# Christmas break with kids in Providence, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 4 places’ holiday hours; 8 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/providence/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/providence/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/providence/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Roger Williams Park Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Open Thursday through Monday 10am–4pm (last admission 3:30), plus Providence school vacation days and weeks. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day” Source: https://www.rwpzoo.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **RISD Museum**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Closed Dec 31 and Jan 1. Their page says: “Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday 10am–5pm; Thursday noon–8pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Free for 18 and under” Source: https://risdmuseum.org/hours-admission (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Providence Children’s Museum**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Not listed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Open seven days a week, 9:30am–4:30pm; $20 per person, under 12 months free. Holiday hours for 2026 haven’t been posted” Source: https://providencechildrensmuseum.org/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Museum of Natural History and Planetarium**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Not listed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Open daily 10am–4pm, last admission 3:30; planetarium shows Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. Holiday closures for 2026 haven’t been posted” Source: https://www.providenceri.gov/museum/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## Christmas Eve

- **Santa’s Arctic Clipper at Providence Place** at Providence Place, L1 Garden, One Providence Place, Providence, RI 02903. When: Nov 13 – Dec 24, 2026. Time: See the booking page. Price: Photo packages; reservations recommended. Walk-ups are welcome as time allows. A sensory-friendly Santa hour runs Sunday, Dec 6, 9:30 to 10:30am. Official page: https://www.providenceplace.com/event/santas-arctic-clipper/ (checked 2026-10-28)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo** at Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 5–9:30pm. Price: $13–$15; buy online ahead. 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. Official page: https://www.rwpzoo.org/event/holiday-lights-spectacular/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Rhode Island Lights Festival** at Centreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket, RI. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: See the ticket page. Price: Tickets on sale Nov 10. A new light festival at the Pawtucket stadium, with a holiday market and Santa. Official page: https://centrevillebankstadium.com/pages/rhodeislandlights (checked 2026-10-28)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **WaterFire Starts at Sunset** at Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge, 365 S. Water St., Providence, RI. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 5–9pm. Price: Not listed. WaterFire volunteers light five braziers on the pedestrian bridge for an early-evening gathering, which wraps up long before midnight. Official page: https://waterfire.org/events/starts-at-sunset-thursday-december-31-2026/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year’s Eve Party at Warwick Public Library** at Warwick Public Library – Children’s Room, Warwick. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–1pm. Price: Free. Families dress in their fanciest attire for activities, crafts, music and snacks, then count down to noon. Official page: https://warwicklibrary.libcal.com/event/17885315 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Kids Noon Year's Eve at Kingston Free Library** at Kingston Free Library, Potter Hall, South Kingstown. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: Noon–2pm. Price: Free. Craft stations, games and free play for all ages, with a balloon drop at noon. No food is served. Official page: https://skpl.libcal.com/event/17517568 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo** at Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 5–9:30pm. Price: $13–$15; buy online ahead. 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. Official page: https://www.rwpzoo.org/event/holiday-lights-spectacular/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Rhode Island Lights Festival** at Centreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket, RI. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: See the ticket page. Price: Tickets on sale Nov 10. A new light festival at the Pawtucket stadium, with a holiday market and Santa. Official page: https://centrevillebankstadium.com/pages/rhodeislandlights (checked 2026-10-28)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Providence with kids?
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.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Providence?
On the calendar: Santa’s Arctic Clipper at Providence Place.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Providence?
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).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Providence?
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.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Providence?
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.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).