Moms Can-Do's: Higgins Armory + More

Michelle Johnstone, GoLocalProv Contributor

Moms Can-Do's: Higgins Armory + More

Grab the kids and head to the Higgins Armory this week before its integration with the Worcester Art Museum on Dec. 31st.
Looking for fun things to do during the week? Creative spots for last-minute outings? Fun events especially for little ones? We'll bring you our 5 favorites in the region every Tuesday, and they're all within an hour's drive of home. Check out this week’s winter break fun!

Armory!

Take the little ones to say goodbye to an American treasure—the only museum dedicated solely to armory in the western hemisphere and a staple of Worcester childhood—Higgins Armory. Before the museum closes its doors on December 31 for integration into WAM, take one last visit. Throughout winter vacation from 10 AM-4 PM, head over for a chance to join in on interactive activities, workshops, crafts, presentations and so much more. 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA. (508) 853-6015.

Barnyard Fun!

Head to Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol, RI for a special Christmas Eve treat. Today, they will be hosting Christmas at the Barnyard. Spend the morning seeing rare-breed livestock, hunting for eggs, helping cook, and more at this 18th century Rhode Island farm. 1 Coggeshall Farm Road, Bristol, RI. (401) 253-9062.

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Block Party!

Can your child build the tallest tower of them all? Find out at the Providence Children's Museum's Block Party! Photo: Roy Luck/Flickr
Head to Providence Children’s Museum this Thursday for a day-after-Christmas Block Party celebration! Kids are invited to explore the museum’s collection of bright and colorful blocks. They can be mixed and matched to build room-sized block cities, create awesome structures, and more. 100 South Street, Providence, RI. (401) 273-5437.

Lantern Walk!

This week, take the kids on a fun lantern-lit tour or holiday stroll through Historic Newport. This Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 4:30 PM, the Newport Historical Society will be hosting lantern-lit tours of the area to teach participants about holiday traditions of days past. Similarly, they will also be hosting holiday strolls today, Saturday, and next Tuesday at 11 AM. The holiday stroll event features a costumed interpreter—FUN! Both tour options depart from Brick Market: Museum & Shop, 127 Thames Street, Newport, RI. (401) 841-8770.

CSI!

Fight the post-Christmas woes with a trip to a Worcester treasure for a fun, self guided activity. The EcoTarium needs you and your kids’ help solving a fun, family friendly CSI mystery! This year’s mystery involves a wildlife poacher’s camp that has been discovered on the grounds of the EcoTarium. Parents and kiddos will have the opportunity to crack the case between 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA. (508) 929-2701.

Winter Activities

Ice skating

Satisfy your inner child and pull out those ice skates this weekend. Take your significant other or the whole family to the Providence Rink for hours of winter fun! Afterwards, take a downtown stroll to view the holiday lights with a cup of hot cocoa.

2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI.

Photo: Elvert Barnes/Flickr

Bristol

Take the trip to Bristol this weekend to enjoy the festivities. Take a Christmas tour of Linden Place Mansion to see the lavish decorations. On Saturday, Linden Place will also be hosting Christmastime stories with Robb Dim, reminiscent of Christmases past. Also in Bristol is Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum. Be sure to visit and see Christmas at Blithewold, their annual Christmas celebration featuring caroling, music, lights, decorations and more.

Linden Place Mansion, 500 Hope Street, Bristol, RI. (401) 253-0390. 

Blithewold Mansion, 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI. (401) 253-2707. 

Photo: Jbarta

Holiday Pops

Go to see the world-renowned Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra this Friday, December 13 right here in Providence. The Orchestra will be performing their Holiday 2013 concert, also featuring the Metropolitan Chorale of Brookline at the Providence Performing Art Center. Make sure to grab your tickets before they’re gone.

200 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI. (401) 421-ARTS. 

Photo: Marc N. Belanger

Holiday Gardening

Take a much-needed breather from the craziness of the holidays to try something new. This Friday, December 13, take a fun holiday horticulture class: Demystifying Holiday Houseplant Care that will be sure to cure all of your winter gardening woes. Learn all about how to pot and maintain winter plants, from amaryllis to cyclamen. Registration is mandatory.

Blithewold Mansion, 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI. (401) 253-2707. 

Photo: Jon Ward/Flickr

Celtic Christmas

A Celtic Christmas at Linden Place Mansion in Bristol is a multi-faceted celebration that honors not only Christmas, but also the winter solstice. Listen to an array of Kilmore carols and authentic Irish music honoring both Christmas and Pagan traditions. The show will be performed fireside in the carriage house ballroom of Linden Place. Before the show, enjoy a special romantic seaside dinner exclusively for concertgoers at DeWolf Tavern including a three-course dinner and a glass of beer or wine for under $20!

Linden Place Mansion, 500 Hope Street, Bristol, RI. (401) 253-0390. 

DeWolf Tavern, 259 Thames Street, Bristol, RI. (401) 254-2005. 

Photo: Sebastian Dooris/Flickr

Newport

Newport has been enchanting visitors for centuries, and there is no better time to visit than during the magic of the holiday season. This year marks the 43rd annual Christmas in Newport celebration. Visitors are treated to an old fashioned seaside Christmas as they stroll the city streets. Highlights of this weekend of the festival include The Polar Express Train Ride, a holiday craft fair, holiday lantern tours of Historic Newport, foodie events and more. See the event website for a full listing of events.

Newport, RI. Click here for more.

Photo: Jessica Curtin/Flickr

Theatre

Take a trip to Stadium Theatre and the Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts at Rhode Island College to experience the best in holiday theatre productions. Head to Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket for their showing of a holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol” Friday, Saturday or Sunday. On Friday, see the Providence Ballet’s rendition of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” at the Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts in Providence.

Stadium Theatre, 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket, RI. (401)762-4545.

Nazarian Theatre for the Performing Arts, 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence, RI. (401) 456-8000. 

Photo: a4gpa/Flickr

Winter Solstice Party

Celebrate the impending Winter Solstice tonight at The Marine Museum at Fall River. This great party will include music by the Spindle Rock River Rats, refreshments, a lighting of the 28’ Titanic model, refreshments and more. Get out and enjoy this family friendly holiday event.

70 Water Street, Fall River, MA. (508) 674-3533. 

Photo: Caryatidxx/Flickr

Wine

This Saturday, Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth is holding their 14th Annual Warm Up for the Holidays Open House. Take a break from the holiday planning to attend the event—it is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Highlights of the event include local food samples, vineyard tours, live music, and, of course WINE tastings! 

582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth, RI. (401) 847-3777. 

Photo: Kyknoord/Flickr

Holiday Arts

Enjoy beautiful art crafted by local, regional, and national artisans this weekend at two great events at Tiverton Four Corners Arts Center. On Saturday, attend the opening of their holiday exhibit, “re-Tree.” This great exhibit showcases holiday trees created with recycled materials. After you browse the exhibit, stroll through the Winter Arts + Artisan Fair, also at Tiverton, and even pick up a handmade gift.

3852 Main Road, Tiverton Four Corners, RI. (401) 624-2600. 

Photo: Crabchick/Flickr

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