Hartford

Best Hartford-Area Halloween Events: Trunk or Treat, Parades, and More

Jennifer Coe's picture Submitted by Jennifer Coe on

Holy howling Halloween! The spookiest time of the year is quickly approaching and families are planning the best way for their little ghouls to enjoy the season. If you live near Hartford, there are tons of not-too-terrifying events to squeeze into your creepy calendar, from trunk or treat events to costume parades to pumpkin festivals. 

Our Connecticut Halloween Guide has you covered with more ideas for spooky and sweet seasonal fun across the state, but don't forget to keep tabs on our event calendar: New Halloween-inspired events are being added daily.

Pumpkin Picking Patches in the Hartford Area

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The farm fields are brimming with bright orange pumpkins just waiting to be picked and painted, carved, or baked into scrumptious desserts. Pumpkin picking is one of the most beloved fall activities and there is no shortage of patches in the greater Hartford area. Head out on a crisp autumn day and find just the right pumpkin to decorate with your child. Don't forget to roast and enjoy the seeds!

If you live in southwest Connecticut, see our picks for Fairfield pumpkin patches. For even more seasonal activities, check out our Connecticut Fall Fun and Halloween Guide.

Music Classes for Children in Hartford County and Central Connecticut

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Not simple a source of creative expression, music has been known to be critical for brain development, fostering self-esteem, improving language, and building many other great skills. Here's an extensive list of schools that offer instrument lessons (piano, violin, and more) or other music class programs (from movement-based classes to vocal instruction). For even more fun ideas, check out our Connecticut Classes and Enrichment Guide.

Pumpkin Festivals and Jack-O-Lantern Displays for New England Families

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New England is brimming with fall festivals, but kids are particularly enamored with events celebrating the humble pumpkin: the symbol of autumn and Halloween. Whether you stick close to home or make a day or weekend trip out of it, going to a pumpkin festival or visiting a glowing jack-o'-lantern display is a fun, family-friendly way to get into the spirit of the season. Here's a sampling of pumpkin fun in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine over the next month. Get inspired for a trip to the pumpkin patch for a jack-o'-lantern display on your own front porch!

Best Hayrides Across Connecticut for Kids and Families

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Like apple picking and pumpkin hunting, hayrides are a seasonal ritual for many Connecticut families and one of our favorite fall things to do. The state's many farms that offer hayrides or wagon rides usually offer other fun activities, like corn mazes and cider making. For more ideas on how to enjoy autumn splendor in southern New England, check out the Mommy Poppins Fall Fun Guide.

Fun Fall Activities for Connecticut Preschoolers

Jennifer Coe's picture Submitted by Jennifer Coe on

So many fall traditions in Connecticut seem tailor-made for preschoolers: Who better to upend a freshly raked leaf pile or run around a pumpkin patch long enough to find that perfect Jack-O-Lantern? From local events like apple festivals and pumpkin carnivals to perennial favorites like apple picking, pumpkin patch visits, and corn mazes, we've rounded up 18 of the best ways to have some big fall adventures with little companions this fall. And don't forget our fall fun guide has even more ideas for making the most of the season in Connecticut.

Corn Mazes in Connecticut with Fun Activities for Kids and Families

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The perfect balance of fun and challenge for kids, corn mazes are a fall tradition for many Connecticut families. No matter what part of the state you live in, you likely have the opportunity for a corn-mazing adventure. These farms feature not just mazes, but extra activities like hay rides and animal petting areas. So, put your sneakers and thinking caps on, and get out there! For more autumnal outings, see our post on Things to Do This Fall in Connecticut, including papple picking spots, fall festivals and fairs, and pumpkin patches.

End of Summer Checklist: 30Things To Do in Connecticut with Kids Before School Starts

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Before beach towels get stored away for another season and late summer nights are replaced by bedtime curfews, there's still plenty of time to embrace late-summer fun with Connecticut kids. Here are our favorite things to close out the summer vacation season as a family. Don't forget to check our list of must-do August activities, free August fun, and events calendar for even more ideas for making the most of summer's end.

Connecticut's Best Sunflower Patches and Places to Cut Your Own Flowers

Jennifer Coe's picture Submitted by Jennifer Coe on

Forget grocery store posies—by mid-summer, Connecticut fields are bursting with sunflowers and other brightly colored flowers, and many farms allow you to cut your own bouquet to bring home. Sure, most kids like to pick their own berries, veggies and fruit, but many children also have a special fondness for selecting the most beautiful blooms to carefully arrange in vases, press into books, or weave into hair crowns. Bonus fun: One of these sunflower farms has a flower maze, too! Find your flower power at these Connecticut farms.

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