Please note: All dates and times are accurate (to the best of our knowledge!) as of publication. However, we strongly encourage you to visit each destination’s website before you go to check for any updates or changes.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and we want to be sure you and your family have an opportunity to spend time together and enjoy some of the amazing holiday activities in our area! So we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite holiday destinations to share with you.
Since 2011, we’ve been scouting out family-friendly holiday activities, and this list represents our favorites from over a decade of blogging. All of these holiday happenings are Out and About Mom approved–we’ve linked to our blog post about each one in each listing! We hope you enjoy making new memories and carrying on old traditions with your family at these festive destinations as much as we have over the years 🙂
Holiday Light Displays
Festival of Silver Lights in Hubbard Park in Meriden, Connecticut; November 22, 2023 – January 1, 2024; daily from dusk to dawn; FREE. See the Santa’s elves light up the park on November 22nd! (OAAM approved since 2012!)
Hubbard Park 999 West Main Street., Meriden, CT
Bright Nights in Forest Park, Springfield, Massachusetts; November 22, 2023 – January 1, 2024; Monday-Thursday & Sunday from 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.; Friday-Saturday & Holidays 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Check out special events and activities here. $23/car (Opening night special: $6/car on 11/22. Special discount on Tuesdays December 5th & 12th: Just $10/car!). Tickets must be purchased in advance online or at Big Y World Class Market. BUY TICKETS (OAAM approved since 2012!)
Forest Park, 300 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA
Fantasy of Lights in Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven, Connecticut; November 17, 2023 – December 31, 2023; Sunday-Thursday 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m; $10/car. BUY TICKETS (OAAM approved since 2013!)
Lighthouse Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT
Lake Compounce Holiday Lights Bristol, Connecticut; November 24, 2023 to December 31, 2023; Friday 5:00p.m. – 9:00p.m., Saturday & Sunday 3:00pm – 8:00pm. Admission starts at $19.99/person. (OAAM approved since 2013!)
185 Enterprise Drive, Bristol, CT
Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village in Mystic, Connecticut; November 18, 2023 – January 31, 2024. Monday – Thursday, 10:00am – 8:00pm, Friday & Saturday, 10:00a.m. – 9:00p.m., Sun, 11:00a.m. – 6:00p.m. FREE. (OAAM approved since 2020!)
27 Coogan Blvd. Mystic, CT
Magic of Lights East Hartford, Connecticut; November 23, 2023 – December 31, 2023; Open Monday to Thursday 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m and Friday to Sunday 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Ticket prices start at $18.50/car when purchased online. Tickets may be purchased online or at the gate. BUY TICKETS (OAAM approved since 2021!)
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT **Enter on Silver Lane at East Gate**
Glow Hartford at The Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut; November 18, 2023-December 23, 2023; See hours here; $29/adult, $23/child, $105/family pack (2 adults, 3 children), kids 4 and under FREE. BUY TICKETS (OAAM approved since 2023!)
100 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT
Gingerbread Houses
Gingerbread House Festival Wood Memorial Library, South Windsor, Connecticut. November 24 – December 17, 2023. Thursdays and Fridays between 10:00a.m. and 7:00p.m. or Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. FREE but donations are gratefully accepted. (Out and About Mom approved since 2013! But you can read our most recent 2021 post here.)
783 Main Street, South Windsor, CT
Gingerbread House Workshop for Children at the Apple Barrel, Lyman Orchards, Middlefield, Connecticut. Sessions: December 2, 3, 9 & 10 @ 10:00a.m. & 1:00p.m. $28/person. Space is very limited. BUY TICKETS. Also enjoy a delicious lunch at the Apple Barrel while you are there. (OAAM approved since 2016!)
32 Reeds Gap Road, Middlefield, CT
Gingerbread Exhibition at the Springfield Science Museum Springfield, Massachusetts November 24 – December 31, 2023. Sunday 11:00a.m.–5:00p.m., Tuesday–Saturday: 10:00a.m.–5:00p.m.
Monday: Closed. Admission included with museum entry. Adults: $25, Youth ages 3–17: $13, Children Under 3: Free. BUY TICKETS. Find additional holiday events on their website. (OAAM approved since 2014!)
21 Edwards Street Springfield, MA
Trains and Trolleys
Fairfield Museum’s Holiday Express Train Show Fairfield, Connecticut. December 2– December 31, 2023. Mondays – Thursdays: 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m., Saturdays – Sundays: 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m. $5/adult, $3/senior, $3/child over 5. (OAAM approved since 2014!)
370 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT
Connecticut River Museum’s Holiday Train Show Essex, Connecticut. November 21, 2023 – February 18 2024. Tuesday – Sunday 10:00a.m.– 5:00p.m. The train display is included with museum admission: Adults – $12.00, Children (6-12) – $8.00, Under age 6 – $2.00. (OAAM approved since 2015!)
67 Main Street, Essex, CT
Santa’s Trolley Winter Wonderland at The Shoreline Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut. November 24, 2023 – December 23, 2023. Weekends 11:00a.m. – 4:00p.m. $12/ticket for adults & children ages 3+ BUY TICKETS. (OAAM approved since 2016!)
17 River Street, East Haven, CT
Connecticut Trolley Museum’s Winterfest East Windsor, Connecticut. Select dates from November 24 – December 30, 2023. 5:00p.m. – 9:00p.m. All ages closed cars $16/person, All ages open cars $21/person. (OAAM approved since 2012!)
58 North Road, East Windsor, CT
Visits with Santa
The Christmas Village Torrington, Connecticut. December 10th – December 23rd, 1:00p.m.-8:30p.m., December 24th, 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Opening Day Parade: December 10th, 2023 at 12:30p.m. starting at the Torrington Armory. Opening ceremony at Christmas Village will be directly after the Parade at 1:00p.m. FREE but donations are gratefully accepted. (OAAM approved since 2013!)
150 Church Street Torrington, CT
Yankee Candle Village South Deerfield, Massachusetts. Visit with Santa at Yankee Candle Village from November 3, 2023 – December 23, 2023 from 10:30a.m.-5:30p.m. Find additional details on Santa visits here. Appointments with Santa are required. Get ticket information here. Each $12 ticket is good for a family up to 8 people (families of 9+ will need to book an additional ticket). Be sure to check their website for other special holiday events. (OAAM approved since 2018!)
25 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield, MA
Santa’s Workshop in Wickham Park, Manchester, Connecticut. December 12, 2023 – December 23, 2023. Mondays through Fridays 3:00p.m.-6:00p.m., Saturdays & Sundays 1:00p.m.-5:00p.m. FREE but please bring a non-perishable food item for the local food pantries. Event takes place in the log cabin. OAAM approved since 2011!)
1329 West Middle Turnpike, Manchester, CT; See park map here.
Santa’s Wonderland at Cabella’s, East Hartford, Connecticut. November 5, 2023 – December 23, 2023. FREE 4×6 photo with Santa. Book your time slot here. (OAAM approved since 2019!)
475 East Hartford Boulevard N, East Hartford, CT
Please also see Winterfest Hartford (In “General Holiday Fun”) and Glow Hartford (in “Holiday Light Displays”) for additional opportunities to visit with Santa!
General Holiday Fun
Winterfest Hartford in Bushnell Park, Hartford, Connecticut. November 24, 2023 – January 6, 2023. FREE ice skating and FREE skate rentals along with FREE learn-to-skate lessons. You can also visit with Santa Claus on December 9th, 10th, 16th & 17th from 12:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. and receive a FREE 5×7 photo. Please note that the carousel is currently closed for winter maintenance and is expected to reopen on March 4, 2024. (OAAM approved since 2011 & 2012! Also check out our post about the Bushnell Park playground from 2018)
FREE street parking on Elm and Jewell Streets during Winterfest Hartford
Festival of Trees and Traditions at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut. November 30, 2023– December 10, 2023. Thursday, November 30–Sunday, December 10 Noon–5:00p.m., daily (closed Monday–Wednesday) Open until 7:00p.m. on Friday, December 1 & Thursday, December 7. Members & Hartford Residents: $5, adults: $25, youth (age 17 & under): $5. Museum admission is free for families on the second Saturday of each month! BUY TICKETS (OAAM approved since 2012!)
600 Main Street, Hartford, CT
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular in NYC. The show runs daily (with multiple shows most days) from mid- November through January 1, 2024. Show run time is 90 minutes, no intermission. See dates and times, and purchase tickets here. (OAAM approved since 2018!)
Radio City Music Hall 1260 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY
See something in this list that’s not quite right? Updates and changes happen all the time and we need your help. Let us know in the comments section below. It takes a village!
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