The holidays have arrived, and the Shoreline is alive with music, lights, and magic. Discover can’t-miss events, from sparkling celebrations to cozy gatherings that’ll keep your season merry and bright.

The E List’s Girls’ Night Out in Guilford, 12/11: Our signature event: Drinks, Discounts, and Dinner! Take 20% off in over 20 participating shops in Guilford!

Artistry at the Guilford Art Center – thru 1/11/26: Celebrate creativity and community at this Holiday Expo, showcasing hundreds of handmade gifts and artisan works, each crafted with care and perfect for holiday giving.

Deck the Walls at Lyme Art Association, thru 1/1/26: Shop artfully this season! This juried show features original, giftable works by local artists, perfect for adding a creative touch to your holiday giving. Opening reception 11/23 from 2 – 4pm.

White Christmas at the Goodspeed – East Haddam, thru 12/31: Make your season sparkle with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas! Tap your toes, hum along, and fall in love with this dazzling musical filled with laughter, romance, and timeless holiday tunes!

Playhouse Holiday Jamboree – Ivoryton, thru 12/21: Experience pure Christmas magic at Ivoryton Illuminations. Enjoy a petting zoo, elf scavenger hunt, Santa’s grand arrival, and one of Connecticut’s largest living Christmas trees, dancing lights and all.

Chester Holiday Market, Sundays thru 12/21, Peruse a festive array of vendors selling everything from cheese to pottery and skincare to coffee and much more in Downtown Chester.

Next Stop Santa at Shoreline Trolley Museum – East Haven, Weekends thru 12/21: All aboard for holiday magic. Ride a festively decorated trolley to meet Santa, sip hot cocoa, explore holiday displays, and make memories that sparkle at the Shore Line Trolley Museum.

Winter Nights at Stone Acres Farm – Stonington, thru 1/1/2026:  Savor the season at the Winter Nights pop-up. Enjoy a four-course farm-to-table feast, festive drinks, and cozy fireside ambiance all through the holidays. Make your reservation.

Holiday Tours at Gillette Castle – East Haddam, thru 12/21:Step into the magic of the season at Gillette Castle. Twinkling lights, festive décor, and a dash of mystery await inside this storybook stone mansion overlooking the Connecticut River. Don’t miss it.

Holiday Magic at Flo Gris Museum – Old Lyme, thru 1/4/2026: Celebrate the season at the museum’s dazzling holiday display! Marvel at 250 artist-created palettes, vintage 1910 décor, festive teas (make reservations) and the holiday shop.

Scrooge and Marley at Legacy Theatre, Branford, 12/3 – 12/14: Go behind the legend with Scrooge and Marley, a delightful new musical prequel to A Christmas Carol that celebrates friendship, forgiveness, and the joy of the season. Click for tickets.

A Christmas Carol at Wadsworth Mansion – Middletown, 12/4: Step inside the story with the East Haddam Stage Company. A Christmas Carol comes alive at the Wadsworth Mansion in a 90-minute immersive adventure filled with spirits, song, and holiday magic. Follow Scrooge, if you dare.Get tickets.

Old Saybrook Starlight Festival, 12/6:Gather in Old Saybrook for the Starlight Festival and enjoy a day of seaside cheer, the Heroes Tree Lighting on December 5, and cozy weekend dining specials throughout town. Click for full details.

Lantern Light Village at Mystic Seaport, timed entry on various days in December. Enjoy old-fashioned holiday magic featuring music, lanterns, fires, and festive cheer as Mystic Seaport transforms into a Dickens-inspired winter wonderland. Click for dates and tickets.

Niantic Light Parade, 12/13 from 6 – 8pm: Be dazzled as the 37th annual Niantic Light Parade rolls through downtown Niantic. Don’t miss New England’s largest and longest-running holiday spectacle, bursting with lights, music, and merriment!

Feast of Seven Fishes at Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, 12/14: Dive into tradition at The Shipwright’s Daughter. Chef David Standridge’s Feast of the Seven Fishes celebrates the sea with seven dazzling courses of coastal flavor, festive spirit, and James Beard–worthy flair. Click for reservations.

The Nutcracker at The Garde, 12/13 & 12/14: The holidays wouldn’t be the same without The Nutcracker at The Garde! Eastern CT Ballet and Boston Ballet dancers unite for a breathtaking performance that captures the spirit of the season. Get tickets.

Annual Holiday Train Show at CT River Museum,  thru 2/1/26: The holidays roll in with Steve Cryan’s incredible model train exhibit at the Connecticut River Museum, a festive, family-favorite tradition of tracks, twinkles, and tiny-town magic.

2025 Holiday Festivities at The Shops at Yale: All season long, The Shops at Yale shine with holiday cheer—tree lighting, Santa stories, carolers, ice carving, and pop-ups make New Haven merry and bright! See all the events.