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UnDecked Halls
Saturdays, December 2, 9, 16 & Wednesday, December 27
Enjoy an authentic view inside a Newport mansion in winter. Heiress Doris Duke spent Christmas in sunny Hawaii far away from Rough Point, her Newport estate. Experience the quiet house, see the decorated staff wing, and hear about Miss Duke’s tropical holiday. Learn how Rough Point’s winter caretaking traditions have remained the same for the past half century. Tour the first floor and enjoy refreshments in the staff dining room, not normally open to the public. Tours offered every 1/2 hour.
$15 Adults, Free for Children 12 and under
MNH Winter Wonderland Fun
Join the museum for some winter fun with a special museum quest, crafts and family fun activities:
1pm-1:45pm: School of Rock: Acoustic music performance on the museum’s landing
2:45-3:45pm: School of Rock: Music performance in the planetarium accompanied by full dome video imagery Free with museum admission. Children under age 4 are not permitted.
2pm: NEW Winter Sky Views Planetarium Show Cost: $3.00, includes museum admission. Children under age 4 are not permitted.
Activities included with museum admission of $2 per person. Children under age 4 are free. Planetarium admission (includes museum admission) is $3 per person.
Christmas at the Castle
The aroma of the home baked treats will fill Smith’s Castle along with the spices of mulled cider and the scents of the season. Enjoy some cider, cookies, and music of the season. Meet Father Christmas! Bring home special items from the popular Docent Bake sale and ornament sale. View the Gingerbread house made by Exeter Job Corps Academy culinary students. Children will enjoy a craft table, Christmas cookie decorating and face painting. Chat with Castle Docents dressed in Colonial attire. Learn about the tradition of Mistletoe and the origin of a still popular Christmas favorite.
Enjoy live entertainment! Saturday:
12.30-2.00 pm Dulcimer players and Sheila Reynolds
2.00- 3.15 pm Brown University Madrigal Singers (a Cappella group)
3.15-4.00 pm Sheila Reynolds, on guitar, will play Christmas carols
Sunday:
12-2pm Jesse Liam band (Jesse will be collecting donated new unwrapped toys for those in need)
2-4 pm Sheila Reynolds and Mrs. Claus
Admission: $6 Adults, $3 Children 6-12, Free for Children 5 and under. $20 Family maximum charge.
Felicity’s Christmas: An American Girl Doll Celebration
Girls and their American Girl Dolls are invited to bring their moms to take a step back to the late 1700s and learn what the holiday was like for young girls through “Felicity’s Christmas Surprise.” Felicity will be on display in her beautiful gown and accessories that girls would have worn at that time. Enjoy Christmas carols and seasonal goodies, prizes, raffles and a favor to take home. Share your wishes with Santa and take a photo. See the decorations throughout the house and visit the gift shop, stocked with special presents for all. Two seatings at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Limited availability.
$10 Adults, $5 Youth 10+, Free for Children under 10
Holiday Open House and Santa’s Workshop
The Rhode Island Historical Society invites the community to visit the Museum of Work & Culture for a free annual Holiday Open House, offered as part of Woonsocket’s Main Street Holiday Stroll. In attendance will be the North Pole Postman, whose latest book, The North Pole Postman Visits Rhode Island – in which Santa’s postman “Post” Mark visits sites across the Ocean State to collect letters from children – features the Museum of Work & Culture. “Post” Mark will be at the MoWC from 1 to 3pm to sign books and help children write letters that he will then bring to the North Pole. Visitors are also invited to decorate cookies from Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery and help Santa’s elves build and test toys in their workshop. Children who help the elves will be entered in a raffle to win a toy train set. Visitors may also tour the MoWC, which will be decked in its holiday finest, while enjoying cookies, hot cocoa, and performances by Woonsocket’s strolling entertainers. The MoWC gift shop will also offer a 20% discount throughout the day.
Santa Sundays
Santa Claus visits The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House on successive Sunday afternoons in December to listen to your children’s wish lists. Bring the kids and your camera for a great photo op! Admire the glitter of gold and the sparkle of silver as you tour the mansions all decked out in Yuletide finery. Santa’s visit is from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
December 3: The Breakers
December 10: Marble House
December 17: The Elms
Admission for Adults is $24 at The Breakers and $17.50 at The Elms or Marble House. Youth 6-17 are $8 at each house. Children under 6 are always free. A special Winter Passport ticket providing daytime admission to all 3 houses is $30 Adults, $10 Youth 6-17 & Free for Children under 6.
A Christmas Family Celebration
Enjoy readings of “Santa Mouse” for kids, visits with Santa, family portraits in front of the tree! Hearthside is known for its beautiful holiday decorations. Each room is elaborately decorated with Victorian ornamentation of lace and gold, festive garlands, and countless poinsettias. The festive atmosphere is enhanced with live seasonal music and caroling, homemade cookies and hot cider, and a gift shop stocked with holiday gifts.
$10 Adults, $5 Youth 10+, Free for Children under 10
Imaginary Worlds: Storytelling in Words & Pictures
Come explore the “Imaginary Worlds” exhibition during weekly open gallery hours on Tuesdays & Thursdays. The Sayles Gorham Children’s Library and Philbrick Rare Book Room at the Providence Athenæum present an exhibition showcasing the Old Juveniles Collection of Children’s Literature and the great talent of generations of artists and authors who give children windows to worlds they could only imagine. There’s even a scavenger hunt for kids! All ages welcome.
Children’s Holiday Story Time at Blithewold Mansion
Tuesdays, December 5, 12 & 19
Each Tuesday of December during Christmas at Blithewold, join us for a traditional holiday story time to celebrate the season! This year, children’s librarians from Rogers Free Library will present classic holiday stories that have been told during Christmas throughout the years. Drop in for one story time or come to all three! After the story, join us for a cookie and a 1920s-inspired children’s craft. Included with regular admission: $15 Adults, $6 Youth 6-17, $32 Family (2 adults, 2 youths). Bring a new or gently used book to donate to charity and Mansion admission is free to non-members. This program is best suited to children 4 years old and up, but all are welcome.
