'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
Princess Tea, Carriage Rides, and More Things To Do in CT This Weekend
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
19 Best Things To Do in Connecticut December 2024 with Kids
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Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Connecticut Families
Connecticut is full of happiness, joy, and free Christmas and holiday activities, like Santa at Cabela's Wonderland. Photo courtesy of Bass pro Shops
20 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in Connecticut for Kids
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
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Connecticut
Get into the spirit of the season with holiday activities like Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Photo courtesy of XL Center
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Connecticut for Kids
Polar Express trains are coming to towns all over New England for Christmas 2024! Essex Steam Train Railroad photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins.
Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains in New England 2024
Grab some friends for some birthday laps around the track. Photo courtesy of RPM Raceway
Fun Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Tweens and Teens
Our ultimate family bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut before kids grow up. Photo courtesy of Lake Compounce
100 Things To Do in Connecticut Before Kids Grow Up
Don't sweat the weather, because the best indoor water parks in New England are waiting for year-round fun! Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort
Best Indoor Water Parks in New England for Easy Family Getaways
Groupon's online marketplace offers tons of discounts on activities for kids and families.
Save On Top-Rated Connecticut Outings and Experiences for Kids and Families
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
Best Museums for Kids in Connecticut: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums
Photo courtesy of Flamig Farm
Best Petting Zoos in Connecticut: Animals Up Close at Farms and Petting Zoos
New England Family Travel Guide
Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, Connecticut with Kids: Top Things to Do on a Weekend Getaway
Find a sweet treat for the whole family at the best places for breakfast in Connecticut with kids! Photo courtesy of Hotcakes
Best Breakfast Restaurants in Connecticut
As classic as the roller rink or modern as a VR experience, these fun indoor places are perfect spots for teens and tweens to hang out! Photo by Ally Noel
Fun Places in Connecticut Where Tweens and Teens Can Hang Out Indoors
Indoor spots offer plenty of adventure in Connecticut.
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Connecticut Guide to Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones
Parents can enjoy some relaxation when their kids spend time at the
10 Family-Friendly Hotels and Spa Resorts in Connecticut
Bike the ground of Fort Trumbull. Photo courtesy Visit CT
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Connecticut Day Trips & Weekend Getaways Guide
A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures
The Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds in Connecticut
Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
Great Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Preschoolers
Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
A Dozen Short Hikes in Connecticut for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Take a step back in time with a visit to Mystic Seaport. Photo courtesy of Ally Noel
Top Attractions in Connecticut: Best Things to See and Do with Kids
From rolling hills and lakes to scenic views and summits, there's great outdoor adventure for families at Connecticut state parks. Photo courtesy of Visit CT
25 Connecticut State Parks and Forests That Are Great to Visit with Kids
Bubbles are a classic free fun activity for Connecticut kids
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Guide to Free Fun Things to Do for Connecticut Kids
Outdoor fun and healthy activity await at one of the top Connecticut playgrounds! Jonathan's Dream playground photo courtesy of O'Brien & Sons
Top Connecticut Playgrounds That Families Will Love
Run through the vineyards at Aquila's Nest. Photo courtesy of Aquila's Nest, Facebook
The Best Family-Friendly Vineyards and Wineries in Connecticut
Practice new skills at Calf's Pasture Beach, photo courtesy of Norwalk Skate Park, Facebook
Top Skate Parks in Connecticut
Create colorful storm clouds out of shaving cream and food coloring.
  VIDEO
25 Preschool Science Experiments: Simple Science for Toddlers through Kindergarten Kids
Revel in nature's majesty at Webb Mountain. Photo by Ally Noel
Best Nature Centers in Connecticut To Visit with Kids
We’ve rounded up the best escape rooms in Connecticut for a fun family outing!
Awesome Escape Rooms in CT: Kid-Friendly Parties and Family Adventures
The festivities get downright magical with Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT! Photo courtesy of Dean Davids Magician
Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT That Come To You
Find family fare and great deals at these Connecticut restaurants where kids eat free! Photo courtesy of Bigstock
Kids Eat Free: Connecticut Restaurants with Free Meal Deals for Families

Weekend Fun: History, Festivals, and Nighttime Fun

Old Lyme's Midsummer Festival celebrates the town's artistic heritage with two days of festivities. Photo courtesy of the Old Lyme's Midsummer Festival celebrates the town's artistic heritage with two days of festivities. Photo courtesy of the Florence Griswold Museum
Old Lyme's Midsummer Festival celebrates the town's artistic heritage with two days of festivities. Photo courtesy of the Old Lyme's Midsummer Festival celebrates the town's artistic heritage with two days of festivities. Photo courtesy of the Florence Griswold Museum
7/24/19 - By Donald Eng

With the heatwave behind us, it's time to get back out there and enjoy some family fun—with a little history and nature thrown in. Did you know that Benedict Arnold (a Connecticut native) committed his final act of treachery in Connecticut? Learn about it with a free tour of Fort Griswold this weekend. Sticking with the Colonial theme, how about learning how to cook over an open hearth in Guilford? When the sun goes down, you can take in a movie on the beach in Norwalk or take a nighttime nature hike in Newtown.

Don’t forget to bookmark our Summer Fun Guide for even more ways to enjoy the heart of the season. We have the scoop on both swimming pools and spraygrounds across Connecticut: Spots to play and cool off are just a drive away.  

We update our Events Calendar frequently so be sure to check back for even more great suggestions. To keep up with the latest family-friendly events and activities, sign up for our free newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram. Have a fantastic weekend!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Sunflowers for Wishes is a fundraiser where 100% of proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut. Photo courtesy of Buttonwood Farm
Sunflowers for Wishes is a fundraiser where 100% of proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut. Photo courtesy of Buttonwood Farm

All Weekend

Old Lyme Midsummer Festival

Old Lyme
This event kicks off with a performance by Nekita Waller  on the lawn of the Florence Griswold Museum. Then, on Saturday, you can enjoy a full day of festivities  throughout town. READ MORE

Scout Appreciation Days

Hartford
Celebrate Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, STEM Scouts, and more at the CT Science Center every weekend in July. Scouts in uniform or who recite their pledge receive a free patch. READ MORE

Space Themed Mini Golf

Bridgeport
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing at the Discovery Museum. Space-themed mini golf course installed throughout the museum. READ MORE

Litchfield Jazz Festival

Washington
Young stars in the making are the highlight of the annual Litchfield Jazz Fest.The opening night concert takes place Friday at the Judy Black Memorial Park and Garden. Saturday and Sunday is held at the Gunnery School. READ MORE

Sunflowers for Wishes at Buttonwood Farm

Griswold
Each year Buttonwood Farm plants over 14 acres of sunflowers and harvests approximately 450,000 blooms for your viewing pleasure to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut. Sunflowers are available while supplies last. READ MORE
Gather under the stars and bring a flashlight for some “night spotting” – you never know what you might see on the Twilight Hike. Photo courtesy of Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary
Gather under the stars and bring a flashlight for some “night spotting” – you never know what you might see on the Twilight Hike. Photo courtesy of Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary

Saturday

Tree Identification Walk with Lukas Hyder

Litchfield
Lukas Hyder, White Memorial's forester oversees the health of WM’s 4,000-acre Wildlife Sanctuary. READ MORE

Opening Day: Big Adventures: Dinosaurs Exhibit

Norwalk
Do you love dinosaurs? Come see Stepping Stones' new special exhibit, Big Adventures: Dinosaurs! It opens on Saturday, July 27.  READ MORE

Junior Library - Solar System Creations

Washington
Get ready for Space Trivia Night July 30 by brushing up on the Solar System with a series of hands-on activities. READ MORE

Kids Summer Series - Magic by Flowers the Clown

Southington
Come have a magical morning with Flowers the Clown. Breakfast buffet included in ticket price. READ MORE

Museum in Motion

East Haven
Come see some parts of the Shoreline Trolley Museum's collection that are rarely on the rails. The day features a parade of trolleys from the Golden Age of rail transportation at 11:30 and 2:30.  READ MORE

Westside Reggae Festival

Danbury
Head to the Ives Concert Park for the 7th Annual Westside Reggae Festival, which includes music, food and fun for the whole family.  READ MORE

Sanctuary Summer Series - Twilight Hike

Newtown
Few things say summer like nature’s night time chorus, but who’s actually singing? A cricket or a katydid? A frog or a bird? READ MORE

Sunday

Art Adventures: Grayscale Art

Greenwich
Kids and their caretakers will be making art inspired by the photographs found in Photographic Revolutionaries. Community Art Project: Continuation of creating a quilt - each guest will get to decorate a fabric square that will be added together to create one large community quilt.  READ MORE

Hearth Cooking Demonstration

Guilford
Come watch a re-creation and demonstration of Colonial cooking techniques at the Hyland House historical museum. READ MORE

Summer Theatre of New Canaan Presents: Treasure Island

New Canaan
Chicago theater group Bros Do Prose have re-imagined this classic novel with high-energy creative storytelling and audience engagement. We meet the infamous pirate Long John Silver, his crew of cutthroats, and plenty of other colorful characters from the book. READ MORE

Free Tours of Fort Griswold

Groton
Did you know Benedict Arnold's final act of treachery was carried out in Connecticut at Fort Griswold? Take a water taxi out to the fort and take a free walking tour. READ MORE

Voluntown Farmers Market

Voluntown
Local farmers and artisans gather under the maple trees to sell their goods, including local crafts, produce, soaps, jewelry, and more. READ MORE

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