What to do with kids in Hartford and New Haven over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: four say they’re open on Christmas Day and four on New Year’s Day. Plus one dated outing on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Nothing posted for Christmas Eve yet. Places post their plans in December, and we add them as they do.
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field · 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118
Good to know: Drive-through LED scenes, with a reindeer rest stop.
Bushnell Park and downtown Hartford · Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT
Good to know: Hartford’s New Year’s Eve celebration with art, music, food and fireworks in Bushnell Park. The 2026 program hasn’t been posted yet.
Lucy Robbins Welles Library (Newington) · Newington
Good to know: For ages 3–6 with a caregiver: crafts, games and stories, plus a surprise at noon to welcome 2027.
Derby Public Library · Derby
Good to know: Crafts and activities for families, then a countdown and dance party.
East Granby Public Library, Linda Veirs Large Conference Room · East Granby
Good to know: Stories, crafts and a countdown for ages 2 to 10 with a caregiver.
Derby Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room · Derby
Good to know: New Year's crafts, a dance party, snacks and apple juice for kids up to 12. Register each child separately, because there are only 32 spots.
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field · 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118
Good to know: Drive-through LED scenes, with a reindeer rest stop.
Open on New Year’s Day: Connecticut Science Center, Yale Peabody Museum, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in HartfordEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in HartfordEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in HartfordFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in HartfordIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in HartfordBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in HartfordHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in HartfordParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in HartfordKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in HartfordParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in HartfordPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in HartfordBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in HartfordChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in HartfordDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Connecticut Science Center (Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed), Yale Peabody Museum (Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed), Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo (Dec 24: closes at noon; Dec 25: closed), Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (Not listed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
Connecticut Science Center (Open 10am–4pm (open daily Dec 26–Jan 3)), Yale Peabody Museum (Closed), Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo (Closed (closes at noon on Dec 31)), Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (Not listed).
On the calendar for Jan 1: Magic of Lights East Hartford. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Magic of Lights East Hartford. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Hartford, through the holidays.
