101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Hartford - 2023

KidsOutAndAbout is Hartford's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!

If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!

Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!

If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for Hartford, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun in 2023!

Santa Sightings

Multiple dates starting Nov 1, 2023 (Reservations Encouraged)	Photos With Santa - Westfarms
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Santa Express — Railroad Museum of New England
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Visit Santa at Shore Line Trolley Museum
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Winterfest at Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
Nov 24 - Dec 23, 2023 (Closed Sundays)	15th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival - Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses
Multiple dates starting Nov 25, 2023	Visit with Santa - Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
Nov 30, 2023	Santa & Elf Kevin visit the Library - Bristol Public Library
Dec 1, 2023	Holiday Stroll 2023 - Keeler Tavern Museum
Multiple dates starting Dec 1, 2023	Santa’s Walking Wonderland - Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut
Dec 1 & 2, 2023	Christmas Town Festival - Bethlehem, CT
Dec 2, 3, 16, 17, 2023	Visits With Santa - Flamig Farm
Dec 2, 2023	Events – Santa at Auerfarm
Dec 3, 2023	Photos With Santa - Westfarms - Sensory Santa
Dec 3, 2023	Breakfast with Santa - Delamar West Hartford
Dec 3, 2023	Santa Visits the Holiday Express Train Show! - Fairfield Museum and History Center
Dec 7, 2023	Polar Express @ the Library - Bristol Public Library
Dec 9-10, 16-17, 23, 2023	Breakfast with Frosty - Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Dec 10, 2023	Crafts With Santa at The Kakery
Dec 10 & 17, 2023	Brunch with Santa - Fire at the Ridge
Multiple dates starting Dec 12, 2023	Santa's Workshop at Wickham Park
Dec 17, 2023	Holiday Open House - Sensory-Friendly/Relaxed - The Bushnell

Chanukah Events

Dec 7-15, 2023	Chanukah - Chase Family Gallery - Mandell JCC
Dec 10, 2023	Hannukah with Mazel Puppet Show - Stepping Stones
Dec 10, 2023	Chanukah Concert - Micha Biton - JCC of Greater New Haven
Dec 10, 2023	Latkes & RELISH 2023 - Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford

Old-Time Christmas

Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Christmas By Candelight - Old Sturbridge Village
Dec 1, 2023	Holiday Stroll Open House - Keeler Tavern Museum
Dec 2, 2023	Holiday Carnival at Olde Mistick Village
Dec 3, 2023	Christmas in Clinton OPEN HOUSE
Dec 16, 2023	Candy House Family Workshop - Fairfield Museum and History Center

Light Displays

Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023	Glow Hartford \| Holiday Indoor Light Festival
Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023	Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village
Multiple dates starting Nov 19, 2023	Gallery of Trees - Canton Historical Museum
Multiple dates starting Nov 20, 2023	Worldwide Lights Celebration at Stepping Stones
Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2023	Festival of Silver Lights - Hubbard Park
Multiple dates starting Nov 23, 2023	Magic of Lights - East Hartford
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Winterfest and Tunnel of Lights - CT Trolley Museum
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Home for the Holidays - Mystic Aquarium
Nov 30, 2023	West Hartford Holiday Stroll
Dec 2, 2023	2023 Norwich Winterfest Light Parade
Dec 3, 2023	Holiday Block Party and Tree Lighting - The Shops at Farmington Valley
Dec 8, 2023	Festival of Lights - Olde Mistick Village
Multiple dates starting Dec 8, 2023	Lantern Light Village - At Mystic Seaport Museum
Dec 9, 2023	Niantic Light Parade - Town of East Lyme
Dec 10, 2023	Holiday Buoy Tree Lighting - Milford
Dec 30, 2023	LED Glow Show - Stepping Stones

Holiday Theatre

Nov 28, 2023	A Magical Cirque Christmas - Palace Theater - Waterbury
Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2023	A Christmas Carol at The Legacy Theatre
Nov 30, 2023	Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet - Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Dec 1-3, 2023	Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker at The Bushnell Center
Dec 3, 2023	Woodbury Ballet Presents The Nutcracker - Palace Theater - Waterbury
Dec 3, 2023	SENSORY FRIENDLY - Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker at The Bushnell Center
Dec 8 & 9, 2023	Cirque Dreams Holidaze at Oakdale Theatre
Dec 10, 2023	Peppa Pig: Sing-Along Party - Palace Theater - Waterbury
Dec 10, 2023	Hannukah with Mazel Puppet Show - Stepping Stones
Dec 15-17, 2023	A Christmas Carol Puppet Show - Stepping Stones
Dec 16, 2023	HSO POPS! SERIES: Holiday Cirque! - The Bushnell
Dec 16, 2023	Holiday Cirque! – Hartford Symphony Orchestra
Dec 17, 2023	Holiday Open House - Sensory-Friendly/Relaxed - The Bushnell
Dec 22 & 23, 2023	Connecticut Ballet presents 'The Nutcracker' at The Bushnell
Dec 30, 2023	The Hip Hop Nutcracker - Palace Theater - Waterbury

Holiday Concerts

Dec 2, 2023	"Home Alone" in Concert with the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra at Palace Theater- Waterbury
Dec 9, 2023	Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at Palace Theater - Waterbury
Dec 17, 2023	Community Carol Sing - Mystic Seaport Museum
Dec 20, 2023	Travelers Chorale: 2023 Holiday Show - The Bushnell
Dec 22 & 23, 2023	HSO Presents Elf in Concert - William H. Mortensen Hall

Christmas Tree Experience

Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023	Dzen Tree Farm
Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023	Jones Family Farm
Opening Nov 24, 2023	Cedar Ledge Tree Farm
Opening Nov 24, 2023	Pell Family Farm

Active Holidays

Dec 2, 2023	Santa Made Me Do IT 5K - Bethlehem, CT
Dec 3, 2023	Blue Back Mitten Run

Ice Skating

Starting Nov 24, 2023	Winterfest Hartford
	Veteran's Memorial Ice Rink
	Norwich RoseGarden Ice Arena
	South Windsor Arena

Shopping & Craft Fairs

Multiple dates starting Nov 11, 2023	Flanders Artisan Marketplace
Nov 16 - Dec 17, 2023 (Thur - Sun)	Holiday Boutique In The Barn - Keeler Tavern Museum
Nov 18, 2023	Indigenous Craft Fair - Mystic Seaport Museum
Nov 18 & 19, 2023	Pop Up Market - Fairfield Museum and History Center
Nov 19, 2023	Holiday Craft Fair - Roaring Brook
Nov 19, 2023	Frosty's Christmas Craft Festival - Middlebury CT
Multiple dates starting Nov 25, 2023	Annual Holiday Market - The Institute for American Indian Studies
Dec 2, 2023	2023 Continuum Holiday Bazaar - New Haven, CT
Dec 3, 2023	Holiday Celebration & Makers’ Market - NBMAA
Dec 3, 2023	Craft and Gift Fair at JCC of Greater New Haven
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023	Winterfest at Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort

New Year's Eve

Dec 29, 30 & 31, 2023	New Year's Crafts and FUN @ the Library! - Bristol Public Library
Dec 31, 2023	Noon Year's Eve Party with DJ Lou - Stepping Stones
Dec 31, 2023	Kids countdown to New Years with the BenAnna Band - At Mystic Seaport!

Miscellaneous

Nov 18, 2023	Jingle Bell Trolley 2023
Nov 18, 2023	Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services: Stuff-A-Cruiser
Nov 21 - Feb 18, 2024	30th Annual Holiday Train Show - the CT River Museum
Nov 22, 2023	Hubbard Park Festival of Silver Lights Ceremony
Nov 24 - Dec 30, 2023	Home For The Holidays - Mystic Aquarium
Nov 24 - Dec 17, 2023	Gingerbread House Festival – Friends of Wood Memorial Library and Museum
Nov 26, 2023	Trees In The Rigging Boat Parade - CT River Museum
Nov 30, 2023	Meet Santa's Special Friend SATURDAY! - Bristol Public Library
Dec 1, 2023	Henry Whitfield State Museum, Guilford - Firelight Festival
Dec 2, 2023	Holiday Express Train Show Grand Opening Celebration - Fairfield Museum and History Center
Dec 3, 2023	Holiday Block Party and Tree Lighting - The Shops at Farmington Valley
Dec 3, 2023	Holidays & Horses at Farmington Polo Club
Dec 9, 2023	Build-a-Train Family Workshop - Fairfield Museum and History Center
Gifts should be provided for distribution by Monday, December 11, 2023	Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services: Holiday Gift Giving Program
Dec 17 & 23, 2023	Oh Fudge Ginger Bread House Workshops - Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
Multiple dates starting Dec 26, 2023	Drop-in: Paint-a-Train - Fairfield Museum and History Center

The following are items that have been added to our calendar, both virtual and in-person. If your business has upcoming events for the holidays, please click here for information about how to post it to our calendar.