Connecticut Events & Activities

One of the most important aspects of the Connecticut Humanities Council (CHC) mission is our drive to help Connecticut's people rediscover the joy of lifelong learning. The CHC supports numerous Connecticut events, reading programs, museums, and historical societies in the quest to bring our rich heritage, literature and history to life. Stories can be told in so many ways and CTCulture.org features a Connecticut calendar of events and database of Connecticut cultural sites to explore and enjoy the adventure of lifetime learning. These features allow our visitors to find things to do in Connecticut that suit their interests and lifestyle, along with encouraging fun educational experiences.

Fun things to do in Connecticut abound across the state in every season of the year. Connecticut museums, libraries, and cultural organizations offer a cornucopia of interesting and often free things to do in Connecticut for all members of the family. Both visitors and locals enjoy walking tours of CT historical homes and famous places. Our museums offer plenty of hands-on things to do with kids in Connecticut. Libraries across the state offer summer and year-round reading programs for kids and book discussions for adults, as well as presenting readings by local area authors. Our team as put together the following overview of Connecticut events, ct kids activities, and cultural site highlights to spark some ideas with our readers on things to do in Connecticut for every age and interest.

Fun things to do in Connecticut

Connecticut Museums

The variety of Connecticut Museums is broad and truly eclectic. For a state that is one of the smallest in the U.S. in geographic area, the density of museums and cultural sites in Connecticut is remarkable. Connecticut museum themes range from the indigenous Indian cultures to the history of helicopters to the circus world of P.T. Barnum. The CHC supports programs in many of Connecticut’s museums knowing that these are some of the best sites for making lifelong learning fun and promoting a lasting interest in American as well as Connecticut culture and history.

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum has become one of the most popular things to do in Connecticut in recent years. The museum demonstrates the culture and history of the Mashantucket Pequot Indians and is tribally owned and operated. The Pequot Museum is a major resource center for the Pequot and several other Native American tribes. Numerous multi-sensory dioramas and exhibits detail the culture of the Mashantucket Pequot tribe as well as the natural history of Connecticut and the surrounding Eastern Woodlands region. Native artwork and crafts, as well as archeological items are featured in the displays. This Connecticut museum is also well-known as a research center and library with excellent archives for scholarly study. The museum hosts educational and interactive programs for kids and adults and hosts many Connecticut events focused on the Mashantucket Pequot culture. Visit our Connecticut Cultural Sites database for details about this and other fun things to do in Connecticut.

Connecticut Trolley Museum

The Connecticut Trolley Museum is a non-profit historical and educational museum on 17 acres in East Windsor, CT. this is one of the really fun things to do with kids in Connecticut. Visitors are taken on a 3-mile round trip trolley ride with a fun and educational narrative given by a volunteer conductor. This Connecticut museum was founded in 1940 and since has collected over 70 pieces of “rolling stock” including passenger cars, freight cars, and maintenance vehicles dating back to 1869, most of which are on display in the many storage barns on the Connecticut Trolley Museum property. The museum is very reasonably priced and hosts a variety of fun Connecticut events and CT kids activities including Easter Bunny Fun, a Winter Fest, Lemonade Socials, spooky Halloween rides, and Birthday parties.

The Barnum Museum

The Barnum Museum located in Bridgeport, CT first opened its doors to the public in 1893. This Connecticut museum showcases the life and career of famous P.T. Barnum as well as the history of Bridgeport, his adopted home. The circus promoter is most famous for creating P.T. Barnum’s Greatest Show on Earth, the big-top circus which has been around in one form or another since the first half of the 19th century.

The Barnum Museum is among one of the most unique things to do in Connecticut for both adults and kids. One of the museum galleries houses a 1,000 square foot, ¾ scale, hand carved, model of a five ring circus. The model includes over 3,000 miniature sculptures of performers, animals, and props. A nearby exhibition is dedicated to General Tom Thumb, the famous and quite tiny protégé of Barnum. Miniature carriages and clothing used by Tom and his equally tiny wife have been preserved. The Barnum Museum is also home to a 4,000 year old Egyptian mummy and hosts several Connecticut events and activities, including the marathon Big Read promoting Connecticut literacy.

Things to Do with Kids in Connecticut

The CHC is proud to sponsor a number of Connecticut cultural sites that spark the imagination and love of learning in our children. Ct kids activities are everywhere in the state and so many combine fun with education. Connecticut museums, special events, and reading programs are among the many fun things to do with kids in Connecticut.

The Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum is a world of hands-on learning for kids based in West Hartford, CT. This Connecticut museum is dedicated to sparking scientific inspiration and learning in children twelve years old and younger. This is hands-down one of the most fun things to do with kids in Connecticut and throughout the rest of New England. The museum planetarium features several different astronomy shows daily and live animal demonstrations are always happening. The many children’s exhibits include Turtle Town, Excavation Station, and Idea Zone, all with activities that get kids participating and learning with all the senses.

Along with its many interactive museum exhibits and regular activities, The Children’s Museum also offers vacation camps, birthday parties, scout programs, and every Wednesday after school astronomy and nature programs. Their outreach programs bring CT kids activities for scientific learning right into the classroom. This museum may be designed just for kids, but we think it’s among the best things to do in Connecticut for grown-ups, too!

Stepping Stones Museum

The Stepping Stones Museum in Fairfield, CT focuses on interactive experiences for children 10 years old and younger. This is one of the many fun things to do in Connecticut for little ones. Everything about the Stepping Stones Museum says “Let’s get busy!” Exhibits include Waterscape, an interactive water world of streams, waterfalls, and whirlpools where kids learn where water comes from, where it goes, and what it does. “In the Works” has kids using hands and all their senses in exploring motion, gravity, electricity, and the world of inventing.

This Connecticut Museum is home to an excellent family enrichment program with both day and evening Ct kids activities as well as summer programs. The facility is also a resource center for parents and teachers on all aspects of raising healthy, curious children. Check out the CHC cultural site database for more on this and other Connecticut events and attractions.

Dinosaur State Park

The CHC knows the importance of learning about Connecticut history, even really ancient history! Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, CT takes kids on a journey way back in time to when dinosaurs walked across our state. Dinosaur State Park is one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America, displaying footprints from the early Jurassic period, around 200 million years ago. This Connecticut museum also features miles of nature trails with plants representing the species that dominated during the time of the dinosaurs.

Dinosaur State Park is full of many fun things to do with kids in Connecticut. The family will enjoy exploring the dinosaur tracks and trails, life-size dinosaur dioramas, archeological exhibits, interactive activities, and kids can even make a plaster-cast of a real dinosaur footprint.