OCT 26 – NOV 1 Providence · The Creative Capital

Things to do with kids in Providence this weekend, found and checked for you.

Halloween lands on a Saturday, and the Children’s Museum makes the whole day free. Saturday is also the last family night for the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo. This week has 13 outings, 11 of them free and 11 indoors.

What’s on today, Friday, Oct 30: Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo, Animal ABCs & 123s Storytime in Knightsville and Family Pumpkin Carving at Rochambeau, plus 5 more.

Last checked · 13 kids events and outings at 12 places · 11 free · 11 indoor. Every listing links to the page we checked it on. How we choose

Top 5 picks

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Saturday, sorted

Our plan for Saturday

Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 31. Two things from this week’s list, plus one of our regulars from Around town. Tap a stop for the details.

  1. MORNINGFree Day of Play at Providence Children’s Museum9:30am–4:30pm · Providence Children’s Museum · Free
  2. LUNCHAround townNick’s on BroadwayOpen 10am–9pm · West End, 500 Broadway · $$ (opens their site)
  3. NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
  4. AFTER NAPMonster Mash at Providence Place2–4pm · Providence Place · Free

Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan

Every outing this week

Find your thing

Sat 10:30–11amNot-Too-Spooky Storytime in Mt. PleasantMt. Pleasant Library · ProvidenceFreeIndoor
Fri 3:30–5:30pmHalloween Party at Smith Hill LibrarySmith Hill Library · ProvidenceFreeIndoor
Fri 2–5pmFamily Pumpkin Carving at RochambeauRochambeau Library · ProvidenceFreeIndoor
Fri 3:30–5pmYouth Makerspace Arts & Crafts at RochambeauRochambeau Library · ProvidenceFreeIndoor
Fri 2–4:30pmFriday Arts and Crafts at Fox PointFox Point Library · ProvidenceFreeIndoor
Fri 10:30–11amAnimal ABCs & 123s Storytime in KnightsvilleKnightsville Branch, Cranston Public Library · CranstonFreeIndoor
Fri 10:30–11:30amJam Session Storytime at Oak LawnOak Lawn Branch, Cranston Public Library · CranstonFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11amSaturday Baby Storytime in WarwickWarwick Public Library · WarwickFreeIndoor
Fri 10:30–11:30amMusic and Movement in PawtucketPawtucket Public Library · PawtucketFreeIndoor
Sat 9:30am–4:30pmFree Day of Play at Providence Children’s MuseumProvidence Children’s Museum · ProvidenceFreeIndoor
10am–4pmHalloween Family Fun at the Museum of Natural HistoryMuseum of Natural History and Planetarium · Providence$2 museum admissionIndoor
Sat 2–4pmMonster Mash at Providence PlaceProvidence Place · ProvidenceFree
6–10:30pm; last entry 10Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park ZooRoger Williams Park Zoo · ProvidenceTimed tickets online only: adults $23

Holiday season in Providence

Around town

Providence favorites

A few of the places we keep going back to. The full list, with prices, hours and kid-friendly restaurants, lives in the guide.

JEWELRY DISTRICT, 100 SOUTH STREET
Providence Children’s Museum
Hands-on play for young kids.
$20 eachunder 12 monthsIndoor
This week: Free Day of Play at Providence Children’s Museum
ROGER WILLIAMS PARK, 1000 ELMWOOD AVENUE
Roger Williams Park Zoo
More than 100 species in Roger Williams Park.
Kids $19Adults $251 and under
This week: Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo
ROGER WILLIAMS PARK, 1000 ELMWOOD AVENUE
Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
A small museum and planetarium in the park.
Adults $2under 4Indoor
This week: Halloween Family Fun at the Museum of Natural History
DOWNTOWN, 150 EMPIRE STREET
Providence Public Library
Storytimes in the downtown children’s room.
FreeIndoor
See the full Providence guide →Visiting with little kids
On the horizon

Coming up

NOV 26Thanksgiving weekendOne outing for Thanksgiving weekend so far, including Rhode Island Family Turkey Trot 5K and Kids Race.See the list → FROM NOV 27Christmas lights3 light displays on our list so far. Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo opens first, on Nov 27.See the list → NOV – DECSanta visits6 places to see Santa so far, with dates, times and prices.See the list →
Good questions

What to do with kids this weekend in Providence: the FAQ

What can we do with kids this weekend in Providence?

This weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1) our top picks are Free Day of Play at Providence Children’s Museum (Sat, Oct 31); Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo (Fri, Oct 30 and Sat, Oct 31); Monster Mash at Providence Place (Sat, Oct 31); Not-Too-Spooky Storytime in Mt. Pleasant (Sat, Oct 31). That’s four of 13 outings on this weekend, all checked on the organizer’s page and picked for kids ages 0–6. See the full list.

What are kid-friendly things to do in Providence this weekend?

This week we found 13 outings that work for kids ages 0–6, all of them this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Our top three: Free Day of Play at Providence Children’s Museum, Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo, Monster Mash at Providence Place. See the full list.

Where are the Halloween events for kids in Providence this week?

4 Halloween outings are on this week’s list for ages 0–6, including Monster Mash at Providence Place, Not-Too-Spooky Storytime in Mt. Pleasant, Halloween Family Fun at the Museum of Natural History and Halloween Party at Smith Hill Library. Each one’s page has the date, time, price and the organizer’s link. See them in the list.

Are there free things to do with little ones in Providence this week?

Yes, 11 of this week’s 13 picks are free, including library storytimes and Not-Too-Spooky Storytime in Mt. Pleasant. Tap “Free” in Find your thing. For free places you can visit any week, see free things to do in Providence in the city guide. Free museum days and free events coming up are on free things to do with kids in Providence.

What are good indoor activities for kids in Providence when it rains?

11 picks this week are indoors, mostly at the libraries. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing. For indoor playgrounds and play spaces you can visit any week, see indoor play places in Providence.

Where is storytime for little kids in Providence this week?

4 storytimes are on this week’s list: Not-Too-Spooky Storytime in Mt. Pleasant (Sat 10:30–11am, Mt. Pleasant Library), Animal ABCs & 123s Storytime in Knightsville (Fri 10:30–11am, Knightsville Branch, Cranston Public Library), Jam Session Storytime at Oak Lawn (Fri 10:30–11:30am, Oak Lawn Branch, Cranston Public Library) and Saturday Baby Storytime in Warwick (Sat 10:30–11am, Warwick Public Library). Each one links to the library or venue page we checked it on, so check there for registration. See them in the list. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Providence.

What’s on for babies and toddlers under 3 in Providence this week?

One of this week’s picks is a baby or toddler program or made for ages 3 and under: Saturday Baby Storytime in Warwick. It’s free and indoors. See it in the list.

How do you pick what goes on the Providence list?

We go through Providence’s library calendars, parks, museums, zoos and local family pages every week, and keep what works for ages 0–6. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the date, time, place and price there. This list was last checked Oct 28, 2026. How we choose and check listings.

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