Providence's Can't Miss Winter Events

By Charles Dickens Original Music by Richard Cumming Directed by Taavon Gamble November 5 – December 31, 2026Dowling TheaterCelebrating 50 Years of Holiday CheerAs the clock strikes midnight on a fateful Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge gets an unexpected visit from the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley. In a world shaped by music, memory, and possibility, Scrooge is swept into a supernatural journey through past, present, and future. Along the way, he must confront what he has built, what he has lost, and what he still has: the power to change for the good of his community, and his very soul. This year’s 50th anniversary production, directed by company member Taavon Gamble, celebrates the beloved legacy of Trinity Rep’s annual tradition of reimagining the story anew each year.

Rhode Island’s brightest annual walk-through experience, with more than 3.5 million lights, presented by RI Energy.

PVD Holiday Festival brings light, culture, and community cheer to the heart of Providence and beyond.Transforming the creative capital with a spectacular program of festive events and attractions, including holiday markets, tree lighting events, ice skating, community workshops, music, performance artists, WaterFire and more!

Kick off the holidays as we light the City Hall tree! Enjoy performances by community choirs and catch a parade leading Santa into Downtown through falling snow. The celebration continues with live bands, festive activities for all ages, food trucks, and an ice skating DJ party.

The Zoo is open Thursday - Monday from 10:00 - 4:00 pm and on all Providence school vacations.Timed-entry ticket requirements remain in effect for non-members and must be prepurchased online. Current RWPZoo members do not need to reserve daytime zoo tickets in advance - just show your digital membership card and a photo ID at any ticket booth for entry on the day of your visit.

Internationally acclaimed storytellers will captivate and educate audiences with tales deeply rooted in Black traditions. FUNDA FEST stands as a beacon of community impact and change.FUNDA means to teach and learn in Zulu and KiSwahili, and for 9 days, adults and children will be able to experience some of the best cultural arts programming across Rhode Island at venues that include schools, K-12, community and cultural arts centers, libraries, and theaters. Stories and storytelling make learning and cultural experiences fun for all ages. Funda Fest is known for the Free Family FUN Day concerts and workshops where intergenerational storytellers entertain and teach others of all ages how to tell their own stories. This year also includes FUNDA ACROSS RI, with mini Family Fun Days through the State.

Enjoy two weeks of dining special offers brought to you by Providence Restaurant Weeks. Participating area restaurants will feature deals and specials for lunch and dinner, with some offering prix fixe menus. They may also be serving up breakfast, signature cocktails and more.Make your reservations now or bring home a feast from participants offering their deals to go. Enjoy a well-deserved break from the kitchen, while showing your support for Rhode Island's amazing restaurants.

Each winter, Lumina transforms downtown Providence into a glowing winter wonderland, bringing light and color to the city’s streets during the darkest stretch of the year. The 2026 festival ran February 19 to March 5. Check back for next year’s dates and details.

The Providence Children’s Film Festival will be held in February. Check the website for details!PCFF presents the best of independent and international children’s cinema to inspire, delight, educate, and connect a diverse community of children and families from Rhode Island and throughout New England. PCFF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2009.

RI VegFest will be back at WaterFire Arts Center in Providence on February 6 and 7 for two fully vegan days of partying with vegan food, vendors, cocktails, beer and so much more.⁠RI VegFest is a fun and educational fully vegan indoor event featuring restaurants, vegan artists, makers, food producers, non-profits and more. When selecting vendors, we prioritize businesses owned by vegans and restaurants that are fully vegan or who have shown commitment to the vegan community by consistently offering vegan options. Restaurants will have full meals for sale, and some may offer samples. The Inside Voices bar will be fully stocked with beer and special vegan mocktails and cocktails, using local and regional spirits.

Join us indoors for the Flea at Farm Fresh Market Hall from November through the Holidays with 75+ local indie makers, artisans, vintage vendors, food trucks, hot fresh local coffee and spirits, craft beer and cocktails, ice cream, baked goods, and more at Farm Fresh RI. Every Sunday, starting November 1 from 11 am - 3 pm through December 20 plus Black Friday Night, November 27 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm! Free to enter and park. No tickets necessary. Farm Fresh Market Hall, 10 Sims Ave, PVD. More info and apply at providenceflea.com.

Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever holiday-themed family theatrical, ’TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE…, makes its debut in Providence.It’s the holidays, and this year, things are different. For years, Isabella and her father have read “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” together. But this year Isabella feels like she’s outgrown the family tradition. What follows is a magical journey as the poem comes to life in a vibrant, festive flurry of love and cheer with the breathtaking acrobatics Cirque du Soleil is known for – from a mesmerizing aerial straps duo and daring hoop diving to gravity-defying hair suspension and high-energy dancing. The production is performed by a cast of 26 artists from around the world and features lovable characters alongside a soundtrack of Christmas favorites reimagined by Cirque du Soleil.Part of the Encore Series

WaterFire is a multisensory experience that has drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city. This series of bonfires installed on the three rivers of Downtown Providence entices with aromatic wood smoke, flickering firelight and enchanting music. Supported by: GoProvidenceOnshore programming and vendors open at 4:00 PM

Get ready to embrace the magic of the season at the Boston Pops Holiday Concert - Providence! Set against the stunning backdrop of the Providence Performing Arts Center, this enchanting evening promises to fill your heart with holiday cheer. With its grand architecture and warm ambiance, the venue creates the perfect atmosphere for an unforgettable night of festive music and joyful celebration. Join the Boston Pops as they perform beloved holiday classics that will have you humming along and tapping your feet. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the symphonic experience, this concert is sure to become a cherished tradition. Don’t miss out on this delightful event—secure your tickets today and make memories that will last a lifetime!

This is Bluey’s Big Play, For Real Life. When Dad feels like a little bit of time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. Bluey’s Big Play is a theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® awardwinning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life.Bluey’s Big Play is presented by BBC Studios and Andrew Kay in association with Windmill Theatre Co.

The Tony®-Winning Hit Musical ComedyMadeline Ashton is the most beautiful actress (just ask her) ever to grace the stage and screen. Helen Sharp is the long-suffering author (just ask her) who lives in her shadow. They have always been the best of frenemies…until Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for.After one sip of Viola’s magical potion, Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life (and death) with their youth and beauty restored…and a grudge to last eternity.Now a warning! You may not be ready for the unbelievable amount of comedy, glamour, and magic onstage. DEATH BECOMES HER is a “wildly entertaining, perfect musical comedy. It grabs the audience by the jugular and doesn’t let go” (Deadline). With direction and choreography by Tony winner Christopher Gattelli, DEATH BECOMES HER is “a laugh-filled, tuneful musical to die for” (Variety) and “a cheek-aching laughter roller coaster — the most fun night out on Broadway!” (The Daily Beast). Experience the “savagely funny” (Time Out) pop-culture phenomenon that’s been certified “hilarious” by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Z100, Beyoncé (!!), Goldie Hawn, Superman aka David Corenswet, Michelle Williams (the other one), and countless fans on Instagram, TikTok, and beyond. See it now, and laugh for eternity.Part of the Taco and the White Family Foundation Broadway Series

Our New Artistic Director’s Trinity Rep Directorial Debut - January 27 – March 18, 2027 Dowling Theater

Based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, THE NOTEBOOK tells the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. “Full of butterfly-inducing highs and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly), THE NOTEBOOK is a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune says THE NOTEBOOK is “absolutely gorgeous, not to be missed,” and The New York Daily News calls it “a love story for the ages.”THE NOTEBOOK is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida), and features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s “This Is Us”), and choreography by Katie Spelman.Part of the Taco and the White Family Foundation Broadway Series

By Lauren Yee Directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo February 11 – March 21, 2027 Dowling Theater In rotating repertory with Cyrano An Off-Kilter New England PremiereIt’s 1992 in the country formerly known as the Soviet Union, and the Cold War’s gone lukewarm. Gorbachev is out, Yeltsin is in, and the newborn Russian Federation is getting to know the free market and the Filet-o-Fish. Two old friends—once aspiring KGB agents, now struggling to adapt to the new regime—find work spying on an ex-pop star and absolutely nothing goes according to plan. Fast, sharp, and darkly funny, Mother Russia is a new comedy about what happens when the world flips upside down that asks how ordinary people can recalibrate when the rules change overnight.

Winner of 6 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING tells the deeply human story of a chance encounter that sparks connection, adventure, and maybe even love. Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Arden (Parade), MAYBE HAPPY ENDING has been called “one of the best musicals in years” (USA Today) and even “The best musical in eons!” (Observer). Don’t miss the totally original new musical adventure that explores what it means to be human. Even if they’re not.Part of the Taco and the White Family Foundation Broadway Series