What to do with kids in Providence over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: four say they’re open on Christmas Day and four on New Year’s Day. Plus three dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Providence Place, L1 Garden · One Providence Place, Providence, RI 02903
Good to know: Walk-ups are welcome as time allows. A sensory-friendly Santa hour runs Sunday, Dec 6, 9:30 to 10:30am.
Roger Williams Park Zoo · 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Good to know: A walk through 40 acres of lights. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Strollers are allowed, and rentals are at the entrance.
Centreville Bank Stadium · Pawtucket, RI
Good to know: A new light festival at the Pawtucket stadium, with a holiday market and Santa.
Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge · 365 S. Water St., Providence, RI
Good to know: WaterFire volunteers light five braziers on the pedestrian bridge for an early-evening gathering, which wraps up long before midnight.
Warwick Public Library – Children’s Room · Warwick
Good to know: Families dress in their fanciest attire for activities, crafts, music and snacks, then count down to noon.
Kingston Free Library, Potter Hall · South Kingstown
Good to know: Craft stations, games and free play for all ages, with a balloon drop at noon. No food is served.
Roger Williams Park Zoo · 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Good to know: A walk through 40 acres of lights. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Strollers are allowed, and rentals are at the entrance.
Centreville Bank Stadium · Pawtucket, RI
Good to know: A new light festival at the Pawtucket stadium, with a holiday market and Santa.
Open on New Year’s Day: Roger Williams Park Zoo, RISD Museum, Providence Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in ProvidenceEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ProvidenceEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in ProvidenceFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in ProvidenceIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in ProvidenceBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in ProvidenceHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in ProvidenceParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in ProvidenceKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in ProvidenceParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in ProvidencePolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in ProvidenceBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in ProvidenceChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursBirthday party places in ProvidenceStarting prices, ages and what’s included
This week in ProvidenceDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Roger Williams Park Zoo (Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed), RISD Museum (Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed), Providence Children’s Museum (Not listed), Museum of Natural History and Planetarium (Not listed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
On the calendar: Santa’s Arctic Clipper at Providence Place.
Roger Williams Park Zoo (Not listed), RISD Museum (Closed Dec 31 and Jan 1), Providence Children’s Museum (Not listed), Museum of Natural History and Planetarium (Not listed).
On the calendar for Jan 1: Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo and Rhode Island Lights Festival. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo and Rhode Island Lights Festival. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Providence, through the holidays.
