Jennifer Coe

Latest posts by Jennifer Coe

Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in Connecticut

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 12/10/2023 - 11:00pm

Dine among a beautiful display of holiday lights on Christmas in Southington, one of the restaurants open on Christmas in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of Cava Restaurant

It's great to know there are restaurants open on Christmas in Connecticut to serve customers a delicious holiday meal. These restaurants are really pulling out the stops in 2023 with menus that will make your tastebuds happy. Choose from many different picks from the sea, delicious entrees, sides, drinks and of course...desserts, the best part. Happily, many have kids menus, too.

If you'd rather eat in the comfort of your own home, there's several wonderful locations preparing Christmas takeout, too. Many of them will deliver holiday meals to your door. You never know, ordering Christmas dinner in might become one of your family's newest memory-making traditions!

And with all that spare time not preparing Christmas dinner, you can try some of these 101 Christmas Activities for Kids. If you're looking for fun seasonal experiences, explore the Must do Holiday Events in Connecticut This Season.

20 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in Connecticut for Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 12/03/2023 - 10:00pm

Head to Eastern Connecticut for the amazing Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village. Photo by Rileighs Outdoor Decor

'Tis the season for free holiday and Christmas events in Connecticut for kids. Are you a fan of sparkling lights, sweet gingerbread treats, or decorated trees? With so much holiday fun, December in Connecticut offers it all! Families will love attending a tree lighting or Santa parade. You can spy the intricate details on dozens of gingerbread houses and visit Santa's workshop with several locations in Connecticut. Maybe singing carols together or making Chanukah crafts is more your style. Chilly nights are perfect to drive through a magical light display. Connecticut's free holiday activities offer something for everyone this December.

If you can't get enough of the sparkle of holiday lights, consult our list of Connecticut's Best Holiday Drive-Thrus and Christmas Lights. For more holiday adventures, consult our Holiday Fun Guide and region's 25 Top Holiday and Christmas Activities.

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

December is here, with holiday activities across Connecticut!

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2024 in Connecticut: Road Races, Santa Visits and Light Displays

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

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2024 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 2024? 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 2024. 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 2024 season. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

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!

Trunk-or-Treats in Connecticut for Halloween 2023

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Fri, 10/13/2023 - 1:00pm

Enjoy some trunk-or-treats in Connecticut, and pack tons of Halloween fun in one candy-filled spot! Photo courtesy of the Colchester Parks and Recreation Facebook page

Kids love trunk-or-treats in Connecticut, and the Nutmeg State is happy to oblige! Halloween is coming faster than you think. But don't worry about pre-planning your route through local neighborhoods. With trunk-or-treating events in Connecticut, you get one location to go car-to-car—in some cases truck-to-truck. Miniature goblins, ghouls, Barbie's, and Batman (Batmen?) can find a spot nearby for a one-stop candy explosion.

For more Halloween activities, explore our full Halloween Guide for Connecticut Kids and get our picks for best Halloween events. Happy trick-or-treating and trunk-or-treating!

Free and Cheap Afterschool Programs in Connecticut

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 08/20/2023 - 6:34pm

Afterschool programs offer Connecticut children the opportunity to participate in flexible (and fun!) learning activities, get physical exercise and establish friendships with peers. They also fill up those afternoon hours during which kids need afterschool care while parents are at work. Many programs will bus the student directly from the school. Some are even held on school grounds–an ideal solution for working parents!

Be sure to peruse our calendar which is updated weekly and check out the Connecticut Fall Fun Guide for more fun with school-age children.

Best Classes for Preschoolers and Toddlers in Connecticut

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 08/13/2023 - 12:09pm

Get those little ones engaged with the best classes for preschoolers and toddlers in Connecticut. When children are young, every single experience they have is formative and exciting. Toddlers beam when they see animals, and preschoolers are proud when they create art. These youngsters also enjoy playing with new children and seeing nature all around them. And these classes help preschoolers and toddlers explore their growing world. There are just so many fun things to do before naptime!

Still looking for interesting classes for tiny learners? We have just the thing right here: Mommy and Me Classes for Babies and Parents in Connecticut.