Exciting Holiday Events in Downtown New Haven at The Shops at Yale

Exciting Holiday Events in Downtown New Haven at The Shops at Yale

The Shops at Yale will celebrate this holiday season with Free 4-Hour Parking, $250 Shopping & Dining Gift Card Giveaways, Horse Drawn Carriage Rides, Ice Carving Demonstrations, Storytelling with Santa, Caroling, Weekend Crafts and our featured event, an Ice Carving Competition & A Cappella Concert. Below is detailed information regarding each event, which can also be found online at HERE.

Free 4-Hour Parking

Dates: Nov. 23 – Dec. 24 

Locations: 56 Broadway, 255 Crown Street and 161 York Street Enjoy free 4-hour parking with a $30 or more purchase from any of The Shops at Yale retailers. The free parking offer is available 7 days per week at the following surface lots; 56 Broadway across from Apple and L.L.Bean, 255 Crown Street behind Wave Gallery, idiom Boutique and Raggs for Men & Women, and 161 York Street behind Neville Wisdom Fashions and Derek Simpson Goldsmith. Simply show your store receipt to the parking lot attendant when exiting.

Black Friday & Small Business Saturday 

Dates: Nov. 23 – 24, 12:00-4:00pm

Locations: Chapel Street Historic and Broadway Districts Roaming greeters will be out on Chapel Street and Broadway on Friday and Saturday with special discounts to retailers at The Shops at Yale. In addition, greeters will have surprise giveaways for customers with a shopping bag from any retailer at The Shops at Yale, such as $10 gift cards to downtown merchants, free canvas totes and more!

Featured Event: Ice Carving Competition & A Cappella Concert 

Date: Saturday, December 8, 12:00-4:00pm

Location: Broadway Island, 56 Broadway (across from Apple/L.L.Bean/Urban Outfitters) Eight professional ice carvers will each transform 3 blocks of ice (900lbs) into a spectacular sculpture in only 4 hours! Internationally recognized, award-winning sculptor Bill Covitz from Ice Matters in Cheshire, CT will be on-site for a second year.

Enjoy live performances by several accomplished a cappella groups, including The Yale Alley Cats, Something Extra, Whim 'n Rhythm, The New Blue, Proof of the Pudding, Guilford Carolers (formerly Guilford Voices), Yale Out of the Blue and more.

Ice Carving Demonstrations

Dates: Nov. 23, 24, December 2, 9, 16 and 23, 1:00-3:00pm 

Location: 1046 Chapel Street, in front of Wave Gallery and L’Occitane En Provence

Horse Drawn Carriages 

Dates: Sundays, December 2, 9, 16 and 23, and Saturday, December 8, 12:00-4:00pm 

Location: Downtown New Haven Enjoy horse drawn carriage rides this holiday season in downtown New Haven. Pick-ups and drop-offs will take place on the Corner of College & Chapel Streets on College Street, (across from the New Haven INFO Center at 1000 Chapel Street) and at the corner of York Street and Elm Street (across from Patagonia New Haven and GANT). Rides are free with a purchase of just $30 or more from any retailer at The Shops at Yale.

Storytelling with Santa 

Saturdays: December 1, 8, 15 and 22 at The Yale Bookstore, 77 Broadway, with free face painting 

Sundays: November 25 and December 23 at Willoughby's Coffee & Tea, 194 York Street 

Sundays: December 2, 9 and 16 at Claire’s Corner Copia, 1000 Chapel Street 

Santa will visit The Shops at Yale and read various stories to children from 1:00-3:00pm. Free snacks will be provided. Great photo opportunities for the whole family. This event is free and open to the public.

Free Weekend Craft Activities

Saturdays: December 1, 8, 15 and 22 at Hull's Art Supply, 1144 Chapel Street, 3:00-5:00pm 

Sundays: December 2, 9, 16 and 23 at The Yale Bookstore, 77 Broadway, 2:00-4:00pm 

Family-friendly craft projects, such as Thanksgiving Day and Holiday Card Making, Rock Painting, Gel Plate Painting and much more. These craft activities are free and open to the public. 

Caroling 

Dates: November 23, 24, and December 1, 8, 15, 22 and 23 

Location: Chapel Street Historic District and Broadway District Connecticut Yuletide Carolers will perform at The Shops at Yale from 1:00-5:00pm along Chapel Street and Broadway. The traditionally garbed Victorian Carolers will fill the winter air with the bright sounds of the season.

CLICK HERE for more information on each event.