Out and About in Hartford this weekend

Friday highlights (click here for more on Friday)

Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights at Connecticut Trolley Museum. Join us for a trolley ride during the holiday season.


Full Moon Hike at the Pratt Nature Center. Hike the lower fields at the Pratt Nature Center by the light of the full moon then warm up by the campfire with marshmallows! Don't forget your flashlights for this fun, free, outside activity perfect for the whole family.

Elf Workshop at Stew Leonard's: Family Fun Night! at Stew Leonard's Newington. Join Stew Leonard's in Newington for an evening of holiday themed games, caroling and more. Complimentary milk and cookies will be served.

Visit Santa at Buckland Hills Mall! Santa Claus is coming to town! Bring your little ones to share their holiday wish list, and get your annual Santa photos. Visits with Santa are free, but you can order special photo packages for an extra charge.

Drop and Shop PJ Party at the Lutz Children's Museum. Kids are invited to a fun-filled PJ party at the Lutz while you get ready for the holidays. $20 for the first child and $10 for each sibling includes pizza, activities, crafts, and a movie. Jammies, blankets and teddies are optional!

Santa's Workshop at Wickham Park in Manchester. Kids of all ages enjoy visits with Santa and his elves and refreshments with Mrs. Claus! Santa's Workshop provides a chance for kids to enjoy an uncommercialized Christmas experience. Please bring non-perishable food items for area food pantries.

Holiday Tails at Roaring Brook Nature Center! Take a break from the pre-holiday hustle and bustle and come for animal-related winter stories, crafts, animal visit, and a short hike in the winter dusk (weather permitting). Program, hike and crafts. No need to preregister.

Lake Compounce Festival of Holiday Lights. Lake Compounce is covered in thousands of lights producing a spectacular light show set to music. A selection of fun children’s and family rides are open during the Festival of Lights and kids can meet Santa!

Festival of Lights at Mystic Aquarium!  Let your holiday spirit shine at Mystic Aquarium! Paths will be illuminated by hundreds of luminaria as guests enjoy seasonal entertainment, face painters, story tellers, hot chocolate and even a visit from Santa!

Winterfest Hartford Ice Skating in Bushnell Park at The iQuilt Plan. Skate for free 7-days a week at the Winterfest Hartford rink on the east side of Bushnell Park near the Pump House. Don’t have your own skates? There’s free skate rentals, too. Talk about some great family fun in our own backyards!

Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point Park at Easter Seals Goodwill Industries. Fantasy of Lights has become a holiday tradition for families all over Connecticut and New England. This colorful light display illuminates Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven for the holiday season. It's a fun event for your kids!

Saturday's highlights (click here for more on Saturday):

Breakfast with Frosty & Friends at the Beardsley Zoo! at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. Get in the holiday spirit and join Frosty and his friends for breakfast at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo!

The Santa Special at Essex Steam Train and Riverboat. All aboard the Santa Special for a one-of-a-kind holiday experience.

Santa on the Trolley at Shore Line Trolley Museum. Take a ride into the past at The Shore Line Trolley Museum and have your children visit with Santa!

Second Saturday for Families at The Wadsworth Atheneum. Second Saturday For Families, Free, Hands-on Events with a New Theme Every month.

Seal Search Walk With the Meigs Point Nature Center. Come stroll the beautiful trails of Hammonasset and see if you can spot some seals sunning offshore. This is a guided walk for all skill levels led by the fun folks from the Meigs Point Nature Center.

Santa's Workshop at Wickham Park in Manchester. Kids of all ages enjoy visits with Santa and his elves and refreshments with Mrs. Claus! Santa's Workshop provides a chance for kids to enjoy an uncommercialized Christmas experience. Please bring non-perishable food items for area food pantries.

Holiday Fun at Gillette Castle! at Gillette Castle State Park. Bring your kids to see Gillette Castle all dressed up for the holidays! Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, musical entertainment AND tons of working model train layouts complete this festive picture. Visit with Santa on Sundays, too!

Winterfest Hartford Ice Skating in Bushnell Park at The iQuilt Plan. Skate for free 7-days a week at the Winterfest Hartford rink on the east side of Bushnell Park near the Pump House. Don’t have your own skates? There’s free skate rentals, too. Talk about some great family fun in our own backyards!

Winterfest Hartford Santa Visits in Bushnell Park at The iQuilt Plan. Winterfest wouldn’t be complete without Santa. Visit the Pump House for free photos with Santa Claus. Don't forget your list!

Celebrating the Origin of Santa and Three Centuries of Christmas - Tour at Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum. The 1888 illustrations of Thomas Nast from “A Visit of St Nicholas,” will be celebrated in a special exhibit at WDS. See how the Christmas of today was created in the 19th century, and enjoy the charm of holidays past!

Gingerbread House and Cookie Workshop for Kids at Lyman Orchards. Make sugary shingles, snow-frosted windows, and add tons of icing and colorful candies for decorating! Children will have fun creating festive Gingerbread Houses and Cookies in the Apple Barrel Bakery at Lyman Orchards. Workshops fill quickly!

Sunday's highlights (click here to see what else is on our calendar for Sunday):

Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights at Connecticut Trolley Museum. Join us for a trolley ride during the holiday season.

The Night Before Christmas Story Time at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Reading of the classic holiday tale inside the 1639 Whitfield House, plus discounts on children’s toys, games, and books in the gift shop. Included with museum admission.

Open Play For Kids Aged 2 - 6 at Jump!Zone in Canton! Your youngest kids can have fun safely at this special Open Play at Jump!Zone just for them! They'll have a ton of fun and you'll worry less knowing that big kids aren't allowed!

Winterfest Hartford Carousel Rides in Bushnell Park at The iQuilt Plan. If you thought the carousel’s lights and beautifully painted horses were breathtaking before, just imagine how great they look beside the fluffy white snow and Winterfest decorations. Bring your kids down to Bushnell Park for some winter fun!

Celebrating the Origin of Santa and Three Centuries of Christmas - Tour at Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum. The 1888 illustrations of Thomas Nast from “A Visit of St Nicholas,” will be celebrated in a special exhibit at WDS. See how the Christmas of today was created in the 19th century, and enjoy the charm of holidays past!

Tea With the Unicorns at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London. Bring your kids to the Lyman Allyn in December to enjoy a special tea party in conjunction with their current exhibition, "The Unicorn Stampede" by glitter artist Camomile Hixon!! Parties will include a hands-on art project, scavenger hunt and more!

The African Children's Choir Holiday Concert at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Bring your family to see the African Children's Choir in this special Holiday Concert at the Bushnell! The choir is comprised of orphaned and vulnerable children from Africa and serves as a source of inspiration and hope for all of us!

Family Holiday Brunch at the Lyman Homestead! Santa and Mrs. Claus invite families to visit them in the festively decorated Lyman Homestead and enjoy a delicious family-style brunch! You'll also have a personal meeting with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Homestead's Library!

Saturday, December 14: Old Saybrook Christmas Torchlight Parade! at Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce. Features more than 20 Fife & Drum Corps, Christmas floats, bagpipe bands and marching units! Leading the parade for the 43rd time is the 5th CT Volunteer Infantry (dating back to the Civil War). Bring your torches, flashlights and lanterns!!

For a full list of events visit our website!