Dec4Fri
Illuminate PVD Holiday Stroll
Biltmore Park to Grant’s Block Park · Downtown
- When
- Friday, Dec 4
- Time
- 6pm
- Price
- Free to attend
December 2026Providence · The Creative Capital
December in Providence with little kids.
12 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Providence in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.
4 listings
Dec 1 to Dec 6
Dec5Sat
City Hall Tree Lighting
Providence City Hall · 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- 4–7:30pm
- Price
- See the event page
Dec5Sat
City Hall Tree Lighting and Santa Parade
Providence City Hall, 25 Dorrance St. · Downtown
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- 4–7:30pm
- Price
- See the event page
Dec5Sat
Santa at the City Hall Tree Lighting
Providence City Hall · 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- 4–7:30pm
- Price
- See the event page
2 listings
Dec 7 to Dec 13
Dec11Fri
WaterFire Holiday Basin Lighting
Waterplace Park · Downtown
- When
- Friday, Dec 11
- Time
- 4–9pm; fires lit around sunset (4:14pm)
- Price
- Free to attend
Dec12Sat
Coastal Queen’s Meet & Greet with Santa Cruise
Coastal Queen, Bowen’s Wharf · Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, RI
- When
- Dec 12, 19 and 20
- Time
- 1-hour cruise
- Price
- Not listed; book on the Cruise RI site
3 listings
Dec 28 to Dec 31
Dec31Thu
Kids Noon Year's Eve at Kingston Free Library
Kingston Free Library, Potter Hall · South Kingstown
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- Noon–2pm
- Price
- Free
Dec31Thu
Noon Year’s Eve Party at Warwick Public Library
Warwick Public Library – Children’s Room · Warwick
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11am–1pm
- Price
- Free
Dec31Thu
WaterFire Starts at Sunset
Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge · 365 S. Water St., Providence, RI
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 5–9pm
- Price
- Not listed
3 listings
Open for weeks at a time
Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.
Dec1to 24
Santa’s Arctic Clipper at Providence Place
Providence Place, L1 Garden · One Providence Place, Providence, RI 02903
- When
- Nov 13 to Dec 24
- Time
- See the booking page
- Price
- Photo packages; reservations recommended
Dec1to 31
Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo · 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
- When
- Nov 27 to Jan 3
- Time
- 5–9:30pm
- Price
- $13–$15; buy online ahead
Dec1to 31
Rhode Island Lights Festival
Centreville Bank Stadium · Pawtucket, RI
- When
- Nov 27 to Jan 3
- Time
- See the ticket page
- Price
- Tickets on sale Nov 10
Guides
More December guides for Providence
Christmas lights in ProvidenceKeep planning
More for little kids in Providence
November: 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 charge
Indoor 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 hours
Christmas break in ProvidenceWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Birthday party places in ProvidenceStarting prices, ages and what’s included
This week in ProvidenceDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
December in Providence: the FAQ
12 dated listings so far, including Illuminate PVD Holiday Stroll (Dec 4), City Hall Tree Lighting (Dec 5), City Hall Tree Lighting and Santa Parade (Dec 5) and Santa at the City Hall Tree Lighting (Dec 5). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.
Illuminate PVD Holiday Stroll (Dec 4), WaterFire Holiday Basin Lighting (Dec 11), Kids Noon Year's Eve at Kingston Free Library (Dec 31) and Noon Year’s Eve Party at Warwick Public Library (Dec 31). For free days and places that never charge, see free things to do in Providence.
6 start this December: City Hall Tree Lighting (Dec 5), Santa at the City Hall Tree Lighting (Dec 5), Coastal Queen’s Meet & Greet with Santa Cruise (Dec 12, Dec 19 and Dec 20), Santa’s Arctic Clipper at Providence Place (Nov 13 to Dec 24) and Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo (Nov 27 to Jan 3), plus 1 more below.
Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.
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 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.
The checked list, every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Providence that weekend.
