Jennifer Coe

Latest posts by Jennifer Coe

24 Best Things To Do in Connecticut December 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Fri, 12/01/2023 - 10:00pm

Let those holiday spirits soar with the best things to do with kids in Connecticut for December 2023 with kids. Nutcracker photo by Luke Haughwout, courtesy of the Warner Theater

Christmas lights and holiday activities are back this December, and that's just the beginning of all the top things do in Connecticut with kids this month.

The lights are in full-sparkle mode, and holiday activities (even FREE ones!) are happening all across Connecticut for families to put in their festive calendars. Take an evening and drive through one of the great light displays happening all over the state. If you are looking for a daytime activity, your kids might enjoy a visit with Santa Claus or a visit to Powder Ridge for their Lifted Spirits Festival. Light the Menorah in New London and other towns and don't forget to get your r eindeer snuggles in.

Let us help you with 50 Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas and our list of Best Holiday Light Drive Thrus. If you are looking for more holiday fun, our Complete Guide to Holiday Events in Connecticut will brighten your day!

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

Grinchmas!, The Snow Queen, and More Things To Do in CT this Weekend

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Wed, 11/29/2023 - 12:15pm

Santa Claus is skipping the sleigh when he comes to town for the top fun things to do in Connecticut this weekend!

Looking for the best things to do in Connecticut this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your schedule.

December is a month that all Connecticut families look forward to, and there is good reason! Kids are thinking about that special date at the end of the month, but they can enjoy plenty of holiday fun before then. There are several ways to see Santa Claus, from the farm to the mall (sensory friendly, and even climbing the sides of buildings (yeah, you read that correctly). For theater goers, tickets are also on sale right now for special holiday shows like Charles Dickens, The Snow Queen, or the Nutcracker. If you still are doing your shopping, Olde Mistick Village and the Lamplight Stroll might be able to help you cross that list items off the list too.

Be sure and check out our list of Must-Do Christmas Events and Holidays Activities in Connecticut. And see our Fall Fun Guide for Connecticut Kids for more ideas for fun in the sun!

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Connecticut

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Fri, 11/24/2023 - 7:50pm

The best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Connecticut have arrived for 2023! Light displays are one of the most magical experiences that Connecticut offers during the holiday season. There is nothing like sparkling lights and imaginitive displays to put a whole family in a festive mood. You won't hve far to drive for one of these big, special events, from Stamford to Mystic. Christmas light shows return again to Hartford and New Haven. So Read on for our picks for the best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Connecticut.

There are also Spectacular Neighborhood Holiday Lights and Christmas Lights in Connecticut to enjoy this season. If you are looking for more things to do this holiday season, be sure to check out the Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events for Connecticut Kids. Want even more holiday fun? Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages for updated events.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2023 in Connecticut: Road Races, Santa Visits and Light Displays

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Tue, 11/21/2023 - 9:00pm

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2023 licks off the holiday season in Connecticut! Reindeer playdates photo courtesy Bradley Mountain Farm, and Lyman Orchards

Looking for the best things to do in Connecticut on Thanksgiving Day weekend 2023? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list!

There is a full roster of holiday activities this Thanksgiving weekend in Connecticut 2023. All the seasonal events are starting this weekend! First of all, run off all those mashed potatoes at one of the road races taking place on Thanksgiving Day. Stop in at one of the several light shows that kick off this weekend in Meriden, East Hartford, Bristol and New Haven. Then feel the magic of the season at the Wood Memorial Gingerbread Exhibit or at the Night of Lights Hayride. Don't worry, if you can't fit it all in this weekend, many of these events will be running for the next few weeks.

Hopefully, you will have a chance to enjoy the company of friends and family. Have safe and easy travels if you are on the road this holiday weekend. Pass the downtime by checking out our Connecticut Holiday Fun Guide, updated with all the latest Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's Eve events for the 2023 season. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Connecticut

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Fri, 11/17/2023 - 8:00pm

The best neighborhood Christmas light displays in Christmas are ready to shine for the holidays in 2023! Photo courtesy of Amarante's Winter Wonderland

The best neighborhood Christmas lights in Connecticut feature thousands of lights, stars, Christmas trees, cartoon characters and more. Connecticut neighborhoods go all out to create a flashy, bright and cheerful holiday light show, sometimes complete with music. This truly is some of the most wholesome (and yes, FREE) entertainment for the 2023 holiday season. Besides that, many of them are collecting cash and non-perishable food items for local charities. Special note: check social media pages prior to traveling to check their schedule, and find out the radio station you can tune to for accompanying music.

Planning your holiday get together with the family? Check out these 20 Fun Christmas Games for the Whole Family. And make sure to to check out our Connecticut Holiday Fun Guide.

Breakfast with Santa and Pictures with Santa Claus in Connecticut

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 11/12/2023 - 7:00pm

Make lasting holiday memories through a visit with St. Nick! Photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards

The 2023 holiday season is upon us and Santa events for Connecticut families—like breakfasts with Santa and photos with Santa—are happening all over the state. The man in red is busy this time of year, but not too busy to make the rounds of breakfasts, festivals and nature spots. Maybe you can catch sight of him arriving on a tugboat or on a short train ride. Santa loves pancakes and sometimes he likes to indulge in a donut (or three). He also loves farm animals as much as your kids do!

Tip: Book seats for your little elves now, because some of these events with Santa fill up fast! Check to see if photo opportunities require pre-registration, as many of them do. For other Santa sightings around Connecticut, check out our favorite New England holiday activities. And go for a holiday drive through one of the Best Holiday Light Drive-Thru Displays.

Best Museums for Kids in Connecticut: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Fri, 11/10/2023 - 10:44am

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

Local families love the best museums for kids in Connecticut; children's museums that are interesting, fun, and always hands-on! Connecticut offers all sorts of special places to take your kids. There is STEM-related fun in Hartford, historical exploration in Mystic, and CT children's museum excitement in Niantic, Norwalk, and beyond. So whatever your child is interested in, you can find interactive fun to fill up an entire day. Many of the museums offer regular classes and meet-ups that will become a part of your week. Some turn down the lights and music and offer sensory-friendly hours.

Be sure to look through our list of Free Museums in Connecticut to Visit with Kids for bargain-priced museum fun. And be surte to explore our Connecticut Museums Guide and Indoor Fun Guide for family activities in any kind of weather!

Veterans Day Weekend 2023 in Connecticut: Top Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Wed, 11/08/2023 - 8:33pm

Salute those who served and find fun things to do with kids this Veterans Day Weekend 2023 in CT! Photo by Michael Miller, via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

This weekend is the special time when Connecticut families will celebrate Veteran's Day. Grandpas, Uncles and Aunties, Sisters, Brothers, Dads and Moms will all be honored at several ceremonies all over the state from New Britain to Newington to New Haven. Other ways to honor those who have served include free admission at the New England Air Museum and running in a 5k. This is also the weekend when you can get outside to snuggle with a piglet, gaze at the stars and get out into nature. The temperatures may be dropping, but there's plenty to for kids of all ages!

Be sure to check out our guide to the Best of November: Top Things To Do in Connecticut with Kids. For even more ideas, make sure that you subscribe to our weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook and Instagram so that you won't miss any of the fun. Have a great weekend!