Last updated: November 11, 2024
Get ready for festive excitement in Middletown! Our guide features all the exciting holiday happenings. For Middletown devotees and casual admirers, this guide is your ticket to seasonal splendor.
Popular Events: Experience a winter wonderland at the Bethlehem Christmas Town Festival, where visitors can enjoy local crafts, holiday music, and festive treats. Famous for its stunning light displays, the Glow Gardens in Hartford transforms the park into a magical spectacle after dark. And the Olde Mistick Village's Holiday Lights Spectacular is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering enchanting lights and seasonal shopping. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Middletown Holiday Light Displays
Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce
Lake Compounce's Holiday Lights features Connecticut's tallest Christmas tree, nightly light shows, and a variety of family-friendly rides and activities, including meet-and-greets with Santa, cookie decorating, and a Kids New Year's Eve Bash.
Winterfest & the Tunnel of Lights
Celebrate the holiday season with over 15,000 lights at the Connecticut Trolley Museum. Ride through a tunnel of lights in closed trolley cars while singing Christmas carols, and enjoy an open-air view in a lit sleigh car. The Visitor Center is decorated with model train layouts and lights galore.
Olde Mistick Village's Holiday Lights Spectacular
Olde Mistick Village is decorated with over half a million lights throughout its 40 shops and restaurants, creating a festive atmosphere for families and holiday enthusiasts.
Glow Gardens in Hartford
Glow Hartford is an indoor holiday light festival featuring interactive light gardens, illuminated structures, seasonal food and drinks, family-friendly activities, and a festive holiday market.
Middletown Tree Lighting Ceremony
The Middletown Tree Lighting Ceremony is a festive event where the community gathers to illuminate the town square with a grand tree lighting, accompanied by live music and the presence of Santa Claus.
Milford Tree Lighting Ceremony
The Milford Buoy Tree Lighting Ceremony is an annual event held at Lisman Landing, Milford Harbor, featuring a festive display of lights and community participation.
Bethlehem Tree Lighting Ceremony
The Bethlehem Tree Lighting Ceremony is a festive event featuring a large decorated tree, entertainment, and hot chocolate, culminating in the lighting of the 85-foot tree.
Middletown Holiday Markets and Shopping
St. Pius X Church Holiday Fair
St. Pius X Church Holiday Fair offers a variety of activities and vendors, including a huge tag sale, free hayrides, and holiday-themed items.
Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre
Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre is a natural foods grocery store and café offering local, organic, GMO-free groceries, gardening supplies, and heirloom seeds. The café serves locally roasted coffee, espresso drinks, and freshly baked pastries and bread. The menu features hand-crafted breakfast and lunch sandwiches, panini, soups, and salads made from seasonal locally sourced ingredients.
Danbury Holiday Craft Fair
The Danbury Holiday Craft Fair features over a dozen local artisans and crafters showcasing handcrafted jewelry, crystal artwork, fiber arts, candlemaking, and painting. Enjoy live demonstrations and the chance to win tickets to the Danbury Music Centre's Nutcracker. Meet a visiting elf for holiday photographs and create kids' holiday arts and crafts. The event also includes a performance by TUBACHRISTMAS, a group of local volunteer tuba and euphonium musicians.
Wadsworth Mansion Holiday Bazaar
The Wadsworth Mansion Holiday Bazaar brings together local artisans and crafters showcasing unique handmade gifts and seasonal treats. Visitors can stroll the historic grounds, appreciating the mansion's stunning architecture while browsing a variety of booths filled with creative works. This event is an opportunity to support local talent while finding distinct items for holiday gifting.
Middletown Other Holiday Activities
Bethlehem Christmas Town Festival
The Bethlehem Christmas Town Festival is an annual event featuring a tree lighting ceremony, illuminated fire truck procession, 5K road race, and classic vehicle exhibition and decorating contest. It includes activities like photos with Santa, hayrides, and a scavenger hunt, all centered around the largest decorated Christmas tree in the area.
Hartford's Winterfest
Winterfest Hartford offers free ice skating, free skate rentals, and free learn-to-skate classes in Bushnell Park. Families can also visit Santa for a free 5×7 printed photo. The event features various activities and events throughout the season.
Middletown Holiday Parade
The Middletown Holiday Parade features a festive procession of horses, floats, and bands culminating in Santa and Mrs. Claus's arrival on Main Street.
Torrington Christmas Village
Visit Torrington Christmas Village at 150 Church Street, where children and adults can meet Santa, Mrs. Claus, and four reindeer, and each child receives a small gift. Enjoy hot cocoa and explore the village's festive atmosphere.