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.
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
- Jan 12, 2026 - Jul 21, 2026
Appy Hour at the Alley!
- Moonshine Alley
- Jan 12, 2026 - Mar 11, 2026
Glass Blowing Classes
- Gather: Glass Blowing Studio
- Jan 12, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition
- Jan 12, 2026 - Jan 18, 2026
Monday Trivia at Diego’s East Side
- Jan 12, 2026 - Jan 3, 2028
Winter Wonder Days - 1/2-Priced Admission
- Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village
- Jan 12, 2026 - Feb 28, 2026
$5 Taco Tuesday Specials
- Yellow Door Taqueria
- Jan 13, 2026 - Oct 6, 2026
Trash TV Tuesday
- Providence G Pub
- Jan 13, 2026 - Sep 15, 2026
Eureka Day
- Jan 14, 2026 - Feb 1, 2026
Little Explorers Play Group at Providence Children's Museum
- Providence Children's Museum
- Jan 14, 2026 - Feb 11, 2026
Special Pricing! 5-Course Chef's Tasting Menu
- Gracie's
- Jan 14, 2026 - Feb 8, 2026
Troop Bingo!
- Jan 14, 2026 - Dec 8, 2027
Wednesday Prix Fix @ CHOP
- CHOP (Culinary Hub of Providence)
- Jan 14, 2026 - Aug 12, 2026
Acoustic Thursdays at Moonshine Alley!
- Moonshine Alley
- Jan 15, 2026 - Mar 12, 2026
Burbage Theatre and WomensWork RI present THE MEMORY OF WATER by Shelagh Stephenson
- Burbage Theatre Co
- Jan 15, 2026 - Feb 8, 2026
Date Night 3 Course Dinner @ CHOP!
- CHOP (Culinary Hub of Providence)
- Jan 15, 2026 - Aug 13, 2026
Kismet Improv's Thurx
- Jan 15, 2026 - Mar 19, 2026
Underground Comedy @ Medici
- Jan 15, 2026 - May 7, 2026
Annual FUNDA FEST: A Celebration of Black Storytelling
- Jan 16, 2026 - Jan 25, 2026
Clue
- Providence Performing Arts Center
- Jan 16, 2026 - Jan 18, 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.