Though the pandemic is going to preclude some in-person activities and gatherings, the town is planning to offer a series of free, safe, holiday-themed activities targeted at families to help break up the winter doldrums, as residents look for ways celebrate without putting themselves and others at risk.

“Obviously it’s the holidays, so the town wants some holiday things going on, some happy stuff,” said Recreation Coordinator Carrie Gazda. “It’s going to be fun, I think.

Sponsored by the Beach & Recreation Department, Santa Claus will take the stage this Friday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. at an outdoor drive-in winter concert at Salt Meadow Park, featuring the Larry Stevens Band and Moulton Sound, two musical groups who have played extensively on the shoreline.

Gazda said that rather than pumping sound into people’s cars, the plan is instead to crank up the volume for a real concert experience, and let people roll their windows down if they want.

“We’re going to make it loud...believe me, we can make it really loud,” Gazda laughed.

Though Santa will be present, Gazda said kids will not be able to meet or snap photos with him, unfortunately.

The following Friday, Dec. 11 is a double-feature drive-in movie experience, also at Salt Meadow, following in the footsteps of the popular summer series that Gazda said was a big success.

People won’t be asked to roll their windows down for that one, Gazda said, with sound broadcast through car radios. The movies will be familiar holiday fare: Frosty’s Winter Wonderland and Home Alone.

Finally, the weekend before Christmas, Beach & Recreation is hosting a town-wide virtual scavenger hunt that seeks to challenge resident’s knowledge of Madison, sifting through photos of “snow people” hanging around in various places around town, along with poems that serve as hints.

Gazda promised both lifetime residents and younger participants would find fun and potentially a challenge in this event, with 22 places to identify and a prize going to one of the highest-scorers.

“Some things will be easy, some won’t be easy,” she laughed.

That whole event will take place entirely via email, and will begin on Dec. 11, with a winner announced on Friday, Dec. 18. Though no one is actually being asked to go outside, Gazda said she saw the scavenger hunt as a way to let people see and explore the town “from the comfort of your home.”

Anyone interested in that event can register at www.madisonct.org/165/Beach-Recreation-Department. The concert and movie are both first come, first served.