EVENTS, ETC.
WHAT Providence Holiday Market, with locally made crafts, foodstuffs, and more
WHERE Grant's Block, Union and Westminster sts, Providence | providenceholidaymarket.com
WHEN Dec 8 + 15 + 22, 11 am-4 pm | Free
WHAT Holly Days, with crafts, face painting, cookie decorating, story time by the fireplace, ornament making, raffles, a bake sale, a tree lighting, a visit with "animal ambassadors," the Polar Express Barrel Train, and more
WHERE Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Rd, Middletown | 401.846.2577 x 11 | normanbirdsanctuary.org
WHEN Dec 8, 11 am-3 pm | $7, $5 ages 3-12, free under 3
WHAT "Christmas At Blithewold." This year's theme is "A Grand Tour of Europe," and events include Santa sing-alongs, musical performances, workshops for children and adults, afternoon teas, and more
WHERE Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, 101 Ferry Rd (Rt 114), Bristol | 401.253.2707 (call for ticket info) | blithewold.org
WHEN Through January 1 (Tues-Sun 10 am-5 pm)
WHAT 3rd Annual Holidays In the Park, with demonstrations by URI's Master Gardeners, and holiday craft activities, a visit from Santa, and more
WHERE Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, 1 Floral Ave, Providence | 401.785.9450 x 250 | cels.uri.edu/outreach
WHEN December 8, 12-3 pm | Free with the donation of a non-perishable food item for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank
WHAT The 32nd Annual Newport Yachting Center Tree Lighting Ceremony
WHERE At the Newport Skating Center, America's Cup Ave, Newport | 401.846.1600 | skatenewport.com
WHEN December 7, 5:30 pm | Free (skating after the festivities, $7, $5 seniors + under 12)
WHAT Holiday Open House. The theme is "Lucy Aldrich's WWII Christmas," with music by the Hummingbird Trio; "Ration With a Passion: Home Cooking In the World War II Era," a lecture by Elyssa Tardif (3 pm); and holiday-themed guided tours of the John Brown House Museum (10:30 am, 12, 1:30, and 3 pm; $10, $8 students + seniors, $6 ages 8-17, free under 7)
WHERE Aldrich House, 110 Benevolent St, Providence | 401.331.8575 x 34 | rihs.org
WHEN December 8, 2-5 pm | Free
WHAT Holiday Open House, with a reading of "The Night Before Christmas" and a visit from Santa
WHERE International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, 194 Bellevue Ave, Newport | 401.849.3990 | tennisfame.com
WHEN Dec 8, 9:30 am-5 pm | Free with donation of non-perishable food item
WHAT 2nd Annual Christmas WaterFire
WHERE Waterplace Park, Providence | 401.273.1155 | waterfire.org
WHEN Dec 14, immediately following the Christmas tree lighting at 6 pm
WHAT Visit with Santa
WHERE The Breakers, Marble House, and the Elms, Bellevue Ave, Newport | 401.849.3990 | newportmansions.com
WHEN Dec 9, 16, and 23, respectively, 12-3 pm | Free with Museum admission
WHAT 2013 Bright Night Providence, with music + dance + theater + magic + acrobats + storytellers + more
WHEN Dec 31, noon to midnight | $10 before Dec 15, $15 advance, $20 Dec 31 ($10 kids, buy three kids' tickets and the fourth is free) | brightnight.org
