Music:
Pentatonix: Christmas in the City comes to the People’s Bank Arena in Hartford Saturday at 7pm. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need… ages newborn to 18. Look for the 45 foot long Red DATTCO Bus with Mike and Mary and a host of Christmas Elves on the corners of Trumbull and Church Streets. Your donation could win you FLOOR SEATS to the show! www.peoplesbankarena.com
Jessica Simpson Lights the Foxwoods Christmas Tree on the Fox Tower Patio with entertainment and treats! This event is Saturday at 7pm and is FREE. Then join her in the Premier Theater Sunday at 7pm for a great concert! Tickets are $32-$120. www.foxwoods.com
Straight No Chaser: Holiday Road takes the stage at Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $59-$215. Earth Wind & Fire play Sunday at 7pm. Tickets are $61-$249. www.mohegansun.com
Land Rover Hartford, 77 Weston St., Hartford, will host the Opera Connecticut production of the delightful holiday opera Amahl and the Night Visitors for the second year in a row. The performance, which lasts a bit less than an hour, is Saturday at 3:00 pm and is free!! It is requested but not required that attendees bring a non-perishable food item which will be donated to Food Share. We ask that you register at Eventbrite if you are planning to attend so that we will know how large an audience to prepare for.
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
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
The Wadsworth Atheneum presents Festival of Trees now through December 14th! See dazzling trees and Holiday Décor amidst the priceless works of art and bid to contribute to the museum and it’s programs. Friday noon to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm. Members are $5. Non-Members $27. Seniors $23. Students $15. Youth 13-17 $15. Children 12 and under are $5. www.wadsworthatheneum.org
Art+Soul Hartford, an all-female, all-volunteer organization, is hosting its annual holiday artisan market on Saturday 11am to 4pm at Parkville Market. Proceeds from the event will benefit Kenway's Cause Animal Rescue, a non-profit organization focused solely on animal welfare within the city of Hartford. This year’s event features 16 local artists and crafters, offering handmade jewelry, decor, art, and goods. In addition to shopping the vendor stalls, attendees are encouraged to bring donations of unopened pet food, which will be collected at the door to support Kenway's Cause in their mission to aid Hartford’s animals. Parkville Market, 1400 Park St. Admission is Free!
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 is open and runs through January 4th at Bushnell Park in Hartford. Enjoy free ice skating including rentals!
Gillette Castle State Park and Castle will be open for every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between now 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.”
Gov. Ned Lamont and First Lady Annie Lamont are inviting Connecticut residents to attend the 35th annual holiday open house at the Governor’s Residence, which will be decorated for the season and open to the public for tours. The open house will be held on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm each day. It is located at 990 Prospect Avenue in Hartford. There is no admittance fee and tickets are not needed. The Governor’s Residence is ADA accessible. Santa Claus will be on-site throughout the event greeting visitors as they arrive.
First Church of Christ on 499 Town St, East Haddam CT, will be holding it's annual Christmas Tea and Children’s Fair on Saturday from 9am to 1pm. There will raffles, cookie decorating, cookies for sale, gently used Christmas decorations for sale, a special room for the children to shop with free gift wrapping and of course SANTA will be there for pictures.
H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut, 43 Wilbur Road, New Preston invites you to their Holiday Open House Saturday from 10am to 3pm. Come celebrate Christmas with the horses! There will be a boutique sale, bake sale, tack sale and hourly tours! www.horseofct.org
The Yankee Pole Cat Insulator Club hosts Beat the Snow – an Antique Insulator, Bottle and Collectibles show Sunday 8am to 1pm at the American Legion Post #80, 566 Enfield Street, exit 49 off i-9 1. Browse 35+ tables with all sorts of collectibles including insulators, old telephones, lightning rod equipment, bottles and flasks, advertising, post cards, railroad items and more! For more information call 203-261-1190 or email rajpolt@earthlink.net
The Witch’s Dungeon Classic Movie Museum’s annual Christmas: Monster’s Holiday display features over 20 sets and life-size accurate figures based on the films of Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and others, all decorated for the holiday season. Plus, hundreds of rare vintage toys related to classic sci-fi and horror from the 1950s through to the 1980s. Plus several vintage animated holiday figures, mostly from the 1960s. Fun for all ages!… Call 860-817-6095, cash at the door… Adults – $15.00…Kids- $5.00… Located at 103 E. Main St. in Plainville, CT. - website www.preservehollywood.org
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
Looking for laughs? Steve Martin and Martin Short The Dukes of Funnytown play the Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford Friday at 7:30pm. Tickets are $97-$299. 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