Happy Thursday, as usual!

We are deep into the Christmas season already! It’s a great time to think about upcoming weekend activities, but also mid-week diversions like all the neighborhood lights through the end of the year. Get a coffee and go for a casual evening drive this week or next! So much dazzling beauty…and so early in the evening with the sun continuing to set earlier and earlier and earlier (for a few more weeks)!

But there is so much to do for festive holiday fun the next few weekends, you won’t be at a loss for ideas at all with this weeks issue!

NOTE: some of the events below are very popular and have limited capacity - if tickets are required, remember to act fast!

Let’s get right to it and plan the weekend for maximum relaxation and fun!

In This Issue

3.5 million twinkling lights 🎄…

A “grand illumination” ✨…

Cheese 101 🧀…

Outdoor & Nature

• 🎄Everyone loves the Christmas lights at Roger Williams Park. Get the kids and walk through a winter wonderland with 3.5 million twinkling lights lighting up the Zoo. If you needed more persuasion, there are adult beverages, hot chocolate, and s’mores. This is the kind of thing memories are made of.

• Need a good nature walk, but one you’ve not been on probably? We got one: Canonchet Farm is a green space unlike any other in Rhode Island. Its 175 acres of fresh and salt water wetlands, forests, brooks, and ponds next to Pettaquamscutt Cove on Narrow River. I didn’t know this was up here. Another reason to “head west” in Rhode Island.

• Guided hikes through Blackstone Valley! Park Rangers are leading a “Winter Hike” series that kicks off later this month, through February. The first one culminates in a scenic view of the Blackstone River Valley from Lookout Rock.

• “Walk through the Wildwoods” at Wildwoods Nursery. Check out this charming outdoor holiday, market, and light display, walking on twinkling sparkling paths to see all the vendors, food trucks, fresh cut tree and gift shop sections and more. This is the 4th year, and it keeps getting better.

Arts & Entertainment

• The Newport Art Museum's "December FREE for ALL Saturday" on 12/14, has a a great collection of family-friendly activities like hands-on art-making, guided tours, scavenger hunts, and an art and clay sale. Also, catch the Makers Market with local artists, and receptions for two new exhibitions. 100% free! Cocoa on the lawn and even trolley pick-up from parking areas…that sweetens the deal!

• ✨ You’ve heard of Santa’s sleigh, but how about his boat? The Candy Cane Express Cruises are a blast for kids (and mom and dad). Cruise around Newport Harbor, see the sights and scenery, while the boat is warm and weatherproof inside. One of Santa's elves will read to the kids while hot chocolate is served. A candy cane will be given to each kid as they complete the journey.

• Music in the Living Room Concert Series. Starting this weekend, add some musical interest to your Blithewold visit. Enjoy holiday decorations in the Mansion and attend one of the Music in the Living Room Series! Classical and jazz are on the docket. Tickets include admission to the Manor and grounds. Click through for the musical details.

• Annual Scituate Village Candlelight Stroll 2 days this weekend. Get right into the holiday spirit with local shops, Santa visits, story time, comfort dogs, crafters, food trucks, and live music. Trinity Episcopal Church hosts a Holiday Bazaar. Get the deets.

• Sounds so festive! Bristol is serious about bringing the Holiday Spirit! The Grand Illuminations kicks things off with children singing, music / carols, Santa arriving from the North Pole, and the town Christmas Tree lighting. The the 2-day festival includes street entertainment, European-themed Christmas huts, artisan market, and other kids' activities.

• It’s movie night this Friday at PROC! “Scrooged” starts at 8pm in the taproom at the Proclamation Ale Co. They do movies the first Friday of each month but this is perfect for the Christmas season. Food available from Teddi’s Food Truck. This is a pretty cool idea.

• Newport Historical Society has started it’s Holiday Lantern Tour, every Fri & Sat at 4pm until Dec 28. Learn cool facts about our early American holiday traditions. Fun family activity, limited group sizes. They say this is HIGHLY recommended by people that have done the tour.

Food & Drink

• 🎶 Feeling musical? Cantus at the Mansion: Newport Classical presents a modern twist on a timeless Christmas tradition with Cantus’s Lessons and Carols for Our Time. This is a blend of poetry, modern, and sacred music straight from Oxford where Cantus developed this beloved format. Click through, then click “see details” for the concert this Sunday.

• Crime and Cuisine: Wanna hang with some goodfellas or fuggetaboutit? Book a 3.5 hour tour, with food, of all things illegal and tasty on Federal Hill. “This tour will give you a smorgasbord of its best bites and drinks, from fine wines to house-made pasta. Come hungry!”

• Deck the halls…with Christmas ham and eggs! Gingerbread dutch baby pancakes, yuletide baked brie, a winter wonderland bakeshop board…what’s not to love at this perfect brunch at Newport Vineyards? We’ve got cozy covered, and the fireplace stoked.

• Holiday shop and eat at Ragged Island Brewery Holiday Market: local brews, art, a bunch of food trucks (yes, including Tacofied), but it’s only this Sunday 12/8. If you are in South County and hungry Sunday afternoon, this is for you.

• A “Hot Chocolate Bar”? Sounds kinda too good to be true. Cozy up by the fire pit, or take in the views of the Cliff Walk with a cup of artisanal hot chocolate. Prepared by The Chanler's culinary team, this treat begins with the finest French chocolate, blended with fresh cream from Wright's Dairy Farm, with an adult twist if you want it!

• Here is a gift she (and possibly he too) might LOVE. “Sip & Script” hosted by Tower Hill Brewing. Know where the tower is? Good. Across the street and you’re there. Drink and draw classic letterforms using traditional pen and ink nib. THINK OF THE GIFT TAGS YOU CAN CREATE. AND CARDS. This is class is for total beginners - you’ll be calligraphing in no time flat if you don’t sip toooo much. But you’ll have fun either way. There is a take-with-you project you’ll complete. You could go out to eat or catch a movie RIGHT THERE after class.

• Who on earth doesn’t need a Cheese 101 course? Get your learning cap on, and check out this 90 min mini lecture. It’s hands on of course. You’ll pair 1/2 doz. cheeses with selected wines, and learn what goes with what and why. There is more, and you need a ticket, so click through.

Rhody Moments

• Look at these amazing sunset shots over and around Newport: the bridge, in town, etc, just a beautiful golden hour 1 min video. Brain palette cleanser, big time.

• 🥊 FUN FACT: 28 out of Rocky Marciano’s 49 fights took place in Providence, Rhode Island. News to me!

Everything Else

• 🏁 History, Luxury, Sport. This is the last weekend for Automobiles in Newport with the Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week show wrapping up. See ~20 absolute masterpieces of auto engineering from 1900 to 1980. Beauty and technology. It’s really mindblowing, and easy to hit if you are in town this weekend.

• Have you seen a tour like this inside The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort? I had not. Check out this 5 min vid that covers what’s there: 3,500 acres, luxury lodgings, spa, Hobbit houses, shooting range, cigars/scotch, treehouse massages, horse stables, gourmet food. Whatever you think is there, it’s probably more than you think is there.

Photo of the Week

That’s it for this issue of the Rhody Weekender. Make the most of it!

See you next week!

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