Holiday Craft Fairs & Christmas Markets in Connecticut 2026: A Weekend-by-Weekend Guide
Connecticut's holiday shopping season runs from the big Mohegan Sun show in early November to the last Winterfair weekend in Hartford on December 20. This guide lists the state's holiday craft fairs, Christmas bazaars and artisan markets for 2026, grouped by weekend. Dates, hours and admission were checked against each organizer's own page in late September 2026. Where an organizer hasn't posted its 2026 date yet, we say so.
Biggest holiday events
- New England Christmas Festival in Uncasville, November 6–8, is the largest holiday craft show in the state, with more than 400 artisans at Mohegan Sun's Earth Expo & Convention Center. Our New England Christmas Festival guide covers tickets, hours and parking.
- Winterfair Hartford runs every Saturday and Sunday from November 28 to December 20 in Hartford Union Station's Great Hall.
- Frosty's Christmas Festival and the Southington Holiday Craft Fair both fill the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, a week apart.
- Newtown Holiday Festival turns Newtown's Main Street into a market and a full day of holiday events on December 6.
Weekend of November 6–8
- New England Christmas Festival, Uncasville, Friday–Sunday, November 6–8. Friday and Saturday 9am–6pm, Sunday 9am–5pm. Tickets $18 Friday or Sunday, $21 Saturday; kids 14 and under free.
- CraftWestport, Westport, Saturday–Sunday, November 7–8, at Staples High School. Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 10am–4pm. 175 artists and makers. Admission $13, seniors $11, ages 12–18 $5, under 12 free; free parking.
- Meriden Weihnachtsfest Christmas Bazaar, Meriden, Saturday–Sunday, November 7–8, 9am–3pm, at the Meriden Turner Society's hall on Old Colony Road. Crafts, baked goods, homemade preserves, a Christmas raffle and hot German food.
- Shelton Autumn Craft Festival, Shelton, Saturday, November 7, 10am–4pm, at the Hyatt House Hotel. An indoor craft show from Artisans Alliance.
Weekend of November 12–15
- Arts Center East Holiday Artisan Craft Fair, Vernon, Thursday–Sunday, November 12–15 (and again November 19–22). Thursday and Friday 1–5pm, Saturday 9am–4pm, Sunday 10am–2pm. Work from more than 60 artisans, sold by Arts Center East itself.
- North Haven Holiday Welcome Craft Festival, North Haven, Sunday, November 15, 11am–5pm, at the Clarion Inn.
Weekend of November 19–22
- Arts Center East Holiday Artisan Craft Fair, Vernon, second weekend, Thursday–Sunday, November 19–22, same hours as above.
- Noah Webster House Holiday Market, West Hartford, Saturday–Sunday, November 21–22, 10am–3pm. More than 20 local artisans set up inside the museum. Free, with a suggested $5 donation.
- Northwestern Regional No. 7 FFA Holiday Craft Fair, Winsted, Saturday, November 21, 9am–3pm, at Northwestern Regional School. The 31st annual fair.
- Frosty's Christmas Festival, Plantsville, Sunday, November 22, 9am–4pm, at the Aqua Turf Club. More than 140 juried crafters and nine food booths; the show draws about 3,000 shoppers. Admission $5.
- Southbury Autumn Craft Festival, Southbury, Sunday, November 22, 11am–5pm, at the Wyndham Hotel.
Thanksgiving weekend, November 27–29
- Winterfair Hartford opens Saturday, November 28, at Hartford Union Station, 1 Union Place. Open Saturdays and Sundays 11am–4pm through December 20, with 30+ vendors each market day. You can arrive by train or bus; Winterfair offers $5 discounted parking at the Spruce Street lot, and street parking is free on weekends.
- Southington Holiday Craft Fair, Plantsville, Sunday, November 29, 9am–5pm, at the Aqua Turf Club. Exhibitor spaces are sold out. The promoter lists adult admission of $2.50–$5 across its shows, with children under 12 free.
Weekend of December 4–6
- Noah Webster House Holiday Market, West Hartford, second weekend: Friday, December 4, 5–8pm, and Saturday–Sunday, December 5–6, 10am–3pm. Different artisans than the first weekend.
- Shelton Holiday Craft Festival, Shelton, Saturday, December 5, 10am–4pm, at the Hyatt House Hotel.
- Newington Holiday Craft Fair, Newington, Saturday, December 5, 9am–2pm, in the Mortensen Community Center gym. Run by Newington Parks and Recreation.
- Newtown Holiday Festival, Newtown, Sunday, December 6, 11am–4pm, on Historic Main Street. Market booths line Main Street and fill the Edmond Town Hall gym, and there's no charge to shop indoors. The day also has The Nutcracker Suite, the Festival of Trees, house tours and trolley tours; many activities need the organizer's Holiday Festival Pass.
- Winterfair Hartford is open Saturday and Sunday, 11am–4pm.
Weekends of December 12–13 and 19–20
- Winterfair Hartford keeps going on Saturdays and Sundays, 11am–4pm, through Sunday, December 20. It's the latest-running holiday market on this list.
Returning favorites with 2026 dates not yet announced
These markets have run in recent years, but as of late September 2026 their organizers hadn't published 2026 dates. Check with each organizer before you plan a trip.
- Institute for American Indian Studies Annual Holiday Market, Washington. Local and Native American artisans selling crafts and jewelry at the museum. In 2025 it ran three weekends starting the weekend after Thanksgiving, 11am–4pm. 2026 date not yet confirmed; check with the organizer.
- Pratt Street Winter Village, Hartford. A free, open-air holiday market on Pratt Street downtown, with local artisans and live music. 2026 date not yet confirmed; check with the organizer.
- Powder Ridge Winter Festival & Holiday Market, Middlefield. A holiday market with local artisans at Powder Ridge Mountain Park. 2026 date not yet confirmed; check with the organizer.
- Redding Artisan Holiday Market, Redding. A one-day market of handcrafted goods at John Read Middle School. 2026 date not yet confirmed; check with the organizer.
Q: When do Christmas craft fairs start in Connecticut?
The season starts the first weekend of November. In 2026 the New England Christmas Festival, CraftWestport, the Meriden Weihnachtsfest and the Shelton Autumn Craft Festival all fall on November 6–8. Most fairs run on weekends through early December, and Winterfair Hartford goes until December 20.
Q: Are holiday craft fairs in Connecticut free?
Some are. The Noah Webster House Holiday Market is free with a suggested $5 donation, and shopping the indoor market at the Newtown Holiday Festival costs nothing. Others charge: Frosty's Christmas Festival is $5, CraftWestport is $13 for adults, and the New England Christmas Festival starts at $18. Many small fairs don't publish admission, so check the official site.
Q: Where can I find a Christmas market in Connecticut on a December weekend?
Winterfair Hartford at Hartford Union Station is open every Saturday and Sunday from November 28 through December 20, 11am–4pm. On December 5–6 you can also visit the Noah Webster House Holiday Market, the Shelton and Newington craft fairs, and the Newtown Holiday Festival.
Q: What's the biggest holiday craft show in Connecticut?
The New England Christmas Festival at Mohegan Sun, November 6–8, 2026, with more than 400 artisans. Frosty's Christmas Festival in Plantsville is one of the larger one-day shows, with more than 140 crafters and about 3,000 shoppers.
Related reading
- Connecticut Fairs and Festivals 2026: Your Complete Guide
- New England Christmas Festival 2026: Your Guide to the Big Holiday Craft Show at Mohegan Sun
- Holiday Craft Fairs & Christmas Markets in Rhode Island 2026
- Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village 2026
- Craft Fairs vs. Agricultural Fairs in New England: What's the Difference?
Details in this guide come from each organizer's website or published event listing as of late September 2026. Hours and admission can change, so confirm on the event's official site before you go.
Last updated: September 2026
