Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Hartford and New Haven this week: we found nine free outings, including Halloween Story Time and Crafts at Ives Main Library, Trick or Treat at Miller Memorial Library and Storytime Costume Parade in West Haven, plus three library programs. Nine free days and events are coming up, each with its date. And four places never charge admission, like Hartford Public Library and New Haven Free Public Library.
This week
Every free outing on this week’s Hartford list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.
Downtown Library, Hartford Public Library · 500 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103
Stories, music and rhymes with sensory play for kids 5 and under. Free, no registration.
West Haven Public Library, Main Library, Connie Sacco Room · 300 Elm Street, West Haven, CT 06516
Storytime, then a costume parade and mini pumpkin decorating. No registration; drop-ins welcome.
Ora Mason Branch, West Haven Public Library · 260 Benham Hill Road, West Haven, CT
An outdoor story walk of the book “Halloween Scare in CT.” Friday is the last day.
Woodbridge Town Library, Craft Room · 10 Newton Road, Woodbridge, CT 06525
A weekly drop-in craft in the library’s Craft Room for ages 3 and up.
Stetson Branch, New Haven Free Public Library · 197 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511
Stories, songs and free play for kids up to 4 and their grown-ups.
Ives Main Library, New Haven Free Public Library · 133 Elm Street, New Haven, CT 06510
A fall and Halloween story followed by a craft. Costumes are welcome.
Miller Memorial Library, Children’s Department · 2901 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518
Halloween crafts in the Children’s Department, then trick-or-treating around the library.
North Haven Memorial Library · 17 Elm Street, North Haven, CT 06473
Stop by the children’s and adult circulation desks for a treat. No registration.
Yale Peabody Museum · 170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511
Stories and a craft on the second-floor overlook, for kids 8 and under. Museum admission is free.
Nothing free on this day yet. Try an always-free place.
Mark the calendar
Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.
West Haven Public Library · West Haven
Miller Memorial Library · Hamden
Connecticut Convention Center · Connecticut Convention Center
During Glow hours. Opens 11/20; runs through 12/23. Glow tickets are needed to get in.
Winterfest Hartford rink, Bushnell Park · 60 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
12–3pm. Visit Santa, then skate for free at the rink.
Lucy Robbins Welles Library (Newington) · Newington
11:15am–noon. For ages 3–6 with a caregiver: crafts, games and stories, plus a surprise at noon to welcome 2027.
Derby Public Library · Derby
11:30am–12:30pm. Crafts and activities for families, then a countdown and dance party.
East Granby Public Library, Linda Veirs Large Conference Room · East Granby
11:30am–noon. Stories, crafts and a countdown for ages 2 to 10 with a caregiver.
Derby Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room · Derby
11am–12:15pm. 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.
Any day
Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.
Every week
Storytimes and Stay and Play for ages 0 to 4.
See the events calendar
Free storytimes, including sensory storytime.
See the events calendar
Free story time and a craft for kids 8 and under.
Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm
Every weekly storytime by day and branch: library storytimes in Hartford.
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
Indoor play in HartfordIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary 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
Christmas break in HartfordWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in HartfordDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
This week we found nine free outings for ages 0–6, including Halloween Story Time and Crafts at Ives Main Library, Trick or Treat at Miller Memorial Library, Storytime Costume Parade in West Haven and Halloween Story Walk at Ora Mason Branch. See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.
Storytime Costume Parade: Fri Oct 30. Story Time at the Peabody: Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1. Trick or Treat at Miller Memorial Library: Sat Oct 31. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.
Santa’s Workshop at Winterfest Hartford, Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at Newington Library, Noon Year’s Eve Party at Derby Library, Kid Noon Year's Eve Party at East Granby Public Library and "Noon" Year's Eve at Derby Public Library are free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.
Hartford Public Library, New Haven Free Public Library, Yale Peabody Museum and Winterfest Hartford skating don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.
Yes: Yale Peabody Museum. See all of them on indoor play places in Hartford.
Yes. New Haven Free Public Library, Hartford Public Library and Yale Peabody Museum run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.
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 28, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Hartford that weekend, free ones flagged.
