'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.
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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: Trail Hikes, Street Festivals, and a Giant Peach; June 1-2

The Mianus River is just one super place to hike with kids this weekend. Photo courtesy of Friends of Mianus River Park/Facebook
The Mianus River is just one super place to hike with kids this weekend. Photo courtesy of Friends of Mianus River Park/Facebook
5/29/19 - By Donald Eng

June is here, and with it the annual statewide outdoor activity extravaganza that is Connecticut Trails Days. Throughout the state, there are dozens of activities, ranging from easy nature walks fit for preschoolers to more challenging hikes best for bigger kids. In Litchfield, take a geology walk to learn about how the very rocks under our feet have developed at a glacial (literally) pace over millennia. In Stamford there is the Mianus Trail hike, a relaxed all-ages walk along the Mianus River. After your hike, how about enjoying food and fun at a street fair? Try the annual Main Street Festival in Stratford, the Little Poland Festival in New Britain, or Celebrate! West Hartford. 

With the sunshine peeking through, sand and sun may be calling your name, so be sure to check out our recommendations for 15 beach day trips. The official start of summer may still be a few weeks off, but that doesn't mean you can't start finding inspiration in our summer fun guide.

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 newsletters, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Have a fantastic weekend!

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Goodspeed presents The Music Man. Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Goodspeed presents The Music Man. Photo by Diane Sobolewski

All Weekend

DUP 33rd Annual Celebrate! West Hartford

West Hartford
The 33rd annual Celebrate! West Hartford is a two-day community fair that attracts over 35,000 people. The festival includes a wide range of family activities – a juried arts & crafts show, great food, entertainment, games, carnival rides, and a 5K road race.  READ MORE

Sharks!

Greenwich
Dive in with Sharks! at the Bruce Museum and watch live sharks develop in eggs, see life-sized models of sharks, and compare and contrast jaws and teeth from almost 20 different species! READ MORE

Family Program: Kicking Off Blue Star Museums

Hartford
Help kick off Blue Star Museums by visiting the Connecticut Historical Society for a special family program. READ MORE

The Adventures of Flat Stanley

West Hartford
Based on the best-selling book series, Stanley folds his way around the world with his flat-tastic hijinks. Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill, ten-year-old: normal mom and dad, normal little brother, normal life. READ MORE

The Music Man

East Haddam
You got trouble in River City! Professor Harold Hill and Marian the Librarian march into the Goodspeed in this rousing performance of the classic American musical.  READ MORE

Saturday

Weed Beach Festival

Darien
Kick off the summer right with the Darien Parks and Recreation department's third annual Weed Beach Fest. The festivities  include three great bands as well as activities for the kids.  READ MORE

Connecticut Trails Day at New Canaan Nature Center

New Canaan
  Celebrate Connecticut Trails Day here at the New Canaan Nature Center! “How to Create & Foster an Ecological Garden” 10am in the Sturgess Room Native plants provide your yard with year-round beauty while providing essential habitats and food sources for ever-increasingly threatened wildlife. Micah Slavkin, of Symbiotic Ecological Design, will discuss what makes a plant “native”, why you should consider incorporating them into your garden, and which native plants are best suited for the home landscape. Symbiotic Ecological Design is a sustainable landscape... READ MORE

Annual Little Folks Fair

Guilford
Since 1956, Community Nursery School has hosted this fair on the historic Guilford Green. The fair transforms the Green into a playground for children and families. READ MORE

Geology Walk Through Five Ponds with Tom Alena

Litchfield
Geologist and meteorologist Tom Alena knows a thing or two about rocks! Join Tom on this beautiful hike through one of White Memorial’s richest geological arenas. READ MORE

Stratford Main Street Festival

Stratford
Celebrate the Spirit of Stratford at the Main Street Festival. The Main Street Festival promotes Stratford’s energy and community by featuring a variety of food trucks, vendor booths, stage and street performers, musicians, rides, games, crafts, artworks, and other fair activities.  READ MORE

Storytime with Amanda Bannikov: "The Sleepy Dragon"

Simsbury
Join local children's author Amanda Bannikov for a free story time featuring her charming book, The Sleepy Dragon. READ MORE

Cooking With You - A Meal Sharing Book Club

Branford
Blackstone Library is starting a cookbook club for families. Each month stop by the Youth Services Department and pick up a copy of the cookbook. Test a few of the recipes, then prepare your favorite to share at the meeting. READ MORE

Fairy Tale Garden Tea Party

Southington
Come to the Barnes Museum for an afternoon of whimsy with live fairies, games, and crafts. READ MORE
Kids are a big part of the cultural festivities around town. Photo courtesy of Little Poland Festival
Kids are a big part of the cultural festivities around town. Photo courtesy of Little Poland Festival

Sunday

Little Poland Festival in New Britain

New Britain
Experience a taste of Europe in New Britain's unique Little Poland district. Enjoy live music, mascots, kids' activities, leaping folk dancers, ethnic food, arts and crafts, and shopping. READ MORE

Mianus River Trail Hike

Stamford
A relaxed, introductory nature hike in Mianus River Park for adults and children. Hike leaders belong to the Friends of Mianus River Park.  READ MORE

UConn Health Half Marathon, 10K & 5K

Simsbury
Choose 5K, 10K or half marathon and enjoy picturesque courses along the Farmington River and local farmlands. READ MORE

Shoreline Ringers Spring Handbell Concert

Guilford
Shoreline Ringers, a community handbell choir based out of southeastern Connecticut, awes and inspires audiences with their ringing. READ MORE

Tea Party Club; James and the Giant Peach

Simsbury
Join the Tea Party Club and enjoy a fun tea party themed to a different book each month. READ MORE

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