General Information

• Registration is open for the 2024 Holiday House Decorating Contest. Registration can be completed HERE through December 5.  

• Looking to include your house on the Festive Driving Tour map, but not enter the contest? We are now taking registrations for those homes as well. Registration can be completed HERE through December 5. 

• A fun free holiday program to encourage holiday spirit across Glastonbury.

• Judging Period will be from December 6th - December 22nd

• Fan Favorite Voting Period will be held on Facebook from December 13th - December 22nd

• Winners will be contacted and will be announced via social media on December 23rd.

Rules

• Home addresses must be in Glastonbury, CT
• Homes can give their address a name based on décor – Be creative these names will be published online with addresses.
• The contest is for exterior decorations only, including decorations in windows that are visible from the exterior. Judging will be based on “curb appeal” as viewed from the street only. Therefore, only those decorations located on the street side of the property will be judged (corner lots will be judged from both streets). Judges will not enter the property to view back or side yards.
• Participants agree to have their address posted on the official “Glastonbury Holiday Decorating Contest Map” that will be available on the Town of Glastonbury Website for those that want to drive around town to view the decorated houses. There is an option to opt out of this during registration.
• Only one prize will be awarded per address

Prizes

Judges will award 1st place for each category. The Fan Favorite will be the house with the most online votes by the public. 1st place winners will be awarded a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card. 

Categories

Categories will be assigned by judges of the contest. The categories will be: most traditional, best special effects, merry and bright and most festive! 

THANK YOU TO HOLIDAY LIGHTING BY J&M FOR THEIR GENEROUS PARTNERSHIP OF THE 2024 HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST!

Enjoy a night out with friends and family to see the beauty of Glastonbury during the holidays. Driving tour maps will be available on December 6. While out driving, complete the scavenger hunt for a chance to win a $30.00 credit off a Parks and Recreation program! Submissions for completed scavenger hunts will be accepted starting December 13 through December 22. The raffle prize winner will be contacted on December 23. 

Glastonbury children are invited to write a letter with their holiday wishes to Santa, the Reindeer, the Mensch on the Bench, Frosty the Snowman, or any holiday figure they choose!

Beginning on November 28th letters can be dropped off in the Holiday Box:

Parks & Recreation Office
Academy Building (Rear Entrance)
2143 Main Street
Glastonbury, CT

Riverfront Community Center (Main Entrance)
300 Welles Street
Glastonbury, CT

Letter may also be mailed: 

Glastonbury Parks & Recreation Department
PO Box 6523
Glastonbury, CT 06033

Be sure to include a return address and all children will receive a letter back via US Postal Service!

Letters must be received by Wednesday, December 18th to ensure enough time for a return letter to get back to the child!

Send us a photo of your pet in the holiday spirit for a chance to win some cool prizes! We would like to thank RehabK9 for their support in the 2023 contest donating first, second and third place prizes.  
 
TO ENTER: Simply send your photo entry to george.emmanuel@glastonbury-ct.gov. Be sure to include your names (both yours and your pets), your email address, and your phone number. Once your photo is received we will post it to the Glastonbury Parks and Recreation Pet Contest Photo Album on Facebook and email you confirmation. Photos will be posted on the Facebook album on the morning of December 11.
 
TO VOTE: Visit the Glastonbury Parks and Recreation Facebook page and click “Like” or “React” to your favorite photo(s).
 
TO WIN: This year, we will be offering first place prizes in three categories (dogs, cats and exotic animals). Prizes will be awarded to those who have the most votes in each of the 3 categories.
 
Submission Period:                      December 1 – December 10
Voting Period:                             December 11 – December 23
Winner Announced:                    December 24

THANK YOU TO REHAB K9 CARE FOR THEIR GENEROUS PARTNERSHIP OF THE 2024 PET PHOTO CONTEST!

Jingle & Mingle Holiday Luncheon at the Glastonbury Senior Center

Tuesday, December 5th

11am -1:15pm

Start the morning off listening to the kids of Smith Middle Schools’ Chamber Ensemble, singing holiday tunes at 11am! Following that, join us for a delicious meal at 11:45am of glazed baked ham, sweet potato casserole, green bean almondine, sweet rolls & flourless chocolate cake for dessert! After lunch at 12:15pm, jingle your way to the dance floor to the fantastic tunes of Jukebox 45! This meal is gluten-free!                    

Cost: Resident: $7  Non-resident:$9

Register by Friday, December 13th in-person at the RCC or by calling 860-652-7638

Hannukah Latke Party

Thursday, December 19, 2024
2:30pm

Celebrate Hanukkah with home made potato latkes with your choice of sour cream or applesauce (or even both)! Play dreidel while the latkes are frying. We are looking for a few     volunteers to help with peeling and grating potatoes. Please call Cassidy if you’d like to volunteer, 860-652-7638.

Cost:
Resident:$4
Non-Resident:$4

Register by Wednesday, December 11th in-person at the RCC or by calling 860-652-7638

The Glastonbury Parks & Recreation and Glastonbury Town Center Initiative (GTCI) to a magical
evening as we light up the town center in anticipation of a very special guest, straight from the North Pole – Santa Claus! Glastonbury's littlest citizens will have the chance to share their holiday wishes and take photos with Santa. The festive evening will feature hot chocolate, kid's crafts and more! 

Bundle up, bring your holiday spirit, at Fountain Green as we light up the night and welcome Santa to Glastonbury!

 Friday, December 6th, 2024 - 6 PM

Celebrate Chanukah!

You are invited to a joyous Chanukah celebration on the Glastonbury Center Green. We will light the giant menorah, enjoy hot cider and warm latkes. And don't forget, the Grand Gelt Drop... as chocolate coins fall from the heavens. 

Free of charge and open to all!

Wednesday, December 25 at 5pm

Event put on by Chabad Jewish Center.  For more information, check out our website: ChabadER.com/celebrate

Sunday, December 15, 2024

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

The Glastonbury Boathouse - 252 Welles Street

Join us for a heartwarming holiday concert featuring the renowned a cappella group, The New Blue of Yale. Founded in 1969, the same year that Yale University first admitted undergraduate women, The New Blue holds the distinction of being Yale's first women's a cappella group and the oldest women's organization of any kind at the university.

Come and celebrate the holiday season with us through the beautiful, timeless tradition of a cappella music. Their concert will feature a delightful selection of holiday songs, sure to bring joy to listeners young and old alike. Don't miss this special opportunity to experience the enchanting harmonies and festive spirit of The New Blue of Yale.

Festive kids craft available for little listeners.

This is an after-hours event. Rear parking lot doors will open for program entry at 6 p.m.

This event and other in this series are sponsored by the Friends of Welles-Turner Memorial Library in memory of Isabella Waters, who was a generous library supporter.

View more details or register through the WTML website here: Holiday Concert feat. the New Blue of Yale University (Ella Waters Event Series) | Welles Turner Memorial Library

Sneak away for a festive evening of gift-wrapping fun! Need some space to wrap your presents away from prying eyes at home? We’ve got you covered. Bring your unwrapped gifts and join us for a cozy night of wrapping, holiday tunes, and cheerful chatter. We’ll provide some supplies—wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and tags—but you can feel free to bring your own as well.

Whether you're prepping for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, a birthday, or another celebration, this is your time to wrap in peace, swap stories, and get into the holiday spirit. Let’s make gift-giving even more magical!

View this event on the WTML website.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations with seasonal stories, rhymes and songs.  Stories are selected to appeal to children ages 2-5, but all ages are welcome. Each Story Break is different and runs approximately 30 minutes. Join us for a winter craft in the Children’s Department after each storytime. Events will be held on 12/2, 12/7, 12/13, 12/16, & 12/19. View event details on the WTML website.

Disclaimer: Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

Disclaimer(s)

Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

View event details on the WTML website.

Disclaimer(s)

Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

View event details on WTML website.