Winter Things to Do in Providence
Looking for some cold weather fun? Round up your family and friends and head to Providence, RI. Experience the charm of winter in New England, along with sophisticated arts, culinary and shopping scenes.
Visit the city's eclectic and trendy neighborhood boutiques or downtown's Providence Place. Dine in any one of Providence's stellar restaurants and you'll see why the city is a nationally recognized food destination.
Providence has plenty of indoor and outdoor fun, including skating and ice bumper cars at The Providence Rink and the renowned RISD Museum. The season is also packed with events. Browse through our calendar below, then book a cozy hotel stay. Start planning now.
February Vacation Fun
With school vacation just around the corner, you'll probably be looking for some family-friendly ways to keep the kiddos entertained. From indoor ways to keep warm while you play to winter adventures at the zoo, there's so much happening that you could plan a different adventure every day!
Restaurant Weeks
Providence Restaurant Weeks offers two weeks of dining specials and offers to enjoy at participating Providence area restaurants.
Providence Culinary Collective
The Providence Culinary Collective returns with a standout collection of events and experiences, including signature tastings, demos, and specially curated paired dinners honoring the city’s culinary legacy.
More Cold Weather Fun
Performing Arts
The theater, Oscar Wilde said, is where we go to get a sense of what it means to be human, because nothing matches the power of a live performance. Providence has long packed a wallop when it comes to the breadth and depth of its performing arts scene.
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Plenty of zoo animals enjoy the cold. Even the flamingos get frisky when the temperature drops. The zoo offers Winter Wonder Days, which features half-price admission. It’s a great time to visit the tropics and check out the Faces of the Rainforest exhibit.
Providence Children's Museum
The Providence Children's Museum has a wide range of play-friendly and excellently educational exhibits. Take advantage of Metlife Family Friday when the museum is free from 5–8 p.m., from June through August.
Event Spotlight
$15 Moonshine Flights & Moonshine Tasting
- Moonshine Alley
- Jul 29, 2026 - Jun 15, 2027
A Bug's World at Roger Williams Park Zoo
- Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village
- Jul 29, 2026 - Aug 9, 2026
Canine Champions for Conservation
- Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village
- Jul 29, 2026 - Sep 6, 2026
City Sights by Sea: Narrated Boat Tours of Providence
- Providence River Boat Company
- Jul 29, 2026 - Oct 24, 2026
Cornhole League For Singles Ages 35-49
- Track 15
- Jul 29, 2026 - Aug 19, 2026
Crime and Cuisine on Federal Hill
- Giuseppe Garibaldi Park and the Welcome Gateway
- Jul 29, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
Discover Providence Tour
- Experience Rhode Island Tours
- Jul 29, 2026 - Oct 31, 2026
Glass Blowing Classes
- Gather: Glass Blowing Studio
- Jul 29, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
Happy Hour at Il Massimo
- Il Massimo
- Jul 29, 2026 - Apr 22, 2027
Happy Hour at Yellow Door Taqueria!
- Yellow Door Taqueria
- Jul 29, 2026 - Jul 21, 2028
Haunted Boat Tours
- Providence River Boat Company
- Jul 29, 2026 - Oct 30, 2026
How Immigrants Became Icons: The History of Soccer in Rhode Island
- Museum of Work & Culture
- Jul 29, 2026 - Sep 7, 2026
KISMET SUMMER EXPERIMENTAL RIOT
- Jul 29, 2026 - Jul 30, 2026
Lunch Special at Bar'Lino
- Bar'Lino Ristorante
- Jul 29, 2026 - Apr 23, 2027
Massimo Lunch Special
- Il Massimo
- Jul 29, 2026 - Apr 23, 2027
Music at Sunset: Concert Series 2026
- Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
- Jul 29, 2026 - Aug 26, 2026
Mystery Pull Event at Garbolino Boutique
- Garbolino Boutique
- Jul 29, 2026 - Aug 7, 2026
Providence Ghost Tour
- Jul 29, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
Providence Restaurant Weeks
- Jul 29, 2026 - Aug 8, 2026
Small Group Private Charters
- Providence River Boat Company
- Jul 29, 2026 - Oct 24, 2026
Summer Shellabration at the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
- Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
- Jul 29, 2026 - Sep 6, 2026
Wednesday Prix Fix @ CHOP
- CHOP (Culinary Hub of Providence)
- Jul 29, 2026 - Aug 12, 2026
Wednesday Trivia Night @ Trinity Brewhouse
- Trinity Brewhouse
- Jul 29, 2026 - Mar 31, 2027
Awakening Flow: Outdoor Yoga at 195 District Park
- Jul 30, 2026 - Sep 10, 2026
Bristol Art Museum Presents The Persistence of Hand: Material Stories – Time + Material + Hand Labor
- Jul 30, 2026 - Sep 20, 2026
Date Night 3 Course Dinner @ CHOP!
- CHOP (Culinary Hub of Providence)
- Jul 30, 2026 - Aug 13, 2026
Family Beach Night: Pizza, Burgers & A Movie
- Jul 30, 2026 - Aug 27, 2026
Federal Hill Dinner Stroll
- Cassarino's Ristorante
- Jul 30, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
Ice Cream Making Classes
- The Cold Work Studio @ Gather Cafe
- Jul 30, 2026 - Dec 27, 2026
Live Music at Bar'Lino
- Bar'Lino Ristorante
- Jul 30, 2026 - Apr 22, 2027
New Thursday Tapas Night at Weekapaug Inn
- Jul 30, 2026 - Feb 11, 2027
Providence Architecture Boat Tours
- Providence River Boat Company
- Jul 30, 2026 - Sep 24, 2026
Rhode Island in a Day Tour
- Experience Rhode Island Tours
- Jul 30, 2026 - Oct 29, 2026
Twilight River Cruises
- Providence River Boat Company
- Jul 30, 2026 - Sep 25, 2026
Warwick Food Truck Night - Crowne Plaza
- Crowne Plaza Providence Warwick
- Jul 30, 2026 - Oct 2, 2026
Local Restaurants
You'll find a wide range of nationally recognized dining options in Providence.
Providence Hotels
Providence offers plenty of lodging choices for all tastes and budgets.
Local Shopping
From boutiques to department stores, Providence offers ample shopping.