Looking for something to keep the kids entertained during the December 2023 break? Scroll down for a list… including activities and camps if you have to work… or just need a kid-free day! And be sure to click here for a list of holiday light displays to check out!
Local Events
The Polar Express 4D Experience® at the Maritime Aquarium
Showings daily through January 2, 10:45 a.m. 11:45 a.m. 12:45 p.m. 1:45 p.m. 2:45 p.m. & 3:45 p.m.
Flurry Zone! An Indoor Snow Experience at the Maritime Aquarium
Every hour on the hour, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. until January 1
Great Holiday Trains Show at the Wilton Historical Society
Through January 16, Wednesdays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sundays, noon – 4 p.m.
Closed: Saturday, December 24, Sunday, December 25, Sunday, January 1
Open half day, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 31
Virtual 5K Run & 1 Mile Family Fun Run for the Stamford YMCA
Sunday, December 21, 8 a.m. – Saturday, December 31, midnight
Disney On Ice: Into the Magic at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport
Thursday, December 22, 7 p.m.
Friday, December 23, 7 p.m.
Saturday, December 24, 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Sunday, December 25, 2 p.m.
Monday, December 26, noon & 4 p.m.
Slime Bootcamp
Friday, December 23, Saturday, December 24, 4 p.m. Wednesday, December 28, 3 p.m. Friday, December 30, 4 p.m. Saturday, December 31, 3 p.m. Camp at the SoNo Collection
Merry Movie Night: Home Alone
Friday, December 23, 5 p.m. Stamford Town Center
Drop-In Play at Honey Joe’s Family Coffeehouse
Saturday, December 24, 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 29 & Friday, December 30, 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Saturday, December 31, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 1, 8 a.m. – noon, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Chanukah Menorah Car Parade
Saturday, December 24th, 6:00 p.m. meet at Chabad of Stamford
Join a parade of cars decked out with menorahs as we drive through Stamford culminating with a Giant Menorah lighting at Latham Park.
Pick-n-Paint Ceramic Ornaments
Monday, December 26, & Thursday, December 29, 11 a.m. Camp Store, SoNo Collection
Bonus Brunch
Monday, December 26, noon – 3 p.m. Fortina
Construct-A-Train Holiday Engine
Monday, December 26 & Wednesday, December 28, 3 p.m. Camp Store, SoNo Collection
Kwanzaa: Community Gatherings & Celebrations
Tuesday, December 27, Thursday, December 29 & Saturday, December 31, noon – 1:30 p.m. South End Library
Build with Lego
Tuesday, December 27, 2 p.m. Main Library
DIY Penguin Sensory Bottles
Tuesday, December 27 & Thursday, December 29, 3 p.m. Camp Store, SoNo Collection
Make a Sock Snowman
Tuesday, December 27 & Friday, December 30, 11 a.m. Camp Store, SoNo Collection
Kwanzaa: A Stamford Celebration
Wednesday, December 28, 2 p.m. Stamford Government Center
Curious Minds Story & Activity (Birth to 4)
Thursday, December 29, 11 a.m. South End Library
Star Book Poetry & Craft (5th Grade to 8th Grade)
Thursday, December 29, 2 p.m. Main Library
2022 Holiday Family Show
Thursday, December 29, 7 p.m. Norwalk City Hall
A Christmas Carol Puppet Performance
Friday, December 30, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Stepping Stones Museum
Classic Movie Matinee: Scrooged (5th Grade to 12th Grade)
Friday, December 30, 2 p.m. Harry Bennett Branch Auditorium
Friday Flicks: Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (Ages 6+)
Friday, December 30, 2 p.m. Main Library
2022 Twin Rinks on Ice Holiday Celebration
Friday, December 30, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Frozen Sing Along
Friday, December 30, 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Sacred Heart University Community Theatre, Fairfield
Harlem Globetrotters
Saturday, December 31, 1 p.m. Total Mortgage Arena
Road Trip Options
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Through January 8
Get tickets here!
Holiday Train Show at the NY Botanical Gardens
Through January 16, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Get tickets here!
Dazzlingliffe Lantern Festival at Lyman Orchards
Through January 31
Get tickets here!
Mystic Aquarium and Old Mistick Village
Visit Mystic Aquarium… featuring both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The Jurassic Giants exhibit to explore the age of dinosaurs! The exhibit features giant animatronic dinosaurs, enjoy two 4D theaters, and visit with frogs and reptiles!
Advance purchase your online timed-tickets here!
After visiting the aquarium, explore the unique shops, restaurants and pet friendly open air Old Mistick Village.
Learn more here!
Head to the Mystic Seaport Museum
75 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic, CT
Thursday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Grounds close 5 p.m.
Timed admission is not required.
My family was so excited to discover this gem! Enjoy the sprawling grounds along the Mystic River including a children’s museum featuring a hands-on environment for children and their parents b playing in an indoor boat, toy and game area. There is also an outdoor playscape, planetarium, working shipyard, 500+ historic watercraft and more!
Tips: Buy a Mystic Pass Card, the joint Mystic Seaport Museum and Mystic Aquarium ticket! Enjoy lunch next door or head into town!
Take on the It Adventure Rope Course
Jordan’s Furniture, 40 Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT
Schedule available here.
Experience the world’s largest indoor ropes course, featuring four adrenaline-pumping levels of fun and adventure! Over 100 activities to take advantage of and explore.
Go Tubing
Campgaw Mountain
Mahwah, NJ
about 55 min from Stamford
Catamount Mountain Resort
Hillsdale, NY
about 1 hour, 55 min from Stamford
Mohawk Mountain Ski Area
Cornwall, CT
about 1 hour, 40 min from Stamford
Mount Peter Ski Area
Warwick, NY
about 1 hour, 15 min from Stamford
Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
Middlefield, CT
about 1 hour, 10 min from Stamford
Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ
Learn more here!
Sloomoo Institute
475 Broadway, New York, NY
A sensory haven centered around slime, Sloomoo Institute is an artistic universe made to intrigue, delight, and evoke your inner child. Slime inspires wonder and joy, regardless of age.
Learn more here!
Ice Skating
Mill River Park Skate Center
Saturday, December 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, December 26, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Tuesday, December 27 – Thursday, December 29, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday, December 30, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday. December 31 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, 2 p.m.– 8 p.m.
Stamford Twin Rinks Public Skates
Monday, December 26, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Tuesday, December 27, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, December 28, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday, December 29, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday, December 30, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 31, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, January 1, 10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Monday, January 2, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Camps
Chelsea Piers
December 19 – 23 & December 26 – 30
Code Ninjas Stamford
December 19 – December 23 & December 26 – December 30
High Rise Basketball
Monday, December 26 – Friday, December 30
IC School Holiday Activity Program
Monday, December 26-Friday, December 30
Lifecycle Kids Camps
Monday, December 19 – Friday, December 23 & Tuesday, December 27 – Friday, December 30
School’s Out Vacation Camp at Mill River Park
Tuesday, December 27 – Friday, December 30
Best Time Ever Mini Camp
Monday, December 26 – Friday, December 30
JCC Stamford Full-Day Vacation Day
Monday, December 26 – Friday, December 30
Stamford Recreation Holiday Vacation Camp
December 27 – December 30
Green Moon Children’s Art Studio Workshops
Monday, December 19 – Friday, December 23, Tuesday, December 27 – Friday, December 30
Stamford YMCA Vacation Camp
Tuesday, December 27 – Friday, December 30
2022 Twin Rinks On-Ice Holiday Celebration
Friday, December 30, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.