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24 Best Free and Fun Things To Do in Connecticut May 2024 with Kids

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
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
4/28/24 - By Jennifer Coe

There is no shortage of things to do in Connecticut in May. From Mother's Day to Memorial Day, we've got the best events happening all month—and May the 4th be with you!

Connecticut families are ready to start having fun outside. This Mother's Day, mom will love being taken to a special event like the Mommy and Me Paint Night. Enjoy the sunshine and open air at the May Market at Hillstead; grab some fresh flowers and plants while you're there. Bring the whole family to snuggle with the baby goats and tea cup piglets at the Spring on the Farm at the Stamford Nature Center. If you have  happy little mess-makers, the Open Farm Days at Common Ground in New Haven is perfect for kids to play in the mud kitchen and giant sandbox! 

Big attractions this month include Wicked Onstage at the Bushnell Theater, and Brick Fest Live for all the little builders and creators. 

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Down the hill and 'round the bends come the best things to do in May! Day Out with Thomas: The Bubble Tour. Photo courtesy of Essex Steam Train
Down the hill and 'round the bends come the best things to do in May! Day Out with Thomas: The Bubble Tour. Photo courtesy of Essex Steam Train

Free and Fun Things to do in May 2024 in Connecticut

Learn with the Lutz

Manchester—FREE
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Come learn about animals with Animal Educators from the Lutz Children's Museum. Participants will have the chance to learn about one of our animal friends and make a craft based on the lesson. Participants will have the chance to learn about one of our animal friends and make a craft based on the lesson. READ MORE

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

West Hartford
May 1-3, 2024
Alexander is having a bad day. A terrible day. A horrible day. To be quite honest, it's a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Not only does he wake up with gum in his hair, but his mother forgets to pack him dessert, and his best friend decides he's not his best friend anymore. It is enough to make anyone want to go to Australia. But then, everybody has bad days, sometimes. READ MORE

Wicked Onstage at the Bushnell Theater

Hartford
May 1-12, 2024
WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. READ MORE

First Friday Dollar Night at Niantic Children's Museum

Niantic
Friday, May 3, 2024
Come enjoy an affordable Friday night at the Museum due to the generosity of Electric Boat Employees Community Service Association. Admission is $1 per person for everyone over 12 months old. Pre-registration not required. READ MORE

Mom and Me Paint Night

West Haven
Friday, May 3, 2024
Moms, Aunts, Grandmas, etc. all welcome to come paint with their favorite kids. Join us in the studio to celebrate Mother's Day and paint this adorable spring bird. Multiple family members can join and change the color of their birds. READ MORE

Space Day at the Discovery Museum

Bridgeport—FREE
Friday, May 3, 2024
Don't miss the annual Space Day event, celebrating Earth's place in space. Join Discovery for a special extended event, with activities from 10am to 7pm, extra shows and presentations, and telescope viewing (weather-permitting). READ MORE

Cookie Decorating and Painting Class at Giggling Pig

Milford
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Join The Giggling Pig + Good Morning Cupcake for a very special pop-up class during our Second Birthday celebration weekend. Each child will decorate some of our beloved Giggling Pig character cookies learning from award-winning baker Adrianna Linkstrom, to take home and then we will paint a wooden character cutout of Giggles.  READ MORE

Mark Twain Library Annual Frog Frolic

Redding —FREE
Saturday, May 4, 2024
This is a children's country fair where families will enjoy live music, food, crafts, games and more. The festival is a great way to celebrate the Mark Twain Library and New England history. READ MORE

Hill-Stead Museum's May Market

Farmington
Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5, 2024
One of the Farmington Valley’s finest and longest-running springtime celebrations. Enjoy the return of Spring on the 152 acres of gardens, grounds and trails. This year, the festive happening will feature over 40 premium vendors and flowers and unique plants perfect for Mother’s Day. READ MORE

Essex Steam Train Day Out with Thomas: The Bubble Tour

Essex
Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5, 2024
‘Pop’ on board a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine. Day Out With Thomas: Bubble Tour is heading to heritage railways across the country with loads of bubble themed games and activities.  READ MORE

May the Fourth Be With You! FAMILY DAY CAMP

Winsted—FREE
Saturday, May 4, 2024
This is the way... to a fun-filled day! Join AMP on Saturday, May 4, for imaginative activities for kids, tweens, and teens that focus on our quarterly theme of Space/Science. The whole family will enjoy: Build a Rover + Sandbox Obstacle Challenge (all ages) Out-of-This-World Improvisation for teens Mars-Themed Storytime for little ones Star Tours Scavenger Hunt, and more. Activities are included with admission. Kids 18 and under are free on Family Day. READ MORE

Open Farm Days at Common Ground in New Haven

New Haven—FREE
Saturdays in May 2024
Open Farm Day is a self guided experience and staff are available to welcome visitors and answer questions. There are lots of opportunities for play and exploration! Visit the farm animals, taste and smell in the children’s garden, look for frogs in the wetland, make a pie in the mud kitchen, or build a fort in the woods. READ MORE

Spring on the Farm Festival Weekends at Stamford Nature Center

Stamford
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Celebrate the season with the Stamford Museum and Nature Center with fun and games, animal interactions, baby goats, face painting, arts and crafts, food trucks, and seasonal offerings for the whole family from 10am-2pm.  READ MORE

Classic Car Cruise Nights at Ocean Beach Park

Mystic—FREE
Mondays in May (excluding May 27) 2024
The WNLC 98.7 Classic Hits Cruise night is a well-established weekly event synonymous with summer. There are lots of classic and super cool cars on display.  READ MORE

Civil War Day Camp at Strong Family Farm

Vernon
Saturday, May 11, 2024
The Civil War day Camp is a wonderful one-day opportunity for children from ages 8 to 13 to be transported to the early 1860’s and “learn some really cool stuff about life and how to survive during the Civil War.” READ MORE

Bicycles on Main

Wethersfield—FREE
Month of May 2024
Take a walk or a bike ride to look at the decorated bikes all along Old Wethersfield's historic district and see decorated bicycles in front of colonial homes, museums, and the local shops, restaurants, and businesses all on one walkable/bike-able street.  READ MORE

Kid's Mother's Day Cake Decorating Workshop at Lyman Orchards

Middlefield
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Need a gift for mom? Bring the kiddos to our Mother's Day Heart Cake Decorating Workshop to surprise mom with a present everyone can enjoy. Sweeten up Mother's Day Weekend with a Kid's Heart Cake Decorating Workshop at the Apple Barrel Farm Market. Kid's will learn the love of cake decorating while icing and decorating their very own Heart Cake alongside Lyman's Head Bakery Chef, Marc Gadoury. READ MORE

Spring Fair @ The Barnes Memorial Nature Center

Bristol—FREE
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Fun for the whole family. Welcome Spring with a day of activities: guided walks, talks, and a new accessible train! Enjoy learning about wildlife in CT, birds of prey and crafts, food & drink by the Rotary Club, local artists and vendors along with rock & minerals vendors too. READ MORE

Annual Dogwood Festival

Fairfield
Saturday & Sunday, May 11 & 12, 2024
The Dogwood Festival at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church commemorates the return of springtime.  READ MORE

Brick Fest Live

Hartford
Saturday & Sunday, May 11 & 12, 2024
Calling all Lego-lovers! Brick Fest Live is a huge and unforgettable Lego theme even. There will be over a million bricks on display and ready for play! See the most life-size models, engage with the most hands-on attractions and find hard-to-find LEGO merchandise! READ MORE

Sensory Friendly Evening: Meet the Animals at Niantic Children's Museum

Niatic—FREE
Friday, May 17, 2024
Join us for a special evening, which is free for families with children on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing challenges. Meet the Animals! Participants will have the opportunity to meet some of our Museum animals like Loki the Leopard Gecko and Mr. Rogers the Russian Tortoise along with making some animals crafts. READ MORE

Pop Up Rollerskating Event in Norwalk

Norwalk
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Join Norwalk Parks and Rec for a’ 70's and 80's themed pop-up roller skating event. This family-friendly event will feature a DJ on-site as well as access to local food trucks. 70's and 80's themed costumes are encouraged but not necessary to attend. READ MORE

Wethersfield Memorial Day Parade

Wethersfield—FREE
Saturday, May 25, 2024
The Wethersfield Memorial Day Parade steps off at 9am downtown from the DMV on State Street. The parade will proceed past the reviewing stand on Broad Street before ending at the Village Cemetery, where there will be a ceremony. READ MORE

Heritage Weekend: History Day for Families

Wethersfield—FREE
Saturday, May 25, 2024
Watch the Memorial Day Parade from the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center and stick around to see the Second Continental Light Dragoons, Sheldon’s Horse return for demonstrations of horsemanship and 18th century military training. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

The Bushnell Performing Arts Center
Downtown Old Wethersfield
Barnes Nature Center
Connecticut Convention Center