5 cute towns for holiday charm

The holiday season is starting now, and there are Christmas tree lightings, holiday strolls, light displays and drive-thrus all over the state.

But there are also quiet moments to be had. Cute small town streets with Christmas craft markets, warm mulled wine and gorgeous blankets of snow are part of the holiday season in Connecticut.

Check out these five cute small towns in Connecticut perfect for a holiday getaway.

Collinsville

Collinsville lies along the Farmington River in the Southeast corner of the town of Canton. It’s an old sawmill town with big brick buildings and plenty of shopping. There are plenty of holiday activities, including the Gallery of Trees at the Canton Historical Museum, which features more than 100 uniquely decorated trees, and the Collinsville Holiday Craft Fair Dec. 3 and 4, with live music and local vendors.

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Portland

Portland is tucked away among the trees and when the snow falls, there’s nothing quite like bundling up, sipping a hot chocolate and taking a walk through Portland’s natural beauty. The town also hosts winter events, like the annual holiday tree lighting and parade (date TBD) and a chocolate festival.

Visitors can also check out the Portland Brownstone Quarries National Historic Landmark, the Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park and Arrigoni Winery.

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Woodbridge

When the Woodbridge historic district is blanketed with snow, it’s like being inside a festive snow globe

For extra snow globe vibes, visit Dec. 12 when the town holds a holiday market at New England Brewing Co. The market features 15 local vendors selling wares like jewelry, charcuterie boards, clothing, honey, candles and pottery.

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Thomaston

Thomaston is a classic New England small town on the Naugatuck River. Every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the town hosts Light Up Thomaston. The event shuts down Main Street for the evening and fills it with a parade, live entertainment, a roaming railroad, horse and carriage rides, a petting zoo, face painting, balloons, free refreshments and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Thomaston is also home to the Railroad Museum of New England which offers holiday-themed train rides such as the Northern Lights Limited and the Santa Express.

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Bethlehem

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” isn’t just a timeless Christmas song, it’s also a real place in Connecticut — even if it’s not the real town of Bethlehem that is supposedly the birthplace of Jesus. Bethlehem, Conn, has its own town-wide Christmas festival, and its 40th anniversary takes place this year Dec. 3-4.

The event features hay rides, a tree lighting, live music and entertainment, a scavenger hunt, kids’ crafts, food vendors and a “Santa Made Me Do It” 5k race. There are plenty of things to do outside of the festival, including a visit to the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Gardens, which offers wreath-making classes throughout the season.