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Breakfast with Santa and Pictures with Santa Claus in Connecticut

Make lasting holiday memories through a visit with St. Nick! Photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards
Make lasting holiday memories through a visit with St. Nick! Photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards
11/12/23 - By Jennifer Coe

The 2023 holiday season is upon us and Santa events for Connecticut families—like breakfasts with Santa and photos with Santa—are happening all over the state. The man in red is busy this time of year, but not too busy to make the rounds of breakfasts, festivals and nature spots. Maybe you can catch sight of him arriving on a tugboat or on a short train ride. Santa loves pancakes and sometimes he likes to indulge in a donut (or three). He also loves farm animals as much as your kids do!

Tip: Book seats for your little elves now, because some of these events with Santa fill up fast! Check to see if photo opportunities require pre-registration, as many of them do. For other Santa sightings around Connecticut, check  out our favorite New England holiday activities. And go for a holiday drive through one of the Best Holiday Light Drive-Thru Displays.

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West Hartford's Pond House Cafe hosts brunch with Santa. Photo courtesy of the Cafe
West Hartford's Pond House Cafe hosts brunch with Santa. Photo courtesy of the Cafe

Brunches and Breakfast with Santa - Hartford Area

Pond House Brunch With Santa

West Hartford—Saturday, November 25 & Sunday, November 26, 2023
Breakfast with Santa is back this year, at America's oldest public garden.  READ MORE

Santa's Brunch

Burlington—Saturday and Sundays, November 25 to December 10, 2023
Brunch with Santa is back and better than ever.  There will be six dates available this year to meet with the man in red. Enjoy a buffet style brunch before heading into Santa's Workshop for crafts, cookie decorating and a chance to tell Santa what is on your wish list this year.    READ MORE

Visits on the Farm With Santa and Friends

Simsbury—Weekends, December 2 through December 17, 2023
Visit with Santa, Mrs Claus and the Grinch (great picture opportunities!), enjoy a trolley ride with Frosty out to Reindeer land and visit our outdoor petting zoo and have a free cup of grain to feed the animals. Breakfast sandwiches, coffee and cider available. Please reserve your seats! READ MORE

Hartland Breakfast With Santa

East Hartland—Saturday, December 9, 2023
Come have a pancake breakfast and do some shopping with Santa at the East Hartland Firehouse. READ MORE

Breakfast with Santa at Stew Leonard's Newington

Newington—Saturday, December 16, 2023
Families are invited to have breakfast with Santa and his friends! A buffet-style breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, assorted bagels, fruit and donuts, will be served accompanied by coffee and hot cocoa!  READ MORE
The nice list keeps getting longer and longer for Connecticut Kids! Photo by Andre SR via Canva
The nice list keeps getting longer and longer for Connecticut Kids! Photo by Andre SR via Canva

Brunches and Breakfast with Santa in Central Connecticut

Brunch with Santa Clause

Old Saybrook—Sunday, November 26, 2023
Join Saybrook Marina for brunch with a very special visitor! Enjoy all the flavors of the season and snap some photos with Santa Clause while enjoying the holiday spirit. READ MORE

Brunch with Santa at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield

Middlefield—Weekends, December 3 - December 18, 2022
Treat the whole family to a holly, jolly time with a full brunch buffet featuring festive holiday favorites.  Be sure to bring along your camera to capture magical memories with Santa and crew at Lyman Orchards. READ MORE

Brunch With Santa at Water's Edge

Westbrook—Sunday, December 3 & Sunday, December 10, 2023
Join us for Brunch with Santa. Santa will be visiting the resort from 11am - 2pm.  READ MORE

Brunch with Santa

New Haven—Sunday, December 17, 2023
Sit down to brunch with the man in red. Enjoy five different food stations including pasta, breakfast, the carving station and a children's station too. Bring you camera to take pictures with Santa and each child will go home with something special.  READ MORE

Breakfast with Santa

Madison—Sunday, December 17, 2023
Celebrate the holidays this year with some one on one time with Santa. Meet Santa this year and share your wish list with him directly. READ MORE

Santa Brunches and Breakfasts in Eastern Connecticut

Breakfast with Santa @ Foxwoods

Mashantucket—Saturday, December 2,9, 26, 17, 2023
Santa is making his list and checking it twice, but first, breakfast at Foxwoods sounds extra nice! Reserve a table for you and your family at Cedar's Restaurant. READ MORE

Brunches and Breakfast with Santa in Western Connecticut

Breakfast with Santa

Bridgeport—Sunday, November 25, 2023
Time for Hub and Spoke's 7th annual Breakfast with Santa! Bring your little ones to either out 9:30 or our 11:30 seating on Saturday November 25th. Tickets are required. Breakfast will include: scrambled eggs, western style scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, pancakes, fruit salad, pastries, cookies, soda, coffee, tea and orange juice. READ MORE

Breakfast with Santa at Stew Leonards Norwalk

Norwalk—Saturday, December 17, 2023
Families are invited to have breakfast with Santa and his friends! A buffet-style breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, assorted bagels, fruit and donuts, will be served accompanied by coffee and hot cocoa. Each child will be given a coloring book to color and will be able to take their book home. READ MORE
Tis the season for twinkling lights, trimmed trees, and pictures with Santa Claus! Photo courtesy of the Historical Society of Greenwich
Tis the season for twinkling lights, trimmed trees, and pictures with Santa Claus! Photo courtesy of the Historical Society of Greenwich

Pictures with Santa Claus in Western Connecticut

Winter Wonderland at the New Canaan Nature Center

New Canaan—Saturday, December 16, 2023
Come and be transported into a whole new world as the New Canaan Nature Center transforms into a Winter Wonderland filled with fun and exciting winter holiday activities for the entire family, including wvsits and photos with Santa, plus trains, reindeer games, and more. READ MORE
Head to Yulefest in Meriden for pictures with Santa and more holiday fun! Photo courtesy of Meriden Yulefest
Head to Yulefest in Meriden for pictures with Santa and more holiday fun! Photo courtesy of Meriden Yulefest

Pictures with Santa Claus Around Southern Connecticut

Santa Express and Northern Lights Limited at the Naugatuck Railroad

Thomaston—Weekends, November 24 - December 23, 2023
The Naugatuck Railroad offers two different Christmas train experiences: the daytime Santa Express and the evening Northern Lights Limited.  READ MORE

Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa's Workshop

Greenwich - November 24 - December 23, 2023
Santa and his LIVE reindeer return to Greenwich for the 15th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop. The cherished town tradition continues for the fifteenth consecutive year at Sam Bridge Nurseries where visitors can have their photo taken with Santa, meet the reindeer and also enjoy Santa’s Workshop. READ MORE

Meriden Yulefest

Meriden—Saturday, November 25 through November 26, 2023
Santa comes to Meriden to help kick start the Holiday season. There will be vendors, food trucks, and entertainment and so much more.  Don't miss Santa coming to town via train. READ MORE

Storytelling and Santa at the Shops at Yale

New Haven—Weekends, November 26 - December 17, 2023
B Natural Kitchen and Barnes and Noble will be offering visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus where stories will be read and selfies can be taken with Santa.  READ MORE

Brunch with Santa at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield

Middlefield—Weekends, December 3 - December 18, 2022
Treat the whole family to a holly, jolly time with a full brunch buffet featuring festive holiday favorites.  Be sure to bring along your camera to capture magical memories with Santa and crew at Lyman Orchards. READ MORE
Hartford has wonderful spots for pictures with Santa in 2023! Photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
Hartford has wonderful spots for pictures with Santa in 2023! Photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins

Pictures with Santa Claus around Hartford

Santa at Cabela's

East Hartford—November 4 - December 24, 2023
Bring your family to Cabela’s Christmas parade as Santa returns to open his Santa's Wonderland! Santa will be riding in on his decked out tracker boat with his elves. After you greet Santa, come into the store for crafts, activities, and more starting at 6pm! READ MORE

Santa Comes to Roaring Acres

Suffield—November 24 and weekends until December 2023
Santa Claus will be returning to Roaring Acres Alpacas for the fourth year in a row to celebrate the season with his farm friends. Families will have the opportunity to see Santa, capture the moment with photos, hangout with the alpacas, and do some shopping in our lovely Boutique! Santa will be collecting Christmas lists and checking them twice, so feel free to bring your lists with you! READ MORE

Simsbury Celebrates

Simsbury—Saturday, November 25, 2023
Simsbury Celebrates is a free Community Holiday Celebration, traditionally held the Saturday after Thanksgiving. There will be a variety of events, including a parade and a spectacular fireworks show.  READ MORE

Annual Santa's Farm at Indian Rock

Bristol—Weekends, Friday, December 1 through Sunday, December 10, 2023
Walk the grounds with Santa as you eat S'mores, drink hot chocolate, and sing carols. The farm will be lit up for the holidays. Each family will have a chance to talk to Santa and take pictures. READ MORE

Santa and Donuts

Farmington - December 10, 2023
Sunday, October 10th Santa will be visiting the farm truck at Hein Farm. Rogue Coffee Truck and Dude's Donut Truck will be there with delicious coffees, smoothies and donuts. Pure Goodness Bakery will sell giant stuffed cookies and cupcakes.  Santa will be available for talking to little ones and taking pictures from 11-2. No reservations required. Santa is also filling the Farm Truck for the Farmington Food Pantry - please bring non-perishables to donate. READ MORE

Annual Santa's Workshop at Wickham Park

Manchester—December 12 through December 23, 2023
Enjoy an enchanted visit with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the elves in the beautiful log cabin nestled at the highest point in the park. This is a traditional, family friendly event. There are no sponsorships or commercialization of the event and it is free for everyone. Stop at the elf desk to see if you’re on the naughty or nice list then head over to tell Santa how good you’ve been and what you want for Christmas. Don’t forget to visit Mrs. Claus to have some hot cocoa and a cookie. READ MORE
Find a magical spot for your pictures with Santa Claus in 2022. Photo courtesy of Olde Mystick Village
Find a magical spot for your pictures with Santa Claus in 2022. Photo courtesy of Olde Mystick Village

Pictures with Santa Claus in Eastern Connecticut

Mystic Tree Lighting & Lighted Boat Parade

Mystic - November 25, 2023
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!  Come in a sailboat or other floating craft to join the parade. READ MORE

Winter Wonder Day

New London—Saturday, December 2, 2022
Start your holiday season with a visit to our second annual Winter Wonder Day! Enjoy special crafts and activities inspired by the vibrant colors featured in our exhibition Chromatopia: Stories of Color in Art. Explore the Museum’s galleries, make fun art, and take photos with Santa. Fun for the whole family! READ MORE

Holiday Carnival at Olde Mistick Village

Mystic—Saturday, December 3, 2022
Stroll around the Olde Mistick Village to view custom decorated wreaths, enjoy live music, visit with Santa, find great gifts, and more.  READ MORE

Holiday Luminaria at the Nature Center

Mystic—Friday, December 9 - Sunday, December 11, 2022
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the season and experience the peaceful wonder of a luminaria-lined walk in the woods this winter. Wind through the Nature Center woods on a self-guided tour of forest trails lit by the soft glow of nearly 1000 luminaria, then warm up by a festive fire with a complimentary hot apple cider or hot chocolate at our trailside Winter Cafe. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

East Hartland Firehouse
First Congregational Church of Meriden