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Christmas with kids in Danbury
In Danbury, Santa arrives by fire truck and the holiday trains leave from a station built in 1903. The city has also dreamed of dressing Main Street in 1950s style Christmas lights.
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Photos with Santa
When: Daily, Nov 6 to Dec 24 (closed Nov 26)
Where: Danbury Fair, Center Court, Danbury
Cost: Free to visit, photo packages sold separately
The story of Christmas in Danbury
How Danbury celebrates
Danbury's Christmas season has a few signature moments. The Light the Lights Winter Festival brings a tree lighting and Santa parade to the CityCenter Green, where Santa arrives by fire truck. Stew Leonard's Danbury hosts a long running free tree lighting, billed as its 29th annual, with Santa on hand. Danbury Fair keeps Santa in Center Court for weeks, and the Danbury Railway Museum runs a Santa's Train. In 2015 the city proposed a Main Street display of LED lights and garland made to look like a 1950s street scene, for about $65,000.
Christmas last year in Danbury
In 2025, Light the Lights took place on Saturday, December 6 from 3 to 7 pm at CityCenter Green, 1 Ives Street, with a 40-foot tree lit by Mayor Roberto Alves and Santa arriving by fire truck. Santa took photos at Danbury Fair from November 28 to December 21 and met children at Stew Leonard's on the same dates. Santa's Train ran on Saturdays and Sundays starting November 29, with five departures a day.
Fun facts about Christmas in Danbury
The proposed Main Street lights were inspired by an old photo of Main Street that hangs in city hall. When the city proposed the display in 2015, the mayor said the commercial grade decorations had a useful life of about 15 years. The railway museum sits in a station built in 1903 by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. For 2026, Danbury Fair says Santa arrives November 6, and the mall lists Pet Nights and Sensory Santa for animal lovers and families who need a quieter visit.
Trains and Christmas in Danbury
Danbury has its own Christmas train tradition. The Danbury Railway Museum, at 120 White Street, is housed in the 1903 station built by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, and volunteers have spent decades restoring its period details. Each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas it runs a Santa's Train, a short ride aimed at young children where Santa greets families and poses for photos. In 2025 it ran on weekends starting November 29, and tickets often sell out.
Traditions today
- Light the Lights Winter Festival: A tree lighting and Santa parade at CityCenter Green, with a 40-foot tree and Santa arriving by fire truck.
- Santa's Train: A holiday train ride at the Danbury Railway Museum on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Photos with Santa at Danbury Fair: Santa sits in Center Court from early November, with Pet Nights and Sensory Santa on the mall calendar.
- Stew Leonard's tree lighting: A free, all ages tree lighting with a countdown and a visit from Santa.
- Meet Santa at Stew Leonard's: Santa greets children at the store for several weeks in November and December.
- Main Street holiday lights: Danbury proposed a 1950s style Main Street light display, inspired by an old photo in city hall.
A fact for kids
Danbury's Santa arrives at the tree lighting by fire truck, and the holiday train leaves from a station built in 1903.
Questions about Christmas in Danbury
What is the biggest Christmas celebration in Danbury?
The Light the Lights Winter Festival is the city's tree lighting and Santa parade. In 2025 it ran from 3 to 7 pm on December 6 at CityCenter Green, 1 Ives Street, with a 40-foot tree and Santa arriving by fire truck. Check our Danbury Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
How does Santa arrive in Danbury?
At the Light the Lights Winter Festival, Santa arrives by fire truck. In 2025 the festival was held at CityCenter Green on Saturday, December 6, and Mayor Roberto Alves led the tree lighting. Kids enjoy spotting the fire truck, so it is a good spot to bring a camera.
Where is the Danbury Christmas tree?
The big tree is at CityCenter Green, 1 Ives Street, in downtown Danbury. In 2025 it stood 40 feet tall and was lit during the Light the Lights Winter Festival. Our Danbury Christmas events guide on this page lists this year's date and time.
What is the Stew Leonard's tree lighting in Danbury?
It is a free, all ages tree lighting at Stew Leonard's Danbury, billed as the 29th annual in one listing. Festivities begin at 4 pm and a countdown to the lighting starts at 5 pm, with Santa on hand. The year of that listing was not shown.
Where can kids meet Santa in Danbury?
Danbury Fair keeps Santa in Center Court, starting November 6 in 2026, and Stew Leonard's Danbury hosts Santa each season, in 2025 from November 28 to December 21. Santa's Train at the Danbury Railway Museum also includes a Santa visit. See our Danbury Christmas events guide on this page.
When does Santa arrive at Danbury Fair?
Danbury Fair says Santa arrives November 6 in 2026 and stays through Christmas Eve. Visiting him is free, with photo packages sold separately. Booking ahead online is recommended to skip the wait, and the mall also lists Pet Nights, Sensory Santa and Breakfast with Santa.
What is Sensory Santa?
Sensory Santa is a special Santa visit listed on Danbury Fair's calendar. Details were not posted on the Santa page, so we cannot say when it happens. These visits are usually planned for children who may find a busy mall overwhelming. Check the mall's events page for dates and quiet hours.
What is Santa's Train in Danbury?
Santa's Train is a short holiday ride at the Danbury Railway Museum, aimed mainly at young children. Santa greets families and poses for photos, and tickets often sell out. In 2025 it ran on Saturdays and Sundays starting November 29, with five departures each day.
When was the Danbury train station built?
The station that houses the Danbury Railway Museum was built in 1903 by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Volunteers and staff have spent decades restoring its period details. The museum is at 120 White Street in downtown Danbury.
Is there a holiday train near Danbury?
Yes. The Danbury Railway Museum runs Santa's Train between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a short ride for young children. Tickets frequently sell out, so book early. Our Danbury Christmas events guide on this page lists current dates, and the museum's website has tickets.
What were Danbury's 1950s Main Street lights?
In November 2015, Danbury proposed a Main Street display of LED lights and garland designed to look like a 1950s street scene. It was inspired by an old photo of Main Street at city hall. The cost was about $65,000, and it was slated to debut on December 5.
How long would the Main Street decorations last?
The mayor said the commercial grade decorations had a useful life of about 15 years. That was in 2015 when the display was proposed, and the council still needed to approve hanging lights across the street. We did not verify whether the final display matched the proposal.
How can I explain the fire truck Santa to my toddler?
Tell them Santa does not always use his sleigh, and in Danbury he arrives at the tree lighting on a fire truck. Kids can spot the lights and sirens and see the 40-foot tree glow. It is a friendly way to introduce the holiday crowd.
Is there breakfast with Santa near Danbury?
Yes. Danbury Fair lists Breakfast with Santa, and nearby Bethel held a Breakfast with Santa on December 13, 2025 from 8:30 to 10:30 am at the Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Check our Danbury Christmas events guide on this page for what is confirmed this year.
What is Pet Night with Santa at Danbury Fair?
Pet Nights are a special Santa photo option listed on Danbury Fair's Santa page, so families can bring their pets. Dates and details were not posted, so check the mall's events page. Remember to ask about leashes, carriers and any rules before bringing an animal to the mall.
Is the Danbury Fair Santa visit free?
Yes. Visiting Santa is free, and photo packages are sold separately. Booking a time ahead online is recommended to skip the wait, and it includes a free personalized digital message from Santa. Santa sits in Center Court, and hours change through the season.
What happened at Danbury Christmas last year?
In 2025, Light the Lights ran on December 6 at CityCenter Green, Santa visited Danbury Fair and Stew Leonard's from November 28 to December 21, and Santa's Train rolled at the railway museum on weekends starting November 29. Nearby Bethel also held a Breakfast with Santa.
Are there Christmas lights in Danbury for kids?
Yes. The 40-foot tree at CityCenter Green is lit at the Light the Lights festival, Stew Leonard's holds a tree lighting, and the city has proposed 1950s style Main Street lights. Our Danbury Christmas events guide on this page lists this year.
Is there a train museum near Danbury for Christmas?
The Danbury Railway Museum is at 120 White Street, in the 1903 station built by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, where volunteers have spent decades restoring period details. Its Christmas highlight is Santa's Train, and tickets frequently sell out, so plan ahead before you visit.
Why is Christmas in Danbury special?
Danbury's Christmas mixes small town and train town. Santa arrives by fire truck, a 40-foot tree lights downtown and the holiday trains run from a 1903 station. Mall visits, a grocery store tree lighting and a Main Street lights dream add more to love, with plenty for little ones.
Sources
- Where to see Santa in Danbury this holiday season, Patch
- Santa Photos at Danbury Fair, Danbury Fair
- Nostalgic holiday lights display proposed to emulate 1950s Danbury, NBC Connecticut
- Santa Train at the Danbury Railway Museum, American-Rails.com
- Stew Leonard's 29th annual tree lighting in Danbury, Macaroni Kid Danbury