Merry Mansfield: Festive Fun

"Festive Fun" with soft lights glowing behind the text

Winter Welcome

Join the Mansfield Downtown Partnership in celebrating the start of the new season with free, frosty fun in Downtown Storrs!

Winter Welcome will feature hands-on, wintry fun with local businesses and community organizations. Activities will include a puzzle swap, animal tracking & habitat games, snow-themed fun, and even (toy) ax-throwing! 

Be on the look-out for some special visitors who will appear throughout the event, including a 12-foot tall polar bear, everyone's favorite Husky, and a jolly friend!

But, wait! There's more! Find details about all the fun planned at downtownstorrs.org/winterwelcome.

Winter Welcome is free and open to all ages to attend.

A group of young adults and children smile as they stand in front of a 12-foot tall polar bear puppe
"Cozy & Wintry Fun at the Library" with an image of the Library covered in snow behind the tex

Toy Swap 

Does your family have toys in great condition that you no longer use? Let’s swap! 

Drop off gently-used, giftable* toys at the Library desk between 12/1-12/12 during any open hours. Then, visit the Library on Saturday 12/13 to find new-to-you toys for your family! *Please only bring items that are in good condition that you would want to bring home for your child to play with. Items left behind after the swap will be used for future library programs, donated, or recycled.

Winter Wonder Workshops with Special Wintry Crafts

Head to the Mansfield Public Library for Winter Wonder Workshops in December (4th, 11th, & 18th). Each workshop will feature a unique, wintry craft for kids and families to create together. Take a completed craft home each week- perfect holiday gifts! Activity stations also include LEGOs, block building, play-doh, classic board games, coloring and magnetic play. Drop-in!

Tween/Teen Night: Cozy Wintry Crafts & Build-You-Own Hot Chocolate Bar

All local tweens and teens are invited to hang out with friends, eat FREE pizza and create cozy crafts (great DIY holiday gifts!) at this chill and comfy Tween/Teen Night. Top it off with a  Build-Your-Own Hot Chocolate Bar featuring a variety of sweet treats!

Friends of the Mansfield Public Library's Annual Gingerbread Decorating Contest

Join the friends for the return of our Gingerbread Decorating contest! This event is open to all, and the decorated houses will be displayed in the library for patrons to vote for. Prizes will be awarded. To sign-up for this event, please click HERE to register by December 15 to help us ensure there are enough materials available.

*This event is available between 9am and 12pm so you do not need to be present for the full 3 hours.

Noon Year's Eve Family Party

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a family-friendly party featuring New Year’s crafts, snacks, playtime and a Balloon Drop Countdown to Noon followed by a Bubble Dance Party!

Cozy Movie Matinee: Frozen

Get cozy at MPL’s family movie matinee featuring Frozen (PG) projected on the big screen! Enjoy fresh popcorn and hot chocolate. Quiet wintry crafting and coloring will be available in the background.

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Illustrations of musical instruments and Christmas ornaments around "Mansfield Pickers Christmas

Mansfield Pickers Christmas Jam

Join the Mansfield Pickers for an extra-special holiday edition of their monthly bluegrass gathering! All ages, all instruments, all levels of experience welcome to either pick along or simply come to enjoy the merry tunes.

The Mansfield Pickers hold a reputation for being “the Best Dam Bluegrass Jam,” a regular monthly gathering (every 4th Thursday) where experienced strummers, novices, and acoustic-music lovers converge to share songs and community right inside the Historic Kirby Mill at the Mansfield Hollow Dam.

This Christmas version adds an extra spark — perfect for getting into the holiday spirit, making new friends, or just enjoying live music in a relaxed setting. 

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Jingle Jog

Prance, dance, or jog your distance of choice around the track at the Mansfield Community Center. Hot chocolate, candy canes, and jingle bells provided. Family Friendly - All are welcome!

Flyer promoting Jingle Jog
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Holiday Shenanigans FFN

Family Fun Night - Holiday Shenanigans!

  • Friday, Dec. 19
  • 4:00 - 8:00 PM
  • Free for members; non-members pay the daily fee
  • at the Mansfield Community Center (10 S. Eagleville Road)

Head to the Community Center for an evening of seasonal cheer and family-friendly activities! Highlights include: Hot cocoa, an obstacle course, and festival pool floats!

Feeling creative? Try your hand at making a gingerbread house! The first 10 families to visit the craft station will receive a free gingerbread house kit! Build your creation at the center and choose to display it for the week.

For more information, please call 860.429.3015

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Annual Caroling Party

Come hang out, sing some holiday favorites, and enjoy a cozy evening with friends! We'll sing all of your favorite carols and classics, plus a few surprises!

  • All ages and voices welcome
  • Bring a snack or drink to share if you’d like
  • Just good company, good music, and holiday cheer
Illustration of penguins standing in snow and singing next to a sign announcing a Caroling Party
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Cartoon fireworks and a clock with text promoting New Year celebration at Senior Center

Jazzed for the New Year!

  • Wednesday, Dec. 31
  • 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Pre-register by noon on Friday, Dec. 26
  • $7/person

Help the Mansfield Senior Center ring in the "noon" year with friends, food, mocktails, and music! Dress to impress and come enjoy light jazz and Americana music by local singer June Bisantz. In-house appetizers, mocktails, and a noon toast included.

Space is limited - Early registration encouraged

For more information, call 860.429.0262

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New Year's Party Open Mic  

What happens when New Year's Eve and Open Mic fall on the same night?! The party of the year, that's what!

  • Open Mic – share a song, poem, story, or just cheer others on
  • Band From a Bag – draw your band and song from a hat!
  • Games & Trivia – test your wits and win bragging rights
  • White Elephant Gift Exchange – bring something silly or awesome to trade
  • BYOB – bring your favorite drink and your favorite people

Send of 2025 and kick off 2026 with us! You wont regret it! 

Decorative text: New Year's Eve Open Mic appears over gold glitter
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Aerial view of Mansfield Hollow Lake in winter, snow and ice cover most of the water

First Day Hike

The Friends of Mansfield Hollow will host 2 hikes to celebrate the new year! Plan to meet at the main parking lot no later than 9:50 AM - both hikes will begin at 10:00 AM sharp!

There will be a 4.5 mile hike around the lake with a short stop at the old silk mill. A second hike will be 2.2 miles to the school and then back on the dike trail.

Both hikes begin at 10:00 AM sharp. The shorter hike is expected to take about one and a half hours, while the longer hike will take around three hours.

Hikers should dress for the weather, bring water that can be protected from freezing and snacks, and wear appropriate footwear (hiking boots and as needed micro-spikes or snow shoes). No pets please.

Steady rain or dangerous driving conditions cancel.

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Holiday Movie Bonanza!

Enjoy one last weekend at the Mansfield Drive-In Theatre before they close for the winter! Choose from one of three fan-favorite holiday movies: National Lampoon's XMas Vacation; Bad Santa; or The Polar Express. Savor some hot chocolate or warm cider from the snack bar, and indulge in traditional movies snacks while supplies last.

Gates open at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available online in advanced or at the gate. Pro tip: Arrive early!

For more information, click here.

Three movie posters with showing times for Mansfield Drive-In Theatre for Nov 21 and 22, 2025
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More to come!

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We want to hear from you!


If your Mansfield-located business or community organization has plans for a celebration, special event, charitable campaign, or seasonal offering occurring between mid-November and mid-January, let us know!

We will include only events, etc. that are open to the public (e.g. no members' only events) and that will take place in Mansfield, CT.

There is no fee to be included in "Merry Mansfield" - we just need your info! 

Please click here to submit your information.

If you have any questions, please contact the Mansfield Downtown Partnership (please call 860.429.2740 or email us).

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