Winter Break is right around the corner! If you’re opting for a staycation this year, there’s plenty to do in our area.

The Prospector Theater always has family-friendly movies playing, and we love their snacks and drinks! Such a great place to visit all year round, especially considering their mission is to provide competitive and integrated employment to people with disabilities through the operation of a premium, first-run movie theater.

Sometimes we take for granted that our area is home to plenty of parks, museums and playgrounds that you can check out year-round. Here are a few of our favorites:

On Saturday, February 18, from 11 am to 12 pm, the Wilton Historical Society will hold its very own Maple Sugaring Workshop. Museum Educator Catherine Lipper will talk about the maple sugaring process while participants help to prepare their very own tasty snack of maple tarts. Don’t miss out on this sweet mid-winter treat! For details, click here.

A lovely Gift for your family on the weekend after Valentine’s Day: check out the Live Concert by America’s Tenor, Daniel Rodriguez; soprano, Angela Sbano; and bari-tenor, Frank Rendo. Concert begins at 1:00pm at St. Edward the Confessor Church in New Fairfield. For details, click here.

Drop in to St. Luke’s School in New Canaan and enjoy a facilitated series designed by artists, curators, and educators that invites families to think, play, create, and spend time together experimenting with sensory-rich materials and different modes of art making. For details, click here.

If you’re a chocolate-lover, you might want to check out the Westport Museum for History and Culture’s exhibit opening of “Bittersweet: Chocolate in the American Colonies” on Friday, February 24. For details, click here.

Grace Farms will host a free wintertime concert on Saturday, February 25! This family-friendly musical afternoon is curated by Music Director Marcus G. Miller and promises to bring warmth to a chilly February day. For details, click here.

Woodcock Nature Center in Wilton offers terrific hiking trails and camps. Have you ever heard of the Great Backyard Bird Count? This annual event on Saturday, February 18 encourages folks to come together over their love of birds and report sightings that help scientists better understand global bird populations. Woodcock educator Tommy McCarthy will be leading a guided walk for adults and kids to participate in the count and learn more about the event. For details, click here.

Ballard Park’s playground is fabulous no matter the weather and the gazebo looks beautiful even covered in snow (if we get any!).

Stepping Stones Children’s Museum and The Maritime Aquarium are both located in Norwalk with plenty of programs for kids of all ages.

A few of our other favorite things to fill a staycation:

Ridgefield Library will have a variety of activities including Story Times and STEAM Corner for Kids. For details, click here.

Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe on Main Street will be open and is always an easy, fun outing way to get out of the house no matter how old your kiddos are! If you don’t feel like cooking, some of our favorite family-friendly restaurants are Gallo, 850 Degrees Wood Fired Pizza, Wooster Hollow Café, Dmitri’s Diner, Prime Burger, and BareBurger.

Several ski areas are close enough for a day trip, including Butternut in Massachusetts, Mount Southington in Plantsville, CT and Thunder Ridge in New York. For winter activities right here in town, check out daily open ice times at Winter Garden Ice Arena.

Check out the Ridgefield Hamlet Hub calendar for many more events happening on our area this week: https://calendar.hamlethub.com

Wishing everyone a fun and restful vacation no matter how you choose to spend it!