Three Fun (and a Little Quirky)
November Adventures in Connecticut
Connecticut in November is full of surprises — from twinkling lights to technicolor turkeys. Whether you’re looking to bundle up for a holiday spectacle, enjoy a whimsical local tradition, or just find something different to do between leaf season and snow season, here are three delightfully offbeat outings to brighten your month.
1. Holiday Lights ’25 at Lake Compounce, Bristol
Who says amusement parks are only for summer? Beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, Lake Compounce in Bristol transforms into a glowing wonderland for its annual Holiday Lights celebration. The park sparkles with more than half a million lights, music fills the air, and even a few family-friendly rides keep running. Stroll through illuminated tunnels, sip hot cocoa, and visit Santa himself — all while basking in the cheerful glow of Connecticut’s oldest theme park. It’s a sweet way to kick off the season and feel like a kid again (no matter your age).
2. The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade, Mystic
Down along the Mystic River, boats don their holiday best and light up the water for one of Connecticut’s most beloved seasonal traditions — the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade. It takes place Thanksgiving weekend, following the downtown tree lighting and the much-anticipated arrival of Santa by tugboat (a Connecticut classic if ever there was one!).
From the riverbank, you’ll see sailboats, motorboats, and even kayaks glowing with strings of lights, inflatable reindeer, and plenty of imagination. Bundle up, grab a hot drink, and join the crowd cheering as the boats glide past in a shimmering procession. It’s festive, quirky, and full of small-town charm.
November 29: Santa arrives by tugboat at 2pm, Christmas tree lighting at 6pm, boat parade beginning at 6:15pm.
3. Easter-Egg Colored Turkeys at Gozzi’s Turkey Farm, Guilford
If you think turkeys only come in shades of brown and white, think again. Every November, Gozzi’s Turkey Farm in Guilford attracts visitors with its flock of pastel-painted turkeys — yes, real live birds in Easter egg colors. The tradition dates back decades and has become a beloved roadside curiosity for locals and travelers alike.
Families stop by to pick up their Thanksgiving bird and snap photos of the pink, blue, and green gobblers strutting around their pen. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it’s one of those only-in-Connecticut traditions that makes you smile. While you’re there, take a drive through the historic Guilford Green — it’s especially lovely in late fall. Park and pick up some stocking stuffers at one of the boutiques.
Note: you may think it's undignified for a turkey to be pastel pink. But think of it this way: they're the ones that get to live!
Wrap It All Up
From shimmering lights on land and sea to pastel turkeys in their finest feathers, Connecticut in November has its own kind of magic. So grab your mittens, your camera, and your sense of humor — and go find a little sparkle before winter settles in.
David Mayhew
Connecticut Baedeker
Residential Realtor
Pearce Real Estate
18 Church Street
Guilford, CT 06437
203.533.5621 direct & text
dmayhew@hpearce.com
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