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 tips on how to make Christmas in Rhode Island particular and get you into the spirit of the season.
No matter in the event you want 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 buddies and partake in one of many occasions beneath 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 introduced by FirstWorks. From tree lightings to vacation procuring occasions, the town shall be aglow with heat mild and vacation cheer. Each of the three nights of the WaterFire Holiday Celebration will function Holiday ArtMart distributors and meals vehicles providing seasonal treats. One evening Santa will even arrive at Santa’s Village by boat.
This three-day pageant may also embrace 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 annually with the story of the notorious Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim. All ages will get pleasure from 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 contains a tree that grows 38 toes, 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 could 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 notably distinctive to Christmas, ice skating or bumper vehicles on the Financial institutionNewport City Center rink in Downtown Providence is one in every of 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 should definitely 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’ll be able to expertise what it might be like through the Victorian period at Christmastime and have skilled pictures taken of your loved ones or buddies. The stunning, historic vacation settings makes an ideal backdrop for vacation greeting playing cards.
Each group will obtain a Victorian-themed take-home exercise equipment as a thanks present. Two edited pictures shall be emailed after the picture 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 procuring season with 80 native artists exhibiting handmade works together with work, ceramics, jewellery, pictures, clothes, equipment, blended media, and extra. Make a day of it with lunch from the meals vehicles exterior.
8. Holiday ArtMart
Shop Small Business Saturday on the WaterFire Arts Center! Enjoy stay music when you store and bites from native meals vehicles whereas trying to find locally-made items for everybody in your record. The Holiday ArtMart is an indoor artwork market that includes native artists throughout a broad spectrum of fantastic artwork and craft mediums. Visitors are welcome to carry an unwrapped toy for the WaterFire Holiday Toy Drive as nicely.
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 procuring occasion with vacation decor and 1000’s of present objects for everybody in your present record. The Holiday Market shall 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 puzzled 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 remodeled right into a winter wonderland for the entire household to get pleasure from. The show is made up of 650 Christmas timber adorned by their sponsor households, 20 Victorian homes sponsored by native companies, massive 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 payment for hayrides, youngsters’s prepare rides, and the carousal. In the leisure tent there’s 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 little one aboard (a silver bell in fact)!
In addition to the 90-minute prepare experience to view the North Pole, the enjoyable begins exterior of the depot with a stage present, picture alternatives with the characters, and youngsters’s actions which might be certain 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 presents candlelight procuring all alongside Main Street from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Local retailers are adorned for the season and the streets glow with vintage road lights.
The sounds of vacation music add to the old school ambiance that people have loved for a few years. Chepachet Village Wine & Spirits additionally presents picture 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 enables 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 may also function 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 superbly lit paths all through the grounds to get pleasure from gorgeous customized mild shows, handmade bamboo ornaments, and all the sweetness that Blithewold’s gardens and arboretum have to supply.
Guests may get pleasure from 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 yr, Blithewold transforms into a stunning show celebrating the magic of Christmas. This yr’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 comparable to strolling excursions, craft festivals, and museum visits. Downtown Newport is remodeled with clear bulbs that should 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 procuring season. The monumental 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 little one’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 publish about issues to do in Newport within the winter.
5. Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff
Rosecliff Mansion presents a singular and interactive twist on an outdated favourite. Guests will comply with the principle 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 company 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 company 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 day by 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 embrace illuminated snowmen, reindeer and lots of extra glowing surprises. Kids will get pleasure from peeking into Santa’s Workshop contained in the Children’s Cottage and households ought to you should definitely get a household picture on the Van”deer”bilt selfie station.
Six hearth pits will assist guests keep heat and festive and the again terrace of the mansion could 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 prepare 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 taking place at Linden Place. A 200-year-old Gothic-style mansion is remodeled for the vacations with decorations, elegant tables, particular musical occasions, and even a go to from the large jolly outdated elf himself.
December ushers within the annual Artisan Market, hearth Christmas live shows, and vacation jazz.
8. Bright Night at Tiverton Four Corners
In early December, Tiverton Four Corners comes alive with a night of vacation procuring and particular occasions. Luminaries mild the way in which with an array of retailers to go to in addition to a particular vacation function introduced by the Four Corners Arts Center.
The Annual re-Tree, an out of doors showcase of home-made timber of recycled materials created by group members, is a enjoyable and joyful occasion sponsored by The Tiverton Farmers Market. Shops and eating places presents 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 experience 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 little one 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 contains a tree lighting with Santa and a Nutcracker Ballet-themed performances by the Festival Ballet.
Shoppers may go to Santa in his cozy cabin proper exterior the Garden City Center Gazebo to satisfy and greet essentially the most holly jolly man within the neighborhood and get pictures with the Big Guy. Reservations are strongly inspired. Walk-ups are welcome, however shall 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 group refrain efficiency.
Downtown Wickford is remodeled by 1000’s of twinkling white lights and vacation occasions taking place all through the three-day pageant. Art reveals, Smith Castle excursions, and hayrides with Santa are simply a number of the actions deliberate.
4. Holiday Stroll & Luminaria
Downtown Westerly is lined with luminaria as consumers get pleasure from particular retailer promotions, hearken 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 totally restored classic ski gondolas for personal eating experiences. Each gondola has been outfitted with heat woods, fantastic textiles, chandeliers, and complicated Le Creuset tableware, surrounded by a fascinating winter wonderland and attended by a personal 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 absolutely amaze the entire household. This spiritual lights show additionally contains a creche museum, spiritual retailer, meals court docket, 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 top of December. The spectacular mild shows that includes festive favorites are accompanied by a vacation soundtrack.
Magic of Lights signature shows embrace 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 contains a 32-foot tall animated Barbie, in addition to dazzling, dancing shows synchronized to in style vacation tunes.
Once the vacation season is over, there’s nonetheless a lot enjoyable to have through the winter season right here in Rhode Island. Be certain to take a look at the favourite winter actions in Rhode Island and issues to do in Newport in winter to study how one can preserve busy all all through the winter season right here in Little Rhody!
Or, if you’re going just a little additional, plan a weekend getaway at one in every of these nice vacation locations.
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Note: function picture credit score N.Millard/GoProvidence.com.