Things To Do

/

How to Celebrate Lunar New Year in New Haven

January 30, 2024

The year of the dragon is upon us; welcome to 2024. Lunar New Year marks the first new moon of the new year, celebrated primarily in Asian communities across China, South Korea, Vietnam, and beyond. Fireworks displays, street parades, and energetic representations of culture traditionally mark the celebration. This year’s holiday, which falls on Saturday, February 10th, will usher in the year of the dragon. On February 24th, visitors and locals will gather for Connecticut’s largest annual Lunar New Year celebration in New Haven. Hosted by Yale-China, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the United States and China... View Article

/

5 Unique First Date Spots in New Haven

January 24, 2024

An ideal Valentine’s Day begins with a January first date. As we roll into the romance season, many locals are fulfilling their “get back out there” resolution with date nights in downtown. There is no perfect formula for a first date, but there is one surefire way to kill one – forget to make a plan. This month, we’re helping you get back out there with five first date ideas in downtown that aren’t grabbing a dinner and drinks. You don’t have to thank us always remember your romance was established downtown. Root for the Bulldogs at a Yale Basketball... View Article

/ /

Cosmopolitan Calls New Haven “The Cultural Hotspot You Didn’t Know You Needed”

January 23, 2024

In the fall of 2023, a journalist from Cosmopolitan Magazine visited downtown New Haven on a mission to explore the best of our city. During her time in Elm City, she experienced everything our community offers, from delicious eats to lively cultural events, culminating in a feature story about New Haven. The soundbite review of our beloved city is as follows: “The food and cocktails? Top tier. The museums? Immaculate. The people? Gorge and diverse. Now go pack your bags!” Written for Cosmopolitan’s travel section, Cosmo Trips, the story features insights from Adriane Jefferson, the Director of Cultural Affairs for... View Article

/ /

Dry January in #NHV

January 3, 2024

Whether your 2024 motto is “New Year, New Me,” you’re looking for a monthly refresh, or are simply interested in attending more alcohol-free activities this year, downtown New Haven is the perfect destination to support your New years’ resolutions. From attending museums to going shopping, there are many ways to stay “dry” in New Haven this January. Make the new year one of abundance and stroll through the downtown streets to find a shopper’s dream. Chapel Street, the epicenter for all high-end boutiques, is home to Idiom, known for its hand-crafted jewelry and bags. If you are looking to add... View Article

/

Celebrating 800 Years of the Crèche at The Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center

December 19, 2023

You know what it is, you didn’t know there was a word for it. Now entering the world of the crèche, a symbol synonymous with Christmas as a stocking or an elf. A crèche is a three-dimensional nativity scene, a physical retelling of the biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ. The crèches we’re talking about today are not the kitschy tabletop sets of Christmases past but rather full-fledged installations on view right now in Downtown New Haven.\ From now until March 24, 2024, the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center invites visitors and locals to stop in for the... View Article

/

14 Holiday Gift Shopping Spots for Everyone on Your List

December 5, 2023

The 25 days of Christmas are already well underway, which means one thing. You may be in trouble if you haven’t begun your holiday shopping yet. Time flies, deals end, and shelves grow barren, but fear not – downtown New Haven has no shortage of shopping destinations ripe for gift-givers. Forget the standard holiday candle or generic ornament, and go for something personalized. For every shape of hobbyist, downtown has many picture-perfect gifts, from unique locally-made art to one-of-a-kind vintage finds to interactive fitness experiences. Before you let the holiday shopping stress set in, check out these 14 local spots... View Article

/

Downtown New Haven for the Holidays!

November 15, 2023

Temperatures drop, tinsel goes up, and 30,000 glimmering lights return to the New Haven Green for the 110th year in a row. The holiday season is upon us, and if you don’t believe us, check out the Green. There, you’ll find that 50 ft tall 7,000lb Norway Spruce waiting to be lit. Holiday Hallmark Charm will return to the Elm City on November 30 at 5:00 PM, as neighbors, visitors, and friends make their way to the New Haven Green to celebrate the annual tree lighting.  New Haven was one of the first cities in the nation to host a... View Article

/

Small Business Saturday in Downtown New Haven

November 15, 2023

November 25th marks the return of a well-loved holiday in downtown New Haven – Small Business Saturday.  Five distinct shopping districts are located throughout the downtown neighborhood: Broadway, Chapel Street Historic, Chapel West, Ninth Square, and Whitney-Audubon – each featuring locally owned and operated retail businesses.  Click here for a list of downtown locally-owned retailer locations throughout downtown. The second annual Small Business Saturday Pop-Up will return to our city this month, at 1042 Chapel St. from 12 – 4 pm, featuring free arts and crafts, freshly popped kettle corn, live music, exclusive giveaways, and tons of fantastic shopping from... View Article

/ / /

Bustle Spotlights New Haven As The Ultimate Gilmore Girls Inspired Destination

November 14, 2023

Fall is a time marked by crisp air, brewing holiday excitement, and endless Gilmore Girls rewatches. While the town of Stars Hollow does not exist, New Haven does. If you haven’t watched the series, it takes place in a quaint New England town much like our own, and one of the lead characters goes on to attend Yale University, making New Haven her home for four years.  Our downtown neighborhood offers everything Gilmore Girls fans associate with the show – sprawling bookstores, strong coffee, and steaming pizza pies. Don’t just take it from us. This month, Bustle, a premier digital... View Article

/

The Glowing History of New Haven’s Annual Tree Lighting [updated 2023]

November 8, 2023

As we head into the holiday season, Market New Haven had the pleasure of speaking with Colin Caplan, New Haven resident, historian, author, and pizza historian, about everyone’s favorite holiday festivity – the 110th annual holiday tree lighting, which takes place every year on the New Haven Green. Read what he had to say about this centuries-old tradition, and what it means to the people of New Haven.  “The improvement of New Haven’s civic life became a focus of city leaders at the beginning of the 20th century, as exemplified by the first public Christmas tree lighting on the New... View Article