17th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop Returns to Sam Bridge Nursery on Nov. 28–Dec. 24

Santa Claus and his three LIVE reindeer are coming to town, as they return to Greenwich for the much anticipated 17^th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop presented by Jenny Allen & Kristen Studwell, Compass Real Estate, to the “North Pole on North Street,” Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North Street, Greenwich, Connecticut, from November 28 to December 24, 2025. The cherished town tradition continues for the seventeenth year at the expansive nursery where visitors and their dogs can have their photo taken with Santa, meet the reindeer and also enjoy the spacious Santa’s Workshop, which features a Reindeer Coloring Station sponsored by Jenny Allen & Kristen Studwell, Compass Real Estate, Letter Writing to Santa Station for children sponsored by Greenwich Pediatric Group, a Raffle for everyone who has their Photo with Santa to win a Mercedes-Benz Kids Electric Car and a “Name the Baby Reindeer Contest,” to win a Mercedes-Benz Kids Electric Car, while families wait in line for their photo with Santa to create special holiday memories. All Raffle Winning Names will be drawn by Santa, Wednesday, December 24. A portion of all photos with Santa will once again benefit Kids In Crisis, a non-profit organization based in Greenwich. A Kids In Crisis Giving Tree will also be available for people to support the organization’s important work. The Greenwich Reindeer Festival and Sam Bridge Nursery are proud to support Kids In Crisis for the seventeenth year. This all takes place just minutes from downtown Greenwich. Parking is free.

To recognize the 17^th year, the event will once again be “CELEBRATING FAMILY TRADITIONS.” Top of the list for hundreds of families is visiting Santa’s LIVE Reindeer and having family and pet Photos with Santa at beautiful Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses. The unique holiday attraction has become an important family tradition for thousands of families over the past 15 years.

“For 17 wonderful years, the Greenwich Reindeer Festival has been an annual event that celebrates our community’s holiday spirit and brings everyone together,” First Selectman Fred Camillo said. “I consider this to be the kick off to the holiday season in Greenwich and is always a lot of fun for the whole family. I love going to this event at Sam Bridge and seeing the faces of the kids and the families enjoying themselves and creating precious holiday memories. This event has also been a way every year to boost the important work at Kids in Crisis. I want to thank the Greenwich Reindeer Festival for continuing to help fund this non-profit’s work in the region and I commend it for all it’s done. I’m glad to see they will again have a Kids in Crisis Giving Tree that will directly help kids in need and I am very much looking forward to the event.”

The community is invited to Sam Bridge for the “We’re Back Party Days,” Friday, November 28, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., when Santa’s arrives promptly at 12 noon followed a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Santa, event sponsors, and public officials to officially open Santa’s Workshop for Photos with Santa. Santa’s Reindeer arrive Friday afternoon. The excitement continues Saturday, November 29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Joining us for the “We’re Back Party Days,” both Friday and Saturday are the following attractions and vendors: Dough Girls Food Truck and Bona Bona Ice Cream Truck outside for all to enjoy! More vendors outside will include Party Balloons featuring balloon artists and other fun activities for children, Code Ninjas, Allegra Dance Studio, and students will be performing two different times, Friday afternoon, Face Painting by Dollkarina, Pinot’s Palette Stamford, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Renewal by Andersen, AT&T, and Venture Studios. Enjoy the Holiday Cheer Station sponsored by Bonjo Coffee Roasters and Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors. Enjoy a complimentary drink for children and adults at the Holiday Cheer Station inside, next to Santa’s Workshop. This fun attraction will continue every Saturday, Dec. 6, 13 and 20, 9am – 6pm.

Also joining the “We’re Back Party Days” festivities both Friday, 12pm – 5pm, and Saturday, 9am – 12pm this year will be Rising Starr Horse Rescue featuring four miniature horses, and providing information about their important work of rescuing horses across the United States. Rising Starr Horse Rescue is based in Wilton, CT. Rising Starr Horse Rescue will also be joining the Greenwich Reindeer Festival Saturday, December 6, 9am to 5pm, and Saturday December 20, 9am – 5pm.

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New this year is the “2^nd Annual Reindeer & Santa Coloring Contest” sponsored by Avelo Airlines, Code Ninjas, and Bridgeport Islanders. There will be two categories, with one entry per child. The first category, open to children ages 4 to 6 years old, will feature a Santa coloring page. The second category is open to children aged 7 to 10 years old and features a Reindeer & Santa coloring page. Children 11 years and older are welcome to enter, but they’re not eligible for prizes. You can enter by downloading the coloring pages from the website home page, www.greenwichreindeerfestival.com Return your child’s coloring page to Santa’s Workshop at Sam Bridge Nursery anytime we’re open, Mondays – Fridays, 12pm – 6pm, Saturdays, 9am – 6pm, and Christmas Eve, 9am – 3pm. Santa and his elves will choose the two winners, Christmas Eve. The winners will receive TWO ROUND-TRIP TICKETS on AVELO AIRLINES, good for one year, and all other restrictions apply. The two winning coloring pages will also be featured on the event website, social media pages, and other possible advertising. A one-dollar donation to Kids In Crisis is suggested when you submit your coloring page at the 17^th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop presented by Jenny Allen & Kristen Studwell, Compass, November 28 – December 24, 2025, at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses.

Throughout the four weeks, the reindeer will make Sam Bridge their home, thanks to our returning Reindeer Stable Sponsor, Greenwich Braces, and the Reindeer Sponsors, Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, Greenwich Hospita, and Little Friends. Children, adults, and dogs (on leashes) can have their photo taken with Santa at Santa’s Workshop. Please check the website www.Greenwichreindeerfestival.com for pricing and details on all photo packages. Hours for the Photos with Santa are Mondays through Fridays, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses is closed on Sundays. The reindeer will depart Tuesday afternoon, December 23, but Santa will remain for photos until Wednesday, Christmas Eve, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We are so excited to celebrate the 17^th year of this important community event. We are always so thrilled to welcome back the Greenwich Reindeer Festival here at Sam Bridge Nursery. It’s become a wonderful tradition that our entire family looks forward to. We love the way it brings the community together,” said Maggie Bridge, Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses.

Returning again this year are our special reindeer, Iris, her baby reindeer, and one other adult reindeer. Please help us name the baby, “Name The Baby Reindeer Contest,” which will take place in Santa’s Workshop. Santa will choose the winning name on December 24. The person who submits the WINNING NAME will receive a Mercedes-Benz Kids Electric Car. A second Mercedes-Benz Kids Electric Car will be a part of a Raffle for everyone who has their Photo with Santa, which Santa will also choose on December 24. Thank you to Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich for their generous support of this event for the seventeenth year.

As mentioned earlier, bring your dog for photos with Santa anytime they’re open (on a leash), but for an added incentive to visit Santa with your dog when they’re not so busy, you’ll receive a DOGGY GIFT BAG compliments of Cornell University Veterinary Specialists every Monday – Friday throughout the four weeks. The Doggy Gift Bags are filled with great items from Cornell University Veterinary Specialists, Get Joy Food, PetLabCo, and Room for Paws Pet Resort.

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November events at Fairfield Theatre Company

November at Fairfield Theatre Company is packed with a diverse lineup of events, from live music and tribute shows to film and community gatherings. Highlights include Kelsey Waldon on November 1, Color Me Obsessed: A Film about The Replacements and The Monet plays Jamiroquai on the 2nd, Heather Maloney & Dan Rodriguez on the 4th, Brian Dolzani as the Loner: The Music of Neil Young on the 6th, and the FTC Encore Gala on the 8th. The month also features performances by Zoso, Paul Bogaev, Mike Farris, Tropidelic, Black Flag, Mary Fahl, Shemekia Copeland, Marshall Crenshaw, The Jayhawks, and more, including multi-night appearances from Reid Genauer Soloand festive events like Funksgiving. With something for every taste, November at FTC offers music, film, and seasonal celebrations for the whole community.

November 2025 calendar of events
11/1 – Kelsey Waldon – Click here to purchase tickets
11/2 – 5.5 Color Me Obsessed: A Film about The Replacements
11/2 – The Monet plays Jamiroquai
11/4 – Heather Maloney & Dan Rodriguez
11/5 – End of the Line
11/6 – Brian Dolzani as the Loner: The Music of Neil Young
11/8 – FTC Encore Gala
11/9 – Zoso
11/10 – An Evening with Paul Bogaev
11/12 – Randye Kaye
11/12 – Mike Farris
11/13 – FTC Short Film Festival
11/13 – Tropidelic
11/14 – Black Flag
11/14 -Mary Fahl
11/15 – A Night of Music
11/15 -Shemekia Copeland
11/16 – 399 Forever
11/16 – The Strange Dark
11/19 – Marshall Crenshaw
11/20 – The Arcadian Wild
11/21 – The Jayhawks
11/21 – Reid Genauer Solo
11/22 – Reid Genauer Solo
11/23 – Reid Genauer Solo
11/24 -Funksgiving
11/28 – Jake Swamp & The Pine
11/28 – Mullett
11/29 – Faster Things

Click here for more information & order tickets.

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November events at PeoplesBank Arena

10/26 – UCONN Women’s Basketball vs Southern Connecticut State
10/28 -UCONN Men Basketball vs Michigan State
10/29 – Charlotte Checkers vs Hartford Wolf Pack, click here to purchase tickets
10/31 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs Hartford Wolf Pack, click here to purchase tickets
11/1 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs Hartford Wolf Pack, click here to purchase tickets
11/7 – UMass Lowell vs UConn Men’s Basketball, click here to purchase tickets
11/8 – Playboi Carti, click here to purchase tickets
11/13 – Bert Kreischer, click here to purchase tickets
11/14 – Rochester Americans vs Hartford Wolf Pack, click here to purchase tickets
11/15 – Laval Rocket vs Hartford Wolf Pack, click here to purchase tickets
11/16 – Ohio State vs UConn Women’s Basketball, click here to purchase tickets
11/18 – Springfield Thunderbirds vs Hartford Wolf Pack, click here to purchase tickets
11/21 – Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins vs Hartford Wolf Pack, click here to purchase tickets
11/22 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs Hartford Wolf Pack, click here to purchase tickets
11/23 – Bryan vs UConn Mens Basketball, click here to purchase tickets
11/25 – Stonehill College vs UConn Ice Hockey, click here to purchase tickets
11/26 – Springfield Thunderbirds vs Hartford Wolf Pack, click here to purchase tickets

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