Homeschool days, free outings, library passes and family events in Hartford, West Hartford and New Britain, each checked with the museum, nature center, library or organizer page.
Getting a card: Hartford Public Library passes need an adult or teen library card from Hartford. West Hartford passes need a West Hartford card. Many other Connecticut libraries also lend The Wadsworth ARTpass, so ask your own library.
Check before you go. We copy details from each venue's own page and show when we last checked. Where a page doesn't say something, we write "Not listed on source" instead of guessing. Dates sell out and programs change, so confirm with the venue.
All upcoming
Age
Every dated event, soonest first (the next date for each listing).
Sat, Nov 14: Second Saturdays for Families at the Wadsworth, The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (Hartford). Free all day (otherwise adults $24, seniors $20, youth 12–17 $15; under 12 and Hartford residents are always free)📅 Add to calendar
Mon, Mar 22: Homeschool Day at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (Hartford). Workshops $25 per child ($20 members), family maximum $100. Little Learners $5 (ages 2–4), free for ages 0–1. SNAP/EBT families get $10 off per child with code SNAP10.📅 Add to calendar
Halloween events around Hartford, checked on each organizer's page on Oct 24, 2026.
Yard Goats Halloween Trick or Treat at Dunkin' Park
Hartford Yard Goats · Hartford (Dunkin' Park · Hartford)
Trick-or-treatingFree (per source)Next: Sun, Oct 25Good for little kids (2–4)HartfordPreschool · Kids
Kids 12 and under trick-or-treat along the open ballpark concourse. More than 50 local businesses and sponsors hand out candy, and the Yard Goats mascots are there. Held rain or shine.
Urban League of Greater Hartford and the City of Hartford · Hartford (Hartford City Hall · Hartford)
Trunk-or-treatFree (per source)Next: Fri, Oct 30Good for little kids (2–4)HartfordAll ages welcome
A free, outdoor, tailgate-style event with decorated cars and tables handing out candy and treats, plus music, activities and prizes. Costumes are optional. Young children must have an adult with them.
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The page header says Oct 30, 5–7 p.m. at City Hall, but its description still gives a different time and place (4–6 p.m. at 140 Woodland St), which looks left over from last year.
Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct 31, 2026. Trick-or-treat events checked Oct 24, 2026.
Trunk-or-treats & trick-or-treat events, Oct 24–31
Yard Goats Halloween Trick or Treat at Dunkin' Park
Hartford Yard Goats · Hartford (Dunkin' Park · Hartford)
Trick-or-treatingFree (per source)Next: Sun, Oct 25Good for little kids (2–4)HartfordPreschool · Kids
Kids 12 and under trick-or-treat along the open ballpark concourse. More than 50 local businesses and sponsors hand out candy, and the Yard Goats mascots are there. Held rain or shine.
Urban League of Greater Hartford and the City of Hartford · Hartford (Hartford City Hall · Hartford)
Trunk-or-treatFree (per source)Next: Fri, Oct 30Good for little kids (2–4)HartfordAll ages welcome
A free, outdoor, tailgate-style event with decorated cars and tables handing out candy and treats, plus music, activities and prizes. Costumes are optional. Young children must have an adult with them.
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The page header says Oct 30, 5–7 p.m. at City Hall, but its description still gives a different time and place (4–6 p.m. at 140 Woodland St), which looks left over from last year.
Check each event's page before you go, since times and places can change.
Bring your own treat bag where the event asks for it.
Clocks fall back one hour on Sunday, Nov 1.
Homeschool days & classes (6 listings)
Age
Nature Quest at Roaring Brook Nature Center (ages 9–12)
Roaring Brook Nature Center · Canton (Roaring Brook Nature Center · West Hartford & Farmington Valley)
Nature centerPaidNext: Tue, Nov 10West Hartford & Farmington ValleyKids
Monthly nature classes that dig into one natural phenomenon, animal or plant, with hands-on investigations and crafts. Remaining fall class: Snooze or Cruise (Nov 10). The winter session meets Dec 8, Jan 12 and Feb 9 (topics not posted).
Homeschool Explorers at Lutz Children's Museum (Oak Grove)
Lutz Children's Museum · Manchester (Oak Grove Nature Center · East of the river)
Nature classPaidNext: Thu, Nov 12East of the riverKids
A fall woods class for ages 6 to 10 with a caregiver. Kids look for tracks and signs, explore science and art, and meet animal ambassadors. The last class in this series is Nov 12.
Nature Explorers at Roaring Brook Nature Center (ages 4–8)
Roaring Brook Nature Center · Canton (Roaring Brook Nature Center · West Hartford & Farmington Valley)
Nature centerPaidNext: Tue, Dec 8Good for little kids (2–4)West Hartford & Farmington ValleyPreschool · Kids
Twice-monthly themed nature gatherings: a book read-aloud, a nature excursion and a simple art project. The winter 2026–27 session meets Dec 8 and 22, Jan 12 and 26, and Feb 9 and 23. The fall session is already under way (Oct 27, Nov 10 and Nov 24).
Homeschool Day at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
Connecticut Museum of Culture and History · Hartford (Connecticut Museum of Culture and History · Hartford)
History museumPaidNext: Mon, Mar 22Good for little kids (2–4)HartfordPreschool · Kids · Teens
A full day of hands-on Connecticut history workshops grouped by age (5–7, 8–10, 11–13 and 14+), plus a loosely structured Little Learners program for under-5s with story times, crafts and guided activities. Bring a bagged lunch for the lunch break from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Parents stay at the museum all day.
When: Monday Mar 22, 2027 (registration opens Jan 25, 2027)
Time: All day (lunch 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
Price: Workshops $25 per child ($20 members), family maximum $100. Little Learners $5 (ages 2–4), free for ages 0–1. SNAP/EBT families get $10 off per child with code SNAP10.
Ages: Ages 5 and up (Little Learners ages 0–4)
Booking: Pre-registration is required and enrollment is limited. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
⚠️ The page says workshop details for each age group are "coming soon".
Group field trips at the Connecticut Science Center
Connecticut Science Center · Hartford (Connecticut Science Center · Hartford)
Science centerPaidOngoing / by arrangementHartfordKids · Teens
A special group rate for field trips of students, with one chaperone free for every 20 paid students. Add-ons include a 45-minute lab ($9), a butterfly encounter ($8), stage shows ($7) and movies ($6). Plan on 8 students per chaperone for grades K–7 and 12 per chaperone for grades 8–12.
More detailsLess⚠️ (includes a notice)
When: By reservation (open Wed–Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in the school year)
Time: Not listed on source
Price: $15 per student, plus add-ons
Ages: K–12
Booking: Submit the field trip booking form. Payment is due in advance, and headcount changes need five business days.
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The page is written for school groups and does not say whether homeschool groups qualify or what the minimum group size is. Ask the reservations team before booking.
Hungerford Nature Center & Museum · Berlin (Hungerford Nature Center · New Britain & Berlin)
Nature centerPaidOngoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)New Britain & BerlinPreschool · Kids
Weekly Thursday homeschool programs. Little Naturalists (ages 3–6 with a caregiver, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.) has an animal encounter, story time, a craft and outdoor play. Junior Stewards (ages 6–12, drop-off, 1:30–3 p.m.) has animal care, nature investigations, art projects and seasonal activities.
More detailsLess⚠️ (includes a notice)
When: Every Thursday
Time: Little Naturalists 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.; Junior Stewards 1:30–3 p.m.
Price: $60 members or $70 non-members per program; drop-in $20 per class when space allows
Ages: Ages 3–12 (by program)
Booking: Register online. You need a free RecDesk profile first.
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The page does not say how many classes the $60 and $70 prices cover, or what the current term dates are.
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art · Hartford (The Wadsworth · Hartford)
Art museumFree (per source)Next: Sat, Nov 14Good for little kids (2–4)HartfordAll ages welcome
Free admission all day on the second Saturday of each month, with family activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov 14 is Monet Moments (family tour, hand puppets and short films). Dec 12 is Winter Wonderland, about winter celebrations around the world.
Upcoming dates: Sat, Nov 14, 2026; Sat, Dec 12, 2026
When: Second Saturday: Nov 14 and Dec 12, 2026
Time: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (activities 10 a.m.–2 p.m.)
Price: Free all day (otherwise adults $24, seniors $20, youth 12–17 $15; under 12 and Hartford residents are always free)
Ages: All ages
Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ The museum is open Wed–Fri 11 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m. A $5 surcharge applies during Fine Art & Flowers and Festival of Trees & Traditions.
Access for All Community Days at the New Britain Museum of American Art
New Britain Museum of American Art · New Britain (New Britain Museum of American Art · New Britain & Berlin)
Art museumFree (per source)Next: Sun, Nov 15Good for little kids (2–4)New Britain & BerlinAll ages welcome
Free admission all day once a month, with live music, performances, art activities and local vendors. Upcoming days are a Juniper + Pine Indigenous Collective Social on Sunday Nov 15, Celebrating the Holidays on Saturday Dec 19, and Martin Luther King Day on Monday Jan 18, 2027.
Upcoming dates: Sun, Nov 15, 2026; Sat, Dec 19, 2026; Mon, Jan 18, 2027
When: Nov 15 and Dec 19, 2026; Jan 18, 2027
Time: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (museum hours)
Price: Free all day (otherwise adults $22, ages 6–17 $10, ages 5 and under free)
Ages: All ages
Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ New Britain residents also get free admission on the first Saturday of each month with ID or proof of address. The museum is closed Mondays except MLK Day.
Connecticut Science Center · Hartford (Connecticut Science Center · Hartford)
Science centerPaidOngoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)HartfordAll ages welcome
More than 165 hands-on exhibits, live science demos, a traveling exhibition and a butterfly encounter. Admission uses Plan-Ahead pricing, so tickets cost less the earlier you buy. Toddler Tuesdays on select Tuesdays run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.