Category: Connecticut Travel

End the year – including a countdown to 12 o’clock noon – with special family fun on Mon., Dec. 31 at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. The Aquarium is planning fun midday activities for families with young children who want to celebrate the end of 2018 together, but not at the stroke of midnight.  From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a disc jockey will provide the beat, as well as a countdown to 12 o’clock; 12 o’clock noon, that is.  “ ‘Noon Year’s Eve’ gives parents the chance to count down to a celebration with their children, but without the kids needing to stay up way past their bedtimes to do so,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth.

Special guests on Dec. 31 include:

strolling street magic by The Great Dubini
Using cards, coins and borrowed objects, New York-based magician Gregory Dubin will perform amazing sleight-of-hand magic and mentalism.  

“bubble-ologist” Kim Winslow
Winslow developed his skills with bubbles as a member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit, which entertains patients in hospitals in New York and around the world. Simple soap and water become delicate kinetic sculptures that spin, glide, bounce and move in ways that will delight.

strolling family comedy and juggling by Peter Straus
Straus has toured America as a clown with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and worked extensively with the Big Apple Circus. He also has had numerous appearances on TV, including several spots on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” and has been a featured comedian and fire juggler at New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

Admission to The Maritime Aquarium is $24.95 for adults, $22.95 for seniors (65+), and $17.95 for children 3-12. Kids under 3, and Maritime Aquarium members, are free. Admission includes a choice of a spectacular IMAX movie, shown on a six-story screen: “Oceans: Our Blue Planet” at 11 a.m. and 2 & 4 p.m.; “Backyard Wilderness” at noon; and “Pandas” at 1 p.m.

Can’t make it to the Aquarium on Dec. 31? The Maritime Aquarium is open on New Year’s Day with regular hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Get more details about all exhibits, programs, IMAX movies and special events at http://www.maritimeaquarium.org.

The Norwalk Seaport Association is proud to present the inaugural “Ring in The New Year”, a unique and sparkling evening featuring the Music on the Hill Handbell Ensemble benefiting the historic Sheffield Lighthouse.

The event takes place on Sat. Jan. 19, 2019 and the Unitarian Church in Westport from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. “Not many people have experienced a handbell choir let alone one of the stature of Music on the Hill,” said Mike Reilly, association president. “The evening will include delicious hors-d’oeuvres, cocktails, a performance by a smaller sextet and will conclude with an impressive 61 bells”.

Tickets to this event are limited and are $100 each that includes shoreline appetizers, beer, wine and of course, champagne. “We’re looking forward to 2019 and couldn’t think of a better way to ring in the upcoming year than toasting the new year with friends of the seaport” added Reilly. “It will be a magical evening”.

Tickets are now available online at www.Seaport.org or by calling the Seaport office at 203-838-9444. “Tickets to this event make a great last-minute gift,” remarked Reilly.

One of Connecticut’s most popular summer attractions, Lake Compounce in Bristol transforms itself every December into a wonderous holiday experience that is perfect for families of all ages. This event takes place this year on Friday nights from 5 pm to 9 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 4 pm to 9 pm. when the park will be covered in hundreds of thousands of holiday lights and holiday music wafts through the crisp cold air.

A highlight is a brunch with Santa on December 22 starting at 2 pm. that is catered by Santa’s special elves! There will be holiday music, a sing-along, interactive reindeer games, a magical carousel ride and photos with Santa of course!

‘Holiday Lights’ will provide full family entertainment for all ages, and include festive activities such as a spectacular light show every half hour at the main gate, which will feature tens of thousands of dancing lights set to holiday music. Kiddieland rides and family-themed rides will be in operation. The Train will be transformed into the North Pole Railway, operated by a very special, uniformed train conductor with a magical holiday story to tell.

There will be indoor activities such as cookie decorating and gingerbread house making. Children will be given the opportunity to customize their very own letter to Santa, and will then receive a personalized letter sent directly to them, from Santa, just a few days later. On the Kiddieland stage children can enjoy Story Time with

Mrs. Clause. There will be carolers strolling throughout the park, an ice carver creating unique, frozen sculptures, and lots more festive entertainment including clowns making balloon animals and lots of holiday characters greeting guests. The childhood favorite; photos with Santa is not to be missed in the Winter Wonderland Starlight Theatre.

The park’s gift shops will also be loaded with holiday-themed merchandise for sale so guests can get their holiday shopping done, and new this year great food will be served hot from unique and festive food trucks. Another new attraction is the Holiday Craft Fair on Nov. 11 that will feature a selection of holiday craft vendors selling handmade items that are perfect for holiday décor or a gift for a special loved one.

There will be eight food trucks at the park offering everything from pizza to waffles, sliders to special festive beverages and sweets. There will also be a variety of rides open including the North Pole Express, the carousel, twister, American flyers, Zoomers gas and go, drop zone, caterpillar train, drum circus, flying elephants, jolly jester, a kiddie coaster, little critters, daredevils and rainbow riders.

Admission is $15.99 for adults, $11.99 for kids ages 4-10, seniors (60+) $11.99 and kids under three are free. Tickets are available online.