If your kids already know what they expect under the Christmas tree, they may be planning different strategies to stay awake and catch him in the middle of the night. (Didn’t we all?)
Meanwhile, we know how special this holiday season is for the whole family and the many things we parents must do before it arrives.
There’s a family Christmas dinner to be planned, holiday food to be cooked, a Christmas tree to be decorated, lights, stockings, and decorations to be set up, gifts to buy, cookies and milk for Santa to be prepared, and Christmas events for kids to get into the holiday spirit… Well, we definitely can help you with that last one.
Kid-friendly Christmas events in Providence are everywhere and include all sorts of holiday entertainment for families to enjoy. From holiday music to carol readings, gingerbread house decorating and even eating ice cream with the infamous Grinch, this holiday season you’ll find kids Christmas events wherever you turn.
Here are some of our favorite Christmas events in Providence and surrounding areas:
Best Kids Christmas Events in Providence
1
Holiday Lights Spectacular at the Zoo
Year after year, the Zoo never ceases to amaze families with its Christmas events for kids in Providence. This year, enjoy the over 3.5 million twinkling lights, hot chocolate and s’mores, reindeer and snowmen, and more! Every Thursday night, kids can meet Santa, take pictures with him, and tell him what they want for Christmas.2
A Christmas Carol Marathon Reading
This family-friendly marathon reading welcomes parents and children for a fun Christmas event in Providence that will get you in the holiday spirit. Sit by the crackling fire, enjoy festive beverages, and create a colorful lantern with the kids at the Children’s Library.3
1 Bluff Avenue, Watch Hill, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Brunch with Santa at Ocean House
Share delicious brunch classics with the kids at Ocean House, where Santa will visit and give families a one-of-a-kind experience!4
1 Bluff Avenue, Watch Hill, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Dinner with Santa at Ocean House
Have a nice dinner with your little ones and one very special guest: Santa Claus! Don’t miss out on this Christmas event for kids in Providence, at Ocean House. Dinner will begin after the Tree Lighting Ceremony.5
25 Spray Rock Road, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Cinema Under the Stars: Polar Express
Snuggle up with your little ones for an outdoor movie night under the stars! There will be heated fur blankets, concessions, and more to make this Christmas event near Providence a cozy experience for everyone.6
25 Spray Rock Road, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Winter Wonderland Engineering at Mobile Quest
This educational holiday workshop for ages 5 to 14 teaches kids all about symmetry, geometry, physics, engineering, and more, as they create winter structures, paper snowflakes, and even snowball catapults!7
25 Spray Rock Road, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Holiday Chemistry Lab at Mobile Quest
Young future scientists will have a blast at this holiday workshop, where they’ll experiment and learn all about chemical reactions, solubility, and more. Kids age 5 to 12 will learn how to make hot chocolate, how to make bath bombs, and more educational fun!8
2150 Scituate Ave, Hope, RI 02831, USA
Holiday Light Show at Confreda Farms
This drive-through light show is a fun holiday experience for the whole family! Filled with sparkling lights synchronized to festive music, photos with Santa, and holiday-themed displays, this Christmas event near Providence is a must!9
2150 Scituate Ave, Hope, RI 02831, USA
Sparkle! at Blithewold
Blithewold welcomes families for a unique festive experience! Enjoy beautiful light displays, scavenger hunts, holiday tunes, photo opportunities, hot beverages, s’mores around the cozy fire, and more holiday fun at this kid-friendly Christmas event in Providence.10
2150 Scituate Ave, Hope, RI 02831, USA
Make it Take It: Photo Snow Globes at Mobile Quest
This class is part of Mobile Quest’s Wednesday program. In this workshop for ages 4 to 12, kids will learn how to make photo snow globes in 30 minutes, and then explore other activities such as robots, 3D printing, and more. Adult participation is required!11
2150 Scituate Ave, Hope, RI 02831, USA
Make It Take It: LED Christmas Cards at Mobile Quest
This kids Christmas event is a creative workshop that teaches children ages 4 to 12 how to make their own LED Christmas cards in only 30 minutes. They will also explore 3D printing, robots, and more. Keep in mind that adult participation is required for this event.12
2150 Scituate Ave, Hope, RI 02831, USA
Make it Take It: Candy Cane Slime at Mobile Quest
This workshop gives your little ones (and yourself) total freedom to make a fun mess, as you learn how to make candy cane slime in only 30 minutes. Explore other activities like 3D printing, robots, and more in the additional hour of exploration!13
2150 Scituate Ave, Hope, RI 02831, USA
Countdown to Noon Year at Mobile Quest
Celebrate New Year early at this STEM event that includes hands-on activities such as science experiments, and of course, a countdown celebration with confetti poppers until noon. Don’t miss out on this exciting morning event!14
2150 Scituate Ave, Hope, RI 02831, USA
imPOSSIBLE dream's Candy Land
Turned into an amazing Candy Land, this non-profit playground offers one of the free Christmas events for kids you can’t miss out on these holidays. Your little ones will get to meet Santa, enjoy cookies and cocoa, and play as much as they want!15
2150 Scituate Ave, Hope, RI 02831, USA
Holiday Gift Workshop at Blue Door Studio
Young little artists get creative with this workshop’s hands-on activities, where they get to create their own holiday gifts! Children (ages 7 to 14) will paint, build a clay tree, and glaze two ceramic ornaments at this exciting kids Christmas event.16
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
School of Rock's Festive Sunday Funday at the Harmony
Pack your holiday spirit and head out to The Harmony Cafe, for a three-hour live music performance presented by School of Rock. enjoy festive tunes17
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Join the kids and decorate a graham-cracker construction and turn it into a gingerbread house at this fun decorating contest. Enjoy tasty treats, Holiday photo stations, and more! Remember costumes are welcome.18
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
A Coggeshall Christmas at Coggeshall Farm Museum
Traditional games, holiday stories, festive tunes… what’s not to like?! This kid-friendly Christmas event in Providence invites families to get into the holiday spirit and celebrate the season with fun Christmas traditions and more.19
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
Grinch Glow Skate at United Skates of America
Children up to 14 years of age will enjoy this Grinch-themed glow skate session at United Skates of America, in a fun holiday celebration. Rock climbing and laser tag are also available during this public skate session.20
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
Ice Cream with the Grinch at United Skates of America
As one of the best kids Christmas events in Providence, this rollerskating session features a dance party and photo opportunities with the mean old Grinch! There will be an ice cream bar, festive tunes from the movie, and more holiday fun.21
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
Storytime with Santa at United Skates of America
United Skates of America welcomes kids ages up to 12 years old to enjoy a nice storytime session with Santa and Mrs Claus while having delicious cookies and milk. Of course, there will be photo opportunities, and kids can come in their pajamas!22
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
Christmas Eve Public Skate with the Grinch
Get ready to have a blast with your little ones at this fun skating session, where kids will get to have a dance party with the Grinch and take pictures with him! There will also be arcade games, rock climbing, laser tag, and more!23
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
Secret Christmas Gift Workshop at Create Color Art Studio
Kids ages 6 and up will design their very own Christmas cards and make holiday gifts at this kid Christmas event in Providence. Your little ones will get creative by craft pottery projects, and of course, sharing delicious snacks that will be provided.24
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
A Drummer Boy Christmas Live at CW Theaters
Visit the CW Theaters for a cinematic musical experience, where you and your little ones will be absolutely mesmerized by the musical mastery and storytelling of the brothers Joel + Luke Smallbone. Enjoy this kid-friendly Christmas event in Providence this December!25
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
Photos with Santa at the library!
Santa and Mrs Claus. will be waiting at Mt. Pleasant Library to meet the children and take pictures. Besides, a photographer will take family pictures too, so you’ll enjoy this free Christmas event for kids just as much as your little ones!26
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
Caregiver & Me Cooking Class: Gingerbread House Decorating at Taste Buds Kitchen
Parents, you can join your little ones at this kid Christmas event and decorate gingerbread houses with them at Taste Buds Kitchen. This class is for parents with children ages 2 to 8 to share some holiday fun!27
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
Caregiver & Me Cooking Class: Cookies & Milkshakes for Santa at Taste Buds Kitchen
Prepare the most delicious cookies and milkshakes for Santa’s arrival with your kiddos (ages 2 to 8) at this holiday cooking class. It may be a kids Christmas event, but parents are invited so you don’t miss out on the fun!28
47 Summer Street, Manville, RI 02838, USA
School Break Cooking Camp at Taste Buds Kitchen
After this cooking camp, your child will be a lot of help in the kitchen for this holiday season! Kids ages 4 to 10 will learn how to make gingerbread cookies and mini cupcakes, bruschettas, and more at this fun one-day camp.29
1 E Ferry Wharf, Jamestown, RI 02835, United States
Coastal Queen Brings Santa & Mrs Claus to Town
A 40-minute drive from Providence to Jamestown is definitely worth it if your little ones get the chance to see Santa and Mrs Claus! They will arrive onboard a Coastal Queen cruise to meet the kids and take pictures with them on this one-of-a-kind experience.30
One Providence Place, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Santa Photos at Providence Place
Get the most beautiful holiday photos taken at this kids Christmas event in Providence Place, for children of all ages. Your little ones will finally meet the jolly man dressed in red and tell him what they want for Christmas this year.31
44 Ochre Point Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Sparkling Lights at Newport Mansions' The Breakers
Families will stroll through a glittering half-mile-long path filled with sparkling lights to the wonderful Breakers mansion, where they’ll find even more Christmas decorations, festive music, and holiday treats.32
12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI, USA
Holiday Craft Fair at Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge
Find the perfect holiday gifts at this Holiday Craft Fair, it’s one of the best free Christmas events in Providence.How could you ever find your children bored in a city like Providence, with all the exciting things to do and places to discover?
Share some fresh air with your little ones at the many apple-picking spots or kid-friendly hiking trails, it’s always good to spend time outdoors and under the sunlight! Or maybe a little healthy competition could be exciting at one of the laser tags and arcades, for the whole family to have some active fun.
And that’s not it! Providence has many educational places for kids to have a blast while learning and exploring new things.
Learn more about the many entertaining activities for kids in Providence through our many Kid City Guides!
