Discover the top holiday highlights in Bristol! Our guide features all the must-see events and activities for a festive season to remember. Whether you're a Bristol native or a seasonal explorer, this guide unlocks the best of the holidays.
One of the seasonal favorites is the Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce, where enchanting displays illuminate the park, creating a magical atmosphere for all. Features like festive rides and visits with Santa add to the charm of the experience. And don’t forget the Santa Express, a holiday train ride that brings families through a winter wonderland filled with sights and sounds. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Bristol
- Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce
- New England Christmas Craft Festival (Uncasville)
- All Aboard the Snow Clipper (Danbury)
- Santa Express (Thomaston)
- Olde Mistick Village Holiday Events (Mystic)
- Mystic Seaport Holiday Events (Mystic)
- Bristol Christmas Craft Fair
- Lyman Orchards Holiday Events (Middlefield)
- Velvet Christmas at Mill (Stonington)
- Christmas Wishes Holiday Market (Moosup)
See these and even more events listed below!
Bristol Holiday Light Displays
Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce
What to Expect:
Connecticut's tallest Christmas tree with over 120,000 lights.
Description:
Lake Compounce's Holiday Lights features Connecticut's tallest Christmas tree, nightly light shows, Santa's Workshop, and festive activities like cookie decorating and holiday rides.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce
Olde Mistick Village Holiday Events
What to Expect:
Largest holiday light display in southern New England.
Description:
Olde Mistick Village offers a variety of holiday events, including the Holiday Lights Spectacular, Festival of Lights, Holiday Carnival, and Meet Santa in the Meeting House. These events feature carolers, holiday light displays, and festive activities for all ages.
Where: Mystic | More Info: Olde Mistick Village Holiday Events
Bristol Holiday Markets and Shopping
Bristol Christmas Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Local craft stall holders offering unique gifts and crafts.
Description:
The Bristol Christmas Craft Fair features over 25 local craft stall holders showcasing a wide variety of gifts and crafts, making it an ideal opportunity to start and finish your Christmas shopping. The event includes festivities with mulled wine and gin available for purchase throughout the afternoon.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Bristol Christmas Craft Fair
Frostys Christmas Craft Festival
What to Expect:
Large-scale holiday craft fair with over 145 vendors.
Description:
Frosty's Christmas Craft Festival is a large holiday craft fair featuring approximately 145 talented crafters and vendors displaying handmade goods and seasonal items. The event offers a variety of food options and is held at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, CT.
Where: Southington | More Info: Frostys Christmas Craft Festival
Christmas Wishes Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Local artisans selling handmade gifts and seasonal items.
Description:
The Christmas Wishes Holiday Market in Moosup, Connecticut, offers a variety of handcrafted gifts, local produce, and seasonal treats. Attendees can enjoy live entertainment, children's activities, and a visit with Santa Claus. This event is a great opportunity to complete holiday shopping and support local artisans.
Where: Moosup | More Info: Christmas Wishes Holiday Market
Velvet Christmas at Mill
What to Expect:
Curated holiday gifts and crafts in a historic venue.
Description:
Velvet Christmas at Mill features a curated selection of gifts, crafts, and seasonal delights in a historic setting.
Where: Stonington | More Info: Velvet Christmas at Mill
New England Christmas Craft Festival
What to Expect:
Unique, handcrafted gifts from American artisans.
Description:
The New England Christmas Festival is a premier holiday shopping event featuring over 350 artisans showcasing handcrafted items, including seasonal decor, home accessories, fashion, fine jewelry, specialty foods, and more.
Where: Uncasville | More Info: New England Christmas Craft Festival
Norwich Holiday Community Bazaar
What to Expect:
Unique gifts made by local artists and artisans.
Description:
The Norwich Holiday Community Bazaar is a local shopping event featuring unique gifts made by artists and artisans in Eastern Connecticut. It supports Small Business Saturday by promoting community shopping and local businesses.
Where: Norwich | More Info: Norwich Holiday Community Bazaar
Santas Elves Harvest Marketplace
What to Expect:
Local crafters and vendors selling handmade holiday gifts.
Description:
The Santa's Elves Marketplace is a six-weekend event featuring local crafters and vendors selling handmade goods and unique holiday gifts. The event takes place at the Meriden Mall, with indoor booths available for rent. Each weekend, the market will be open from 10am to 6pm.
Where: Meriden | More Info: Santas Elves Harvest Marketplace
Bristol Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Santa Express
What to Expect:
Seasonally decorated train with special gifts for each child.
Description:
The Santa Express is an afternoon train ride where parents and kids can visit Santa Claus and his elves. The train is decorated seasonally, and each child receives a special gift from Santa's toy bag. The event includes visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot chocolate, and exclusive Connecticut-made bells.
Where: Thomaston | More Info: Santa Express
Bristol Other Holiday Activities
All Aboard the Snow Clipper
What to Expect:
Personalized gift-giving experience with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Description:
At the Danbury Railway Museum, join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a personalized gift-giving experience aboard the Snow Clipper. Enjoy the museum's interior, including a Letters to Santa coloring station and operating model railroads, before a short train ride through the historic railyard. After the ride, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus for the first gifts of Christmas, followed by a walk through the railyard with hot chocolate and treats.
Where: Danbury | More Info: All Aboard the Snow Clipper
Mystic Seaport Holiday Events
What to Expect:
19th-century holiday traditions in an outdoor setting with kerosene lanterns.
Description:
Immerse yourself in a journey through time at Mystic Seaport Museum's Lantern Light Village, where you can explore the museum after dark, enjoy holiday cookies and carolers, participate in old-time dances, and experience a horse-drawn carriage ride. Reminiscent scenes transport you back to 1876 as village townspeople share their love stories, memories, and traditions. The event features games, family crafts, music below deck on the Charles W. Morgan, and much more.
Where: Mystic | More Info: Mystic Seaport Holiday Events
Lyman Orchards Holiday Events
What to Expect:
Interactive haunted attraction and live music events.
Description:
Lyman Orchards offers a variety of holiday events, including live music at 1741 Pub & Grill, haunted attractions, and horse-drawn wagon rides through historic orchards. Visitors can also enjoy petting farms and beer tastings in the corn maze.
Where: Middlefield | More Info: Lyman Orchards Holiday Events
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Farmington (7 miles)
- New Britain (9 miles)
- Waterbury (9 miles)
- Newington (12 miles)
- Meriden (12 miles)
- Cheshire (12 miles)
- West Hartford (12 miles)
- Torrington (13 miles)
- Naugatuck (14 miles)
- West Torrington (14 miles)
- Hartford (15 miles)
- Bloomfield (16 miles)
- Wethersfield (16 miles)
- Middletown (17 miles)
- Glastonbury (18 miles)
- East Hartford (19 miles)
- Hamden (19 miles)
- South Windsor (20 miles)
- North Haven (20 miles)
- Windsor (20 miles)
- Manchester (23 miles)
- New Haven (25 miles)
- Shelton (26 miles)
- East Haven (28 miles)
- Enfield (28 miles)
- Branford (28 miles)
- Guilford (30 miles)
- Milford (32 miles)
- Trumbull (32 miles)
- Danbury (32 miles)
- Agawam (32 miles)
- Westfield (33 miles)
- West Springfield (35 miles)
- Springfield (35 miles)
- Stratford (35 miles)
- Bridgeport (36 miles)
- Chicopee (37 miles)
- Mansfield City (37 miles)
- North Chicopee (40 miles)
- Fairfield (40 miles)
- Holyoke (41 miles)
- Windham (41 miles)
- Ludlow (42 miles)
- Westport (42 miles)
- Montville Center (43 miles)