Live Reindeer, Short Films & Gingerbread Galore: This Weekend In CT

CONNECTICUT — This weekend is Thanksgiving Weekend, and the official start of the holiday season. No state does Christmas quite like Connecticut, so after you've slept off the feast it's time to get an early jump on the Black Friday shopping, and the many special, tinsel-draped events happening all around.

Santa and three live reindeer await believers in Greenwich beginning Friday, and carrying on through Dec. 23. The Jolly Ol' Elf and his hoofed crew will be holding court at the 15th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa's Workshop presented by Jenny Allen/Compass, "The North Pole on North Street," Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, at 437 North Street. What's not to love: Dogs are welcome, parking is free, a portion of all photos with Santa revenue benefits Kids in Crisis, and the whole shooting match takes place just minutes from downtown Greenwich. Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays.

Whether you are a longtime, diehard fan of gingerbread house festivals, or new to the hobby, you're guaranteed to find something to frost your chimneys at The Friends of Wood Memorial Library 13th Annual Gingerbread House Festival "Shiny & Brite," at 783 Main Street in South Windsor. Organizers call it one of the largest gingerbread house festivals in New England. The festival is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated. The library is closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Thanksgiving Weekend Saturday is also Small Business Saturday, sandwiched between the major Black Friday retail shopping holiday that tends to favor national brands and Cyber Monday, an online shopping event that this year takes place on Nov. 27.

The Shops at Yale are celebrating with a Small Business Saturday Pop-Up from noon to 4 p.m. There'll be free indoor craft activities for children, fresh kettle popcorn and candy, giveaways, an ice carving demonstration, live jazz, strolling yuletide carolers and more at 1042 Chapel Street, next to Üni Home Life. Storytime and selfies with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be found at B Natural Kitchen from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. The Shops at Yale are located at 1042 Chapel Street, New Haven.

The Makers with Moxie, a collaborative of women artisans and makers in Connecticut, will take over the second floor of Parkville Market at 1400 Park Street in Hartford on Small Business Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The "Moxie Market" will include Over 25 carefully curated artisan vendors, a holiday photo booth, 19 food stalls and three bars.

The surprise Connecticut Christmastime hit of 2021 returns Saturday with the unveiling of the 3rd Annual Lobster Trap Tree at the Stonington Town Docks. Sponsored by the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, the oddball icon will be on public display from Nov. 25, 2023 to Jan. 7, 2024, with this year's unveiling festivities Saturday from 4:30-7 p.m. The tree is made up of 450 lobster traps, has become the darling of television crew throughout the state, and has been the site of nine marriage proposals since it first burst onto the docks in 2021.

Are there any events anywhere this Thanksgiving weekend that don't involve trees, bearded elves or shopping? Maybe something a little off the well-worn candy cane lane of singing carolers and ringing cash registers leading up to Christmas? Not many, Bunky, but we found a beaut, on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford, Saturday. The 16th edition of the Short Short Story Film Festival is a competitive international festival of "films that tell a story in under six minutes, celebrating brevity in filmmaking" with flicks from across the globe, both live-action and animated. Organizers will be spooling out 35 shorts, categorized as either "Heartstrings" or "Headtrip," and audiences will vote on their three favorites. Two-hour long programs in each category begin at 1:00, 3:00, 5:00 and 7:00 p.m., and tickets can be purchased online or at the door on the day of the festival.

For as much as we could all use some holiday cheer, a little brevity would go a long way, too.