Experience the magic of the holiday season in Bridgeport, CT, where festive events fill the city with cheer. Start your celebration with the Bridgeport Christmas Tree Lighting, a beloved tradition that illuminates the city center. Discover the mesmerizing Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point Park, a drive-through spectacle with over 60 animated light displays.
Explore the charming Christmas Village, reminiscent of a European market, offering handcrafted ornaments and spiced mulled wine. Whether you're a local or visitor, Bridgeport promises a memorable holiday experience with enchanting lights, festive markets, and heartwarming community events.
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The Top Christmas Events in Bridgeport
See these and even more events listed below!Bridgeport Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas Radio City Music Show
What to Expect:
Local adaptation of the famous New York City show
Description:
Bridgeport's Christmas Radio City Music Show brings a taste of New York City glamour to Connecticut. This dazzling production pays homage to the iconic Radio City Christmas Spectacular, adapting it with local flair. The show features a lineup of talented local performers, including a precision dance troupe inspired by the Rockettes. Audiences are treated to a visual feast of elaborate costumes and stunning choreography. You can marvel at the show's centerpiece: a living nativity scene complete with live animals. This production celebrates Bridgeport's long-standing connection to the performing arts, which dates back to the vaudeville era.
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Christmas Radio City Music Show
Bridgeport Other Holiday Activities
Bridgeport Christmas Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Community-wide countdown and lighting ceremony
Description:
Bridgeport's annual tree lighting ceremony transforms the city center into a glowing beacon of holiday cheer. As the massive evergreen illuminates, it carries on a tradition dating back to 1931 when the first public Christmas tree was erected in the city. Visitors can join in a community-wide countdown, adding their voices to the collective anticipation. The air fills with the aroma of hot cocoa as local choirs perform seasonal favorites. This event marks the official start of Bridgeport's holiday season, uniting residents and visitors in a shared moment of joy.
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Bridgeport Christmas Tree Lighting
Nearby Events
Fantasy of Lights (New Haven)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light display benefiting local charities
Description:
Illuminating the night sky, the Fantasy of Lights transforms Lighthouse Point Park into a dazzling spectacle. This drive-through experience showcases over 60 animated light displays, each telling a unique story. As you navigate through the park, you'll encounter twinkling snowflakes and whimsical characters. The event, initiated in 1994, has become a cherished tradition that supports local charities. Visitors can tune their car radios to a special station for synchronized holiday music, enhancing the visual feast. The Fantasy of Lights exemplifies how holiday celebrations can bring joy while giving back to the community.
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Christmas Village (Torrington)
What to Expect:
Recreated European-style Christmas market
Description:
Bridgeport's Christmas Village transports visitors to a charming European-style market, complete with quaint wooden stalls and twinkling lights. This annual event, inspired by traditional German Christkindlmarkts, has been a local favorite since its inception in 1982. Artisans showcase handcrafted ornaments, while the aroma of freshly baked strudel wafts through the air. You can sip on warm Glühwein, a spiced mulled wine, as you browse unique gifts. The village also features a live nativity scene, paying homage to the religious roots of the holiday season.
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Holiday Express Train Show (Fairfield)
What to Expect:
Elaborate miniature train displays with holiday themes
Description:
The Holiday Express Train Show chugs into Bridgeport, bringing with it a world of miniature marvels. Intricate model trains wind their way through meticulously crafted landscapes, each scene depicting a different holiday vignette. This event celebrates the rich railroad history of Bridgeport, which was once a major transportation hub. Visitors can marvel at the tiny details, from miniature ice skaters to diminutive holiday shoppers. Children delight in operating interactive train controls, bringing the displays to life. The show's centerpiece is a recreation of Bridgeport's historic railroad station, decked out in holiday finery.
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Shubert Theatre's Holiday Classics (New Haven)
What to Expect:
Performances of beloved holiday stories in a historic venue
Description:
The Shubert Theatre, a cornerstone of Bridgeport's cultural scene since 1914, comes alive with holiday classics. This historic venue, which has hosted legends like Katharine Hepburn and Rex Harrison, now stages beloved seasonal tales. The ornate architecture provides a fitting backdrop for timeless performances of "A Christmas Carol" and "The Nutcracker." Audiences are transported through time as they settle into the plush velvet seats. You can experience the thrill of live theater as skilled actors bring cherished characters to life on stage. The Shubert's holiday program continues a long tradition of bringing world-class entertainment to Bridgeport.
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Shubert Theatre's Holiday Classics
Holiday Market at St. Ann Club (Norwalk)
What to Expect:
Italian-American influenced holiday market
Description:
The St. Ann Club's Holiday Market infuses Bridgeport's holiday season with Italian-American flair. This vibrant market, held in one of the city's oldest social clubs, showcases a blend of traditional and contemporary holiday goods. Visitors can peruse stalls offering handmade pasta, artisanal cheeses, and unique ornaments. The market pays homage to Bridgeport's rich Italian-American heritage, which dates back to the late 19th century. You'll find yourself surrounded by the melodious sounds of Italian holiday music as you explore. Don't miss the opportunity to taste authentic panettone, a sweet bread that's a staple of Italian Christmas celebrations.
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Holiday Market at St. Ann Club
Santa's Trolley Winter Wonderland (East Haven)
What to Expect:
Interactive trolley ride with Santa through decorated streets
Description:
Santa's Trolley Winter Wonderland offers a unique twist on holiday sightseeing. Passengers board a vintage trolley, reminiscent of Bridgeport's early 20th-century public transportation, for a journey through the city's most elaborately decorated neighborhoods. As the trolley clatters along, Santa himself regales riders with tales of Bridgeport's holiday history. Children can participate in a holiday sing-along, filling the trolley with joyful tunes. The route includes a stop at the Barnum Museum, highlighting the connection between Bridgeport and the famous showman P.T. Barnum, who once served as the city's mayor.
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Santa's Trolley Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Light Show (Wallingford)
What to Expect:
Immersive drive-through experience with synchronized music
Description:
The Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Light Show transforms Bridgeport's fairgrounds into a luminous spectacle. This innovative display allows visitors to enjoy a dazzling light show from the comfort of their vehicles. As you drive through, you'll encounter towering light sculptures and animated displays, all synchronized to holiday music broadcast directly to your car's radio. The show pays tribute to Bridgeport's industrial heritage with light installations inspired by the city's manufacturing past. You can marvel at a 50-foot tall Christmas tree made entirely of LED lights, serving as the centerpiece of this illuminated extravaganza.
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Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Light Show
Milford's Holiday Pop-Up Market (Milford)
What to Expect:
Showcasing local artisans and small businesses
Description:
Milford's Holiday Pop-Up Market brings together the best of local craftsmanship and entrepreneurship. This bustling marketplace, set in the heart of historic downtown Milford, showcases the work of area artisans and small businesses. Visitors can browse through an eclectic mix of handcrafted jewelry, artisanal foods, and unique holiday decorations. The market highlights Milford's rich artistic community, which has flourished since the town's founding in 1639. You'll find yourself surrounded by the enticing aroma of freshly baked holiday treats as you explore. Don't miss the opportunity to chat with local makers and learn about their craft.
Website:
Milford's Holiday Pop-Up Market
Holiday Stroll (Bethel)
What to Expect:
Self-guided tour of downtown's historic buildings and holiday displays
Description:
The Holiday Stroll invites visitors to explore Bridgeport's downtown at their own pace, discovering hidden gems and holiday cheer along the way. This self-guided tour winds through the city's historic district, showcasing beautifully decorated storefronts and illuminated landmarks. As you stroll, you'll learn about Bridgeport's architectural heritage, with many buildings dating back to the 19th century. Participants can warm up with complimentary hot cider at designated stops. The route includes a visit to the Bridgeport History Center, where you can delve into the city's past through special holiday-themed exhibits.
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Mystic Seaport's Lantern Light Tours (Mystic)
What to Expect:
Interactive historical reenactment of a 19th-century Christmas Eve
Description:
Mystic Seaport's Lantern Light Tours transport visitors back to Christmas Eve in the year 1876. This immersive experience unfolds across the museum's recreated 19th-century seafaring village. Guided by the soft glow of lanterns, participants encounter costumed actors portraying historical characters, each with a unique holiday tale to share. The tour highlights the maritime traditions of New England's holiday celebrations. You can warm your hands by a roaring bonfire as you listen to sea shanties and carols of the era. This event offers a glimpse into the past, showcasing how seafaring communities celebrated the holidays nearly 150 years ago.
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Mystic Seaport's Lantern Light Tours
Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights (East Windsor)
What to Expect:
Walk-through tunnel of synchronized lights and music
Description:
Winter Fest and the Tunnel of Lights transforms Bridgeport's Beardsley Zoo into a luminous winter spectacle. The centerpiece of this event is a 100-foot long tunnel of lights, where visitors are surrounded by thousands of twinkling bulbs synchronized to holiday music. This immersive experience creates the illusion of walking through a star-filled sky. Beyond the tunnel, the zoo comes alive with festive activities and light displays. You can enjoy ice sculpture demonstrations, showcasing the artistry of local craftsmen. The event also educates visitors about winter adaptations of various animal species, connecting holiday cheer with wildlife conservation efforts.
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Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights
Putnam Holiday Light Festival (Putnam)
What to Expect:
Community-wide light display competition
Description:
The Putnam Holiday Light Festival ignites the spirit of friendly competition among residents and businesses. This community-wide event encourages participants to create elaborate light displays, transforming the entire town into a twinkling wonderland. Visitors can embark on a self-guided tour, marveling at the creativity and ingenuity of each display. The festival, which began as a small neighborhood initiative in 2010, now draws visitors from across the state. You can vote for your favorite displays using a mobile app, adding an interactive element to the experience. This event showcases Putnam's strong sense of community and artistic spirit, bringing neighbors together in a shared celebration of the season.