christmas lights in connecticut

The Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Connecticut (2024)

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It’s not officially the holidays until you get out and see some beautiful Christmas lights in Connecticut.

It’s definitely tempting to spend the colder days bundled up inside but visiting these light displays is a great way to get into the holiday spirit while spending time with loved ones.

The good news is our state has a ton of incredible locations that go all out with their holiday decorations, offering everything from charming neighborhood displays to large-scale festivals that light up the night.

Whether you’re looking for a festive stroll through a local neighborhood, an indoor holiday lights display, or a breathtaking festival experience filled with twinkling lights, Connecticut has something for everyone to enjoy this Christmas season.

Read on for our full guide to the best places to see Christmas lights in Connecticut.

Glow Hartford 2024 at the Connecticut Convention Center

glow hartford
  • Location: Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT
  • Dates: November 29 December 20, 2024
  • Hours: Thursdays & Fridays: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm; Saturdays & Sundays: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Admission: General Admission: $30; Children under 5: Free; Tickets available through Groupon for 20% off select dates

Glow Hartford 2024 is back, offering a dazzling, indoor holiday light festival at the Connecticut Convention Center! This year’s theme, “Around the World”, brings iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and London Bridge to life with over 1 million twinkling lights. It’s the perfect holiday outing for families, with interactive light gardens, live entertainment, and activities like the Glow-comotive train ride, photo ops with Santa, and a Passport Scavenger Hunt for kids.

Take advantage of the holiday vendor market for unique gift shopping, and enjoy festive seasonal drinks at the licensed bar for the adults. With convenient parking and a comfortable indoor venue, Glow Hartford promises a magical holiday experience for visitors of all ages.

Save 20% when you buy tickets online via Groupon. Don’t miss out—tickets are selling fast!

Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce

holiday lights lake compounce
  • Location: Lake Compounce, 186 Enterprise Drive, Bristol, CT 06010
  • Dates: November 29 – December 29
  • Hours: Fridays: 5 pm – 9 pm; Saturdays: 3 pm – 9 pm; Sundays: 3 pm – 8 pm; Special Operating Day: Thursday, December 26, from 3 pm – 8 pm
  • Admission: Tickets for Holiday Lights Lake Compounce normally retail for $39.99, but right now, you can grab an amazing deal on tickets with a limited-time offer from Groupon, featuring up to 63% off regular admission prices.

It’s not the holidays until you visit Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce! The park will be covered in hundreds of thousands spectacular of glimmering lights. One of New England’s most joyful celebration returns for another season.

Watch the light-up of the 100-foot Christmas Tree (the tallest in Connecticut!) and experience the holiday light show in sync with beloved and classic holiday tunes. Sip hot cocoa as you meander through a winter wonderland.

For some classic amusement park fun accompanied by a spellbinding light display, the festive activities at Lake Compounce Theme Park include a remarkable light show every half hour at the main gate, featuring tens of thousands of twinkling lights that are set to holiday music.

Click here to save big on tickets with Groupon while the deal lasts!

Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Park

fantasy of lights
  • Location: Lighthouse Point Park – 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT 06512
  • Dates: November 22 – December 31
  • Hours: Sun–Thurs 5 pm-9 pm | Fri & Sat 5 pm – 10 pm
  • Admission: Car/Family Van $10; Minibus $25; Full-size Bus $50

Fantasy of Lights, displayed by Goodwill of Southern New England, has become a holiday custom for hundreds of families every year. This drive-through park has bright and colorful LED light displays that illuminates Lighthouse Point Park for the holiday season.

Drive through New Haven’s Lighthouse Point Park and enjoy over 60 animated light displays! All proceeds benefit Easter Seals Goodwill Industries.

Holiday Lights Spectacular Old Mystic

  • Location: 27 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, Connecticut
  • Dates: November 29, 2024 – January 31, 2025
  • Hours: Fridays & Saturdays until 8 pm
  • Admission: Free

Experience the magic of the holiday season at the Olde Mistick Village. Come stroll through walkways brilliantly lit by thousands of luminaries. With live entertainment and complimentary treats in the Meeting House, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy. Wander through walkways brightly lit by thousands of luminaries. Shops are open late and there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Winterfest & the Tunnel of Lights

  • Location: Connecticut Trolley Museum, 58 North Road, East Windsor, CT
  • Dates: November 29 – December 30
  • Hours: Fri-Sun 5-9 pm, Special Holiday Hours December 26-30
  • Admission: Closed Trolley Cars – $8 for members, $16 non-members; Open Trolley Cars – $10.50 for members, $21 non-members

Winterfest and the “Tunnel of Lights” halls are decked both inside and outside with over 15,000 bulbs. Inside the Visitor Center is a Winter Wonderland where Santa meets and greets the kids in a historic caboose.  Various model train layouts, both large and small, are located in the main hall, along with full-scale trolleys.  Hot cocoa and warm snacks are also available to purchase.

Outside, enclosed trolley cars take jolly guests down a tunnel of lights while singing traditional Christmas Carols with the trolley car operators.  If you prefer an open-air view of the “Tunnel of Lights,” one open sleigh car is lit up entirely with holiday lights.

Start a family tradition of coming for a trolley ride during the holiday season. Whether you ride a closed car or brave the cold to ride the open “electric sleigh”, we promise you a good time and one that you’ll remember for years. Make sure you bring blankets and dress warmly.

Northern Lights Limited

  • Location: Railroad Museum of New England, 242 East Main Street, Thomaston, CT 06787
  • Dates: November 23 – December 23
  • Hours: Most days rides at 5 pm & 7:15 pm (not open 11/25, 12/2, 12/9)
  • Admission: Coach – $35; Lounge – $75; Santa’s Lounge – $75; Premium Coach – $75

Embark on an enchanted journey to celebrate the Holiday season. Leaving just before nightfall, passengers on the Northern Lights Limited encounter the magic of the holiday season as they journey to pick up Santa and Mrs. Claus. Once aboard the train, Santa and Mrs. Claus take turns visiting all the good girls and boys and Santa’s Elves keep everyone entertained with their cheerful dancing and singing. Each child will receive a gift from Santa’s toy satchel.

The Northern Lights Limited is an evening train, similar to the daytime Santa Express trains, but with some added touch. Leaving under the cover of nightfall, experience the magic as the lights inside and out of each car are lit, illuminating the entire train in a soft, cheerful glow.

The train is transformed into the North Pole Railway and operated by a very special train conductor with a magical holiday story to tell. There are strolling carolers, ice carvings, and festive entertainment including plenty of holiday characters.

Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park

  • Location: Hubbard Park, 999 W Main St, Meriden, CT 06451
  • Dates: November 27, 2024 – January, 2 2025
  • Hours: TBD
  • Admission: Free

Illumination of more than 350,000 twinkling, white lights and more than 200 characters throughout the park. There are displays of critters on the ponds and nestled in the trees and it’s free. You can even get out of the car and walk around.

Amarante’s Winter Wonderland

  • Location: 8 Pratt Rd, Dayville, CT, United States, Connecticut
  • Dates: Nightly starting Thanksgiving night
  • Hours: 5-9 pm nightly
  • Admission: TBD

Don’t miss this epic alk-thru Christmas Light Display located at a beautiful home, featuring 200,000 lights, a gift shop, and charity giving.

Night of Lights at Fairview Tree Farm

  • Location:2 Sawmill City Rd, Shelton, CT 06484
  • Dates: November 29 – December 23
  • Hours: 5-8:30 pm (times may vary on certain nights)
  • Admission: $25 per person, Kids 2 and under free

Celebrate the holiday season with a magical experience at the Night of Lights Merry Christmas Hayride in Shelton, Connecticut! Hop aboard a 30-minute tractor-pulled wagon ride through beautifully decorated tree fields and festive holiday scenes. Meet Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, and more, all while enjoying cozy bonfires and tasty treats perfect for the season.

In addition to the hayrides, ticket holders can also shop for the perfect pre-cut Christmas tree during the event hours, and on weekends, enjoy Santa Tractor Hayrides for just $5 per person, with all proceeds benefiting local charities. Don’t miss out on the award-winning wreaths and holiday trimmings available for purchase as well. Reservations are required, and children under 2 are free. This family-friendly event is a New England tradition you won’t want to miss!

Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field

  • Location: 615 Silver Ln, East Hartford, CT 06118
  • Dates: November 22, 2024 to January 4, 2025
  • Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5:00 PM 9:00 PM; Friday-Sunday: 5:00 PM 10:00 PM
  • Admission: Standard Vehicle Advance Weekday: $23.62; Standard Vehicle Advance Weekend: $28.13; Limo/Party Bus Advance: $69.48; Standard Vehicle Gate Weekday: $25.00; Standard Vehicle Gate Weekend: $30.00; Limo/Party Bus Gate Any Day: $70.00. SAVE 20% WITH GROUPON.

Experience the Magic of Lights, a dazzling, drive-through holiday light display at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford. Featuring beloved holiday scenes and characters brought to life with LED technology and digital animations, this holiday spectacle offers a safe and comfortable way to celebrate the season from the comfort of your own car. Drive through the sparkling path and enjoy East Hartford’s newest holiday tradition. One carload, one price!

Hebron Lions Lights In Motion

  • Location: 347 Gilead St, Hebron, CT 06248
  • Dates: Black Friday, November 29, 2024 New Year’s Eve
  • Hours: Open 23 nights throughout the season 5-9 pm most nights. Closed Nov 28 & Dec 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, and 24.
  • Admission: $40 Per Vehicle (includes all legally seated occupants) – Save 25% off the gate price when you purchase online by Thanksgiving

Get ready for one of Connecticut’s Best Holiday Light Shows! Hebron Lions Lights In Motion is a spectacular 20+ minute drive-through experience that features over 350 installations, more than 1 million animated lights, and a synchronized musical show. Open 23 nights from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve, this one-mile journey is perfect for all ages to enjoy the magic of the holiday season.

A portion of the proceeds benefits local children’s charities, including Wishes on Wheels, Camp Rising Sun, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

Cava Fine Italian Cuisine’s Winter Spectacular

cava winter spectacular
  • Location: 1615 West St, Southington, CT 06489
  • Dates: November 2024 – January 2025
  • Hours: Check website for holiday hours
  • Admission: Free to visit; dining charges apply for meals

Since 2008, Cava Fine Italian Cuisine has been transformed into a breathtaking winter wonderland, making it one of the most holiday-decorated restaurants in the country. With over 150,000 twinkling lights, thousands of ornaments, and elaborate garlands, each of the restaurant’s four dining areas features a unique and meticulously designed theme that changes every year—ensuring no two visits are the same.

This annual Winter Spectacular is a must-see during the holiday season, offering guests a chance to experience an extravagant light show and festive décor that has earned recognition from national media outlets like the Today Show, Hartford Courant, and Only in Your State. Don’t miss out on this magical holiday tradition in Southington!

More Things to Do in Connecticut This Winter

Looking for even more things to do this winter?

Check out some of our most popular guides for ideas:

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