Top Things to Do in CT In March

The snow has finally melted, and the winter coats are being shed. Thank heavens, right?

March is the time of year when everyone starts to exit their homes from a long, cold winter and begin to find ways to spend their days outside of their houses. Fresh air may seem like a distant memory, but don’t worry, warmth is on the way.

March is a beautiful time of year to visit Connecticut, with spring flowers just opening. Streets are lined with crocuses and trees start to pop in beautiful shades of pinks and greens. Soon it’ll be Connecticut cherry blossom season, baby!

You can stroll through neighborhood avenues with a light jacket, breathing in the fresh air. You can live a little Gilmore Girls’ moment and head to a local diner and enjoy all the small-town charm.

While you can make a March trip to Connecticut as relaxed as possible, there are also many activities to enjoy, both indoors and outdoors. Wherever you’re from in the United States, take a CT day trip or long weekend getaway to Connecticut for some New England charm and celebrate the start of spring.

Here are some top picks as far as things to do in Connecticut in March this spring:

Top Spring-Time things to do in CT in March

No matter where you are in the state, there is something for everyone in March:

Sample Some Maple Sugar

While many associate all things maple with the autumn season, Connecticut is a bit of a rule breaker. The state’s maple sugar season is actually in March, so it’s the perfect time for you and your family to try out some maple candies or syrups from farms, including Lamothe’s Sugar House in Burlington and Sweet Wind Farm Sugarhouse & Farm Stand in East Hartland. Basically, Connecticut makes sure that’s you’re taken care of year-round for maple syrup. On behalf of the entire state, you’re welcome.

Have Fun at a Festival

March sits in between the two major seasons:

Winter fairs and festivals
Spring festivals and fairs

But there are still reasons to celebrate the month:

Hebron Maple Festival

Thousands of people come from around the country every year to enjoy a weekend of maple-related events. You can check out demonstrations, take yourself on a self-tour, and indulge in various maple products at several local sugar houses. Everyone can also check out the dog sled exhibition, chainsaw carvers, crafts, vendors, and food merchants! Head over to the Hebron Maple Festival this weekend (usually the second weekend of March) for family fun and to experience an adult sugar high.

Saint Patrick’s Day Festivals

Typical of the Northeast, many people in Connecticut can claim Irish ancestry.

But even ones who don’t are Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Greenwich’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade brings:

Irish step dancing
Bagpipes
And Shriners riding tiny cars

And more to their annual parade route, stretching from Town Hall along the Post Road and down Greenwich Avenue.

Afterwards, get a pint at The Ginger Man.

If you’re on the eastern side of the state, head to Mystic, CT. The town hosts its annual Irish Parade in March, as well.

Take a Ride on the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

Grab your family and hop on a 1920s coach pulled by an original steam train to pretend like you’re in the olden’ days. You can sit back, relax, and take in the beautiful spring views from the comfort of a locomotive and rest up your feet. And once your ride through rolling hills finishes, you then get to take a ride on the Becky Thatcher Riverboat down the Connecticut River. From start to finish, the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat adventure is a two-and-a-half-hour trip through the Connecticut River Valley, which means hours of relaxation and the prettiest of views.

Visit the Top Connecticut Museums

Regardless of the time of year, Connecticut plays host to some impressive museums.

When the weather is particularly variable, like in March, it’s always wise to have some indoor activities up your sleeve on any given day.

Check Out the Stamford Museum and Nature Center

Stamford Museum and Nature Center is a great place to bring your family to learn more about farm life, nature, and the area. The center includes a working farm, art galleries, planetarium and observatory, hiking trails, picnic area, and a playground. I mean, what more could you need for an Instagram moment. And if you plan ahead, you may be able to hit a scheduled event to learn more about space, which is possibly the coolest thing ever.

Enjoy the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

If you like art museums, then the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is the place for you. Head over to Ridgefield to enjoy pieces beloved and new. Some new exhibitions drop in early February, so hitting the museum will be worth the trip in March. It’s equal parts new and nostalgic, so you can bring your parents or your kids and neither group will think you’re nuts.

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

This museum is one of the oldest and largest university natural history museums worldwide. The mammalian evolution and dinosaur halls are one of the more popular wings of the building. They contain full-sized mastodon, brontosaurus, and stegosaurus fossils.

In addition, the Discovery Room is a hit for kids ages 5 to 12, with touchable models and hands-on activities.

All that to say, if you’re into science and dinosaurs, this is the museum for you. You can spend all day here checking out all the models and fossils or just strolling around the gardens. It’s the kind of place Rory Gilmore would be reading on a bench outside of—unconfirmed but essentially confirmed.

Check Out the Children’s Museums

Head over to the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester to bring your kids for some hands-on learning and excitement that comes with exhibits. Activities included are perfect for children ages 2 to 10, with a mini town fit for kids to adventure through and habitats with live animals. Over in Norwalk, there’s the award-winning Stepping Stones Museum. Check out the different exhibits for separate age groups, so there’s something perfect for everyone. It’s very hands-on for kids, so parents really get to sit back and relax. You can thank us later.

Make Your Way to the Mark Twain House & Museum

The Mark Twain House and Museum is a dream to visit for literary lovers and those who appreciate beautiful architecture. It’s known as one of the best historic sites in the world, so it’s a must for all to visit. Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, lived there with his family in the late 1800s, and it’s the house where he wrote his famous works “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Even if you never read his works, it’s pretty iconic. It’s like visiting the Hemingway House in the Keys, where cats run amuck. There are no furry friends here, but you may be able to catch some squirrels outside!

Spend the Day at the Connecticut Science Center

Grab your friends or family and head over to Connecticut science museums for a day of learning and new things! On a rainy day during your CT visit, head to The Connecticut Science Center for a butterfly encounter, a rooftop garden, and a space exhibit. If you’re bringing kids, you can play with interactive activities. It’s kind of like a big kid playground with awesome things to see and facts to learn. It’s okay to be nerdy here.

Kick Back to the 80s

Rainy day in Connecticut? Fear not! Head to Ron-A-Roll Indoor Roller Skating Center in Vernon for an afternoon of fun—and a workout. To have even more fun, consider making it a dress-up occasion with your friends, perhaps the 80s. Have everyone throw on workout clothes and live your roller derby dreams without any of the competition.

Hunt for Antiques

Connecticut is the holy grail for all things antiques. Whether you’re on the hunt from some furniture or knick knacks, walking around antique stores is a great way to find hidden gems you can bring home with you. While there may be no Stars Hollow or Kim’s Antiques, there are some really great shops you can check out across the state.

Here are some options for antique shopping in Connecticut:

Vintage Vibes in Thomaston
David A. Schorsch and Eileen M. Smiles American Antiques in Woodbury
John Thomas Treasures in Vernon
Jeremiah’s Antiques & Collectibles in Putnam
By The Pond in Columbia
Trailside Treasures in Columbia
Norwichtown Antiques & Jewelry in Norwich
Red Head Heron Antiques & Non in Mystic
Clinton Key to the Past Antique Center in Clinton
Mongers Market in Bridgeport

Outdoor things to do in CT in March

The adage; “March comes in like a lion, and out like a lamb” is very true here in Connecticut.

So the end of March is when you’re more likely to be able to enjoy the following outdoor activities.

But you never know!

And to be fair, you can still enjoy most of the top Connecticut winter activities deep into the month of March.

The benefits of living on the edge.

Live Out Your Rom Com Adventure

Have you ever wanted a meet-cute where you fly in a hot air balloon? I mean, you can’t really plan it, but you can still fly in a hot air balloon! Head to Aer Blarney Balloons and Berkshire Balloons to put your head in the clouds and see the beauty of Connecticut from the sky!

Find this and many more date ideas across Connecticut in our guide.

Take a Hike

Connecticut is not the most hilly or mountainous state compared to the other states it’s surrounded by, but that’s what makes it so great for beginners and travelers! You don’t have to go on an insane mountain to make a hike worthwhile.

Enjoy your time taking in the scenery and scents of nature. Some of the top Connecticut hiking trails to check out are at Bluff Point State Park and Devil’s Hopyard State Park.

They’re especially beautiful in the spring with flowers blooming and trees finally getting their leaves back. You may also be greeted by a few harmless furry friends along the way.

See Connecticut State Parks

Whether you want to enjoy a picnic, a stroll through trails, or hike up a mountain, check out the Connecticut state parks for a breath of fresh air. Stop by a grocer to make up your own semi professional charcuterie board and enjoy it in fresh grass and blooming flowers. Whether you’re an athletic person or someone who likes to keep things relaxed, your group will make it work.

Here are some statewide parks:

Mianus River State Park, Greenwich & Stamford
Sherwood Island State Park, Westport
Bigelow Hollow State Park, Union
Campbell Falls State Park Reserve, in the town of Norfolk, CT
Devil’s Hopyard State Park, East Haddam
Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill
Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
Haystack Mountain State Park, Norfolk
Kent Falls State Park, in the town of Kent
Lovers Leap State Park, New Milford
Mount Tom State Park, Litchfield
Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme
Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden

Stroll Through Studio 80 and Sculpture Grounds

Studio 80 and Sculpture Grounds in Old Lyme features a gallery and studio with more than 100 sculptures by artist Gilbert V. Boro. The grounds are right by Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, making it a day trip full of works of art. A loft exhibition gallery also displays small-scale works for those who appreciate the finder things in life. If you’re interested, small group tours are also available by contacting the studio directly to organize a visit. Basically, you get to walk through gardens of flowers and landscaping, enjoying colorful sculptures. It’s kind of like living in a Klimt painting, except the scenery is a bit clearer.

Shop Til You Drop

Mosey around downtown Greenwich to enjoy some shopping—even if it’s just through the windows. There are many boutiques and stores to check out for clothes, accessories, home goods, and more.

And once you’re tired from walking around and doing lots of buying, there are many restaurants for you to fill up at to gain your energy back for even more shopping.

Find even more things to do in CT in March

We hope that you enjoy the options we’ve included in this list and that there’s something here that makes you excited for head out for a long weekend.

You’ll find even more things to do in CT if you’re planning on coming earlier or later:

Try to do as much as you can while you visit to take in as much as the state as possible!

Top Things to Do in CT In March