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
- Aug 29, 2026 - Jun 15, 2027
Annual Pawtucket Arts Festival
- Aug 29, 2026 - Sep 6, 2026
City Sights by Sea: Narrated Boat Tours of Providence
- Providence River Boat Company
- Aug 29, 2026 - Oct 24, 2026
Clues & Brews: Murder Mystery Beer Tour
- Providence Marriott Downtown
- Aug 29, 2026 - Mar 27, 2027
Discover Providence Tour
- Experience Rhode Island Tours
- Aug 29, 2026 - Oct 31, 2026
Ice Cream Making Classes
- The Cold Work Studio @ Gather Cafe
- Aug 29, 2026 - Dec 27, 2026
Ring Making Workshops
- Aug 29, 2026 - Mar 6, 2027
Small Group Private Charters
- Providence River Boat Company
- Aug 29, 2026 - Oct 24, 2026
WaterFire Boat Rides
- Providence River Boat Company
- Aug 29, 2026 - Nov 7, 2026
Fall Time Glass Blowing
- Gather: Glass Blowing Studio
- Aug 29, 2026 - Nov 25, 2026
Summer Shellabration at the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
- Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
- Aug 29, 2026 - Sep 6, 2026
How Immigrants Became Icons: The History of Soccer in Rhode Island
- Museum of Work & Culture
- Aug 29, 2026 - Sep 7, 2026
Providence Walking Tour: The River at the Heart of the City
- Aug 29, 2026 - Nov 14, 2026
Voices of Resilience: Hidden History of Providence Tour
- Aug 29, 2026 - Dec 26, 2026
Canine Champions for Conservation
- Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village
- Aug 29, 2026 - Sep 6, 2026
Gather Farm Goat Hikes
- Gather Farm
- Aug 29, 2026 - Dec 27, 2026
Life on the Avenue: Immigration, Protest, and Triumph on Federal Hill
- Aug 29, 2026 - Dec 24, 2026
Tea and Scones on the Porch
- Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
- Aug 29, 2026 - Aug 30, 2026
Bristol Art Museum Presents The Persistence of Hand: Material Stories – Time + Material + Hand Labor
- Aug 29, 2026 - Sep 20, 2026
Crime and Cuisine on Federal Hill
- Giuseppe Garibaldi Park and the Welcome Gateway
- Aug 29, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
Half Price Tacos and House Margs at Yellow Door Taqueria!
- Yellow Door Taqueria
- Aug 29, 2026 - Oct 31, 2026
Enchanted Tarot
- Aug 29, 2026 - Nov 14, 2026
Live Music Saturdays at Moonshine Alley
- Moonshine Alley
- Aug 29, 2026 - Aug 26, 2028
Dark Tales: Haunted Authors of Providence Tour
- Providence Tour Company
- Aug 29, 2026 - Dec 26, 2026
Logan Vale Live at Luigi's Restaurant
- Luigi's Restaurant & Gourmet Express
- Aug 29, 2026 - Oct 17, 2026
The Nightcap: Cocktail & Spirits Tour
- Aug 29, 2026 - Dec 24, 2026
Providence Ghost Tour
- Aug 29, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
Haunted Boat Tours
- Providence River Boat Company
- Aug 30, 2026 - Oct 30, 2026
Shuck It Sundays! $1 Oysters at Yellow Door Taqueria
- Yellow Door Taqueria
- Aug 30, 2026 - Oct 11, 2026
Twilight River Cruises
- Providence River Boat Company
- Aug 30, 2026 - Sep 25, 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.