Holiday Events in the Hartford Area
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Hartford KidsOutAndAbout Holiday Newsletter |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The holiday season is filled with fun throughout the Hartford area for the next several weeks! Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's bring the community together in a vibrant celebration of joy and tradition. Here is your master guide to the holidays, including events, concerts, activities, Christmas tree farms, and more! From dazzling light displays to festive
markets, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Gather with family and friends to create lasting memories and experience the spirit of the season. You'll see right below my signature a link to our HUGE list of ideas for local fun: 101 of them! Scan the list below, then bookmark the 101 list as your go-to resource for this holiday season!
Happy Holidays!
—Debra Ross, publisher |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. |
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KidsOutAndAbout's big list of 2025 holiday events for the Hartford area: Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
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The Hartford area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in festive activities. From charming local farms to larger operations, each location provides a unique experience, complete with hayrides, hot cocoa, and seasonal treats. Many farms also host holiday events, making it easy to create lasting memories with loved ones. Whether you’re looking for a classic fir or a unique spruce, the Christmas tree farms around Hartford promise to make your holiday celebrations truly special.
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Connecticut Ballet’s annual holiday production featuring guest stars from New York City Ballet & American Ballet Theatre with live accompaniment by Hartford Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Carolyn Kuan in the orchestra pit. Four spectacular shows followed by a meet-and-greet opportunity in the theater lobby.
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Join us to celebrate Hanukkah with an outdoor menorah lighting followed by an indoor party featuring kosher delicacies, holiday crafts, and a spectacular Hanukkah Gelt Drop.
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Come and make an animal track ornament with Ranger Evelyn! Make your own animal track ornament to give as a gift or hang wherever you like! Whether you spruce it up with some evergreen needles or bedazzle it with sequins, you can show your appreciation for nature with this one-of-a-kind ornament.
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Choo choo! Build & paint your own wooden model train and create a cozy holiday landscape. Space is limited. Registration is required.
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Come out for a crafty, creative confection! Sign the kids up for a Lyman Orchards Gingerbread House Workshop built just for them! Let the kids dive into decorating their very own gingerbread house with candy, sprinkles, and icing! This tasty workshop is a perfect activity to experience the joy of the season! The event will take place inside the Apple Barrel Farm Market Bakery Kitchen.
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Enjoy a family holiday tradition where sugarplums dance, flowers waltz and snowflakes leap across the stage weaving a splendid tale of a little girl’s dream of first love. The majesty of Tchaikovsky’s music combines with a talented cast to make Woodbury Ballet’s annual Nutcracker a treat for all ages. From the opening party scene to the magical life-sized dancing dolls to a whirlwind of falling snow, the dancer’s grand leaps, exquisite pirouettes, and intriguing port de bras entice the viewer into the magical world of the Nutcracker. This holiday classic continues to enthrall everyone in the audience from year to year. Join us in dreaming of sugarplums and the bright season ahead!
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The 42nd annual Festival of Lights at Olde Mistick Village is this Friday night, December 12th, from 4-10pm. The ’luminaria’ tradition of placing 6,000+ candles in decorative bags will line the walkways of Olde Mistick Village. Enjoy the magic and beauty of of the night, as you stroll the paths, shop in our unique stores, and dine in our great restaurants!
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Come visit Santa, Mrs. Claus, Frosty, the Grinch and the entire Petting Zoo at Flamig Farm. After visiting Santa, take a ride with Frosty to reindeer land and sing some Christmas carols and shake bells! The animals will be so excited to see you. Be sure to pick up a free cup of grain to feed them (one cup per family). There will be a delicious food truck on site for hot drinks and yummy goodies!
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This year’s Holiday Hug-A-Horse has a brand-new twist — and it comes straight from the horses themselves! After a heartfelt “barn meeting,” our herd decided it’s time to help others in need. Many pets in our community are at risk of going hungry or of being surrendered because their families are struggling financially. Our big-hearted horses, who once knew hunger themselves before landing here, are determined to help keep those pets safe and loved. So, they’ve teamed up with the Avon Police and Animal Control to “Fill the Cruiser!” — not with hay or oats, but with pet food for families in need. Please bring bagged or canned pet food and help us pack that cruiser full of hope and love!
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Join us for a Christmas celebration in Downtown Bethlehem, CT. (Junction of Route 61 and Route 132). The festival is free to attend, and highlights include over 70 craft vendors selling handcrafted items just in time for holiday shopping, photos with Santa, a hayride, a free scavenger hunt, free musical entertainment, and a 5K Road Race on Saturday morning and a classic vehicle decorating contest in the afternoon. Plus, a multitude of delicious food choices to make everyone’s visit complete.
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Join New England Ballet Theatre for The Fantastic Toyshop on December 5-7 at The Theater of Performing Arts in Hartford, CT. This show is pure holiday magic, and fun for all ages!
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Bring your family for one last memory-making visit to Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce. The event will be retired after 2025, so don’t miss your last chance to mingle among a half million twinkling lights throughout the park. Hop on some of your favorite family rides while you enjoy holiday treats and admire Connecticut’s tallest Christmas tree. Be sure to stop in and say “hello” to Santa himself. Put some sparkle in your season one final time at Holiday Lights ‘25, select nights November 28 thru December 28.
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KidsOutAndAbout's list of family-friendly New Year's activities in the Hartford, CT area.
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