20 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Connecticut this November

Our list of fun and low-cost things to do with kids in Connecticut this November includes Thanksgiving events, a festival of lighthouses, family shows, and more in Bridgeport, Danbury, Fairfield, New Haven, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport, and Wilton.

Student Print Workshop

Bruce Museum, Greenwich
Nov. 5

Kids in grades 4-6 can learn about the art of printmaking at a Student Print Workshop. Participants discuss themes and printmaking techniques, then create their own solar-plate intaglio prints. Materials are included. Call the museum for reservations. Suitable for all abilities.

'Tractor Mac' Author Visit

Fairfield University Bookstore, Fairfield
Nov. 9

Children love nothing better than to listen to a book read by the person who actually wrote it. Not only did Billy Steers write Tractor Mac, he illustrated it as well. Steers will read Tractor Mac and sign copies of the book as well on Nov. 9. Steers originally created the stories to entertain his young sons at bedtime. A simple craft and snack will follow the story. Call to reserve your child’s spot. FREE!

Fall Break Out Day: Vote for Farm Veterans

Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Stamford
Nov. 11

Of course we love all the farm animals at the Stamford Nature Center, but maybe there’s that one special two- or four-legged friend that you have a soft spot for. Cast your vote for your favorite at Fall Break Out Day: Vote for Farm Veterans. Afterward, take a trip back in time and learn how farm veterans worked on early New England farms, and make your own butter. Head to the woods to discover how to identify old trees and learn how to read a “tree cookie.” The day ends on a sweet note with s’mores.

2013 Festival of Lighthouses Contest

The Maritime Aquarium, Norwalk
Nov. 16 – Jan. 20, 2014

A beacon of light guides you to The Maritime Aquarium for the 2013 Festival of Lighthouses Contest. The annual contest features 24 handcrafted lighthouses displayed throughout the aquarium galleries, all created by regional artists, craftspeople, and just plain creative types. Some of the lighthouses are replicas while others are purely from the artist’s imagination. The lighthouse with the most votes will win $1,500, so be sure to make your vote count.

'Madeline and the Bad Hat'

Westport Country Playhouse, Westport
Nov. 17

Buckle your seatbelts and take a trip to Paris to visit your favorite Ludwig Bemelman heroine. This live production of Madeline and the Bad Hat follows the friendship between Madeline and her neighbor Pepito, the Ambassador’s son. Although the relationship gets off to a bumpy start, Madeline soon learns that her mischievous new neighbor is not as terrible as she thinks and that first impressions aren’t always reliable.

Astronomy Nights

Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Stamford
Nov. 8 and Nov. 22

You may feel tiny when you attend Astronomy Nights at the Stamford Museum Observatory. Enjoy a short presentation on a topic regarding space and then, weather permitting, visit the observatory to view the night sky through a 22-inch research telescope. The program is suitable for ages 5 and older. On Nov. 8, learn all about Neptune—last of the gas giants. On Nov. 22, find out how to purchase a telescope.

'Annie, Jr.'

Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Bridgeport
Nov. 10, 16-17, 23-24, and 30 (plus select dates in December)

With equal measures of pluck and positive attitude, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan.

'The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites'

Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield
Nov. 23