30th Annual First Night Celebration Hartford

First Night Hartford

When: Monday, December 31

Time: From 2 p.m. to Midnight

Where: Downtown Hartford

Two magnificent fireworks shows in Bushnell Park one a 6 p.m. and one at midnight.

Events:

Architectural Treasures of Hartford- a one hour tour given at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Meet outside the Old State House on the east side.

Ancient Buring Ground Tour- 2:40-3:20 p.m.Enter through the gate on Main Street.

Bill Walach- musician and storyteller at the Pump House in Bushnell Park 6:15 to 9:45 p.m.


For a full list of events check the First Night Website

Each admission wristband will admit each person into all programming and all locations all day/evening long. It’s an “all-in-one” wristband. Come and go to any and all activities as you please. Wristbands must also be worn to fireworks displays if attending.

Wristbands may be purchased online. Deadline for online wristband sales is Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at 12 PM ET.

Prices are $12 for adults, $3 for ages 3-15, and no charge for ages 2 and under.

Wristband(s) purchased online, you will be sent via USPS in within 3 – 5 business days.


PRE-EVENT SALES OUTLET LOCATIONS

Wristbands on sale Saturday, December 1 – Monday, December 31, 2018

AAA – West Hartford, Avon, Cromwell, Enfield, Manchester, Plainville, Old Saybrook, Waterford
CHECK LOCATIONS FIRST on Dec 31

Berkshire Bank – Farmington, Glastonbury, Newington, Rocky Hill, Vernon, West Hartford, Windsor
CHECK LOCATIONS FIRST on Dec 31

CT Transit Information Booth – Downtown Hartford, State House Square

Highland Park Markets – Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester, South Windsor, Suffield, Coventry

Old State House – 800 Main Street, Hartford CT
 

Mark Twain House Living History Tour

Visiting the Mark Twain House provides an opportunity to get to know the American author who was in his lifetime the most well-known person in the world. He spent 17 years in Hartford and they were the most productive in his life, at least when it comes to writing. He lived an exciting life and saw a great deal of the world before he settled down with his wife Livy at Nooks Farm.

If you want to take the Living History Tour, it is recommended that you book it ahead of time online. You will be able to see which of the character will be leading your tour. I am going to say, that is not guaranteed since we signed up for butler George Griffin and ended up with best friend Joe Twitchell. We are not complaining but we were a little surprised. 

Plan to arrive at least an hour before the time of your tour. A 23-minute film is offered which is well worth watching and a few galleries that you will also want to visit not to mention the gift shop. You need to be able to climb stairs to take this tour, lots and lots of stairs. The tour takes 75 minutes.

The tour begins right at the bottom of the stairs in the Visitor Center. Our group had about 10 people in it and that size was very good given the places we stopped to hear Joe spin his tales. And spin he did, this is so much more than the normal tour through the rooms, you get to hear about the real relationship between these two men.

The tour covers three floors of the house and then ends in the basement. In the basement, Joe gets out of character and answers current day questions. We then walked around the exterior of the house to appreciate its location.

We absolutely loved this tour, as a matter of fact, all of us said we would like to do it again with another character, you will see a whole other view of the great man from the eyes of some of the other people who shared his life. Worth every penny of the $25 adult ticket and I would say worth even more. I highly recommend a visit to the Mark Twain House. 

Holiday Light Fantasia Goodwin Park Hartford

Nothing says the holiday like getting in a line with hundreds of other people and driving around a park in the dark!! lol Seriously, we decided after visiting the Mark Twain House and having dinner at Max Downtown that what we needed to complete the perfect holiday afternoon/evening was Holiday Light Fantasia at Goodwin Park. 

We did all the obligatory oohs and ahs and lots of laughing when we couldn't figure out what some of the light displays were. It is $15 per car and it benefits the Channel 3 Kids Camp. You tune your car radio to 89.7 F.M. and local celeb Scott Haney explains what your money is going to give to the kids who attend the camp. You also get serenaded with Christmas music. 

If you have kids, and even if you don't it is guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit. It takes maybe 15 or 20 minutes to drive through and some of the displays really are impressive. All in all, a fun time was had by all. 

Visit Connecticut's Own Castle At Christmas Time

 Gillette Castle 2018 Holiday Hours

Gillette Castle will be open for self-guided tours this holiday season:

Tour Days:

 December 7,8,9

December 14,15,16

December 21,22,23

Hours: Fridays from 4 p.m. -8:30 p.m., last entry 8:00 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day, last entry is at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets can also be purchased online at www.reserveamerica.com

Same day tickets may only be purchased online until noon that day.  However, they can be purchased on-site at the Visitors' Center. 

Christmas in Bethlehem

Christmas in Bethlehem
Saturday, December 8, 2018
10:00am-4:00pm
Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden

 9 Main Street]

 North, Bethlehem, CT 06751


Tour the festively decorated house, sip hot cider & enjoy a children’s craft activity all weekend. Greenery will be for sale to benefit the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden. Accepting donations

Holiday Open House Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum Norwalk

Holiday Open House  December 9, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will feature a joyful, family-friendly event and several hours of entertainment with dance and choral youth performances and a special appearance by Santa Claus and his elves.

Visitors will have an opportunity to view the Holiday Tree Exhibit, take memorable family portraits, and enjoy the music and dance performances surrounded by the shimmering lights throughout the first floor of the Mansion.

During the event, the Mansion’s Café will offer complimentary refreshments served by the Museum’s costumed interpreters. There will be mini-tours of the first-floor period rooms.

Admission $5.00