Plan your festive season in Providence with our comprehensive guide. From Providence natives to visiting explorers, this guide is your companion for festive adventures.
Dive into the enchanting world of holiday theatre with Trinity Rep’s A Christmas Carol, a timeless tale that captures the spirit of the season. Experience the magic of dance as The Nutcracker Ballet presents a whimsical journey filled with breathtaking performances. And the Providence Christmas Market is something you definitely don't want to miss, where local crafts and treats bring warmth to the chilly days. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Providence
- Trinity Rep’s A Christmas Carol
- The Nutcracker Ballet (Woonsocket)
- Providence Christmas Market
- A 1940's Radio Christmas Carol (Westerly)
- Pet Nights with Santa
- A Christmas Carol (Woonsocket)
- Miracle on 34th Street (West Warwick)
- The Nutcracker
- Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
- Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market) (Pawtucket)
See these and even more events listed below!
Providence Holiday Light Displays
Pet Nights with Santa
What to Expect:
Santa visits for children under 12 with same-night tickets.
Description:
Families can meet Santa on Thursday nights during the Holiday Lights Spectacular, with visits available to children under 12 who have a same-night ticket.
Where: Providence | More Info: Pet Nights with Santa
Cruise with Coastal Queen to the Newport Illuminated Boat Parade
What to Expect:
Award-winning boat parade with decorated vessels.
Description:
Join Coastal Queen as she participates in the Newport Illuminated Boat Parade, featuring decorated boats and a festive atmosphere in Newport Harbor.
Where: Newport | More Info: Cruise with Coastal Queen to the Newport Illuminated Boat Parade
Providence Holiday Markets and Shopping
Providence Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Diverse local artisanal products.
Description:
The 2024 Providence Christmas Market at Providence Place features a diverse array of local artisans showcasing gifts, arts, crafts, and handmade items such as silk painting, wheel-thrown pottery, book arts, and more.
Where: Providence | More Info: Providence Christmas Market
Holiday Market Sip & Shop
What to Expect:
Intimate pop-up market with artisanal goods and local beverages.
Description:
Join us for a unique shopping experience featuring over 25 artisan vendors, paired with estate-grown wines, seasonal hard ciders, and beers from Taproot Brewing Co. Enjoy our Sunday brunch menu from 10am to 2pm and our regular dining menu from 11am to 6pm.
Where: Middletown | More Info: Holiday Market Sip & Shop
Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market)
What to Expect:
Traditional German Christmas market with local artisans and food.
Description:
Christkindlmarkt is a traditional German Christmas market featuring local artisans and craftsmen selling a variety of gifts, along with traditional food and drink offerings like Glühwein and Goulash dinner.
Where: Pawtucket | More Info: Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market)
Herreshoff Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Unique holiday shopping experience with local artisans.
Description:
The Herreshoff Holiday Market is an annual event held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, RI. It features over 30 artisans selling handmade crafts, including home decor, jewelry, and gourmet goods. The market is set inside the museum's Hall of Boats and offers free admission to the museum all weekend. The event also includes a trolley stop and a tour bus, making it easily accessible for visitors.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Herreshoff Holiday Market
Providence Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Trinity Rep’s A Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Supernatural journey of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Description:
Trinity Rep's production of A Christmas Carol, adapted from Charles Dickens' novella, features Ebenezer Scrooge's transformative journey. Directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo, this timeless tale of redemption and joy has been a New England family tradition for over 45 years.
Where: Providence | More Info: Trinity Rep’s A Christmas Carol
The Nutcracker Ballet
What to Expect:
Elaborate sets and costumes in a classic ballet performance.
Description:
Heritage Ballet presents The Nutcracker, a full-length classical ballet about a little girl named Clara who receives a Nutcracker from her godfather for Christmas. She dreams that her Nutcracker comes to life and battles the mischievous Mouse Queen. Clara then goes on a magical adventure as the Snow Queen and King and their sparkling Snowflakes dance all around her in the forest, sending her to the Land of the Sweets where she meets the majestic Sugar Plum Fairy. But was it really all a dream?
Where: Woonsocket | More Info: The Nutcracker Ballet
A 1940's Radio Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Live radio show with comedic and dramatic elements.
Description:
A contemporary take on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" presented as a live radio show, featuring the Feddington Players broadcasting from a hole-in-the-wall studio in Newark, NJ. The show is an entertaining excursion into mayhem and madness, with William St. Claire's escalating acting missteps propelling the show to a heart-wrenching dramatic climax.
Where: Westerly | More Info: A 1940's Radio Christmas Carol
Miracle on 34th Street
What to Expect:
Beloved holiday classic with delightful music and a spirit of hope.
Description:
A heartwarming musical about a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the real Santa, spreading love and hope throughout New York City.
Where: West Warwick | More Info: Miracle on 34th Street
A Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Fresh adaptation with extravagant scenery and lavish costumes.
Description:
A fresh adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale, featuring extravagant scenery, lavish costumes, dramatic lighting, fog, and spirits.
Where: Woonsocket | More Info: A Christmas Carol
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday concert with multimedia effects.
Description:
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis features classic holiday tunes in the distinctive Mannheim sound, with 15 musicians playing over 20 instruments against a backdrop of dazzling multimedia effects.
Where: Providence | More Info: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Ballet RI's Nutcracker production features spectacular sets and costumes, charming Nutcracker & Mouse King characters designed by Big Nazo Lab, and dozens of delightful young dancers performing alongside the Ballet RI company of world-class resident artists.
Where: Providence | More Info: The Nutcracker
Holiday Carnival at Olde Mistick Village
What to Expect:
Santa's Workshop in the Meeting House
Description:
Join us for the Holiday Carnival at Olde Mistick Village, featuring carolers, a brass band playing holiday favorites, and Santa's special appearance. Santa will set up shop in the Meeting House as a children's gift store where kids can buy great gifts for their family and friends.
Where: Mystic | More Info: Holiday Carnival at Olde Mistick Village
Providence Other Holiday Activities
Coastal Queen’s Candy Cane Express
What to Expect:
Holiday cruise with Mrs. Claus and hot chocolate.
Description:
The Candy Cane Express Cruise for kids offers a delightful holiday experience aboard the Coastal Queen. The cruise navigates through Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay, featuring Mrs. Claus reading to the children while hot chocolate is served. Each child receives a candy cane as they depart the boat.
Where: Newport | More Info: Coastal Queen’s Candy Cane Express
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- East Providence (2 miles)
- North Providence (3 miles)
- Cranston (3 miles)
- Pawtucket (4 miles)
- Johnston (5 miles)
- Lincoln (7 miles)
- Warwick (9 miles)
- Smithfield (10 miles)
- Cumberland (10 miles)
- West Warwick (10 miles)
- Attleboro (11 miles)
- Bristol (13 miles)
- Woonsocket (13 miles)
- Fall River (16 miles)
- Coventry (16 miles)
- Taunton (17 miles)
- Mansfield (18 miles)
- Franklin (18 miles)
- North Kingstown (19 miles)
- Easton (20 miles)
- Milford (22 miles)
- Newport (24 miles)
- Stoughton (26 miles)
- Middleborough (26 miles)
- South Kingstown (27 miles)
- Canton (27 miles)
- Brockton (27 miles)
- Norwood (28 miles)
- New Bedford (28 miles)
- Randolph (30 miles)
- Framingham (31 miles)
- Dedham (32 miles)
- Natick (32 miles)
- Framingham Center (33 miles)
- Needham (33 miles)
- Wellesley (33 miles)
- Braintree (34 miles)
- Milton (34 miles)
- Shrewsbury (36 miles)
- Worcester (36 miles)
- Quincy (36 miles)
- Weymouth (37 miles)
- Marlborough (37 miles)
- Jamaica Plain (37 miles)
- Newton (37 miles)
- Brookline (38 miles)
- Waltham (39 miles)
- Windham (39 miles)
- Watertown (40 miles)
- South Boston (40 miles)
- Norwich (40 miles)
- Boston (41 miles)
- Cambridge (41 miles)
- Belmont (41 miles)
- Somerville (42 miles)
- Mansfield City (42 miles)
- Arlington (43 miles)
- Chelsea (44 miles)
- Medford (44 miles)
- Lexington (44 miles)
- Everett (44 miles)
- Montville Center (45 miles)