May the 4th be with you as you enjoy the top free and fun things to do this May in Connecticut with kids! Brick Fest Live photo by Gina Ragland
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Find special fun for mom with the top things to do on Mother's Day 2024 in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins
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Kids meet new friends as they jump, slide, and swing at the top indoor playgrounds and play spaces in Connecticut. Photo courtesy of Romp N Roll in Wethersfield
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Summer camps help kids learn new skills and make new friends
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Grab some friends for some birthday laps around the track. Photo courtesy of RPM Raceway
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Our ultimate family bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut before kids grow up. Photo courtesy of Lake Compounce
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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
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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
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Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
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Find a sweet treat for the whole family at the best places for breakfast in Connecticut with kids! Photo courtesy of Hotcakes
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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
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Bike the ground of Fort Trumbull. Photo courtesy Visit CT
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A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures
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Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
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Connecticut Children's has created an online parenting toolkit that addresses challenges like choosing appropriate apps and understanding parental controls.
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Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Weekend Fun: Fireflies, Fiddlin', and a Water Carnival; July 13-14

Splash and blow bubbles at the Outdoor Water Carnival. Photo courtesy of Imagine Nation
Splash and blow bubbles at the Outdoor Water Carnival. Photo courtesy of Imagine Nation
7/10/19 - By Donald Eng

The fireworks may have fizzled, but there is still plenty to do this weekend in Connecticut with kids. For starters, there is the celebration of tall ships known as Sailfest in New London, and the annual North Stonington Fair. A little farther south and west, you can Pig Out in the Park in Stamford, or count fireflies in New Canaan. For history buffs, help commemorate the 240th anniversary of the Battle/Burning or Norwalk, then cool off with a water carnival in Bristol.

Don’t forget to bookmark Summer Fun Guide for even more ways to enjoy 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 newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram. Have a fantastic weekend!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

All Weekend

Sailfest 2023

New London
Sailfest is Southeastern Connecticut’s premiere summertime event attracting over 300,000 people over the three-day festival. Complete with a major fireworks display, amusement rides, free entertainment, Tall Ships, and over 200 vendors lining the downtown streets. READ MORE

Outdoor Water Carnival

Bristol
Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center at One Pleasant Street in Bristol, CT is excited to announce the return of the Outdoor Water Carnival. 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

You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Summer Theater of New Canaan

New Canaan
Enjoy a musical comedy for the whole family. Children of all ages love watching the beloved Peanuts characters come to life, with great songs and a story everyone can enjoy. READ MORE

Roxbury Pickin' n Fiddlin' Contest

Roxbury
The Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department sponsors this annual contest to display the skills of musicians playing country and bluegrass music. Over the years this contest has grown and is now the biggest of its’ kind in the Northwest Hills of Connecticut. READ MORE

Because of Winn-Dixie at the Goodspeed

East Haddam
Not since Annie has a stray dog inspired such a beautiful noise. In a Southern town filled with los souls, a preacher and his daughter take in a mutt named Winn-Dixie.  READ MORE
Berryfest! Photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards
Berryfest! Photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards

Saturday

Blueberry Fest

Middlefield
Celebrate the berry season: pick your own blueberries, and have fun during a day of family-friendly activities including live music and freshly made blueberry treats.  READ MORE

Rowayton River Ramble

Norwalk
Each July, the Rowayton Civic Association hosts this event filled with fun and entertainment for kids and adults at Pinkney Park. Kids will enjoy the petting zoo, pony rides, water slides, dunk tank, balloon twisters, face painting, hair braiding, kid’s games, Kona ice truck, cotton candy and the cakewalk tradition. READ MORE

New Canaan Nature Center's Night of 1,000 Fireflies

New Canaan
Come and enjoy the magic of the midsummer night at the Nature Center. Join Naturalists and search for woodland creatures (wiggly worms & aquatic amphibians) and other enchanted mysteries of the evening. READ MORE

240th Anniversary Battle and Burning of Norwalk Living History Day

Norwalk
This free family friendly event will teach the public about life during the American Revolution and the Battle and Burning of Norwalk with live military, musket, and cavalry demonstrations. READ MORE

Riverfest Food Truck Festival in Hartford

Hartford
Feast your eyes and taste buds during this three-day event that will feature some of the best culinary cuisine in the region.  READ MORE

Red Dress Run for Women

West Hartford
This women’s 5K welcomes all ages and abilities, encouraging participants to achieve their goals and celebrate fitness. READ MORE

Animation Celebration at Mill River Park

Stamford
Watch an animated movie on the Carousel lawn on Saturday nights in July and August.   READ MORE
Kids collaborate with students at Family Day at Yale University Art Gallery. Photo by Jessica Smolinski
Kids collaborate with students at Family Day at Yale University Art Gallery. Photo by Jessica Smolinski

Sunday

Yale University Art Gallery - Family Program, Stories and Art

New Haven
On the second Sunday of each month, the Gallery invite families 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. No registration required; please meet by the couches in the Gallery lobby. 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

Pig Out in the Park

Rowayton
Bring your own food or enjoy the pig roast in the Park – complete with “Lazy Mill River” tubing, games and more. READ MORE

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

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