4^th Annual Community Sing-a-Along – The Charter Oak Cultural Center – 21 Charter Oak Ave -  Hartford – December 11 – 7:00pm Sometimes you just want to sing with other people. The Susans will lead us. Susan Campbell – book author, college professor and community activist -joins with Susan Mazer, director of Charter Oak’s music programs, in some of your favorite holiday songs.  Bring some baked goods to share and we’ll provide the beverages. Suggested donation is $5. www.charteroakcenter.org

Festival of Lights – Olde Mistick Village – Mystic – December 12 – December 21 -  5:30pm Walk through our winter wonderland from dusk until 9:30 p.m., when over 4,000 luminaries light the walkways of Olde Mistick Village and Mystic Aquarium. Olde Mistick Village Events: Complimentary refreshments in the Meeting House. Holiday music by Ragtime Too from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Outdoor entertainment includes: Too Tall Guys, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Fly By Night Holiday Jesters, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. The Festive Brass will be performing in the Gazebo from 6:00 p.m. on. See the Mystic Aquarium website for their activities. http://www.oldemistickvillage.com/Festivals.aspx

Second Saturdays: Festival Days – Wadsworth Atheneum – Hartford December 13 – 10:00am – 1:00pm  Celebrate world holiday traditions during the museum’s annual Festival of Trees and Traditions. Make ornaments inspired by Kwanza, Christmas, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah and Three Kings Day.  Free admission is from 10:00am to 1:00pm. www.thewadsworth.org

32^nd Annual Santa’s Workshop – Wickham Park – Manchester - December 13 – 23 A free event sponsored by Wickham Park. Children of all ages enjoy visits with Santa and his elves and refreshments with Mrs. Claus. Santa's Workshop provides a chance for children to enjoy a non commercialized Christmas experience. Guests are welcome to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to area food pantries. Hours are 3-6pm weekdays and 1-5pm on weekends. http://www.wickhampark.org/events.html

44^th Annual Torchlight Christmas Parade – Old Saybrook – December 13 – 6:00pm Parade features more than 20 Fife & Drum Corps, Christmas floats, bagpipe bands and marching units. Leading the parade for the 44th time is the 5th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. This unit's history dates back to the Civil War. Public is encouraged to bring lighted torches, flashlights and/or lanterns. http://www.ctvisit.com/events/summary/torchlight-christmas-parade/11716

41^st Annual Festival of Trees and Traditions – Wadsworth Antheneum – Hartford – December 4 – December 14  - 10:00am – 5:00pm Festival of Trees & Traditions is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 14 (closed Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 8 and 9.)

This is the first opportunity for the public to purchase a tree or wreath. Throughout the week there will be live music in Avery Court and in Aetna Theater performed by over 30 local choirs, bands and orchestras. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make a return appearance along with the balloon artist, Bella the Clown. Docent-guided tours will be offered daily.

Other programs taking place during Festival include:

CONNetic Dance, "The Nutcracker Suite & Spicy," Dec. 12-14

Winterfest Hartford - Free Photos with Santa Claus - Bushnell Park – Hartford – December 13 – December 14 - 12:00noon - 3:00pm Winterfest wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Santa, so visit the Pump House and have your photo taken with him for free. Each family receives 1 free 5×7 photo; additional prints may be purchased on the page, the day after you skate. http://www.hartford.com/venue/winterfest/

8^th Annual Winter Wonderland at Ray of Light Farm – 232 Town Street - East Haddam – December 13 -  5:30pm  - 7:30pm

Sam and Cody, our Percheron team, will take holiday revelers on a wagon ride through the woods to a festive campfire gathering. We will then warm by the fire, sip hot cocoa and sing carols. Come early to meet the animals of Ray of Light, including rescues and horses available for adoption. $8 per person ages 2-80, free to guests under 2 or over 80! At 4:00pm, a professional photographer will be available for outdoor family photos. There is a price for taking photos, one to five people in the picture will cost $10, first come first served.  Santa Claus will arrive at 5:30pm.  Parking is always FREE even if you have a tree attached.  Ray of Light Website

Connecticut Trolley Museum Winterfestival – East Windsor – December 13 – 14 Families can enjoy trolley rides, Christmas Caroling, model trains, decorations, entertainment and Santa Claus. www.ct-trolley.org

The Shore Line Trolley Museum’s Santa’s Trolley Winter Wonderland – 17 River Street - East Haven - December 13 – 14 -  10:30am – 7:00pm A National Historic District – The oldest continuously running suburban trolley line in the USA. Come and enjoy a living, breathing experience riding historic, restored trolleys through scenic surroundings. Santa’s Trolley Winter Wonderland rings in the spirit of the holiday with rides on the country’s oldest continuously running trolley cars, a model train, antique trolley cars, a model train display, photos with Santa Claus and hot chocolate and cookies. www.shorelinetrolley.org

Holiday Light Fantasia – Goodwin Park – Hartford - November 27 – January 1 - 5:00pm The city-wide celebration captures the true spirit of the holiday season!  We hope our festive show offers an enchanting evening of fun for family and friends while providing a much needed break from the hectic holiday season. $15 per car (up to 10 passengers)   www.holidaylightfantasia.org/

Sunday - Thursday        5:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday - Saturday          5:00pm - 10:00pm

Winterfest Hartford – Free Ice Skating - Bushnell Park – Hartford – November 29 – February 1 – 11:00am – 8:00pm Skate for free 7-days-a-week at the Winterfest ice rink on the east side of Bushnell Park near the Pump House. Come after work, on your lunch break or as a part of a trip downtown to see some of the city’s cultural treasures. Don’t have your own skates? There are free skate rentals, too. Winterfest is brought to you by the iQuilt Partnership and the City of Hartford. http://www.hartford.com/venue/winterfest

3^rd Annual Lake Compounce Holiday Lights – Bristol – December 12 – December 21 – (Fridays- 5:00pm – 9:00pm   - Saturdays- Sundays 4:00pm – 9:00pm) Festive activities includes a spectacular light show every half hour at the main gate, featuring tens of thousands of dancing lights set to holiday music.  Kiddieland rides and family-themed rides, the train is transformed into the North Pole Railway and operated by a very special train conductor with a magical holiday story to tell. There will be strolling carolers, ice carvings and festive entertainment including clowns and lots of holiday characters. Indoor activities include cookie decorating and gingerbread house making.  Children can create their letter to Santa and enjoys story time with Mrs. Claus. https://www.lakecompounce.com/holidaylights

20^th Annual Fantasy of Lights - New Haven’s Lighthouse Point Park – New Haven - November 28 – January 6. Check out over 60 attractions that include animated and LED light displays! While you're there, share your experience with your friends on social media using #fantasyoflights. You can show off your favorite displays all while participating in a great cause. So whether it's your first or twentieth year enjoying the Fantasy of Lights, get ready to be dazzled by over 100,000 lights! $10 per car. http://www.eastersealsgoodwill.org/events

Sunday - Thursday        5:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday - Saturday          5:00pm - 10:00pm

Lantern Light Tours – Mystic Seaport – Mystic – November 29 – December 27 – 5:00pm   (leaves every 15 minutes) Experience a New England holiday tradition at Mystic Seaport and step back in time of Christmas Eve 1876 for a guided tour of Greenmanville. Both young and old will enjoy seasonal delights during this 70-minute progressive play that features a traditional tavern dance, a  horse-drawn carriage ride and the beautiful glow of hundred of lanterns that light the way. Lantern Light Tours require a special ticket in lieu of admission. http://www.mysticseaport.org/

59^th Annual Mystic Seaport Carol Sing – Mystic – December 21 - 3:00pm  The museum is open FREE all day to everyone with the donations of a canned food item or cash donation.  http://www.mysticseaport.org/

Bob Chudy

Program Director

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

Office of Global Affairs

University of Connecticut

Rowe Center   Room 126

Storrs, CT 06269

phone: 860-486-6653

email: [log in to unmask]

web: www.isss.uconn.edu