Make some amazing discoveries this Veterans Day Weekend in Connecticut! Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils New Ideas at Stamford Nature Center. Event photo by Calla Lily Studios.
Veterans Day Weekend 2024 in Connecticut: Top Things To Do with Kids
Polar Express trains are coming to towns all over New England for Christmas 2024! Essex Steam Train Railroad photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins.
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Groupon's online marketplace offers tons of discounts on activities for kids and families.
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Find the best things to do in Connecticut this November, like the Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular. Photo courtesy of the event.
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Kids meet new friends as they jump, slide, and swing at the top indoor playgrounds and play spaces in Connecticut. Photo courtesy of Romp N Roll in Wethersfield
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Grab some friends for some birthday laps around the track. Photo courtesy of RPM Raceway
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Our ultimate family bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut before kids grow up. Photo courtesy of Lake Compounce
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Find big fun in all shapes and sizes at free museums for kids in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of the Eli Whitney Museum
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Don't sweat the weather, because the best indoor water parks in New England are waiting for year-round fun! Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort
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By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
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Photo courtesy of Flamig Farm
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Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
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Find a sweet treat for the whole family at the best places for breakfast in Connecticut with kids! Photo courtesy of Hotcakes
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As classic as the roller rink or modern as a VR experience, these fun indoor places are perfect spots for teens and tweens to hang out! Photo by Ally Noel
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Indoor spots offer plenty of adventure in Connecticut.
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Parents can enjoy some relaxation when their kids spend time at the
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Bike the ground of Fort Trumbull. Photo courtesy Visit CT
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A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures
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Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
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Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Take a step back in time with a visit to Mystic Seaport. Photo courtesy of Ally Noel
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From rolling hills and lakes to scenic views and summits, there's great outdoor adventure for families at Connecticut state parks. Photo courtesy of Visit CT
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Bubbles are a classic free fun activity for Connecticut kids
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Outdoor fun and healthy activity await at one of the top Connecticut playgrounds! Jonathan's Dream playground photo courtesy of O'Brien & Sons
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Run through the vineyards at Aquila's Nest. Photo courtesy of Aquila's Nest, Facebook
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Practice new skills at Calf's Pasture Beach, photo courtesy of Norwalk Skate Park, Facebook
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Create colorful storm clouds out of shaving cream and food coloring.
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Revel in nature's majesty at Webb Mountain. Photo by Ally Noel
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We’ve rounded up the best escape rooms in Connecticut for a fun family outing!
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The festivities get downright magical with Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT! Photo courtesy of Dean Davids Magician
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Find family fare and great deals at these Connecticut restaurants where kids eat free! Photo courtesy of Bigstock
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There are kid-friendly frights to be had with all the Halloween things to do in CT this weekend! Family Friendly Halloween Walkthrough event photo courtesy of Flamig Farm
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Send 2023 off in style with some family-friendly New Year's Eve activities for kids in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of First Night Hartford
Send 2023 off in style with some family-friendly New Year's Eve activities for kids in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of First Night Hartford
12/22/23 - By Kelley Heyworth

Connecticut is waving goodbye to 2023 with New Year's Eve events and family-friendly celebrations for kids. New Year's Eve with kids sees celebrations take on a special dynamic: finding things to do on New Year's Eve that the kids will enjoy and that will happen before midnight. This year families have a wide range of options to choose from like holiday light drives, ice skating, gingerbread festivals, and more. Here's to ringing in 2024 with fun family memories!

With New Year's Eve extending into the weekend, plan a New Year's adventure with our list of great Winter Day Trips To Take in Connecticut. And if the weather outside is frightful, check out our 15 Ideas for Celebrating New Year's Eve at Home with Kids.

 

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Have New Year's fun with a noon-time countdown that leaves plenty of room for more games! Noon Year's Eve Family Celebration event photo courtesy of Nomads
Have New Year's fun with a noon-time countdown that leaves plenty of room for more games! Noon Year's Eve Family Celebration event photo courtesy of Nomads

New Year's Eve Celebrations for Kids - Hartford, New Haven, and Central, CT

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Hours @ Ski Sundown

New Hartford
Ski in the New Year with Ski Sundown. Lifts and trails will be open beginning at 8:00am.  READ MORE

Winterfest at Bushnell Park in Hartford

Hartford - FREE
Free skating 7-days a week at Winterfest on the east side of Bushnell Park over by the Pump House. Don’t have your own skates? Winterfest has free skate rentals too. READ MORE

First Night Hartford 2024

Hartford
First Night Hartford is Hartfords New Year's celebration. The day includes two spectacular fireworks shows in Bushnell Park at 6 PM and 12 AM Midnight viewed throughout the city by thousands of visitors and residents, multi-cultural activities, events, and performances READ MORE

Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven

New Haven
The Fantasy of Lights has become a holiday tradition for thousands of families from all over Connecticut and New England. The mile-long route features over 60 displays and 100,000 lights. Many of the displays are animated and some are fitted with LED bulbs, making them more colorful and vibrant.  READ MORE

Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park in Meriden

Meriden - FREE
Witness the illumination of more than 350,000 twinkling white lights. Enjoy more than 200 figures and buildings decorated with lights in this spectacular display.  READ MORE

New Year's Eve at Spare Time

Bristol
Ring in the New Year at Spare Time Entertainment. The New Year's Eve Party packages include bowling and shoe rental for up to six people per lane, one 16" pizza, and one soft drink pitcher. Music, games, lights, prizes, and more!  READ MORE

Kid's New Year's Eve at Lake Compounce

Bristol
Lake Compounce is ringing in 2024 kids-style with a bubble dance party, juice box toast, and our final fireworks show of the 2023 season. READ MORE

Children's Mad Hatters Party New Year's Eve

Bristol
Don't be late for this very important date! Plan to join the fun at the American Clock & Watch Museum for a children's Mad Hatter's New Year's Eve tea party. There will be crafts, snacks, tea, and the chiming and ringing of the bells at noon, of course. READ MORE

New Year's Eve Playdate

Milford
Join Giggling Pig for a New Year's Eve Piglet's Playdate. We will have a play doh bar, sensory stations + more. READ MORE
Tell the kids it's time to party like it's 2023! Countdown to Noon photo courtesy of Stepping Stones Museum
Tell the kids it's time to party like it's 2023! Countdown to Noon photo courtesy of Stepping Stones Museum

New Year's Eve Celebrations for Kids - Fairfield, Litchfield, and Western CT

Countdown to Noon at KidsPlay

Torrington
Welcome in 2023 with fun, crafts, and noisemakers. Celebrate the coming of the new year with KidsPlay's anticipated Balloon Drop! Watch as hundreds of balloons rain down from the ceiling. All of the excitement of New Year's Eve without the late night. READ MORE

"The Polar Express" 4D at the Maritime Aquarium

Norwalk
Enjoy  "The Polar Express"  in the Maritime's 4D Theater. This is a condensed version of the Warner Bros. film where you view the movie in 3D, and experience special sensory in-theater effects like snow, wind, the aroma of hot cocoa, and more. READ MORE

Holiday Express Train Show

Fairfield
Young and old alike delight in the large and small scale model trains winding around spectacular winter villages and beautiful holiday scenery.  READ MORE

Kent Gingerbread Festival

Kent - FREE
Kent is home to one of the largest gingerbread festivals in Connecticut. Follow the Gingerbread Walk through town to see dozens of gingerbread creations throughout participating downtown shops. READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Newtown Community Center

Newtown
Ring in the new year with dancing, crafts and a countdown to noon complete with a balloon drop! Snacks and drinks will be provided. Pre-registration is required.   READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Discovery Museum

Bridgeport
Join Discvoery as they prepare to ring in the New Year! The Museum will have special hours from 10am-2pm and fun for the whole family. READ MORE
Be enchanted by the Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village. Photo courtesy of Riley's Outdoor Decor
Be enchanted by the Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village. Photo courtesy of Riley's Outdoor Decor

New Year's Eve Celebrations for Kids - Eastern Connecticut

Countdown to Noon

East Lyme
Ring in the New Year a little early with a 250+ balloon drop at noon. Join the Museum and East Lyme Parks & Recreation for southeastern Connecticut’s premier New Year’s event for children and families. READ MORE

Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village

Mystic - FREE
Olde Mistick Village has created an old fashioned Holiday Light Spectacular for you and your family. In fact, this event will be the largest holiday lights display in southern New England! READ MORE

Holiday Magic at Florence Griswold Museum

East Lyme
The Florence Griswold Museum's annual Holiday Magic celebrations return. The museum tries to make every Christmas really special because it was Miss Florence's birthday. This year there will be over 250 palettes on four stunning palette trees in the Krieble Galleries. READ MORE

Kids Countdown to New Years at Mystic Seaport

Mystic
Join Mystic Seaport Museum for a family friendly musical countdown to the New Year. Kids can make their own party hats starting at 12:00 pm, then watch a holiday  performance and ring in the new year at 3:00 pm with sparklers and confetti cannons. READ MORE

Merry Days and Jolly Nights in New London

New London
The City of New London is proud to announce the commencement of its holiday season with a calendar of events celebrating the diverse array of faiths and culture in New London.  READ MORE

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