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New Canaan Holiday Stroll


  • Downtown New Canaan Elm Street New Canaan, CT (map)

The Chamber invites you to head downtown on Friday December 5th between 5:30 – 8:30 pm to walk under the lights, browse in the stores, watch a show performed by young local talent, eat delicious food, and take a selfie with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Stroll functions as New Canaan’s answer to “Small Business Saturday”, reminding all of us to “think local first” when shopping for friends and family this Holiday season!

For young families we encourage you to come back to town on Saturday December 6th between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm to catch up with Santa who will be at Houlihan Lawrence at 161 Elm Street. While the Children wait to share their wish list with Santa, they will be entertained by a magician making balloon animals.

The Holiday Stroll reminds us how special our town is, and how are local businesses bring life and creativity to our downtown landscape!

Friday, December 5th

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5th, 5:30pm - 8:30 pm

Elm Street will be closed to vehicles all evening! Come stroll under the lights and enjoy everything our stores (see below) and restaurants have to offer.

Look for the booth selling light up Holiday Trinkets and Garb on Elm Street next to the Moreno Clock.

THE SHOW...Starting at 5:00 pm

Produced by the Chamber and Hosted by Eric Thunem and Tucker Murphy

Please stop by the Elm Street/South Avenue intersection to enjoy performances by some of New Canaan's talented young artists! Also keep your ears open for special performances by members of the New Canaan Town Band's Brass Quartet.

New Canaan High School Jazz Combo

New Canaan Music

Harney Pender Keady Academy

The Studio

New England Academy of Dance

New Canaan Performing Arts Conservatory

Fred Astaire Dance Studio

New Canaan Dance Academy

Additional Friday Entertainment

Laurent Ranch located at 7 Elm Street is proudly sponsoring an opportunity to Meet the Mini Ponys from Rising Starr Horse Rescue

Rumor has it Santa & Mrs. Claus will make an appearance during the show!

FRIDAY NIGHT STREET EATS

New Canaan Cares S'mores Station

Friday, fire pit on Elm Street

Waffle Cabin from Vermont

Friday evening and All day Saturday, in front of Playhouse

ADDITIONAL FRIDAY ENTERTAINMENT

Meet & Greet Holiday Characters

Downtown Friday Night and Saturday

St. Aloysius Living Nativity

New Location in front of Church's main entrance on Cherry Street

6:00, 6:30pm & 7:00pm

New Canaan Fire Department will be in front of Rosie's meeting families and promoting Christmas fire safe living room and fireplace ash safety.

Light Up Trinkets

Everyone's favorite festive toys! Many new items this year prices start at $10 Cash or Venmo accepted. All items sold under the Moreno clock across from the stage on Elm Street. All proceeds help fund the Event.

Gingerbread House Tour

Check out the homemade creations all over town! Thanks to our friends at Brown Harris Stevens for sponsoring the Gingerbread House Tour and all the locations around town for displaying the houses made by 150 local families.

Saturday December 6th

While You Wait to Give Santa Your List...

Balloon Animals from the Great Sirico

11:00am - 1:00pm

STORE STROLL OFFERS

Consider The Cook - 145 Elm Street

15% discount on Friday 5-8pm and Saturday 10-6pm.

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Crafty Kids Studios - 91 Main Street

Holiday Crafts

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Dooney & Bourke - 66 Elm Street 

Step into Dooney & Bourke during the Holiday Stroll and enjoy festive sweetness with artisanal desserts and a festive cup of warmth while browsing our premier collections.

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Elm Street Books - 35 Elm Street

Open late with Christmas cookies! 

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Francos Wine Merchants - 130 Elm Street 

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Fred Astaire Dance Studios New Canaan  - 111 Main Street

Pop up group dance lessons, come see the studio, grab some hot cocoa. Meet the instructors :)

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Glass House Design Store - 199 Elm Street 

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Karl Chevrolet - 261 Elm Street
A Call to Kindness: Support Toys for Tots

As our community prepares for the holidays, we ask you to take a moment to remember our neighbors who might not have joy under their tree.

Karl Chevrolet is proud to host our annual collection drive for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.

Please help us bring smiles to children's faces this season. Simply drop off a new, unwrapped toy or two in the bed of the Chevy Silverado Pickup located in our showroom. And when you BUY LOCAL and GIVE LOCAL, you create the ultimate win-win!

Thank you in advance for your incredible generosity and thoughtfulness. Together, we can make this a brighter holiday for local families.

OPEN Friday until 6:30pm.

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LaSource - 44 Elm Street
Beer & Bubbles will be served and all purchases over $100 will be entered in our Holiday Stroll drawing for a $500 LaSource gift card.

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Manfredi Jewels - 72 Elm Street
Indulge in our traditional holiday panettone and prosecco and enjoy 15% off any in-store purchases made during the Holiday Stroll (excludes Rolex, Tudor, Pre-Owned Watches and Buccellati)

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Morgenthal Frederics - 127 Main Street
Holiday Offer $100 off purchase of $350

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No. 299 - 114 Main Street
Join us for a festive cocktail while you shop! We'd love to see you!

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Saisons Sucrees - 84 Main Street
Table on Elm serving rich hot chocolate and fresh baked goods - cookies, brownies, macaron boxes and more! 

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Shoe-Inn - 36 Elm Street
Winter Sale- up to 60% off 

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Ski and Sport - 139 Elm Street 
Cookies and candie open until 9  

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The Spice & Tea Exchange - 118 Main Street
Sip away the cold evening with samples of our hot mulled cider and hot cocoa. Enter our raffle to win a Holiday Gift Basket.   

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Wave - 86 Elm Street
Please Join WAVE for Our Annual Soiree. We can not wait to Ring in The Holidays with You!

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William Raveis Real Estate - 4 Elm Street
Our William Raveis Real Estate Office will be in full celebration with some treats and cheer! Come ring in the holidays at the corner of Main & Elm for what is always a special night in New Canaan!

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Earlier Event: November 30
Festivus Holiday Bazaar
Later Event: December 5
Holiday Stroll Rowayton