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Fun Free Activities for Kids in January 2024: Free Things To Do in CT with Kids

The top things to do in CT this January are free, so get out and enjoy the winter! Photo by Andy Hart, courtesy of Winterfest in Hartford.
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12/29/23 - By Jennifer Coe

Free things to do in January are perfect for Connecticut families after a busy (and probably expensive!) holiday season. There's plenty of time left to see the Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mystic Village and the Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park in Meriden. But if you are ready to move on to New Year's fun, try a First Day Hike at Fort Griswold. Winnie the Pooh fans will the Hunny Pot Glitter Slime Workshop. And January 2024 brings plenty of chances for Bald Eagle Viewing at Shepaug Dam.  

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:

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Get those little creators out this January for free classes and genuine fun! Pizza Making Class photo courtesy of Square Peg Pizzeria.
Get those little creators out this January for free classes and genuine fun! Pizza Making Class photo courtesy of Square Peg Pizzeria.

Fun Free Activities in Connecticut January 2024

Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park in Meriden

Meriden—FREE
Monday, January 1, 2024
Witness the illumination of more than 350,000 twinkling white lights. Enjoy more than 200 figures and buildings decorated with lights in this spectacular display.  READ MORE

First Day Hike at Fort Griswold

Groton—FREE
Monday, January 1, 2024
Join along New Year's Day for a First Day Hike of Fort Griswold Battlefield. Meet your guide at the front gates at noon. Please dress for the weather and bring all friends. READ MORE

Pizza Making Class

Glastonbury—FREE
Monday, January 1, 2024
Children ages 5 and up can bring their grownup and make a pizza. They will also get a chocolate chip cookie. Two sessions offered, one starts at 1pm and the other starts at 2:30p. READ MORE

Tot Shabbat Service

Norwalk—FREE
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Beth El welcomes all families and their young children (through 4th grade) to attend Tot Shabbat services. Monthly on Saturday mornings 10:30 am - noon. Come have fun and stay for lunch.  READ MORE

Family Program: Fictional Forests at CT Museum of Culture and History

Hartford—FREE
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Go on an adventure with Sophie Mouse! Inspired by The Adventures of Sophie Mouse series by Connecticut author Poppy Green, this program will bring to life some of Sophie’s fun-filled escapades in the woodland village of Silverlake Forest. Families can hop on lily pads, craft with flowers, and design their own make-believe forest filled with whimsical woodland characters. READ MORE

Winterfest at Bushnell Park in Hartford

Hartford—FREE
Until January 7, 2024
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

Family Story Time

Hartford—FREE
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Join the museum for a special family story time. Surrounded by books in the exhibit Connecticut’s Bookshelf, families can cozy up in beanbags, listen to a story, and then do some crafts. With a new book each time, families can discover the many stories brought to life by Connecticut authors and illustrators. READ MORE

Free Family Music Classes

Eastford—FREE
January 9 and 10, 2024
FREE classes are designed to captivate the natural joy of music and movement inherent in children ages birth through Kindergarten. Their parents/caregivers are integral participants for classes designed for children ages birth - 3. Singing, focused listening activities, dancing, and playing skills are developed. READ MORE

Waldorf Puppet Show

Newtown—FREE
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The puppet show in the Waldorf tradition features hand-sewn puppets, sumptuous plant-dyed silks, and a simple, age-appropriate performance style suited to young children’s attention spans and level of awareness.  READ MORE

Museum Children Free Week

Litchfield—FREE
January 12-18, 2024
The White Memorial Conservation Center located in Litchfield, CT  houses one of New England's finest state-of-the-art Nature Museum. See a life-sized beaver lodge, learn about alternative energy, touch real animal fur, and test your bird identification skills, visit a fluorescent rock cave, and view nature through a digital macro-scope.  READ MORE

Life on the Webster Farm: Work Days in West Hartford

West Hartford—FREE
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Visit the museum on select Saturdays every month from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. and enjoy live demonstrations from our experienced team of museum educators. Each demonstration will focus on a unique aspect of early American work and play. READ MORE

Hunny Pot Glitter Slime Workshop

Essex—FREE
Thursday, January 18, 2024
You’re never too old to celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day. Come in for a fun STEAM activity where we explore polymers and non-Newtonian fluids by making golden glitter “Hunny” slime! READ MORE

Lowe's DIY Workshop for Kids

Various Locations—FREE
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Kids will love the Lowe's free DIY workshop. They will create something using real tools and come away with a sense of accomplishment! This is a monthly series. READ MORE

Kari Kola Prelude Light Experience

Stamford—FREE
January 26-28, 2024
This free-to-the-public walk-through light installation by world-renowned light artist, Kari Kola, will set your mind ablaze with inspiring illuminations. As you stroll down the path along the Mill River, pause to enjoy the slow, contemplative music and take notice of how the lights installed among the dormant riverbed gardens highlight the stark beauty of nature in midwinter. READ MORE

Toddler Tuesday at The SoNo Collection

Norwalk—FREE
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Join The SoNo Collection for Toddler Tuesday. In partnership with The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, join The SoNo Collection every Tuesday from 10-11 AM in the M&T Bank Magnificent Room for fun toddler-themed activities, including Storytime, sing-alongs, playtime activities, arts and crafts, and more. READ MORE

800 Years of Creches

New Haven—FREE
All of January 2024
Featuring crèches from the Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection, this exhibition honors the rich history of the Nativity scene as seen across the world, from small hand-carved figures made of wood to large-scale representations featuring over 150 figures and elaborate settings. READ MORE

Bald Eagle Viewing at Shepaug Dam

Southbury—FREE
Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in January 2024
The Shephaug eagle viewing site is open for another season. Specialists with telescopes will be available to help viewers spot eagles and other birds of prey. Please make reservations. READ MORE

Family Shabbat with PJ Library

West Hartford—FREE
Fridays in January 2024
Bring your little ones to the Family Room Parenting Center to welcome Shabbat with PJ Library stories, songs, blessings, and challah. Please consider bringing a non-perishable food for the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry cart. READ MORE

Bunny Book Group at Grace Farms

New Canaan—FREE
Fridays in January 2024
Children are invited to gather on the SANAA-designed rabbit chairs in our Arts Studio to hear stories from our curated collection of children’s books exploring topics related to our ongoing programs and initiative work, and to take part in an arts and crafts activity. Held weekly. READ MORE

Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village

Mystic—FREE
All of January 2024
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

Places featured in this article: