A Rhode Island Christmas is magical, particularly when our finicky New England climate cooperates and delivers a White Christmas. From mild shows to annual vacation occasions, to conventional reveals, we all know learn how to make Christmas in Rhode Island particular and get you into the spirit of the season.
No matter if you happen to choose to spend your time indoors or out, there are lots of Christmas occasions in Rhode Island to maintain you occupied by way of the New Year. Gather your loved ones and pals and partake in one of many occasions under and maybe begin a brand new vacation custom within the course of!
Providence Area Holiday Events
1. Three Nights of Lights
In early December, this three-day pageant with citywide light-themed occasions kicks off the Christmas season in Providence. The spotlight is three evenings of WaterFire, Providence’s signature arts occasion, that includes a collection of bonfires illuminating downtown’s rivers.
The Avenue Concept provides to the expertise with a nighttime public artwork gallery with illumination, sound, and cultural experiences at murals and sculptures all through Downtown.
There are additionally ice skating performances offered by FirstWorks. From tree lightings to vacation buying occasions, the town will probably be aglow with heat mild and vacation cheer. Each of the three nights of the WaterFire Holiday Celebration will characteristic Holiday ArtMart distributors and meals vans providing seasonal treats. One night time Santa will even arrive at Santa’s Village by boat.
This three-day pageant will even embody the annual tree lighting in entrance of City Hall and a Maker’s Market at The Graduate Providence.
2. A Christmas Carol- Trinity Rep
From early November by way of Christmas, A Christmas Carol returns to Trinity Rep for its annual run. A preferred Christmas custom, Trinity Rep dazzles audiences every year with the story of the notorious Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim. All ages will take pleasure in this basic vacation story on stage.
3. Festival Ballet Providence Presents The Nutcracker
Dazzling units, enchanting music, and exquisite choreography all come collectively within the crown jewel of the vacation season with the timeless vacation story of The Nutcracker. Watch in awe as this vacation custom involves life on stage for the entire household’s merriment.
This family-friendly manufacturing encompasses a tree that grows 38 ft, a captivating Nutcracker character designed by Big Nazo Lab, intelligent magic methods, vibrant and shimmering costumes, and dozens of pleasant younger dancers that carry out alongside the Festival Balley Providence Company of world-class resident artists.
4. Holiday Lights Spectacular on the Roger Williams Park Zoo
From late November by way of January 1st, the Roger Williams Park Zoo transforms into a vacation wonderland with a stunning mild show all through the Zoo. Visitors stroll by way of 40 acres of festive larger-than-life luminous shows and over 3.5 million illuminated lights to brighten the vacation season.
Open rain or shine, this walkthrough Holiday Lights Spectacular is offered with a timed-entry ticket solely, which might be bought on-line. The occasion is held nightly from 5:00 – 9:30 pm however is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Santa will even be on the Spectacular on choose Thursday nights in December by way of Christmas.
5. Ice Skating & Bumper Cars on the Financial institutionNewport City Center
While not significantly distinctive to Christmas, ice skating or bumper vehicles on the Financial institutionNewport City Center rink in Downtown Providence is one in all my favourite issues to do in Rhode Island in winter.
Providence is the third metropolis within the nation, the primary in New England, and the primary out of doors rink to supply ice bumper vehicles. Just you’ll want to make timed reservations very far upfront as a result of tickets promote out quick.
6. HOliday Photos on the Lippitt House
After a holiday-themed go to to the Lippitt House, you may expertise what it will be like through the Victorian period at Christmastime and have skilled pictures taken of your loved ones or pals. The lovely, historic vacation settings makes an ideal backdrop for vacation greeting playing cards.
Each group will obtain a Victorian-themed take-home exercise package as a thanks present. Two edited pictures will probably be emailed after the photograph session. Reservations should be made upfront.
7. PVD Artisans Holiday Show
The WaterFire Arts Center is the host of the PVD Artisans Market on November 13, 2022, and Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18, 2022. The Artisans Market kicks off the vacation buying season with 80 native artists exhibiting handmade works together with work, ceramics, jewellery, images, clothes, equipment, blended media, and extra. Make a day of it with lunch from the meals vans outdoors.
8. Holiday ArtMart
Shop Small Business Saturday on the WaterFire Arts Center! Enjoy stay music whilst you store and bites from native meals vans whereas trying to find locally-made presents for everybody in your listing. The Holiday ArtMart is an indoor artwork market that includes native artists throughout a broad spectrum of wonderful artwork and craft mediums. Visitors are welcome to deliver an unwrapped toy for the WaterFire Holiday Toy Drive as properly.
9. Holiday Market on the WaterFire Arts Center
The Holiday Market on the WaterFire Arts Center is sponsored by the Fine Furnishings Show and is a two-day buying occasion with vacation decor and 1000’s of present objects for everybody in your present listing. The Holiday Market will probably be held December 3 & 4, 2022 on the WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley St, Providence, RI.
10. Handel’s Messiah
In early December, the Providence Singers pair with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra for a transferring efficiency of Handel’s Messiah at The Vets.
Northern Rhode Island Holiday Events
1. An Old Fashioned Christmas at Hearthside House
If you ever questioned what Christmas was like through the colonial period, then a go to to the Hearthside House Museum is the right place for you. Here one can find three flooring of this 200-year-old mansion adorned for the vacations.
An Old-Fashioned Christmas takes place through the first two weekends in December. During this occasion, households can meet Santa (and take some pictures) to recollect the second. Festive musical leisure and refreshments are additionally offered.
During the final weekend in December, the home will nonetheless be adorned for the vacations and guests can expertise each the historical past and the decorations on this “candlelight” tour by our docents in interval apparel.
2. Pawtucket Winter Wonderland
Slater Park is reworked right into a winter wonderland for the entire household to take pleasure in. The show is made up of 650 Christmas timber adorned by their sponsor households, 20 Victorian homes sponsored by native companies, giant mild shows each on land and within the timber.
You can stroll down The Night earlier than Christmas Lane and look by way of the home windows of the homes to see scenes from the story on show and push the button to listen to the story. There is an 18-foot-tall speaking snowman, Santa’s reindeer secure, and Mrs. Claus kitchen to discover. During the pageant nights for a small price for hayrides, kids’s prepare rides, and the carousal. In the leisure tent there may be free leisure offered by proficient college students and adults from native space. The Food tent has scorching canines, scorching chocolate, snacks and cookies on the market all at very affordable costs.
3. The Polar Express
Hop on board the historic Blackstone Valley Train for a three-hour journey that brings Chris Van Allsburg’s Christmas basic to life. Storytelling, sing-a-longs, video games, delicious cookies, and scrumptious scorching cocoa make this occasion a real delight for youngsters. Santa himself even delivers the primary present of the season to every baby aboard (a silver bell in fact)!
In addition to the 90-minute prepare trip to view the North Pole, the enjoyable begins outdoors of the depot with a stage present, photograph alternatives with the characters, and kids’s actions which might be positive to fill everybody with the spirit of Christmas!
The Polar Express departs from Woonsocket and journeys run on weekends from mid-November by way of Christmas with two reveals a day.
4. Annual Scituate Village Candlelight Stroll
For the primary 4 Thursdays in December, Chepachet Village gives candlelight buying all alongside Main Street from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Local retailers are adorned for the season and the streets glow with vintage avenue lights.
The sounds of vacation music add to the old style ambiance that folk have loved for a few years. Chepachet Village Wine & Spirits additionally gives photograph alternatives with Santa and his reindeer all all through December and the city’s annual Christmas Tree Light Ceremony takes place on the primary Thursday of December on the Pavilion at Kent Field.
5. Blackstone River Theater Holiday Craft Fair & Festival
The Blackstone River Theater Holiday Craft Fair and Festival permits you to store native whereas supporting the theater and native home-based companies. Taking place on the primary Saturday in December, there are 24 distributors on web site between 9 a.m. and three p.m. The occasion will even characteristic steady stay music.
6. Stadium Theater
The Stadium Theater in Woonsocket rings within the holidays with many performances from late November by way of Christmas together with a Trans-Siberian Orchestra Tribute band, The Nutcracker Ballet, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and The Carpenters Tribute Christmas Show.
Newport Area Holiday Events
1. Night Lights at Blithewold
On Wednesday by way of Saturday nights from late November by way of January 1st, the grounds of Blithwold Mansion rework right into a winter wonderland. Guests stroll by way of fantastically lit paths all through the grounds to take pleasure in gorgeous customized mild shows, handmade bamboo ornaments, and all the sweetness that Blithewold’s gardens and arboretum have to supply.
Guests also can take pleasure in non-alcoholic cider, scorching chocolate, scorching espresso, and a few scorching drinks with a kick, that are offered by RI Cruisin’ Cocktails. The Mansion is closed throughout this program.
2. Christmas at Blithewold
Every 12 months, Blithewold transforms into a stunning show celebrating the magic of Christmas. This 12 months’s Christmas theme, “A Day in the Life,” will present insights into the pursuits of the household and the family employees all all through the mansion
3. Christmas in Newport
A month-long celebration, every day boasts a brand new occasion or exercise resembling strolling excursions, craft gala’s, and museum visits. Downtown Newport is reworked with clear bulbs that are supposed to replicate candles, which brings again reminiscences of the candlelit vacation of the previous.
Bowen’s Wharf even has a tree lighting and shops have particular promotions simply in time for the vacation buying season. The huge tree is lit promptly at 6:00 – the official starting of the vacation season at Bowen’s Wharf! Santa and Mrs. Claus motor into Bowen’s Basin by boat (climate allowing) desirous to hear to each baby’s want.
4. Christmas on the Newport Mansions
Three Newport National Historic Landmarks and iconic houses of the Gilded Age are adorned for the vacations and open for excursions. Poinsettias, gingerbread homes, 30-foot Christmas timber, interval china, and silver are displayed in a grand method. Prepare to step again in time and rejoice the vacations in fashion. See my full submit about issues to do in Newport within the winter.
5. Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff
Rosecliff Mansion gives a novel and interactive twist on an outdated favourite. Guests will observe the primary character by way of the fabulous rooms of the Mansion as she celebrates the vacation season along with her household, battles the Mouse King, dances with the Snow Queen, and travels along with her beloved Nutcracker to the magical Land of Sweets.
The first act of this distinctive efficiency is an experiential journey the place visitors stroll and stand to observe the story unfold. The second act then unfolds within the Land of the Sweets, within the grand ballroom, the place visitors are assigned desk seating. The efficiency is roughly 2 hours in size together with the intermission.
6. Sparkling Lights at The Breakers
One of Newport’s latest Christmas sights is the Sparkling Lights at The Breakers Mansion. On Thursday by way of Sunday evenings from late November by way of Christmas and every day from December 26 by way of January 1st The Breakers lights up for the vacations. Visitors can stroll by way of a stunning 50-foot-long tunnel of sunshine and alongside a half-mile-long path glittering with lots of of 1000’s of vacation lights whereas pleasant gnomes level the way in which and music fills the winter air.
Sparkling Lights embody illuminated snowmen, reindeer and plenty of extra glowing surprises. Kids will take pleasure in peeking into Santa’s Workshop contained in the Children’s Cottage and households ought to you’ll want to get a household photograph on the Van”deer”bilt selfie station.
Six fireplace pits will assist guests keep heat and festive and the again terrace of the mansion may have warming stations and grownup drinks together with scorching chocolate with liqueur, apple cider with bourbon, wine and beer. There are holidays sweets and treats, and even s’mores kits to cook dinner over the fireplace pit.
7. Christmas on the Linden Place Museum
Gather with family and friends and partake in one of many many holiday-themed occasions occurring at Linden Place. A 200-year-old Gothic-style mansion is reworked for the vacations with decorations, elegant tables, particular musical occasions, and even a go to from the massive jolly outdated elf himself.
December ushers within the annual Artisan Market, fireplace Christmas concert events, and vacation jazz.
8. Bright Night at Tiverton Four Corners
In early December, Tiverton Four Corners comes alive with a night of vacation buying and particular occasions. Luminaries mild the way in which with an array of outlets to go to in addition to a particular vacation characteristic offered by the Four Corners Arts Center.
The Annual re-Tree, an out of doors showcase of home-made timber of recycled materials created by neighborhood members, is a enjoyable and joyful occasion sponsored by The Tiverton Farmers Market. Shops and eating places gives particular treats, video games, prizes, and vacation decor.
9. Coastal Queen’s Candy Cane Express Cruise
The Coastal Queen’s Candy Cane Express Cruise is vacation enjoyable for the youngsters! The boat trip cruises round Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay, with appearances by Mrs. Claus to learn to the youngsters whereas scorching chocolate is served.
A sweet cane is given to every baby as they depart the boat after a 60 minute cruise. The boat departs from 1 East Ferry Wharf in Jamestown at 10:30 am.
Southern Rhode Island Holiday Events
1. Stone Ridge Candlelight Tour
A yearly custom that spans over 30 years, the neighborhood of Stone Ridge dazzles locals with its vacation mild show. Featuring over 3,500 paper bag lanterns and conventional vacation decorations, Rhode Islanders from throughout flock to drive by way of this neighborhood show.
2. Sugar Plum Stroll Nights
In early December, Garden City Center in Cranston hosts an annual Sugar Plum Stroll. The occasion encompasses a tree lighting with Santa and a Nutcracker Ballet-themed performances by the Festival Ballet.
Shoppers also can go to Santa in his cozy cabin proper outdoors the Garden City Center Gazebo to fulfill and greet probably the most holly jolly man within the neighborhood and get pictures with the Big Guy. Reservations are strongly inspired. Walk-ups are welcome, however will probably be given a return time upon arrival.
3. Festival of Lights Wickford
The Festival of Lights is a three-day occasion that begins with Santa arriving by boat on the city dock and culminating with a neighborhood refrain efficiency.
Downtown Wickford is reworked by 1000’s of twinkling white lights and vacation occasions occurring all through the three-day pageant. Art reveals, Smith Castle excursions, and hayrides with Santa are simply a few of the actions deliberate.
4. Holiday Stroll & Luminaria
Downtown Westerly is lined with luminaria as customers take pleasure in particular retailer promotions, take heed to carolers sing, and even take a hayride with Santa. Complimentary scorching cocoa and cookies will make your candlelit stroll by way of downtown full.
5. Gondola Village on the Ocean House
Experience the magic of the vacations within the French Alps right here in Rhode Island. The Ocean House’s North Lawn transforms right into a village of absolutely restored classic ski gondolas for personal eating experiences. Each gondola has been outfitted with heat woods, wonderful textiles, chandeliers, and complex Le Creuset tableware, surrounded by a fascinating winter wonderland and attended by a non-public server.
Gondola Village opens in early November and is offered for reservations for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and apero.
Nearby Massachusetts Holiday Events
1. La Sallette Festival of Lights
Just over the border in North Attleboro, MA lies LaSallette with over 300,000 twinkling lights that may certainly amaze the entire household. This spiritual lights show additionally encompasses a creche museum, spiritual retailer, meals courtroom, children actions, and extra.
2. Magic of Lights
The Magic of Lights dazzling drive-through expertise at Gillette Stadium runs from mid-November by way of the tip of December. The spectacular mild shows that includes festive favorites are accompanied by a vacation soundtrack.
Magic of Lights signature shows embody the 200-foot lengthy Enchanting Tunnel of Lights, Candy Cane Lane, Toyland, 12 Days of Christmas, Prehistoric Christmas with life-sized dinosaurs celebrating the season and BIGFOOT Monster Truck. Created with practically a million glowing lights, Magic of Lights additionally encompasses a 32-foot tall animated Barbie, in addition to dazzling, dancing shows synchronized to common vacation tunes.
Once the vacation season is over, there may be nonetheless a lot enjoyable to have through the winter season right here in Rhode Island. Be positive to take a look at the favourite winter actions in Rhode Island and issues to do in Newport in winter to be taught how one can preserve busy all all through the winter season right here in Little Rhody!
Or, in case you are going slightly additional, plan a weekend getaway at one in all these nice vacation locations.
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Note: characteristic photograph credit score N.Millard/GoProvidence.com.