# Christmas parades and tree lightings in Hartford and New Haven, 2026

> We found three Christmas parades and tree lightings in and around Hartford and New Haven with 2026 dates: one parade and two tree lightings and lighting nights, two free to watch. Each one has the date, start time, price and a link to the organizer’s page.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 3 parades and tree lightings with 2026 dates
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## Christmas parades

- **Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade** at Branford (route not listed), Branford. When: Sat, Nov 28, 2026. Time: Parade starts at 6:30pm. Price: Free to attend. Floats and marchers, with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Rudolph closing out the parade. The tree lighting is the same night; if it rains, the tree lighting moves to Sunday, Nov 29. Official page: https://branfordct.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30148 (checked 2026-10-29)

## Tree lightings and lighting nights

- **Lighthouse Point Park Tree Lighting** at Lighthouse Point Park pavilion, New Haven. When: Thu, Nov 19, 2026. Time: 4pm. Price: Free to attend. A small tree lighting hosted by Goodwill of Southern New England. The Fantasy of Lights drive-through is canceled for 2026 because of storm damage in the park, so this is the one holiday gathering there this year. Official page: https://www.goodwillsne.org/fantasy-of-lights-2026-new-haven/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **City of New Haven Tree Lighting** at New Haven Green, New Haven. When: Thu, Dec 3, 2026. Time: 5pm. Price: See the event page. Music, performances and amusement rides on the lower Green, then the tree lighting. Official page: https://thenewhavengreen.org/events/city-of-new-haven-tree-lighting-2/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### When is the Christmas parade in Hartford and New Haven in 2026?
Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, Parade starts at 6:30pm (Branford).

### When is the Christmas tree lighting in Hartford and New Haven?
Lighthouse Point Park Tree Lighting at Lighthouse Point Park pavilion: Thu, Nov 19, 2026, 4pm. City of New Haven Tree Lighting at New Haven Green: Thu, Dec 3, 2026, 5pm.

### Are Christmas parades and tree lightings in Hartford and New Haven free?
Two of the three we list are free to watch: Lighthouse Point Park Tree Lighting and Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade. Some charge for extras like Santa photos or rides, and each card says so.

### Which are best for little kids?
Evening ones start after dark and are colder, so bring layers and a blanket for the stroller. Get there early for a curb spot near the start so little ones can see.

### How do you check these parades and tree lightings?
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 every week through early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).