Stafford WinterFest is December 10, 2022
Downtown Stafford
Parade of Lights step off at 5:00 PM from Olympic Circle down Main Street to Town Hall
Celebrate the spirit of the season with friends, family, and neighbors at Stafford WinterFest! The festive event features the Parade of Lights, live performances, visits with Santa, a community bonfire, tractor rides through Hyde Park, outdoor holiday market, and more. With hundreds of luminaries lighting the night along Main Street, Stafford comes alive with holiday cheer…don't miss this beloved community tradition! Weather date: December 11, 2022.
Visit www.explorestaffordct.com/winterfest for complete details and check back often for updates.
WinterFest Activities
Stafford Historic Museum Open House (2 Spring Street)
3:00pm – 7:00pm
Explore two-floors of Stafford’s rich heritage and connect to our local history! The Museum’s little gift shop will be open, give the gift of history this season!
Live Nativity at the First United Methodist Church (8 Church Street)
3:00pm
Live Nativity Performance with real actors and animals on the lawn of the First United Methodist Church.
Hyde Park Wagon Rides (Meet behind the Historical Society Museum)
3:00pm to 4:45pm & 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Bundle up for a memorable ride up Highland Terrace and through the illuminated Hyde Park on the WinterFest Wagon! Rides will be offered before and after the parade, and on a first come, first serve basis. Scheduled times may vary in accordance to road closures.
Parade of Lights
5:00pm
Steps off from Olympic Circle at 5:00pm, traveling through our beautiful downtown to Town Hall, with entrants illuminated for festive evening viewing.
Haymarket Happenings
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- Local Shopping - In addition to favorite bricks-and-mortars, browse a selection pop-up merchants in Haymarket Common, starting at 3:00pm.
- Caroling, Mix + Mingle - The SHS Band & Color Guard will provide a festive soundtrack as the Parade of Lights makes its way down Main Street, just after 5:00pm. Immediately following the lighted procession, a Community Carol Sing with the SHS Choir will commence (approx. 5:30pm) around the community bonfire and visits with Santa will all take place in Haymarket Common.
We’ve made special arrangements with the North Pole! Children may drop their letters to Santa in the big red mailbox located outside the Police Station. Make sure to include the senders first/last name and return mailing address on each letter so Santa can mail a response!
Parking Ban – 12:00pm – 7:00pm
At noon, Crews will start distributing cones along Main Street (from Holt Fountain to the Route 140/190 merge) and Stafford Police will begin requesting vehicles be moved to an off-Main parking area.
Road Closure – 4:30pm – 6:30pm
West Main Street will experience temporary road closures as the parade makes its way from Olympic Circle (step off at 5:00pm) to Town Hall. A Main Street road closure will be in place from Holt Fountain to the Route 140/190 merge from 4:30pm – 6:30pm to accommodate the Parade of Lights and WinterFest activities. Depending on crowds/pedestrians, the road closure may lift prior to 6:30pm. The parking ban will remain until 7:00pm.
Hyde Park Road will be closed for the entirety of the event for scheduled tractor rides, which convenes behind the historical society, travels up Highland Terrace, and back down Hyde Park Road.
Traffic Detour During Main Street Road Closure
Traffic headed Route 32 North/Route 190 West (Downtown Roundabout) detoured traffic will head north on Furnace Avenue, then East on Orcuttville Road to Route 190. Traffic from Route 32 South/Route 190 headed East, detoured traffic will take West Street, left on Route 140 East, to Route 190 via Highland Terrace.
Local PD, Highway/Parks Depts., and Stafford C.E.R.T. are positioned at intersections, crosswalks, and along parade route for safety.
Complete details, event map, parade registration, vendor information & more:
