This weekend’s options are so strong they seized their own article.
Saturday, December 14
Best Video in Hamden serves outer and inner children during a presentation of holiday cartoons and a “hot chocolate bar” from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the second of three Saturday Christmas Markets at Bethany Farm and Nursery, which is actually in Woodbridge, promises “a food truck, a mobile bar, coffee, hot cocoa, hot apple cider, a bonfire to cozy up at, Christmas trees, wreaths and decor for sale,” alongside a given: “holiday cheer.”
Also starting at 10, the Bethany Community School, which is located in Bethany, hosts the Bethany Lions 7th Annual Holiday Craft Fair convenes local artisans, authors, crafters and other vendors including a food truck.
In the other direction, also beginning at 10, the Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance presents a Holiday Market. Artists and craftspeople selling “jewelry, photography, wood carvings, fabric Items, leather and more will [gather] at the old Branford Post Office,” where Santa will also be on hand.
Between 10:30 and 5 at Thornton Wilder Hall and Town Center Park, Hamden’s annual Silverbells Holiday Festival offers brunches with Santa, gingerbread house-decorating, a crafters’ market, a city toy drive, a Hispanic/Latin-themed “Feliz Navidad Celebration” and an outdoor festival featuring caroling, food trucks, hayrides, photo ops, a Christmas tree lighting and a grand entrance by a post-brunch Santa.
At noon, 20 local homebrewers will compete for Twelve Percent Beer Project’s 2025 Connecticut Homebrew Championship. A ticket gets you the privilege of trying all 20 brewers’ beers and the power of voting to decide who the finalists will be.
Also at noon, “in a beautiful vintage mall setting,” Bridgeport’s Arcade Mall appeals to the naughty list by offering photos with Santa’s infernal counterpart, Krampus. “We will be joined by a crew of local artists and small businesses... so you can get your holiday shopping done at the same time!”
Bridgeport keeps the seasonal twists going with a Holiday Psychic Fairfest at Foolproof Brewing. Today and tomorrow from noon to 5, find “25 of the East Coast’s greatest psychics [and] readers” plus paranormal “authors [and] artisans.”
Back in New Haven, The Shops at Yale’s celebrations continue. From noon to 3, carolers in “traditional garb” will be strolling along Broadway and Chapel Street. From 1 to 3, enjoy storytelling and selfies with the Clauses at the Yale Bookstore and a live ice sculpture demonstration outside Üni-Home Life.
Comic book shop Alternate Universe—the one in Milford, not New Haven—holds a holiday party from 1 to 4, featuring comic deals; an artist meet-and-greet with Ben Bishop, whose resume includes the acclaimed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series The Last Ronin; a live podcast from Lewis Perry & The Angrygeeks; coffee and snacks, which I’m guessing are complimentary; a chance to submit your comics for grading; and, of all things, a popup sale of jewelry and beauty products.
After a show last night at West Haven High School, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra presents their annual Holiday Extravaganza at SCSU’s Lyman Center at 3. “Principal Pops Conductor Chelsea Tipton leads your NHSO in a musical sleigh ride around the world with guest musical performances from St. Luke’s Steel Band and a special visitor from the North Pole.”
From 1 to 5, Strange Ways hosts a Punk Rock Xmas Market promising “horror, goth and punk art” from five small “makers.”
A different kind of punk art fills Hamden’s The Cellar on Treadwell. From 2 p.m. on, Punxmas Vol. IX features 12 bands, along with a couple of standup comics and an appearance by Krampus.
Also starting at 2, Caius Farm Brewery revives the most popular and festive and perhaps Christmas-like of ancient Rome’s holidays: Saturnalia, “a time… to celebrate and socialize with gift-giving, wreaths, feasting, and drinking!” The brewery promises ramen and pastry/coffee trucks, live music from Noah Feldman, an ugly sweater contest and an appearance not by Saturn but by Santa.
A SantaCon bar crawl in downtown Milford hops from Citrus at 3 to Flipside at 5 to Stonebridge at 7 to My Bar & Grille at 9. Proceeds of a $20 cover, paid at whichever bar where you join the crawl, will go to the Yale New Haven Toy Closet, while revelers enjoy food and drink specials, DJs and free Whiteclaw swag while supplies last.
At 7, Amarante’s Sea Cliff throws a Shared Holiday Party—basically a chance for groups too small to book the event venue themselves to team up for a holiday party—with “a delicious dinner, open bar, and live DJ entertainment.”
Also at 7, Never Ending Books hosts longtime local musician Shawn Persinger’s (a.k.a. Prester John’s) The Luck Pushers, an enigmatic musical project promising “Pop Art for your ears,” which might mean surf rock.
At 7 tonight and 4 tomorrow, Madison Lyric Stage presents Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors—“the story of a magic star, a shepherd boy, and how unselfish love can work miracles,” wrapped into the proverbial “story of the journey of the three kings.”
At 9, DJ Vlour powers an Ugly Sweater Party at Elm City Social.
Sunday, December 15
A holiday edition of the New Haven Comic & Collectible Spectacular convenes “over 55 tables brimming with treasures from more than 30 unique vendors” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Annex YMA Hall.
Anthony’s Ocean View hosts a Santa Brunch featuring multiple all-you-can-eat stations and Santa photo ops, with seatings at 10 and 12:30.
The Yale Schwarzman Center’s “Everybody Dances” workshop series picks up at 11 with its final session of the semester, this time led by Amanda Castro, Brinda Guha and Arielle Rosales, a.k.a. Soles of Duende.
From 11:30 to 5:30, a SantaCon block party spans at least six “top downtown bars and restaurants,” including check-in spot Olives & Oil, “to support Toys For Tots.” “Don your Santa or Elf suits” while enjoying “DJs, drink specials, and holiday-themed cocktails.”
From noon to 6, Woodbridge’s Lucky Soul Tattoo hosts its second annual Misfit Makers Market Holiday Bizarre. “Local crafters and artisans who create trinkets and treasures just a little left of center will be showcasing their wares,” while “Source Coffeehouse will also be slinging exclusive drinks.”
From noon to 5 in Branford, Stony Creek Brewery’s Jingle Jam 2025 promises “the ultimate laidback Sunday… Santa himself will be here to snap those perfect holiday pics, so bring the kiddos and your holiday spirit! Plus, we've got some amazing vendors lined up,” along with “live music by the talented Timmy Maia.”
Returning to New Haven, Cafe Nine stages the “fiery musicianship and superb storytelling” of SNL band vocalist Christine Ohlman and her band Rebel Montez during their annual Holiday Blowout concert, which starts at 4.
Rebel Salon, meanwhile, is also capable of blowouts—in this case an annual Charity Cocktail Party, which promises “an evening filled with live entertainment by the talented kids at School of Rock North Haven, delectables from Ground up Coffee, delicious brews from East Rock Brewing Company, cocktails at Rick’s Bar (cash bar), pizza from Ozzy’s and so much more.”
Written by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations, prices and other details before attending events.