Cozy up to some holiday fun in Connecticut as December 2024 brings a little joy to the Nutmeg State! Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
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Connecticut is full of happiness, joy, and free Christmas and holiday activities, like Santa at Cabela's Wonderland. Photo courtesy of Bass pro Shops
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Raise a hand if you're excited for the best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Connecticut! Magic of Lights photo courtesy of the XL Center
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Suit up for the top things to do this Christmas Weekend in Connecticut! Shark-Diving Santa photo courtesy of the Maritime Aquarium
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Get into the spirit of the season with holiday activities like Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Photo courtesy of XL Center
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Polar Express trains are coming to towns all over New England for Christmas 2024! Essex Steam Train Railroad photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins.
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Groupon's online marketplace offers tons of discounts on activities for kids and families.
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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
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20 Best Things To Do in Connecticut October 2024 with Kids

They are coming to Connecticut any way they can for the top things to do in October with kids! Witch Paddle photo by Kaylee Wright, courtesy of Adventure Mystic.
They are coming to Connecticut any way they can for the top things to do in October with kids! Witch Paddle photo by Kaylee Wright, courtesy of Adventure Mystic.
9/29/24 - By Jennifer Coe

For families that love Autumn, October is absolutely filled with ways to enjoy the season. This month you can shop the New Haven Night Market, find out if the Wooly Bear is predicting a cold winter at the Wooly Bear Festival at RNBC, and learn all about the history behind Witches and Tombstones Tour in Wethersfield. If your kids have already secured their costumes for Halloween, there are several trick or treat events (some early in the month) on our calendar including the Halloween Stroll in West Hartford and New London Halloween Town. 

Destination Scary: there are lots of super spooky events for those who can handle a scare. After Dark in Fairfield takes you on a hayride of haunted trails. Not scary enough? Curse of the Rails at CT Trolley Museum is a newly, re-imagined spooky trolley ride.

Explore Mommy Poppins' Fall Fun Guide for more ideas for harvest and farm activities or spend some time looking through our Best Harvest and Fall Festivals in Connecticut for Fall Family Fun.

 

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October is time for fall fun and Halloween excitement in Connecticut! Pumpkin Picking at Lyman Orchards. Photo courtesy of the orchard.
October is time for fall fun and Halloween excitement in Connecticut! Pumpkin Picking at Lyman Orchards. Photo courtesy of the orchard.

Best Things To Do in Connecticut October 2024 with Kids

Pumpkin Picking at Lyman Orchards

Middlefield
Daily in October 2024
Follow the yellow brick road! Stroll through Wizard of Oz themed corn maze, pick up a batch of fresh cinnamon cider donut holes, or pick apples. The maz ie 4 acres and should take between 30-40 minutes to meander through.  READ MORE

Pumpkintown USA

East Hampton
Daily in October 2024
One of New England's premier non-scary Halloween villages, Pumpkintown USA annually draws about 25,000 visitors. The Village at Pumpkintown USA is home to more than 70 Pumpkinhead people and their pets. The unique village includes a fast food restaurant called MacPumpkins, a saloon, a jail, a church, barbershop, country store, farm, and a fire station. READ MORE

Wee Faerie Village: Old Timey Town at Florence Griswold

Old Lyme
October 1 - November 3, 2024
This year’s Wee Faerie Village theme is Yesterville: A Wee Old-Timey Town! Everyone has a history, including the wee faerie folk. Inspired by the living history museums in the human world such as Mystic Seaport, Greenfield Village, Sturbridge Village, and Colonial Williamsburg, Yesterville is just the place for the faeries to experience the joys of yesteryear. READ MORE

Scott's Yankee Farmer Wild West Corn Maze

East Lyme
October 1 - 27, 2024
Scott's Yankee Farmer Wild West Corn Maze is open. Buy combo tickets in advance online. Last entry to the maze is 4 pm. Weekend Wagon Rides Begin Mid September. READ MORE

Wooly Bear Fall Festival at RBNC

Canton
Saturday, October 3, 2024
According to legend, woolly bear caterpillars can predict whether we will have a mild or cold and snowy winter. Visit the Nature Center and head out on the trails for a self-guided scavenger hunt to learn more about our wildlife winter weather prognosticators. READ MORE

New Haven Night Market

New Haven
Friday, October 4, 2024
The New Haven Night Music, a fun family-friendly evening bazaar, taking place in different downtown locations and gathering all to celebrate the vibrant New Haven and Connecticut community’s entrepreneurs, art, music, food, drink, culture and more! READ MORE

Southington Apple Harvest Festival

Southington
October 4-13, 2024
Situated around the beautiful Southington Town Green, the Apple Harvest Festival is a family-oriented event which attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors annually. READ MORE

Pumpkin Passage

Montville
October 4 - 27, 2024
Fun Events every Weekend! Trail of Lights, Dinosaurs & Pumpkins! This is a toddler-friendly Halloween event, and fun family activities are waiting for everyone. READ MORE

After Dark in Fairfield

Fairfield
October 4 - 26, 2024
Come if you dare for 3 haunt attractions for one low price. Enjoy our beer garden, snack shop and movie on inflatable screen. READ MORE

Curse of the Rails at CT Trolley Museum

East Windsor
October 4 - 26, 2024
Step aboard the "Curse of the Rails," where haunting echoes of the past and horrifying tales await you on an unforgettable haunted trolley ride! Guided by Deadalus Extreme Paranormal Investigations, you'll journey through haunted landscapes and come face to face with entities that roamed these very rails. READ MORE

Annual Witch Paddle and Coat Drive in Mystic

Mystic
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Wear your favorite Witch or Halloween Costume and come paddle in this Spooktacular  Event on the Mystic River. You must provide your own Paddleboard or Kayak, PFD, Paddle and Leash.  READ MORE

New London Halloween Town

New London
Friday, October 18, 2024
The City of New London, in collaboration with the Downtown New London Association, invites families to immerse themselves in a spooktacular Halloween experience at Halloween Town. Halloween Town promises an enchanting evening of frightful delights and ghoulish fun for all ages. Attendees can look forward to an array of exciting activities. READ MORE

Fall and Halloween Festival at Westbrook Outlets

Westbrook
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Family Fun with kids activities, games, prizes, awards for best costumes in 4 age groups, best family costumes, best pet costume. Scavenger hunts, trick or treating, vendor market, live entertainment, food trucks and more! READ MORE

Fairytales Festival in New Milford

New Milford
October 19 & 20, 25 & 26, 2024
All of your fairytale characters can join the Halloween fun. They will have: pony and carriage rides (extra charge), arts & crafts games, petting zoo, scavenger hunt in their forest, face painting, and a photo booth. READ MORE

Witches & Tombstones Tour in Wethersfield

Wethersfield
October 19-26, 2024
Bone-chilling, but historically accurate, Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum’s Witches and Tombstones Tours will be held Saturdays, October 219 and 26, from 10:30 to 2:30 p.m.  READ MORE

Halloween Stroll in West Hartford

West Hartford
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Join us for the 2024 Halloween Stroll from Moms & More of West Hartford.Kids annually love this free trick or treating event that runs throughout West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square. Families will enjoy music, giveaways, costumed mascots and more. A great event for kids of all ages. Kids are encouraged to come in costume. READ MORE

Family Fun Dayz:Halloween Spooktacular at the Mattatuck Museum

Torrington
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Join the Matt for a day full of spooky fun! Dress up to participate in the costume contest, create a scultpted creature straight out of your imagination, and make sure to stop at all of the spooky stations to participate in ghoul hunts and sweet treats! READ MORE

Pumpkin Picking at Karabin Farms

Southington
Daily in October 2024
Walk past cattle barns, Christmas trees, and maple groves to visit the pumpkin patch. Kids will love visiting the barnyard friends and eating delicious homemade goodies from the market.  READ MORE

Light in the Dungeon: A Jack-o-Lantern Experience

East Granby
Weekends in October 2024
Experience the Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine like never before! In the late 18th century, people incarcerated at New-Gate Prison were housed in the abandoned copper mine in total darkness. Celebrate the Fall season with us as we bring “Light into the Dungeon.” Explore the 100-yard loop of the underground copper mine illuminated by a display of 350 professionally carved Jack O' Lanterns. READ MORE

Haunting at the Ridge

Middlefield
Weekends in October 2024
Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort will be overrun by monsters, demons, and zombies this fall as it welcomes back Haunting at the Ridge for a third consecutive year. This year’s event, run in partnership with Phantom Productions, offers an expanded thrill and haunt program designed to captivate and entertain fans of all things spooky. READ MORE

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