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Just follow your nose (and maybe some big holiday sights) to family fun and the top things to do in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of Stamford Downtown
Just follow your nose (and maybe some big holiday sights) to family fun and the top things to do in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of Stamford Downtown
11/20/24 - By Jennifer Coe

Looking for the best things to do in Connecticut this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list!

The holidays are starting early for Connecticut families, with Thanksgiving and Christmas events all weekend long. This weekend marks the start of the Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven. The Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium opens for the 2024 holiday season. And Thanksgiving celebrations kick off in style with the Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular this Sunday!

For some gravity-defying fun, grab your tickets for the Nitro Circus at the XL Center in Hartford.

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Families can enjoy some colorful sights and holiday fun in CT this weekend. Festival of Trees photo © Ann Charles Photography
Families can enjoy some colorful sights and holiday fun in CT this weekend. Festival of Trees photo © Ann Charles Photography

Best Things To Do this Weekend in Connecticut with Kids

The Enchanted Forest

Greenwich
Friday, November 22 - Sunday, November 24
Celebrate the holidays with the Junior League of Greenwich at The Little Enchanted Forest. For over 40 years the Junior League of Greenwich presented “The Enchanted Forest” to the community.  READ MORE

Thanksgiving Eats + Treats! Kids' Cooking Class at Wakeman Town Farm

Westport
Friday, November 22
Apple Delight Baking Bonanza - One-Off After-School Class In this fabulous interactive fall baking class kids will explore different ways to bake with apples while developing their culinary skills. READ MORE

Nitro Circus at the XL Center

Hartford
Friday, November 22
Get ready, USA! Nitro Circus is back, and this fall, we are bringing our electrifying show to your hometown! A new generation of gravity-defying thrill-seekers and rule-breakers are here to remind you: the World is Our Playground. Our elite lineup features top athletes who will push the boundaries of what's possible, with jaw-dropping stunts, high-flying tricks, and heart-pounding excitement. READ MORE

PaleyLand Opening Week

New York, NY
All weekend
PaleyLand returns with the arrival of Santa Claus and a packed schedule of weekend meet and greets, photo ops with beloved holiday characters, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Hermey the Elf, Blizz the Snowman, and a Toy Soldier. READ MORE

Ann's Place 22nd Annual Festival of Trees 2024

Danbury
Friday, November 22 - Sunday, November 24
Ann's Place proudly presents the 22nd Annual Festival of Trees: “Celebrating Traditions”  at The Summit in Danbury. Marking the official start to the holiday season, this year’s Festival will celebrate the many traditions that make our community unique, featuring live performances from dancers and musicians from cultures around the globe, as well as beautifully decorated trees, holiday shopping, raffles, children’s crafts and more. READ MORE

Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven

New Haven
Opening Weekend
Friday, November 22 - Sunday, November 24
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

East Hartford
Opening Weekend
Friday, November 22 - Sunday, November 24
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

The Connecticut Book Festival in West Hartford

West Hartford —FREE
Saturday, November 23
More than 50 authors from Connecticut gathered under one roof to showcase their books to readers. There's something for everyone, from children's to literary fiction, to sci-fi and fantasy, to horror, and non-fiction--and everything in between. READ MORE

Jewitt City Snowflake Parade

Jewitt City —FREE
Saturday, November 23
A parade for the whole family! Decorate a "float" or just come to watch. Santa Claus leads the procession, perched atop a beautifully adorned float. The parade will include marching bands in festive uniforms, twirling dancers in sequined costumes, and intricately crafted floats adorned with twinkling lights   READ MORE

Foodways: Hearth Cooking: Colonial Thanksgiving

Farmington
Saturday, November 23
Learn how to cook a colonial Thanksgiving dinner featuring chicken (more common than turkey), Hasty Pudding, and roasted root vegetables. READ MORE

The Holiday Wish Experience

Stamford
Opening Weekend
Saturday, November 23 - Sunday, November 24
The Holiday Wish is an interactive, light-filled experience that will entertain and inspire every member of the family. This unique light journey puts children on a quest to rekindle their love of the holidays by doing one thing: believing. READ MORE

Turkey Lantern Ceramic Craft at Giggling Pig Milford

Milford
Sunday, November 24
Kids will be painting keepsake ceramic turkey lanterns for your holiday tablescape. READ MORE

Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular

Stamford—FREE
Sunday, November 24
The holiday season will officially kick off in Stamford Downtown on November 24, 2024 with the annual Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular, one of the largest of its kind in the country. READ MORE

Frosty's Christmas Craft Festival

Plantsville
Sunday, November 24
Frosty's Christmas Craft Festival is looking forward to seeing you at the Aqua Turf Club. 144 talented crafters will have an amazing display of goods and products (mostly handmade) on sale to help you get started with your Christmas and holiday shopping. The Aqua Turf Club and several of our crafters will also have a variety of food items for you to purchase. READ MORE

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