Top Weekend Picks: Holiday Strolls & More
GoLocalProv Features Team
Top Weekend Picks: Holiday Strolls & More
Best Shopping Pick
Festival of Lights, Wickford
Saturday-Sunday
The charm of this historic village comes alive as thousands of beautiful white lights transform it into a winter wonderland. Tree lighting, window decorating contest, hayrides, music, and entertainment are included in the festivities. Don't miss Santa arriving by sea on Friday at 5:30! Call 295-5566, or visit the Wickford Village Web site for the full schedule.
Best Music Pick
Holly Jolly Follies, Beneficent Church, Providence
Saturday-Sunday
Break out the holidays is high style with the Providence Gay Men's Chorus's annual concert. You'll never look at
Best Theater Pick
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Providence
Friday-Sunday
It's opening night of a new holiday tradition at Trinity: a live radio-play performance of an adaptation of the beloved Frank Capra film. And at 85 minutes, it's a nice early evening for the whole family. 7:30pm, Dowling Theater, 201 Washington St, Providence, 351-4242, or check the Web site, here.
Best Waterfront Pick
13th Annual Holiday Harbor Lights Illuminated Boat Parade, Newport
Saturday
A true RI event - boats all done up in dazzling lights, parading along the Newport Harbor waterfront. Leisure boats, commercial fishing boats, tugs, plus Coast Guard and Navy Vessels. Begins at 6:30pm, call 845-9123 for more information.
Best Historic Pick
Saturday
Tour historic Benefit Street bedecked for the season in self-guided tours, enjoy refreshments from Munroe Dairy, and indulge in hay rides, strolling carolers, and a door decorating contest. For tickets and additional events, call 831-7440, or check the Web site, here. General tour tickets $25 in advance, $30 day of the event.
Best Literary Pick
Christmas Carol Reading, John Brown House Museum, Providence
Saturday
Is there anything cozier than settling in to one of Providence's most historic mansions and listening to local actor Robb Dimmick read the Dickens tale. Free, but RSVP suggested. 2-4pm, John Brown House, 52 Power St, Providence. Call 331-8575 or go to the Web site for more information.
Best Craft Pick
Wreath Making Workshop, Blithewold Mansion, Bristol
Saturday
Enjoy the splendid environs of Bristol's gracious mansion while getting your holiday decorating pulled together. Wreath-making workshop from 10am-noon, $38 for members ($45 for non-members), Blithewold Mansion, 101 Ferry Rd, Bristol, 253-2707.
Best Party Pick
RISD Museum Holiday Celebration, Providence
Sunday
Don't miss this family holiday classic that attracts thousands every year. Featuring live music from VOX, Victorian Street Carolers, Higher Keys, a capella singers from Brown and RISD, plus a chorus from the French American School of RI. Storytellers Keith Munslow and Carolyn Martino are up at 2 and 3:30pm, and Santa's in the Porcelain Gallery from 1-4pm. Refreshments too. Free. 1-4:30pm, RISD Museum, 20 North Main St, Providence, 454-6500 or www.risdmusem.org.
Best Kids Pick
Shalom Sesame Premiere, Providence
Sunday
A premiere screening of Chanukah: The Missing Menorah, a film from the creators of Sesame Street, along with breakfast. 9am, movie begins at 9:45. Jewish Community Center of RI Social Hall, 401 Elmgrove Ave, Providence.
Best Food Pick
6th Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest & Artisan Fair, Artists' Exchange, Cranston
Saturday-Sunday
Talk about a sweet event. Get your graham cracker set and turn it into a work of art at this decorating party with tons of extras, including raffles, holiday grab bags, previews of Black Box Theatre's "A Christmas Carol," and a new community Holiday Music Video, where you get to select a line of a seasonal song to lipsync and perform. $11 per gingerbread house ($20 for the advanced competition), Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-3pm, Artists' Exchange, 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston, get tickets from ArtTix, here.