Tag: Holidays

All Aboard with Santa in Thomaston and Danbury

We know that Santa gets around during the holiday season, but sleighs are not his only favorite mode of travel. In Litchfield Hills, you can often find the man in red enjoying a holiday train ride–and he loves company.

Northern Lights Express Naugatuck Rail Road

On December weekends, Santa can be found aboard the Santa Express leaving from Thomaston, CT, ready with bags of goodies for all the young passengers he meets along the way. Santa is so fond of trains that he even has two satellite workshops in train cars, one reached via a vintage train ride at the Danbury Railway Museum and another along the way on the Northern Lights Limited, a nighttime train excursion from Thomaston.

Rides are just part of the special railroad fun for families this year in Fairfield and Litchfield Counties, where lavish displays of working model trains are a traditional holiday treat in several locations.

The Santa Express in Thomaston This 1920s vintage train travels along the scenic Naugatuck River for a warm, cozy 80-minute round-trip ride. Santa brings along Mrs. Claus and some friendly helper elves to visit with each child on board. Trains depart from the historic 1881 station in Thomaston Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Dec. 13,14,19,20,21.

RMNE Santa with passengers small

Light displays inside and out make for an exciting outing at night aboard the Northern Lights Limited from Thomaston. The train makes a stop at Santa’s Train Workshop, where the great man will board and greet everyone with gifts. Trains depart at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on December 14,19,20,and 21.

Back at the gaily decorated station, a model train layout is in action, and a large selection of railroad theme gifts, books and memorabilia can be found. Tickets and information are available from the Railroad Museum of New England, online at www.rmne.org, or by phoning (860) 283-7245.

All Aboard in Danbury At the Danbury Railway Museum, a classic 1903 station with a railroad yard filled with vintage train cars, visitors can ride a working vintage train through the yard to Santa’s Workshop. They will find him busily supervising his elves as they make toys, but still with time to talk with visitors and offer a small gift for every child.

A miniature train layout whizzes its way around the restored station, where once again, there are gifts for railroad buffs of all ages. Trains leave every half hour from noon to 3 p.m. on weekends, December 14, 20 and 21. For tickets and information, see www.Danbury.org/drm or phone: (203) 778-8337.

For information on the Litchfield Hills visit www.litchfieldhills.com

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Celebrate the Season at the PT Barnum Museum

The PT Barnum Museum located on 820 Main Street in Bridgeport is hosting two holiday events that detail traditions that began in the Victorian times and are still celebrated today.

On December 10 at 12:15 for example, guests will get a sneak peek at the Barnum Museum. This free event is open to the public and will explore the fact that Christmas as we know it today is really a wonderful creation dating back to the Victorian times. The tradition of the Christmas tree, gift-giving and joyous celebrations with family and friends began in America in the mid 19th-century. Join the museum staff as they showcase some holiday costumes and finery that speak to the opulence of the holiday season!

On December 14 at 2 p.m. the musuem is celebrating the season with journey back in time. Escape the hustle and bustle of the holiday season for an hour or so while listening to the lecture by Museum Director Kathy Maher. She will present the evolution of the tales and traditions of the Victorian Age Christmas. There is no registration but a $5 donation is suggested. The museum is free for kids under 12.

For more information about the P.T. Barnum Museum visit http://www.barnum-museum.org.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountryct.com

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Bethel Salutes the holidays

Downtown Bethel is saluting the holidays with a series of special events sure to please holiday gift buyers and browsers. To kick off the season, Bethel has decorated and lit their gorgeous holiday tree. On Saturday, November 29, Bethel is inviting kids to meet Santa from a 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bethel Municipal Center. Pose for photos with Santa then browse the items displayed by local artisans and vendors at the Santa Village Marketplace.

wreath

Also on November 29, the Bethel Chamber is sponsoring a Run Santa Run 5K where participants can opt to run as Santa, an elf, a holiday tree or even a present! The 5K Run / Walk starts at 11:00 a.m.Kids Fun Run starts at 10:15 a.m.

Along with the 5K, Santa’s Village Marketplace will be setup inside the Bethel Municipal Center. A great way to start your holiday shopping. After the 5K, Santa will be inside for you to visit with and have your picture taken.

Beginning on December 4, each Thursday in December will be the Bethel Wine and Shop event that begins at 4 p.m. and lasts until the closing time of shop participants. This is the first annual wine and shop event and participants can purchase a passport for $25 for shopping and dining purposes. More than a dozen merchants will serve you wine when you show your passport. And, when shopping is over, use your passport at several restaurants in town for special dining offers.

For details call the Bethel Chamber at 203-743-6500. For additional information visit http://bethelchamber.com or call 203-743-6500.

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Celebrate the holidays PT Barnum Style!

During December, Bridgeport’s Barnum Museum is offering a limited, yet glorious, series of Victorian Christmas events as part of the Celebrate the Season programming.

On Wednesday, December 11, at 11 a.m. the musuem is hosting a reading of The Night Before Christmas by Sonya Finch Bridgeport’s First Lady. Mrs. Finch will read Clement Clarke Moore’s timeless holiday tale, the enchantingThe Night Before Christmas, under the twinkling lights of a Victorian Christmas tree. Children attending the nearby Early Learning Lab at Housatonic Community College have been invited, but the public is also encouraged to bring their pre-school children for a $2 suggested donation to participate in this traditional way to ring in the holidays.

Lady in Wheeler Room

If you are a fan of Tom Thumb, don’t miss Eric Lehman’s Tom Thumb Lecture on Sunday, December 15, at 2 p.m. . Attendees will get a first look at Eric D. Lehman’s new biography of Bridgeport’s own Charles Stratton, Becoming Tom Thumb. Lehman tells the full story of this iconic figure for the first time. The book details his triumphs on the New York stage, his epic celebrity wedding, his meetings with Abraham Lincoln and Queen Victoria, and his around-the-world tour, drawing on newly available primary sources and interviews. From the mansions of Paris to the deserts of Australia, Stratton’s unique brand of Yankee comedy not only earned him the accolades of millions of fans, it helped move little people out of the side show and into the lime light. Eric D. Lehman teaches travel literature, history, and creative writing at the University of Bridgeport. He is the author of seven books about Connecticut, including A History of Connecticut Food andInsiders’ Guide to Connecticut. Admission $5.

On Wednesday, December 18, at 12 p.m. Kathleen Maher, the Museum’s Executive Director will present Celebrate the Season. This presentation will take participants on a fascinating journey back in time to holiday festivities of bygone days. Maher will present the evolution of the tales and traditions of a Victorian age Christmas. $2 suggested donation.
The Barnum Museum is located on 820 Main Street in Bridgeport in the People’s United Bank Gallery, entry located at the back of the historic building, or McLevy Green on Dec. 5. Call for more information 203-331-1104 ext.100, M-F, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

The Barnum Museum Holiday schedule:
Sat, Dec. 21 through Weds, Dec. 25 – The Barnum Museum will be closed
Thurs. & Fri., Dec. 26 & 27 – Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Weds. Jan. 1 – The Barnum Museum will be closed
Thurs. & Fri., Jan. 2 & 3 – Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The back exhibition hall of the museum, featuring artifacts that belonged to P.T. Barnum, Tom Thumb and others, is open for viewing and exploration on Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To learn more about The Barnum Museum’s current programs visit http://www.barnum-museum.org. You can also visit the museum on Facebook, view past programs at www.barnummuseumexhibitions.org or communicate on Twitter @BarnumMuseum.

The original Barnum Institute building is owned by the City of Bridgeport and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

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ALL ABOARD FOR “THE POLAR EXPRESS AT THE MARITIME AQUARIUM AT NORWALK Nov. 25-Dec. 31

Polar Express at the IMAX Theatre Maritime Center Norwalk

Renew (or begin) a family tradition by securing your tickets for a magical ride to the North Pole as “The Polar Express” steams back onto the giant IMAX screen for a limited engagement at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

Based on the 1986 Caldecott Award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg, “The Polar Express” follows a young boy who doubts the existence of Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, a locomotive arrives to take him and other doubtful children to Santa’s North Pole headquarters. Their shared experiences ­– onboard with a mysterious conductor, at the North Pole and then on the return leg – make a compelling adventure.

The star of this adventure is Tom Hanks who cleverly plays five roles, including the train’s officious conductor, a ghostly hobo and Santa Claus. Hailed by critics nationwide, this film, shot entirely in Performance Capture, a process by which an actor’s live performance is digitally recorded by computerized cameras and becomes a human blueprint for creating virtual characters has been tapped to become a perennial classic that will be shared by the generations. Polar Express manages to sidestep all the tiresome Christmas cliches that children have inflicted on them this time of year and presents a fresh look at this magical time of year.

Tickets for “The Polar Express” are specially priced at $11.50 for adults, $10.50 seniors 65 and older, and $9.50 for children ages 2-12. Maritime Aquarium members save $1 and can be reserved in advance online at www.maritimeaquarium.org or by calling (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.

The show runs from November 25 – December 31st. Show times through Dec. 24 are 4 & 7:30 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays. After Christmas, “The Polar Express” will play at 4 & 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26-30 and at 4 p.m. Dec. 31.

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Feast Of Gingerbread Houses Await in Litchifeld Hills and Fairfield County!

Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without gingerbread houses, those delicious edible creations that add color and fun to the season. Two don’t-miss displays in Connecticut’s Litchfield and Fairfield Counties are guaranteed to delight, and may provide take-home decoration for some lucky families. You may even be able to create your own gingerbread confection.

This will be the 43rd year for the Gingerbread Village, a lavish display at St. George’s Church on Tucker Hill Road in Middlebury beginning December 4. The Village is made up of more than 60 buildings, with horse and sleigh teams, ponds, boats, and sledders, all dressed up in Christmas splendor. This year’s theme is storybooks. Everything is for sale, available to take home when the display ends on December 11. A craft room and raffles of more than 20 goody-laden baskets are an additional highlight of this event. Dates are Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Dec. 5, noon-7 p.m.; Dec. 6-10, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m.; Dec. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is Free. Phone: (203) 758-9557 for information.

The second annual Visions of Gingerbread: The Sweetest Architects at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center (www.stamfordmuseum.org) through December 5 shows off imaginative confections from some of the area’s best pastry chefs, restaurants, and caterers. DiMare’s Pastry Shop of Stamford, SoNo Baking Company of South Norwalk, Cake Suite of Westport, and Sugar & Olives of Norwalk are among those who are vying for first prize from a panel of official judges. Visitors are invited to vote for the “Fan Favorite” of the year. These one-of-a-kind creations will be available for purchase through a silent auction, with proceeds to benefit the museum’s education programs.

Families who want to learn to make their own gingerbread houses should contact the Silo Cooking School in New Milford. Each year The Silo offers enormously popular classes where parents and their children team up to create wonderful gingerbread fantasies. The classes, open to children ages five and up, are held November 20-21, 26-28 and December 3-5; they sell out every year. The cost is $85 for each parent-child team, up to 3 people. The Silo is part of the Hunt Hill Farm Trust (www.hunthillfarmtrust.org) Check for openings or waiting lists on-line or at (860) 355-0300.

If you can’t create a house, you can at least decorate a gingerbread cookie souvenir on December 4 at the Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road, from 1 to 4 p.m. The $10 per family fee includes the Society’s annual Great Trains exhibit. Get details at http://www.wiltonhistorical.org or phone (203) 762-7257.

For more information about gingerbread adventures, directions to events and listings of all the holiday doings in the region, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, http://www.visitwesternct.com. They offer a free copy of UNWIND, a 112-page color guide to the attractions in the Litchfield Hills and a free color Fairfield County Getaway Guide.

JanetLeave a comment