCity
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See a condensed Cirque show at Gaylord National Resort. Photo courtesy of Vivid Events
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Now is the time to buy tickets for popular holiday light shows and other events! Photo courtesy of Brookside Gardens
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Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens will dazzle the whole family. Photo by Tony Ventouris for Montgomery County Parks
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There are so many places to have breakfast with Santa throughout the DC area. Photo courtesy of Theissman's Restaurant's Facebook page
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The Sculpture Garden Ice Rink at the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art is always popular. Photo by Elvert Barnes via Flickr 2.0
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Gaylord National Resort's ICE! has a fun new theme every year! Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Resort
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The Washington Ballet gives The Nutcracker a historic twist at the Warner Theatre. Photo by XMB photography
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Enjoy milk and cookies and meet Santa aboard the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad's North Pole Express. Photo by Kimberly Byard
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Child's Play has a great selection of toys, games, children's books, and more. Photo by Tony Ventouris Photography
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The National Museum of the American Indian's imagiNATIONS Activity Center is full of interactive activities for kids. Photo by the author
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Learn the art of blacksmithing at Lawless Forge in Sterling, VA. Photo courtesy of the venue
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Dave & Buster's is fun for all ages! Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters
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You're never too old for a foam pit! Photo courtesy of Sky Zone
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Enjoy Art in Bloom during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Photo by Elvert Barnes via FLickr 2.0
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The Best Things To Do in Connecticut with Kids November 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Find the best things to do in CT this November 2025, like the Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular. Photo courtesy of the event.
Find the best things to do in CT this November 2025, like the Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular. Photo courtesy of the event.
10/31/25 - By Jennifer Coe

The holiday season is almost upon us and by the end of November, many of your favorite annual traditions will have started! Celebrate Dia de Muertos Community Celebration at CT Culture and History Museum in Hartford Hartford. Enjoy food, music, dancing and so much more. Be amazed at The Canine Stars: Stunt Dog Show at Garde Arts Center, as pups perform tricks. Welcome the 2025 holidays with Thanksgiving is Here! at Welles-Shipman-Ward House. 

Act now to get your tickets for events going on farther into the month like Holiday Wish Express in Stamford. And for the first time ever, Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge, is happening right here in Connecticut! 

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.  Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

You'll know Christmas 2025 is coming when Santa arrives by tugboat in Mystic! Photo by Ben And Sam via Flickr 2.0
You'll know Christmas 2025 is coming when Santa arrives by tugboat in Mystic! Photo by Ben And Sam via Flickr 2.0

Best of November 2025: Top Things To Do in Connecticut with Kids

AutumnFest at Lyman Orchards

Middlefield
November 1, 2025
There's no better way to celebrate the end of Autumn than by joining in on all the fun at the Lyman Orchards AutumnFest! It's all happening at the Apple Barrel Farm Market. READ MORE

Día de Muertos Community Celebration at CT Culture and History Museum

Hartford
November 1, 2025
Experience the sights and sounds of Día de Muertos/Day of the Dead, with all-ages arts activities, music and dance performances, ofrendas, food, vendors, and more.  READ MORE

Princess Pajama Party at the Bijou Theatre

Bridgeport
November 2, 2025
Get ready for a royal morning of magic and memories. Come to the Princess Pajama Party at the historic Bijou Theatre - a "dreamy" celebration by Your Premium Princess fit for your little royal. READ MORE

STEM Fest at Bright Horizons

Participating Locations
November 6, 2025
Join Bright Horizons centers across the country for STEM Fest. This is your chance to see science, technology, engineering, and math in action with fun, hands-on activities for you and your child. READ MORE

The Essex North Pole Express

Essex
November 13 -December 23, 2025
Connecticut's favorite family tradition includes a musical performance of Twas the Night Before Christmas, sing-a-longs, hot chocolate, sugar cookies, and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Each child receives a small gift from Santa. Children are invited to wear their favorite pajamas! This event always sells out quickly so buy your tickets early. READ MORE

Thanksgiving is Here! at Welles-Shipman-Ward House

Glastonbury
November 16, 2025
Travel back in time to colonial "Glassenbury", bring family and friends and come to visit the Welles-Shipman-Ward House and property. It's a tradition. READ MORE

Disney On Ice presents "Jump In" in Bridgeport

Bridgeport
November 20-23, 2025
Disney On Ice presents Jump In! - a dazzling new show where Disney magic comes alive on the ice. With over 50 fan-favorite characters, thrilling stunts, and spectacular music, families will journey into timeless Disney stories and meet new characters from Moana 2 and Inside Out 2 for the first time. READ MORE

Holiday Wish Express in Stamford

Stamford
November 22 - December 28, 2025
All aboard for an all-new magical journey to the North Pole! Experience the Holiday Wish Express like never before with new featured themed areas, delightful new characters, and so much more! Don’t miss the largest indoor Christmas event in the Northeast—where holiday magic comes to life! READ MORE

Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular

Stamford
November 23, 2025
The holiday season will officially kick off in Stamford Downtown on November 23, 2025 with the annual Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular, one of the largest of its kind in the country. READ MORE

Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge

Mashantucket
November 24, 2025 - Jan. 5, 2026
Snowland, an annual holiday celebration, is an immersive winter wonderland filled with special seasonal events, winter activities, crafts, visits with Santa Claus, and more.  READ MORE

17th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop

Greenwich
November 28-December 28, 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

Mystic Tree Lighting & Lighted Boat Parade

Mystic
November 29, 2025
Santa Claus is coming to Mystic with the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade in Historic Downtown Mystic. Thousands gather at the Mystic River Park to watch Santa arrive!  Santa Claus comes at 2pm. The tree lighting is scheduled for 6pm. READ MORE

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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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