Family & Kid-Friendly Events in Hartford County, CT

55 family-friendly things to do in the next 45 days, from kids' museum programs to holiday events.

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Thursday, November 12

• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 12PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.
• Building w/ My Great Grandfather’s ToolsFree
  Connecticut Museum of Culture and History · Hartford · 6PM
  Woodworker Anne Marie Elder shares her family's collection of antique woodworking tools, passed down from her great-grandfather, while exploring the techniques and traditions of early American craftsm

Friday, November 13

• Playful LearnersFree
  Imagine Nation · Bristol · 10:30AM
  Broaden your toddler's horizons!
• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 1PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.

Saturday, November 14

• Pet Mayor Tito's Winter Wonderland: Paws & Portraits!$
  WORK_SPACE · Manchester · 10AM-2PM
  Festive pet and family photo sessions during 2nd Saturday; $20 donation with advance reservation required.
• Special Aircraft Experience: B-29 Cockpit$
  New England Air Museum · Windsor Locks · 10AM-2PM
  Climb into the cockpit of a B-29 at the New England Air Museum.
• Nature Explorers @ the Farmington Land TrustFree
  Ages 11 & under must be accompanied by an adult. · Farmington · 11AM
  This program is geared toward children in grades K–3, but siblings of all ages are welcome.
• New York International Children’s Film FestivalFree
  Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art · Hartford · 11AM
  The Wadsworth Atheneum presents two collections of imaginative short films from the New York International Children's Film Festival, with Little Kid Flicks offering playful animated adventures for you
• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 12PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.
• Author Talk: Brendan Flaherty, MiddlemanFree
  Simsbury Public Library · Simsbury · 4PM
  Following his debut crime novel, The Dredge , Brendan Flaherty’s literary second novel set in Connecticut spotlights a soul-seeking family man who pursues the American Dream through a series of comic

Sunday, November 15

• Ski Sundown Gondola Take - OverFree
  The Shops at Farmington Valley · Canton · 10AM
  Ski Sundown takes over with gondola fun for the whole family.
• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 12PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.
• The Sea Tea Improv Family Show! Comedy You Can Bring Your Grown-Ups ToFree
  Sea Tea Comedy Theater · Hartford · 2PM
  What goes ha ha ha plop?

Monday, November 16

• Author Visit with Jerry PallottaFree
  Bristol Public Library · Bristol · 4:30PM
  Picture-book author Jerry Pallotta visits.
• Family Dinner Movie TheaterFree
  Farmington Library · Farmington · 5:30PM
  November's Movie: Moana (Live Action; PG) Synopsis: Live-action adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film 'Moana'.

Thursday, November 19

• Fossil Discovery w/ the Easton Children's MuseumFree
  Town Hall Community Room · Plainville
  Easton Children's Museum brings hands-on fossil science.
• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 12PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.

Friday, November 20

• The Wyeths: Three Generations | Works from the Bank of America CollectionFree
  New Britain Museum of American Art · New Britain
  Three generations of Wyeth family art.
• Playful LearnersFree
  Imagine Nation · Bristol · 10:30AM
  Broaden your toddler's horizons!
• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 1PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.
• Friday Matinee: Ella McCayFree
  Simsbury Public Library · Simsbury · 1PM
  Synopsis: An idealistic young woman juggles her family and work life in a comedy about the people you love and how to survive them.

Saturday, November 21

• Holiday Open HouseFree
  The Bushnell · Hartford · 10AM
  The doors of The Bushnell are open to you and your family this holiday season for their annual Sensory-Friendly/Relaxed Holiday Open House, with festive crafts, a classic holiday movie, and a visit fr
• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 12PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.
• Aerospace Academy at Home: Destination MoonFree
  New England Air Museum · Windsor Locks · 2-3:30PM
  Children ages 10-14 with an accompanying adult launch and fly a reusable rocket into orbit and land on the lunar surface, presented with Challenger Center of Maine.
• Meet Pip The Penguin with Ski SundownFree
  The Shops at Farmington Valley · Canton · 3:30PM
  Meet Pip the Penguin from Ski Sundown at the Holiday Stroll.
• Tom Turkey Hunt$
  Winding Trails · Farmington · 8:00am to 6:00pm
  Family scavenger hunt through the trail system with emailed clues; 9 days to complete.

Sunday, November 22

• Family and pet photos with ChucklesFree
  Lutz Children's Museum · Manchester · 1-3PM
  Outdoor winter-backdrop photos with Chuckles in festive attire; pets with legs only.
• Family Fun (Discovery Barn, hayrides, goat walks)$
  Auerfarm · Bloomfield · 11AM-1:30PM
  Hayrides, goat walks and the Discovery Barn make for an easy family morning at Auerfarm.
• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 12PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.
• The Sea Tea Improv Family Show! Comedy You Can Bring Your Grown-Ups ToFree
  Sea Tea Comedy Theater · Hartford · 2PM
  What goes ha ha ha plop?

Wednesday, November 25

• GLASTONBURY KIDS PIZZA MAKING CLASS!Free
  Square Peg Pizzeria Glastonbury · Glastonbury · 2PM
  KIDS PIZZA-MAKING CLASS!

Thursday, November 26

• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 12PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.

Friday, November 27

• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 1PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.
• Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights$
  CT Trolley Museum · East Windsor · 5-9PM
  Family-friendly holiday event with over 10,000 lights, trolley rides through the Tunnel of Lights, and a Winter Wonderland with model train layouts in the Visitor Center.

Saturday, November 28

• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 12PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.
• When Right Goes Wrong - A Ruby's Realm ExperienceFree
  University of St. Joseph- Bruyette Athenaeum for the Arts · West Hartford · 3PM
  Ruby’s Realm presents When Right Goes Wrong—a powerful, hilarious story of family secrets, betrayal, forgiveness, healing, and love.

Sunday, November 29

• Bushnell Park Carousel$
  Bushnell Park Carousel · Hartford · 12PM
  Take a spin on the historic Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford.
• The Sea Tea Improv Family Show! Comedy You Can Bring Your Grown-Ups ToFree
  Sea Tea Comedy Theater · Hartford · 2PM
  What goes ha ha ha plop?

Monday, November 30

• Book Launch with Local Author and Family Historian Gayle FarmerFree
  Burlington Public Library · Burlington · 6PM
  Local author and family historian Gayle Farnham launches her book at Burlington Public Library.

Saturday, December 5

• Inspire Center - New Theme!Free
  Connecticut Museum of Culture and History · Hartford · 10AM
  The Inspire Center brings history and problem-solving together in a hands-on creative space for visitors of all ages!
• Santa on the FarmFree
  Auerfarm · Bloomfield · 10AM-1PM
  Visit Santa on the farm in Bloomfield.
• Family Program: Snoozing in the SnowFree
  Connecticut Museum of Culture and History · Hartford · 11AM
  From hibernating to exploring, Connecticut animals experience winter in many ways!
• Author Charnaie Gordon (Prosser)Free
  Prosser Library · Bloomfield · 12:30PM
  Children's author Charnaie Gordon visits.

Sunday, December 6

• Inspire Center - New Theme!Free
  Connecticut Museum of Culture and History · Hartford · 12PM
  The Inspire Center brings history and problem-solving together in a hands-on creative space for visitors of all ages!
• Kids Improv Workshop: Learn & Play Improv Comedy Games with Sea Tea Improv!Free
  Sea Tea Improv Studios · Hartford · 1PM
  Get your kids on their feet, learning improv games, having fun, collaborating, and getting their energy out in this fun theater workshop!

Friday, December 11

• Connecticut Yuletide Carolers in Concert (Ella Waters Event Series)Free
  Welles-Turner Memorial Library · Glastonbury · 6:30PM
  A festive kids’ craft will be available for little listeners and refreshments will be served.

Saturday, December 12

• Santa's WorkshopFree
  Wickham Park · Manchester
  Santa's Workshop at Wickham Park, weekdays 4-7 PM.
• Santa at the Museum!$
  New England Air Museum · Windsor Locks · 10AM-2PM
  Santa visits the New England Air Museum.
• Nature Explorers @ the Farmington Land TrustFree
  Ages 11 & under must be accompanied by an adult. · Farmington · 11AM
  This program is geared toward children in grades K–3, but siblings of all ages are welcome.

Sunday, December 13

• Family Fun (2nd and 4th Sunday of each month)$
  Auerfarm · Bloomfield · 11:00AM-1:30PM
  Hands-on agriculture activities in the Discovery Barn (free), hayrides at noon ($5/person), and goat walks at 1:30 ($20/person, ages 10+); registration required.

Tuesday, December 15

• Toddler TuesdayFree
  CT Science Center · Hartford · 9AM-1PM
  A monthly play space for children ages 6 and under with crowd-controlled galleries and hands-on activities.

Saturday, December 19

• Cornhusk Doll WorkshopFree
  Stowe Center for Literary Activism · Hartford · 1PM
  Join Jessica Dickens for a hands-on workshop exploring the history of corn husk dolls, their cultural significance, and their place in literature and the lives of Black children across generations.
• Aerospace Academy at Home: Observation EarthFree
  New England Air Museum · Windsor Locks · 2-3:30PM
  Children ages 10-14 with an accompanying adult capture a cargo craft with a robotic arm and monitor astronauts during a spacewalk, presented with Challenger Center of Maine.

Sunday, December 20

• Santa Paws - Road Home Rescue Project - Photos w/ SantaFree
  Witch Doctor Brewing · Southington · 1:00-5:00PM
  Photos with Santa for dogs and kids.

Monday, December 21

• Family Dinner Movie TheaterFree
  Farmington Library · Farmington · 5:30PM
  December's Movie: Paw Patron: The Dino Movie (PG) Synopsis: The Paw Patrol lands on a mysterious dinosaur island after a storm, where they meet Rex, a stranded pup.

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