GLOW Hartford is a family-friendly indoor holiday event that brings people together to laugh, stroll and play under the twinkle of over 1,000,000 lights. Stroll through the illuminated structures and magical gardens which are the perfect backdrop for family photos and selfies. Interactive activities will entertain kids for hours, while adults can kick back and enjoy an adult beverage, great food and live entertainment! Browse and shop the vendor market, ride the trackless Glo-comotive train, participate in the Carnival Scavenger Hunt, visit with Santa, and some surprise guests!

Glow Hartford 2026 will be held at the Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT. 06103. THIS IS THE ONLY INDOOR HOLIDAY LIGHT FESTIVAL IN THE AREA!

There is no limit on how long guests can stay at Glow, though the average guest stays for around 1 to 2 hours. Guests are free to stay and enjoy Glow for as long they’d like!  

Yes, Santa will be here on show days during show hours (with daily breaks) through Dec. 23.

All attractions throughout the event are included in the ticket price. It includes the Glow-comotive trackless train ride, live performances, carnival ticket scavenger hunt,  pictures with Santa and other characters, interactive lights and play areas.

Attached to the Connecticut Convention Center is a covered 8-floor parking garage with 2,600 parking spaces. In addition, there are 125 outdoor spaces for oversized vehicles in the surface lot. There is a designated charging area for electric-powered vehicles (no charge). The garage is open 24/7. Additional parking is available at the Connecticut Science Center garage (460 spaces), Front Street South garage (232 spaces), and Front Street North garage (651 spaces).

Parking Rates:

$5.00 first hour
$2.00 for each additional hour
$23.00 daily maximum

As with most events, there is a small fee for all the products and services associated with creating and executing a ticketing system. We work hard to keep these charges to a minimum, while still providing a convenient purchasing system for our visitors.

Change of date or time requests are subject to availability and can be made to the scheduled time shown on your ticket. To exchange your tickets, please follow the step-by-step exchange process  here

For ticketing support, please email GlowTicketing@ctconventions.com.

For other customer service support, please email exhibitorservices@ctconventions.com

When your purchase is complete, you should receive an order confirmation email from Leap. You can either print your ticket or show the mobile ticket on your device at the door. If you did not receive an email, please click here to contact customer support or login to your  My Tickets account here

To ensure all our guests have enough time and space to enjoy Glow, we have to limit the number of tickets we sell for each day and arrival window. All tickets are sold on a first-come-first-served basis. Please visit the calendar to look for an alternative date or arrival window with available tickets.

Yes, on-site tickets will be limited and only available during event hours. To secure your date and time, buy your tickets online.

Glow Hartford is a festive light celebration with something for everyone, we welcome people of all ages to come and enjoy themselves.

For the 2026 season, we are open from November 20 – December 23, 2026

Buy your tickets and see the full calendar here.

Yes! We want everyone to enjoy this magical event. 

Time slots are provided so that you and your family can enjoy Glow’s features without crowding.

Tickets are being sold in 1 hour entry time increments. Please arrive as close as possible to the time indicated on your e-ticket, to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

We understand that traffic and life can be unpredictable (especially in the Christmas season!) Guests are asked to arrive as close as possible to the entry time on their e-ticket. To ensure your safety, entry to the event is staggered. Time slots are provided so that you and your family can enjoy Glow’s features without crowding. If you happen to arrive outside your stated arrival time, we will prioritize customers whose times match their time slots first, to alleviate any capacity issues.

Yes, we will have various food and drink options to cover most tastes (including alcoholic beverages)!

If you are unable to make your originally scheduled date, you can change your tickets to another date by following the step-by-step exchange process here

All sales are final, with the following exceptions:

• If an event is canceled or postponed, you are eligible for a refund for the face value of the ticket. Please submit an email inquiry within five days of the originally scheduled event requesting a refund.
• If you cannot make your originally scheduled date, you can change your tickets to another date. Additional charges may apply if you select a more expensive time slot.

Unforeseen circumstances beyond Glow Hartford’s control will not be grounds for a refund, including, but not limited to the following: local or national weather conditions and natural disasters, waiting in lines, family and medical emergencies.

Glow event staff and security have the right to refuse entry to any ticket holder, without a refund, for any reason at their discretion, including but not limited to: disorderly behavior, intoxication, venue capacity, breach of security restrictions, and COVID-19 mandatory protocols.
Service fees are not refundable under any circumstances.

Refunds are not available for unused or extra tickets; you can transfer unused tickets to attend another date or give them away as gifts to friends and family.

Yes, there will be restrooms onsite. Baby changing areas are available in family restrooms.

Yes, there is a lactation room available on site. Please see a staff member for assistance.

All visitors who wish to participate will be given a “Carnival Ticket” scavenger form upon entry which they can use to complete mini games through the event and get your carnival ticket stamped by staff.

Animals or pets, except for ADA Service Animals, are not permitted inside the CTCC.

Service Dogs/Service Animals are allowed if the animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. An emotional support animal is not considered a Service Dog or Service Animal and is NOT allowed at the CT Convention Center.

Any questions should be directed to the Director of Security at the CTCC.

No outside food or beverage is allowed in the CT Convention Center.

Yes, available to guests 21+. A variety of non-alcoholic beverages are also available.

Indeed, to ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for all, especially our younger and senior guests, we kindly ask you to refrain from smoking or vaping in all areas of the venue, regardless of indoors or outdoors.

Exciting! Please reach out to GlowQuestions@ctconventions.com, and our team will connect you with the Glow Ambassador Team to explore collaboration opportunities.

Your ticket to Glow unlocks a world of activities, including the train ride, all under a single-entry fee to maximize your magical experience without additional costs!

Yes, Glow Hartford has a $20.00 ticket available for Seniors (65+), Military, Police, EMS and Veterans. This price does not include ticketing fees, which will apply. You must show valid ID at event with ticket to enter Glow.  The discount only applies to the individual with the valid I.D., not friends/family or additional tickets.

Yes, Glow Hartford has a $20.00 ticket available for Seniors (65+), Military, Police, EMS and Veterans. This price does not include ticketing fees, which will apply. You must show valid ID at event with ticket to enter Glow.  The discount only applies to the individual with the valid I.D., not friends/family or additional tickets.

We currently do not offer a student discount but keep an eye on our promotions for a variety of exciting offers!

Children 3 and under are always free and they do not require a ticket.

You are not permitted to leave and re-enter the event.

Absolutely, and we encourage it! Glow is designed to be a dazzling photographic experience, so capture and share all the magic! Don’t forget to tag us on social media with our hashtags #GlowHartford and #GlowHartford2026

Yes, you’ll find tables and chairs in the venue near concessions offering comfy spots to relax and soak in the festive ambiance! Benches are located throughout the venue.

If you need to change the name on your tickets for any reason (such as gifts, exchanges, etc.), please click here for instructions

Absolutely, just make sure when checking out that you enter the contact information of the person you would like to give the tickets to so that they will be notified of event updates such as special events, cancellations, giveaways etc.

We do not offer gift cards, however you are able to purchase tickets on behalf of a friend or family member. Just make sure when checking out that you enter the contact information of the person you would like to give the tickets to so that they will be notified of event updates such as special events, cancellations, giveaways etc.

We will Glow on unless there is extreme weather that makes the venue unsafe or unable to run.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates. In the event of a cancellation, you will be notified via email. At which point you will have the opportunity to transfer your ticket to another date.

There is no such thing as a bad day to Glow! But if you are looking to enjoy the festival at a leisurely pace with minimal crowds, we recommend visiting early evening on a weeknight. However, we manage ticket volumes for every time slot to ensure a comfortable and enchanting experience for all, no matter which day or time you visit!

Yes. Following the event, all personal lost and found articles are cataloged and stored for thirty (30) days with our Security Department. After that period, all articles are disposed of at the sole discretion of the CTCC. Please contact our Security Department (860) 249-6000 ext. 2637 to inquire about retrieving lost items.

The CTCC does not have wheelchairs or strollers available for rental to guests or clients for personal use.

No.

Coat racks will be available. The CTCC is not responsible for items left in coat check areas or on coat racks.

Yes, we have three ATMs in the convention center. They are located on Level 1 (Lower Lobby) and at the main entrance to Exhibit Hall B.

Security will be on-site throughout the duration of the event.