Last weekend the holiday season kicked off into full gear with a number of holiday shopping and entertainment events.
Here a few more suggestions for this weekend on where to find other unique gifts and a special cup of hot cocoa and other refreshments to help you bring cheer this holiday season.
Holiday Shopping and Family Fun Events
Thursday, December 2nd @ 5 – 9 pm: Chepachet Candlelight Shopping kicks off with the Christmas Tree lighting at 6 pm and continues every Thursday evening through December 23rd. Stop by with the whole family with activities and an opportunity to find unique gifts or antiques. We are sure you will find something special whether at Brown & Hopkins, one of the oldest country stores in America or the many antiques at Sideways Down or Old Stone Mill Antiques. You can also grab a cup of coffee or homemade soup at the nearby Black Forest Cafe to keep up your all-important strength while you shop. Be sure to stop by Harmony Railway at Harmony Products and take a train ride with holiday lights in the woods and visit with Santa in the shop from 5 to 7 pm.
Also opening Thursday, December 2nd @ 5 pm is Foundry Artists Holiday Sale at the Armory Arts Center in Pawtucket and continues through the weekend and next weekend Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Here you will find distinctive gifts of fine art, functional crafts and design from over 65 artisans.
You may also wish to visit the Queer Arts Collective for its latest exhibit Petrichor. Gallery hours are Friday & Saturday, 12 – 6 pm.
If you are shopping the Foundry sale this weekend, you may also want to check out an additional shopping experience at the Hope Artiste Village with its Hope Holiday Stroll, an indoor holiday market on Saturday December 11 from 10 am to 1 pm.
If you are looking for something to do with the family while visiting Pawtucket, the Winter Wonderland at Slater Park opens this weekend at Slater Park Saturday, December 4 @ 4 – 8 pm and continuing December 5th, 11th & 12th This 23rd Annual event has many activities planned for the family including rides on the Looff Carousel, hay rides, walk through “Night Before Christmas” displays and an opportunity to visit the Daggett House decorated for the season! Stroll through 30 acres of decorated light displays with 650 Christmas trees and miniature Victorian houses! The trees and lighted displays will stay up through the end of the month.
- In addition to Candlelight Shopping on Thursdays, The Farm in Chepachet is hosting Holiday Shopping in the Barn open Saturday, December 11th. Experience a wide variety of vendors all selling handcrafted items!
Other Holiday Events
From community tree lightings to music and theatre, there are many choices for holiday celebrating. Here are a few other holiday events not to miss that are sure to bring joy:
- In Woonsocket, the classic A Christmas Carol returns to Stadium Theatre, December 10th – 19th; and Rhode Island Stage Ensemble, (RISE) presents,“A Christmas Story: The Musical,” December 10th -11th & December 17th & 18th @ 7;30 pm at its theater on Clinton Street.
- If it’s an Old-Fashioned Christmas you want, be sure to visit the Hearthside House on Great Road in Lincoln for holiday charm with Santa, musical entertainment and all the rooms decorated in its holiday finest Victorian decor. December 4th – 5th & December 11th & 12th @ 1 – 4:30 pm. While in Lincoln, check out the Limerock Plaza for shopping at Woods Yoga Wise Old Owl Marketplace and refreshments at Fundati Coffee, serving up a coffee experience open until 3 pm.
- Take a ride through the Cumberland Monastery at the Cumberland Library, to view its annual memorial Christmas trees on display. If you decide to drive to Cumberland this Sunday be sure to check out the Cumberland Craft Fair at the Lusitana Club at 10 Chase Street.
- Now that we’ve adopted East Providence into our fold, we are pleased to share some of their holiday events this year including a visit to Candy Cane Lane at Willett Pond on Saturday December, 11 @ 2 pm – 3 pm.
This is just a sampling of the many ways to share holiday cheer here in the Blackstone Valley. For more events please visit our Event Calendar or visit BuyLocalRI for holiday happenings throughout Rhode Island!