Music:
Sarah Brightman – a Winter Symphony takes flight at Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday at 7:30pm. Tickets are $35-$201. Trans Siberian Orchestra rings in Christmas with lasers, lights and rock at Mohegan Sun Arena Sunday at 3pm and 8pm. Tickets are $73-$419. www.mohegansun.com
Events:
Holiday Lights returns for it’s FINAL SEASON at Lake Compounce, Friday 4-9pm, Saturday 3-9pm and Sunday 3-8pm. Don’t miss over a half a million twinkling lights, Connecticut’s Tallest Christmas Tree (100ft tall!), holiday food, kiddie rides and a visit from Santa! Guests can also give back to the community with donations benefitting Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol, and Southington Community Services – earning free 2026 tickets for spreading good cheer. Enjoy all that is merry and bright throughout the park through December 28th. www.lakecompounce.com
Gillette Castle State Park and Castle will be open for every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The century-old mansion of William Gillette will be festooned with holiday decorations, and there will be plenty of free outdoor offerings on the 122-acre park grounds. The interior and exterior of the late actor's eccentric home with festive cheer and offer a broad selection of free activities at the state park. The Castle will be open for self-paced tours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday on Thanksgiving weekend, and every following weekend through December 21. Each day's final tour starts at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 and may be obtained at the Visitor Center on the day of visit. To guarantee a slot, advance purchase is highly recommended. To reserve, guests can use the Reserve America website (tinyurl.com/4ty5e59p) under “Gillette Castle State Park Holiday Tours.”
Magic of Lights returns to Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford now through January 3rd. This year includes the All-New Reindeer Rest Stop with Seasonal Selfie Spots! Plus Barbie, the Enchanting Tunnel of lights and more! WWW.magicoflights.com
Winterfest open today and runs through January 4th at Bushnell Park in Hartford. Enjoy free ice skating including rentals!
Glow Hartford is back and brighter than ever with a brand-new theme - "Santa's Sleigh Adventure." Glow will again turn the Connecticut Convention Center into a winter wonderland now through December 23, 2025. In addition to the dazzling holiday light displays, our "Glow-comotive" train, outdoor light gardens, engaging market stalls, seasonal sipping and snacking spots, live performances, scavenger hunt, and a free photo with Santa will still all be part of this years' Glow Hartford experience as is tradition. www.hartford.glowgardens.com
Make your season merry and bright with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas! Based on the classic holiday film, this heartwarming musical sparkles when two army buddies turned entertainers team up with a singing sister act to save a snowless Vermont inn—and discover love along the way. It plays Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam now through December 31st. Tickets are $47-$112. www.goodspeed.org
Cirque Dreams Holidaze brings cheer to Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford Friday at 4pm and Saturday at 1 and 5pm. Tickets are $41-$173. www.livenation.com
The Farmer’s Market is Saturday 9am to noon in Stonington at the Velvet Mill. Over 150 Unique Shops.
The Bushnell Park Carousel is waiting to greet your family! Bring your kids, or don't. You definitely don't need an excuse to ride the historic 1914 Stein & Goldstein Carousel because it is beautiful! The best seat in the house is on a horse named Freedom. Open weather permitting noon to 5pm.
Farmington Miniature Golf on Route 4 in Farmington is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am til dark. The Ice Cream Parlor is closed for the season. www.farmingtonminiaturegolf.com
“Eight Days a Week: An Illustrated Record of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” an exhibition of rock music memorabilia, is now on display in Jorgensen Gallery at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on the UConn Storrs campus throughout Jorgensen’s fall season of events. This unique exhibition of rock music memorabilia with more than 100 items, including more than 40 photos of members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that were taken by Connecticut photographer Joseph Sia, including his famous image of Jimi Hendrix at Woolsey Hall in New Haven, known as “The Shadow.” www.jorgensen.uconn.edu