Connecticut Renaissance FaireLebanon
Saturdays and Sundays through October 25, plus October 12
Knighting ceremonies, circus acts and full contact jousting, with dozens of shows every day and a different theme each weekend.
Fall in Mystic, New Haven and the Shoreline1 things
The ones people drive in from other counties for. Most of them run the whole season, so you don't have to pick a weekend yet.
The little stuff, by town1 things
The city Halloween parties and the trunk or treats and the free stuff. Cities post their 2026 dates late, so anything marked "check the date" gets fixed the second it's announced.
Fall in Westport
Woodside Fall Festival
Saturday, October 3
A one day fall festival in Westport.
For the rest of your list
These don't need an address, tap them and they go on your list with everything else.
Christmas in Mystic, New Haven and the Shoreline3 things
Most of these post their 2026 dates in the fall, so these show last year's windows. Lantern Light Village sells timed tickets, so grab those early.
Holiday Lights Spectacular in MysticMystic
late November through January · check the date
Over half a million lights all over the little village of shops, one of the biggest light displays in southern New England.
Lantern Light Village at Mystic SeaportMystic
select December evenings 5 to 8:30 (last year Dec 5 to 20) · check the date
The old seaport village by lantern light like an 1800s Christmas, with carriage rides, fires, Saint Nick and music on the old whaleship.
Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse PointNew Haven
nightly from late November through December 31 · check the date
A drive through light show that's been a family favorite for over 30 years.
Town Christmas stuff
The town stuff, and I'll add the tree lightings as the cities post them in November.
Christmas in Stamford
Stamford Heights and Lights
an early December evening at 5 · check the date
Santa rappels down a 22 story building to light the tree, and then fireworks.
For the rest of your Christmas list
This is the at-home stuff, tap them and they go on your list with the lights and the train.
put it on the wall
Turn your Christmas picks into a real bucket list
Tap the lights and the trains and the town stuff you want and pick the Christmas design you like, and I'll hold onto your picks. The Christmas lists are coming soon, and the second they're up your picks drop straight into the slots.
Good any weekend0 things
The stuff that doesn't need a date, for the Saturday when nothing's going on.
Mystic, New Haven and the Shoreline fall and Christmas questions
Are the Mystic Christmas lights free?
Yes, the Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village is free, usually from late November through January.
who's writing this
Hi, I'm Amy.
We roadschool six kids out of a van. I'm just a mom with a Ford Transit and a lot of opinions about corn mazes, so if something on here is wrong, or your town's party is missing, email me at hello@bellebucket.com and I'll fix it.
put it on the wall
Turn your picks into a real bucket list
Tap the ones you want and I'll drop them onto whichever fall design you pick, then you add your own stuff (birthdays, carving pumpkins, whatever your family does). It prints big, like 24x36 big, and it hangs on the wall all season.