Day: October 5, 2025

The Christmas season in Mystic gets underway in November and continues through December. Olde Mistick Village turns on more than half a million lights beginning November 20, followed by the Stonington Lobster Trap Tree lighting on November 21. Santa arrives in downtown Mystic by tugboat on November 28, the same day as the annual Lighted Boat Parade, and December brings Lantern Lights at Mystic Seaport Museum along with holiday shopping, lights and events around town.

If you’re planning a Mystic, Connecticut Christmas getaway in 2026, we’ve gathered the dates you’ll want to know, along with the events we’d make time for and a few of our favorite things to do while you’re here.

Mystic, Connecticut Christmas Events: 2026 at a Glance

If you’re choosing dates for a Mystic, Connecticut Christmas getaway, these are the main events to have on your calendar:

• Holiday Lights Spectacular at Olde Mistick Village: November 20, 2026-January 31, 2027. More than 500,000 lights fill the village, and admission and parking are free. Olde Mistick Village is about a five-minute drive from The Whaler’s Inn.
• Stonington Lobster Trap Tree: The tree lighting is November 21 at 4:30 p.m. at the Stonington Town Dock. The display is free to visit and is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Mystic.
• Santa Arrives by Tugboat and the Mystic Lighted Boat Parade: Saturday, November 28. Santa arrives at Mystic River Park at 2 p.m., followed by the downtown tree lighting at 6 p.m. and the boat parade at approximately 6:15 p.m. Mystic River Park is a short walk from The Whaler’s Inn.
• Lantern Lights: A Mystic Holiday: December 3-6, 10-13 and 17-23 at Mystic Seaport Museum. The event runs from 2:00 to 8:30 p.m. with timed admission. The museum is about a five-minute drive or a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

There are also smaller Mystic Christmas events throughout the season, including shopping events, performances, and holiday activities downtown, at Olde Mistick Village, and at Mystic Seaport Museum. Below are the major events below, along with the ones we’d make a point of seeing during a December stay.