Festival of Lights and Tree Lighting, downtown Milford Green; Nov. 23, 5:30; sponsored by the Milford Chamber of Commerce; tree lighting at 6:30, when the Jolly Elf arrives by fire truck, courtesy of the Milford Professional Firefighters Association; photos with Santa; music by DJ Shelia and The Milford Concert Band, horse and carriage rides, and free hot chocolate.
Santa Visits Fairfield; Nov. 24, 10-2:30; Santa arrives by hook and ladder to Sherman Green on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Every child receives a plush animal; compliments of the chamber of commerce; In addition to Santa, there are horse and buggy rides and a petting zoo. The Kiwanis Club hosts a cook-out.
Huntington Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting; Nov. 24, at 7; visits with Santa, music, entertainment, horse and buggy rides, window decorating contest.
Downtown Ridgefield annual Holiday Stroll; Nov. 30 at 6 and all day on Saturday, Dec. 1; horse-drawn carriages, musical performances, children’s shows, ice-sculpting and more.
New Canaan annual Holiday Stroll; sponored by New Canaan Chamber of Commerce; Nov. 30, from 6-9; Dec. 1, from 10-4; tree lighting, Santa, gingerbread house tour, entertainment, refreshments, and more.
Silvermine School of Art holiday fund-raiser; Dec. 1, from 10-4; Dec. 2, from 1-5; gifts in a variety of media for sale; all sales tax-free
Fourth annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop; Nov. 23-Dec. 24; Santa and his live reindeer will be at McArdle’s Florist & Garden Center, 48 Arch Street in Greenwich. Families, children, adults, company employees and even pets can have their photo taken with Santa at his special workshop. Photo packages begin at $29.99 and include a gift bag and the Shopper On The Go mobile application filled with promotions redeemable at participating downtown Greenwich stores. Hours for the photos are Monday- Friday, noon to 5:30, Saturday, 9-5:30, and Sunday, 9-4. Reindeer feeding times will take place daily at 9 and 4. Reindeer Facts, educational information about reindeer, will also be available; Greenwichreindeerfestival.com
Greenwich Holiday Stroll Weekend; Dec. 1 (10-6), and 2 (noon-5); downtown Greenwich; horse drawn carriage rides, carolers, musicians, professional ice sculptors, special performers, live reindeer and photos with Santa as more than 80 participating retailers offer special promotions, refreshments and holiday cheer.
‘A Christmas Carol;’ Dec. 3, at 4:30 at the Clune Center For The Arts at Wilton High School ; presented by the Historical Christmas Barn and The Wilton Historical Society; $15; 203-761-8777
Holiday Storytime at Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford; 151 Brookdale Rd.; Dec. 7; Come see Todd DuPont in the children’s classroom and hear some of his favorite stories (holiday and nature-themed). After a few stories, participants will work on a few art projects that relate to the stories. Reservations required; $5 for members, $10 for non-members; 203-322-6971, BartlettArboretum.org
Walter Schalk School of Dance ‘Holiday Spectacular 2012;’ Dec. 7, 8, 9, at Darien High School auditorium; Dec. 15, and 16, at Wilton High School auditorium; call 203-762-7508 for more information on peformance times.
Holiday Open House at Stratford Historical Society; 967 Academy Hill, Stratford; Dec. 8-9, from 11-3; be warmed by special sights and sounds of Christmases past at the historic Judson House. Halls will be decked, house tours, gift shop, holiday music by Hearthside Waits, reenactor from Valley Forge.; 203-378-0630
The Nichols Garden Club Holiday Boutique; Starkweather House, 1773 Huntington Tpke., in Nichols; Dec. 7, from noon-8, and Dec. 8, from 10 -2 . The club will have fresh decorated wreaths of various sizes, fresh swags, fresh centerpieces in unique containers, pre-lit decorated table-top Christmas trees and the ever popular fresh mailbox covers.
Stew Leonard’s 20th annual Menorah Lighting Celebration; Dec 10, at 5; Stew Leonard’s,100 Westport Ave., Norwalk; Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht of Beth Israel of Westport/Norwalk lighting an 18-foot menorah; following the menorah lighting is a celebration complete with live music holiday song and dance and complimentary Kosher refreshments and juice. Traditional dreidels and chocolate gelt will be distributed to all.
Shelton Holiday Craft Festival; Dec. 15, from 10-4; Hyatt House Hotel, 830 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton
‘The Nutcracker;’ presented by the Connecticut Ballet; Dec. 15-23; The Palace: Stamford Center for the Arts; call the box office at 203-325-4466.
