CELEBRATIONS IN CONNECTICUT

12-09-2008

FROM MID-DAY TO MIDNIGHT: NEW YEAR'S
AND OTHER HOLIDAY-WEEK EVENTS

HARTFORD (December 08, 2008) - With the shredded gift wrapping all cleared, the kids off for the week and the New Year less than a week away, it inevitably begs the question: what to do next? Connecticut has easy "off-week" holiday getaways suitable for the whole family. Merriment and fun at one of a range of museums, a city-wide celebration and, for the really little ones, a countdown to the other 12:00 - noon - are just a few possibilities.

The following is a short list of activities in Connecticut for the week leading up to the New Year.  

Holiday Magic and More at Mystic Seaport, December 26 - January 4   
Take the kids to Mystic Seaport to have two or three days filled with maritime merriment during the off-school week spanning Christmas and the New Year. At The Museum of America and the Sea, "Holiday Magic" takes visitors on a special seasonal Sea Family Tour aboard one of its tall ships at 11:00 a.m. daily December 26 - January 4, with the exception of Monday, December 29 when the museum will be closed. Hear stories of sailors, captains and their families that were at sea during the holidays and discover how they observed the occasion in unique Maritime fashion.

At 12:00 p.m. each day, visit the Abracadabra Magic Workshop on the third floor of the Stillman Building, the former textile mill that dates to 1862. Afterwards, learn a holiday magic trick courtesy of professional historical magician E.A. Davis, who will perform a magic show at the Greenmanville Church at 1:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. daily. The church is a bit of magic in and of itself, dating to 1851 and spending half a century as a house of worship before becoming a private residence and finally a part of the Seaport in 1955.

The Planetarium features a "Celebrations of Light" program at 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. daily. And check out the museum's newest exhibition, Frozen In: Captain Comer and the Hudson Bay Inuit; afterwards, make your very own Inuit keepsake from 2:30-3:00 p.m. For more information on any Mystic Seaport event, call (888) 973-2767.

Happy New... Noon?
Midnight too late for the kiddies? On December 31^st, ring in the other 12 O'Clock with "Countdown to Noon" at the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut in Niantic. Enjoy a special day of family festivities and activities from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. as they count down to noon. Discover New Year's traditions from around the world, design your own party hat and celebrate the (almost) New Year! Admission: $6 per person, under 1 year old is free. For more information, call (860) 691-1111.

Looking for More Than a Dropping Ball? Join Hartford's City-Wide Celebration
Celebrating its 20^th anniversary, First Night Hartford is a city-wide New Year's Eve party in Connecticut's capital city - a multicultural, artistically unique, alcohol-free New Year's experience with countless professional musicians, artists, performance groups and exhibits. The fun begins at 2:00 p.m. and continues straight through the evening, including fireworks displays at both 6:00 p.m. and midnight, First Night Hartford is a true something-for-everyone experience. Passes are $15 for adults, $12 for children under 12.

First Night Hartford is far more than a party, though. For example, revelers can enjoy a tour of Bushnell Park's famous Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch. Enjoy the panoramic views from atop the arch and learn about the building's history from a member of the Bushnell Park Foundation. The tour takes place from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Nearby, Bushnell Park's antique carousel will be open from 2:00 p.m. to midnight providing free rides for ticket holders. Need an evening stretch? Stop by the Fuller Movement Center starting at 8:30 p.m. and take a New Year's Eve yoga class! Instructors guide visitors through a 15-minute session to help "get a leg up" on the New Year. Call (860) 722-9546 for a full schedule of events.

(Water) slide into the New Year
In Waterbury, make it a wet and wild New Year at CoCo Key Water Resort, which is attached to the Holiday Inn in Waterbury. CoCo Key features 55,000 square feet of enclosed water slides, tube rides, whirlpools and an exciting activity pool. Special for December 31 is the New Year's Eve Splash Bash. A family of four taking advantage of this event receives overnight hotel accommodations, two days' access to the water park, a New Year's Eve dinner buffet, two countdown receptions (8:00 p.m. and midnight), a champagne toast at midnight for adults, duck races at CoCo Key on New Year's Day, special arts and crafts activities, an evening movie and popcorn if desired and arcade competitions and challenges. The package is priced at $99 per adult and $79 per child under age 21. For more information, call (203) 706-1000.

Learning for the Little Ones
In Norwalk, the Stepping Stones Museum for Children is keeping kids educated and engaged during their week off with special holiday activities. The week of festivities at the museum, which is dedicated to the education and health of young children, include (all activities have two sessions: 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.):

• "Special Snowy Storytimes" December 27
• "Make a Snowflake" December 28
• "Storybook Theater: The Shoemaker and the Elves" December 29
• "El Invierno" - a simple holiday-season Spanish language session December 30

Admission is $9. For more information on the museum and additional holiday activities, call (203) 899-0606.

Also in Norwalk, The Maritime Aquarium is featuring its seventh annual Festival of Lighthouses display through January 19, 2009. It is a New England tradition to decorate lighthouses for the holidays; it is the aquarium's tradition to decorate itself with lighthouses. The model lighthouses are crafted by local artists and hobbyists from the surrounding area. After viewing all 21 installments, vote for the one that "lit you up" the most. Admission is $11.75 for adults and $9.75 for children under 12. For more information call (203) 852-0700.   

For more information about how to party like it's 2009 in Connecticut, call 1-888-CTvisit (1-888-288-4748) or log on at www.CTvisit.com.  Connecticut offers visitors a multifaceted wealth of attractions, historical, cultural and recreational activities, diverse and beautiful natural landscapes, parks, beaches and wilderness sure to fulfill any getaway need - winter, summer, spring or fall.

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