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Things To Do in Connecticut this Weekend: Santa Breakfasts, Heights and Lights, Tree Festivals

Breakfast with Santa, before he gets too busy! Photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards
Breakfast with Santa, before he gets too busy! Photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards
12/5/19 - By Donald Eng

So you survived the annual Thanksgiving gatherings and our first winter storm! Now we begin the holiday season in earnest, and what a wonderful season it is for families. If you haven't seen the reindeer in Greenwich or taken advantage of free ice skating in the park in Hartford, it's time to get out there! Marvel at a skyscraping Santa at Height and Lights in Stamford or gorgeous greenery at Christmas tree festivals in Hartford or Fairfield. Finally, when night falls, head out to one of the many light displays in the state with this handy list of our favorite home Christmas light displays.

 To make sure that you don't miss any of the fun, subscribe to our free weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Read on for our highlights of events happening this weekend, and check our frequently updated daily event calendar for even more ideas.

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Take a horse-drawn wagon ride across the snowy fields. Photo courtesy of Blue Slope Country Museum
Take a horse-drawn wagon ride across the snowy fields. Photo courtesy of Blue Slope Country Museum

Things To Do All Weekend

Winterfest at Bushnell Park in Hartford

Hartford
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

Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival

Fairfield
Visitors can roam the mansion and view the rooms designed by local interior decorators and artists. READ MORE

Santa Express and Northern Lights Limited at the Naugatuck Railroad

Guilford
The Naugatuck Railroad offers two different Christmas train experiences: the daytime Santa Express and the evening Northern Lights Limited.  READ MORE

Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park in Meriden

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

The Wood Library & Museum's Annual Gingerbread House Festival

South Windsor
One of the largest gingerbread house displays in New England features an incredible array of candy covered houses. The Festival will take place at Wood Memorial Library on Main Street in South Windsor, and rest assured that we will implement any precautionary measures to keep patrons safe. READ MORE

Mystic Northern Lights

Mystic
A sea of light leads guests along the pathways at Mystic Aquarium. See Arctic animals in a whole new light as you stroll to theatric music in search of hand-crafted lanterns. READ MORE

Breakfast with Frosty & Friends

Bridgeport
Get in the holiday spirit and join Frosty and all his friends for Breakfast at the Zoo. The Zoo has a longtime family tradition returning this year after a three-year hiatus: Breakfast with Frosty! A continental​ breakfast in the Carousel Building includes a visit with with Frosty the Snowman and friends, carousel rides and lots of family fun.  READ MORE

Blue Slope Horse Drawn Wagon Rides

Franklin
Enjoy a horse drawn wagon ride on the grounds of a working dairy farm. Your family or group will enjoy a 40-minute, private ride.  Hot cocoa, hot cider and activities included. READ MORE

Visits with Santa at Flamig Farm in Simsbury

Simsbury
Flamig Farm's Visits with Santa includes a memorable visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves, Frosty, and the Grinch along with a trolley ride. READ MORE

Mr. Gilbert's Railroad

Hamden
The Eli Whitney Museum delves into New Haven's past to bring back a special tradition dating back more than 60 years: The AC Gilbert American Flyer Train collection. At 3/16” scale, a six-foot-tall person rises a mere inch and one-eighth above the ground. Can you imagine yourself in this miniaturized world? READ MORE

Ripka's Giving Trees

Norwalk
Come enjoy a fun filled, festive day, of picking out your tree with friends and family. The event will include refreshments such as cider, hot chocolate, and s'mores. READ MORE
Who's more deserving of a brass band this time of year? Photo courtesy of Mansfield Downtown Partnership
Who's more deserving of a brass band this time of year? Photo courtesy of Mansfield Downtown Partnership

Things To Do Saturday

Winter Welcome

Storrs
Join the Mansfield Downtown Partnership in celebrating the season at the Fifth Annual Winter Welcome! Stroll through Downtown Storrs and visit participating businesses, who will have treats, sales, and specials. READ MORE

Light the Lights

Danbury
'Tis the Season as CityCenter Danbury celebrates Light the Lights, its annual Holiday Gathering to welcome Santa. READ MORE

Free First Saturday at Lyman Allyn Art Museum

New London
General admission is free on the first Saturday of every month at the Lyman Museum. Families participate in an interactive art demo, and this week, take-home science kits feature a pressed flower lanterns craft. READ MORE

Holiday Carnival at Olde Mistick Village

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

Christmas in Collinsville

Canton
A family-friendly day of Christmas festivities in the charming New England Village of Collinsville.  ​Visit the shops and businesses in historic downtown Collinsville. READ MORE

Holiday Stroll in Ridgefield

Ridgefield
Discover the beauty of downtown Ridgefield while strolling the streets listening to roving carolers, toy soldiers, and so much more. READ MORE

Three Centuries of Christmas and Candlelight Tours

Wethersfield
Each year, the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum’s “Three Centuries of Christmas” tours show in fascinating detail how the American holiday season has evolved over the past 300 years. READ MORE

Jingle Jam

Norwalk
Spend some time at JAM studio on Saturday morning enjoying art, live music. Come make some holiday art and enjoy some festive tunes at JAM! READ MORE

A Pentatonix Christmas Tour

Uncasville
Thee-time Grammy winners Pentatonix have sold more than 10 million albums and had two network television specials.  READ MORE
The Yale University Art Gallery invites families for stories from around the world that highlight unique features of objects in the collection. Photo by Lauren Larsen
The Yale University Art Gallery invites families for stories from around the world that highlight unique features of objects in the collection. Photo by Lauren Larsen

Things To Do Sunday

Heights and Lights

Stamford
From 22 stories high above Stamford Downtown, watch and cheer for Santa Claus, Rudolph, Grinch and friends as they make their descent, twisting and flying from the top of one of Stamford’s tallest buildings, Landmark Square followed by a festive fireworks show. READ MORE

Brunch with Santa at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield

Middlefield
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

Winter Sunday Explorers

Stamford
Come for one program or stay for the day! Some programs have limited seating. Strollers and late entries not permitted in the planetarium. Planetarium is recommended for ages 5 and up. READ MORE

BandAid Breakfast With Santa

New Milford
The Sarah Noble Band Aids will host breakfast with Santa in the school cafeteria to raise funds for the band and chorus programs at the school. Raffle and bake sale too. READ MORE

Celebrate Nature's Friends

Derby
This holiday season is the bee’s knees. Visit the Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby, Connecticut and celebrate “Nature’s Friends”. READ MORE

Guided Nature Hike: CANCELED

Ansonia
Take a guided hike on 2.5 miles of trails at the 150-acre Ansonia Nature Center property. The center's forest, fields and pond change with the seasons so each hike is unique. READ MORE

Yale Art Gallery: Family Program, Stories and Art

New Haven
On the second Sunday of each month, Yale invites families to the art gallery for folktales, myths, and exciting stories from around the world that highlight unique features of objects in the collection and inspire children of all ages to view art in new ways. READ MORE

Washington-Gunnery Family Skate

Washington
The Gunnery’s Linen Rink opens its doors for family skate. Proceeds help to support the Bunker Burr Scholarship Fund which provides tuition and equipment purchase assistance to children and families wishing to get involved in ice skating or the great game of ice hockey. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Danbury Library Plaza
Sarah Noble Intermediate School