'Tis the season for holiday fun and more things to do in Connecticut this weekend. Kid's Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards
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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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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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Thanksgiving Weekend Best Things To Do in Connecticut: Silver Lights, Reindeer Festival, Holiday Trains

It's the first weekend for the Festival of Silver Lights in Meriden. Photo by Clementina Verge
It's the first weekend for the Festival of Silver Lights in Meriden. Photo by Clementina Verge
11/24/20 - By Ally Noel

Thanksgiving week is finally here, and Connecticut families will be looking for things to do close to home. Kids can find turkeys on scavenger hunts and strolls, or turn their attention to all things reindeer: There's the annual Reindeer Festival in Greenwich and reindeer-themed train rides starting up in Essex. Holiday trains are leaving the station in East Windsor and East Haven, too. Christmas lights are turning on across the Nutmeg State; we'll be at Hubbard Park, which is all decked out for the fabulous Festival of Silver Lights.

Looking for even more seasonal fun to have with kids? It's time to plan that family ski trip at a local mountain or take advantage of the gorgeous crisp weather on a family-friendly hike. Get ahead on holiday plans by booking a holiday train ride with Santa or making a reservation to see a drive-thru Christmas light display. Just remember to bring your masks and practice social distancing whenever out and about with your family. If your snuggling in at home, make sure to check out our free November online events and classes to stream virtually. As always, keep tabs on our Connecticut events calendar for daily updates on local events and virtual opportunities to make memories with your kids.

While we are trying to promote safer activities that occur outdoors or with social distancing guidelines in place, please keep your family and others safe by always wearing a mask and maintaining appropriate distance. If you arrive at an event that appears too crowded, try using the “nearby” search feature on our events calendar to find something else to do.

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Hill-Stead Museum presents an exhibit of costumes from Hartford's Ballet Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of the museum
Hill-Stead Museum presents an exhibit of costumes from Hartford's Ballet Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of the museum

Best Things To Do in Connecticut this Week with Kids

Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park in Meriden

November 25 — Meriden
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

Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village

November 25-December 31 —Mystic
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

IMAX Movies: Final Screenings at the Maritime Aquarium

November 27 -January 17 —Norwalk
The Maritime's IMAX theater is slated for demolition in 2021 to make way for a federal railroad bridge replacement project. Sending it out in glory by watching a screening of as many as 22 fan-favorite movies from the past three decades! READ MORE

Turkey Daze & Trail Stroll

November 27 - November 29 —North Canton
How well do you really know Meleagris gallopavo, the wild turkey, a cousin of the domesticated turkey? What is a turkey’s snood? What is a Jake? Do turkeys have beards? Take a self-guided turkey scavenger hunt or register for a guided hike at 1:30 pm. Crafts, quiz and more.  Free with admission to the Nature Center. READ MORE

North Pole Express

November 27 - December 23 —Essex
Board the locomotive-powered sleigh for a magical nighttime journey to the North Pole. Every coach becomes a stage for a LIVE musical performance of “The Night Before Christmas.” Celebrate the spirit of the season with Santa and Mrs. Claus, festive sing-a-longs, and sugar cookies. The North Pole Express Tickets are currently sold out for 2022. Check out some of the other great Polar Express and Holiday Trains in Connecticut. READ MORE

Holiday Express Train Show

November 27 - January 3 —Fairfield
Young and old alike delight in the large and small scale model trains winding around spectacular winter villages and beautiful holiday scenery.  READ MORE

Thanksgiving Weekend Waddle

Visit Santa At The Shore Line Trolley Museum

November 27 - December 20—East Haven
Bring the whole family to the Shore Line Trolley Museum this holiday season for a magical Visit with Santa! Running Thanksgiving weekend and weekends in December through December 22, this festive event is packed with holiday fun. READ MORE

Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights at the Connecticut Trolley Museum

November 27 - December 27—East Windsor
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

Winter Wonderland Walk at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

November 28 - December 6 —Bridgeport
This winter the Beardsley Zoo will transform the Zoo Grounds into a Winter Wonderland. Visit during regular Zoo hours to see and walk through 10 festive vignettes at the Zoo. Santa will make an appearance on Sundays for a socially distant "hello!"  READ MORE

Socially-Distant Santa Photos in Downtown NHV

November 28 - December 20 —New Haven
Get your (socially-distanced) photo taken with Santa in downtown New Haven. Bring your masks, cameras, and family, friends, and (leashed) pets to The Shubert Theatre plaza for free photos, giveaways, and raffles. READ MORE

Mini Holiday Petting Zoo and Reindeer Train

November 28 —Bristol
Visit with the baby goats & ride the reindeer train. Enjoy free popcorn to take home, wander through an amazing Christmas shop filled with beautiful gifts, decor, and a Christmas village & train set.  READ MORE

Holiday Cheer Glow in the Park

November 28 — Bridgeport
Zip, zip hooray… it’s the holidays!  Get into the holiday spirit with the Adventure Park's Holiday Cheer Glow in the Park.  This will be the last  Glow in the Park event of the season. READ MORE

Essex Clipper Holiday Dinner Train

November 28 - December 20 —Essex
Celebrate the holidays with family and friends aboard the elegant Essex Clipper Holiday Dinner Train. Feast on a  4-course holiday meal served in beautifully decorated 1920s Pullman dining cars pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive.  READ MORE

Goat Snuggles

November 28 - November 29 —Southington
Come relax and enjoy some snuggles on the green grass with Bradley Farm’s goats. Learn about the farm's goat and take some adorable pictures.  READ MORE

Holiday Through the Tulle Exhibition Tours

November 28 - December 20 —Farmington
Delight in the magic of the season with costumes from BTC’s Through the Tulle costume exhibition, all carefully paired to highlight each period room’s Impressionist art, aesthetic, color palette, and mood. Inside the Carriage Porch, dancers will perform excerpts of The Nutcracker, complete with twirling, leaping, and pirouetting in their very own snow globe. READ MORE
The reindeer are available for visits. Photo courtesy of Greenwich Reindeer Festival
The reindeer are available for visits. Photo courtesy of Greenwich Reindeer Festival

Best Things To Do in Connecticut in November and December with Kids

Holiday Wonderland at the Mansion

Select Dates through January 3 — Norwalk
From 1868 to 1938, children played on the third floor of the Mansion, which was filled with toys and dolls and even featured a theater where they may have performed. The mansion is once again decorated for the holidays with festive  READ MORE

World Peace: Fall Exhibition at MOCA Westport

Select Dates through January 17 —Westport
The works in World Peace reflect the culture of identity, and the divided and fractured political climate of America’s past and present. This timely multi-media exhibition contains photography, sculpture, video, site-specific installations, works on paper & protest art. READ MORE

Frank Stella’s Stars, A Survey

Through May 9, 2021 —Ridgefield
Frank Stella’s Stars, A Survey will be presented both in the galleries and the Museum's Sculpture Garden. READ MORE

Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven

Through December 31 —New Haven
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

Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium

Through January 2 —Wallingford
Returning for a third year, the family-friendly drive-through holiday lights festival with a tremendous amount of twinkling and magical light displays to celebrate our grandest holiday of the year comes to Pratt & Whitney Stadium. READ MORE

Gallery of Trees

Through December 13 — Collinsville
Join us at the Canton Historical Museum to celebrate the holiday season during the Annual Gallery of Trees. This holiday tradition features beautifully decorated trees generously donated by area businesses, community organizations, churches, families and individuals. READ MORE
All aboard the Santa Express! Photo courtesy of Connecticut Office of Tourism
All aboard the Santa Express! Photo courtesy of Connecticut Office of Tourism

More Things To Do in Connecticut in November and December

Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains in New England 2024

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25 Things to Do With Kids in Litchfield, Connecticut

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Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows near NYC

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Northeast Ski Mountains for Families

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Places featured in this article:

Fairfield Museum and Historical Society