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Mark your calendar because Litchfield Restaurant Week returns for a third delicious year March 21 – 28!
A restaurant week page will be published in early March on the Visit Litchfield CT website with the special 3-course, prix fixe menus offered by Litchfield’s award-winning restaurants, cafés, diners, bakeries, and coffeehouses.
Twenty favorite local spots are already committed and this year will be even more exciting with the addition of Litchfield’s three newest restaurants, La Catrina of Bantam, the Lost Fox Inn, and The Courtroom restaurant at The Abner Hotel.
Also signed up to participate this year so far are:
🍽️ At the Corner
🍽️ ATC South Street
🍽️ Materia Ristorante
🍽️ Ollie’s Pizza
🍽️ Sage & Salt (formerly Saltwater Grille)
🍽️ The Village
🍽️ Petraroia Deli
🍽️ Krafted Brew Lab
🍽️ Meraki
🍽️ Market Place Tavern
🍽️ Bohemian Pizza and Tacos
🍽️ Wood’s Pit BBQ & Mexican Café
🍽️ Jackie’s Restaurant
🍽️ Clubhouse Provisions at Stonybrook Golf
🍽️ The Ripe Tomato Deli
🍽️ Dutch Epicure
🍽️ Love Hearts Bakery
491 Bantam Rd.
Nick’s Handmade Bagels, serving fresh bagels and breakfast sandwiches, opened in the former site of Dutch Epicure in February, 2025, to very positive reviews. Hours are Tuesday- Sunday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
It’s soooooooo cold out there 
but we know where you can warm up in Litchfield with great coffee, tea, specialty beverages, and scratch baked goods, or heartier dishes for breakfast or lunch in many places!
The Bakehouse (in the Old Litchfield Jail)
Condé Nast Traveler named Litchfield and Litchfield County to its new list of The Best Places to Go in the US in 2025 – shortly after Forbes put the spotlight on White Memorial ia a story entitled “A Hidden Natural Wonder Awaits Connecticut Visitors.”
Litchfield joins top destinations such as Alaska, Boise, Idaho, Denver, New Orleans, and Puerto Rico in being recommended in the Condé Nast story.
The section of the story detailing some of Litchfield’s charms and lifestyle amenities says:
In Litchfield town the old courthouse on the Green (that’s brimming with shops and cafés) has been refashioned into contemporary-art-filled boutique hotel The Abner. Earlier this summer the rustic-modern Lost Fox Inn opened in a 1740s tavern from the folks behind Mt. Temper’s Foxfire Mountain House, and come March, Hudson Valley favorite Troutbeck will unveil sibling property Belden House & Mews in a Colonial Revival estate reimagined by local-owned Champalimaud Design.
And while you could make a weekend of wandering through Litchfield town—pop into Milton Market, a chic home goods and gifts store (think vintage transferware and block-printed linens)—you’ll do well to venture out. In nearby Bantam, tucked into a factory warehouse packed with artist studios, is Dumais Made, a ceramics and lighting studio founded by Charles Dumais (spot his lamps at the Abner hotel) with his husband Kevin—Charles also doubles as local guide extraordinaire. Grab an ice cream from nearby Arethusa Creamery or coffee and salted chocolate chip cookie from Krafted Brew Lab.
Meanwhile, Forbes writer Gary Stoller gives the spotlight to White Memorial in a new story, saying near the beginning, “Unknown, though, to most travelers is Litchfield’s 4,000-acre natural wonder, White Memorial Foundation.”
Read the Forbes story, and if you somehow don’t know about White Memorial, head to the website and to the section with trail maps.
Since 1908, a memorial to the Beecher family has stood in the center of Litchfield. Members of the Litchfield County University Club raised funds for a field stone monument on the East Green, on the site where Lyman Beecher preached between 1810 and 1826.
The group commissioned a bronze tablet and medallion featuring the likenesses of two of Lyman’s children, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher, both of whom were born in Litchfield. (Harriet Beecher Stowe is known best as the author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and Henry Ward Beecher was a clergyman and social reformer who supported the abolition of slavery.)
A century later, the memorial was in jeopardy. A widened road and overhead branches accelerated the monument’s deterioration and obscured its visibility. A group of volunteers organized in 2021 to plan for the memorial’s future. The committee, representing organizations and interests across Litchfield, created a restoration plan that prioritized making the memorial more accessible to pedestrians, maintaining the monument’s historic character, and using more durable materials and methods.
The restoration work is now complete. The public is invited to the rededication of the Beecher Memorial on Sunday, December 15 at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Litchfield (21 Torrington Rd.). The event will begin with welcome remarks and a brief history of the Beecher Memorial, followed by a presentation of the restored monument on the East Green. A reception will follow inside the First Congregational Church.
The restoration work was generously funded by a grant from the Seherr-Thoss Foundations of Litchfield, with additional support from the Borough of Litchfield, Litchfield County University Club, and Greater Litchfield Preservation Trust. The relocation and restoration of the memorial’s stonework was completed by Litchfield resident and excavation contractor Matt Blasavage. Francis Miller of Conserve Art LLC, a leader in the conservation of monuments and outdoor sculpture, completed restoration of the bronze medallion and plaque.
Below, the Beecher Memorial shown in a circa 1910 postcard.
Litchfield woke up to a fluffy white blanket of snow on the morning of Dec. 5, just in time for a festive holiday weekend at the White Memorial Conservation Center that unofficially serves as a prelude to the annual Litchfield Holiday Stroll.
Whether or not the snow hangs in until Christmas, the cluster of holiday events we highlight here will certainly have the seasonal magic of ‘White’ Memorial – and, thanks to serendipity, will also take place against the backdrop of a winter white landscape.
White Memorial’s 2nd annual Sip and Shop event is back and bigger this year.
Guests are invited to stop by from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 to shop in the gift shop while it is full of local, unique, and affordable items perfect for holiday gift-giving.
Amanda Surveski Wildlife Art, Stead Farm, RFarm-Local Organic Farm, Of Coins and Crystals, and Michael Shulde’s Woodturning will also be on hand, selling their local products.
Litchfield Distillery will be there sampling their tasty drinks, there will be cookies from Litchfield Catering and Deli, and more snacks curated by Gerri Griswold of White Memorial.
Oh, and here’s an insider’s tip: This event is where this season’s handcrafted trees created by Lukas Hyder, Executive Director of the White Memorial Foundation, will first become available. See the Litchfield Arts Council post for details.
White Memorial invites guests to make their own festive wreaths for the holiday season using local greens, cones, berries, birch bark, and ribbon, under the guidance of workshop instructor Jean Bronson, who has been making wreaths for over 30 years, and teaching wreath making workshops for 10 years.
The workshop from 2 to 5 p.m. is limited to 12 guests and spots appeared to remain open as of mid-afternoon Dec. 5.
The cost is $60 and all materials are included.
Register Here: Wreath Making Registration
The Conservation Center is hosting Judy and Mark Levesque for a holiday concert from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring enchanting instrumental renditions of traditional and contemporary holiday music, and a variety of lively tunes and lyrical melodies with an international flavor.
Judy and Mark play their own arrangements of beautiful, inspiring holiday music from many cultures on the guitar and mandolin, including music from the U.S., England, Ireland, Wales, Puerto Rico, Spain, Ukraine, songs of Hanukkah and themes from the Nutcracker. Some singalongs will be included on the program and a chance to join in on rhythm instruments.
Judy and Mark, who are married, are founding members of the New American Mandolin Ensemble, which formed in 2013, has performed internationally, and released a CD in 2017. They run a teaching studio for private lessons and groups in Vernon, CT as well as a recording studio for guitarists. Learn more on their website.
All tickets are $15. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required and can be done online: Joy to the World Registration
The Litchfield Holiday Stroll takes place from 3-5 p.m. around the Litchfield Green on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Among the highlights are a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, of course, a Plumb Hill Middle School Choral Performance at 4 p.m. in the Congregational Church, strolling carolers from Lakeview High School – R20, who will gather at Espresso59 at 4 p.m., and Litchfield Center School students performing in front of the holiday tree on the Green (shortly after 4:45 pm).
There will also be story time at Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance, Who-Ville ornament making at the Litchfield Historical Society, cookie decorating with the Girl Scouts at the Congregational Church, and hot chocolate with the Boy Scouts in the center of town.
The Shop Small and Shop Local event in honor of Small Business Saturday is on in Litchfield and lasts an entire week, from Black Friday (11/29) through Friday, December 6.
Litchfield has an old-fashioned, family-oriented holiday spirit, which is enhanced by wonderful seasonal events, including these staples. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to connect with more holiday events and other great things happening in Litchfield.
The Prime Finds Home for the Holidays shop, filled with treasures, returns for its ninth year.
The pop-up shop is located at the Shrine of Lourdes in Litchfield and opens Nov. 16 this year. It continues until Dec. 29 (except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day).
Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Each year, area residents donate very fine things for Prime Finds, including high-quality used furniture, home decor, and holiday gifts, and all the proceeds go to the mental health programs at Prime Time House.
Lourdes in Litchfield is located at 50 Montfort Rd., off Route 118 east of Litchfield center.
For the annual Festival of Trees, the Oliver Wolcott Library is transformed into an elegant party that includes hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. Library patrons create unique and stunning wreaths, trees and centerpieces, which guests bid on. 2024 tickets are here. Don’t miss the holiday kickoff party of the season.
There’s also a Week of Wonder Online Holiday Auction.
This is the 30th year that the Bantam Fire Company is selling holiday trees as a fundraiser.
This year’s sale will be held Nov. 29, from 4 to 7 p.m., and Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The top-grade trees are from New York State, stand 6 to 7 feet tall, and include Balsam, Fraser, Korean, Concolor, and Turkish firs. All trees are $75.
The sale is held behind the Bantam Firehouse at 92 Doyle Rd. in Bantam center.
Fire Company volunteers will assist in the selection of the trees and complimentary local delivery is available.
White Memorial’s 2nd annual Sip and Shop event is back and bigger this year.
Guests are invited to stop by from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 to shop in the gift shop while it is full of local, unique, and affordable items perfect for holiday gift-giving.
Amanda Surveski Wildlife Art, Stead Farm, RFarm-Local Organic Farm, Of Coins and Crystals, and Michael Shulde’s Woodturning will also be on hand, selling their local products.
Litchfield Distillery will be there sampling their tasty drinks, there will be cookies from Litchfield Catering and Deli, and more snacks curated by Gerri Griswold of White Memorial.
The Litchfield Holiday Stroll takes place from 3-5 p.m. around the Litchfield Green on Sunday, Dec. 8, this year!
Among the highlights are a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, of course, a Plumb Hill Middle School Choral Performance at 4 p.m. in the Congregational Church, strolling carolers from Lakeview High School – R20, who will gather at Espresso59 at 4 p.m., and Litchfield Center School students performing in front of the holiday tree on the Green (shortly after 4:45 pm)
There will also be story time at Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance, Who-Ville ornament making at the Litchfield Historical Society, cookie decorating with the Girl Scouts at the Congregational Church, and hot chocolate with the Boy Scouts in the center of town.
Red Monkey Theater Group’s Sean Coffey performs his one-person adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” in a free program that begins at 6:30 p.m.
Experience Dickens’ classic story of love, compassion, and redemption in a whole new way. Ebenezer Scrooge and a whole host of characters discover what the spirit of Christmas is really about and delve into the magic of the holiday season.
Sean Coffey is an actor based in Westchester, N.Y. He studied at Fordham University and has performed locally throughout the tristate area.
Zoom Link: Click here at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 to Zoom to this event.
In-Person Registration Required: Click here to attend in-person.
Bundle up for a special holiday-themed “lantern” tour of Litchfield’s Historic District from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 15.
The tour starts at the Litchfield Historical Society, where guests will enjoy historically inspired cocktails and treats before grabbing lanterns and heading out to learn about past celebrations and winter pursuits in Litchfield.
Walking tours last approximately one hour and cover one mile. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly.
Space is limited. The cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Registration is required.
