Three Christmas light displays in and around Hartford and New Haven have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 2 walk-throughs. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5 p.m. at City of New Haven Tree Lighting. They’re spread over three areas, from Hartford to East Hartford.
Last checked · How we choose
Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.
Checked Oct 28 on the official page
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Little-kid take: Opens at 5 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.
Checked Oct 28 on the official page
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Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field · 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118
Little-kid take: Stays in the car: the easiest pick with a baby or a toddler who may fall asleep. PJs on, car seat buckled, no stroller needed.
Checked Oct 29 on the official page
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. Glow Hartford opens first, on Nov 20. Magic of Lights East Hartford runs into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 4:20 p.m. in Hartford (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
5 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5pm
5 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5 p.m.
Pick: Magic of Lights East Hartford
Picks: Glow Hartford, City of New Haven Tree Lighting
Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.
PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.
| Display | Price | Little kids | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glow Hartford | Adults $34, kids 4–15 $24, 3 and under free (fees included) | 3 and under free | Walk-through |
| City of New Haven Tree Lighting | See the event page | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Magic of Lights East Hartford | Per car; November-only tickets $18.99 online | See the venue | Drive-thru |
See all 6 Santa outings in and around Hartford: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Hartford →
None of the light shows with 2026 dates that we found are free. The lowest prices are listed in “2026 prices at a glance”.
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Magic of Lights East Hartford (Per car; November-only tickets $18.99 online); Glow Hartford (Adults $34, kids 4–15 $24, 3 and under free (fees included)). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.
With a baby or a sleepy toddler, a drive-thru is easiest: they stay buckled in and warm. One of the 3 displays can be driven: Magic of Lights East Hartford. Walk-throughs (two here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: City of New Haven Tree Lighting at 5 p.m. and Magic of Lights East Hartford at 5 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Little ones get in free at Glow Hartford (3 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Hartford · Hartford and New Haven city guide · Visiting Hartford
One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in Hartford that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.
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Things to do with kids in Hartford and New Haven in November · Things to do with kids in Hartford and New Haven in December
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