Contact: Karen Cooke
Marketing/Promotion Manager
South County Tourism Council
Phone: 401.789.4422
Fax: 401.789.4437
kcooke@southcountyri.com                             

In one of his short stories, Truman Capote wrote, �Small towns are best for spending Christmas, I think. They catch the mood quicker and change and come alive under its spell.�

South County Tourism Council heartily agrees. �South County is the ideal way, perhaps the only way, to get ready for the holidays,� said Myrna George, tourism council president.

The South County Tourism Region is where local shopkeepers go all out with bright lights, beautiful decorations and bargain sales; where shops and sidewalks are never far from water and the natural environment, and neighborhood associations have devised homespun ways to make us feel festive and lighthearted during perhaps the most stressful and hectic time of year.


Every town offers its own version of the old-fashioned, small-scale celebrations that have gone out of style in bigger, more anonymous or more urban places. If you�re looking for bands playing holiday music, hot cocoa, helpful merchants -- and of course, Santa Claus -- look no further than your local Main Street over the next few weeks for all the shopping and family events you need to countdown to Christmas and other seasonal holidays.

South County Tourism Council is delighted to provide you with everything that�s going on, from Wickford to Westerly.


Charlestown
Dec. 31, 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Charlestown Bonfire, Ninigret Park, Old Post Rd. 364-3878 or 364-1222.

 

Coventry

Dec. 6, 8:30 to 2 p.m.

Holiday Bazaar and Breakfast (8:30 to 10:30 a.m.) $3. Summit Hall, 12 Old Summit Road, Coventry. 397-7616


East Greenwich

Dec. 4, 5 to 8 p.m.

Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa�s Visit, Town Hall, 125 Main Street.

 

Dec. 6, 2 to 7 p.m.

To get festive and appreciate some of the state�s best maintained historic homes all in one afternoon, the Greenwich Bay Women�s Club is a hosting the Hill & Harbour Holiday House Tour. Tickets can be purchased at Chamber of Commerce office at 580 Main Street (885-0020) or on Dec. 6 at the first stop on the tour, the historic Boy Scout House on Spring Street.  George invites you: �Enjoy the warmth and glow that can only be found in South County and catch the spell of Christmas.�

Dec. 10, 6 p.m.

Christmas Tree Lighting, Coventry Community Center, 1277 Main Street, Coventry. 822-9107


Exeter

Dec. 6, 1 to 4 p.m.

Nikkomo: Tomaquag Museum, 390 Summit Rd., Exeter. 539-7213

 

Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m.

Exeter Holiday Parade. Rain Date: Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m.

 

Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Family Winterfest: make ornaments and crafts, take a (nature) hike and enjoy snacks and hot cocoa. Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Fisherville Brook Refuge. 949-5454, extension 3041.


Narragansett

Dec. 7, 1 p.m.

Run off the weight gained from Thanksgiving at the Jingle Bell Beach 5K Run and two-mile Family Walk, Canonchet Beach Club. 783-7121.

 

Dec. 7, 1:30 to 8 p.m.

Pier Market Place Holiday Celebration. Take a Horse drawn wagon ride past the Seawall, do some shopping at Pier Market and take the Luminary Stroll. (860-789-6655.)

                                      
Dec. 13, 9:30 to 4 p.m.

Meet at the Towers at 35 Ocean Road, to take a self-guided tour of beautiful homes dressed up for the holidays. Tickets: $30. 331-9302.


North Kingstown

Dec. 4 to Dec. 8

The official lighting of the Tree at Updike Park, is at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4, where the North Kingstown Community Youth Chorus and the Lafayette Band perform.

Saturday morning is time for a full-course Breakfast with Santa, from 8 to 11 a.m.

In Wickford, Santa comes the Wickford way -- by water, on the Sea Princess -- before he goes hay riding in the village. During the day, most shops are open later than usual, until 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, there are evening concerts by the North Kingstown Community Chorus. 295-5566 and the website wickfordvillage.org have the full schedule of the Festival of Lights.

 

Dec. 5, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The Lafayette Band performs a Holiday Concert at First Baptist Church on Main Street.


Dec. 6, noon to 4 p.m.

Dec. 7, noon to 4 p.m.

Christmas at Smith Castle � with music and refreshments -- offers the kind of quaint holiday cheer that could take you back to the 1600s, when Smith Castle was first inhabited. 55 Richard Smith Drive. 294-3521.

 

Dec. 6, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Eat breakfast with Santa the Wickford Way, by the water, at Cold Spring Community Center on Beach Street. Children can have their picture taken with Santa, and decorate a sugar cookie to take home. $10 adults; $5 children. 295-5566.


South Kingstown

Nov. 14, 5 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 15, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

First Parish Congregational Church Holiday Fair


Nov. 21, 4 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

St. Joseph School Christmas Fair


Nov. 22, 10 a.m.

Holiday Marketplace, American Civic Center.


Nov. 28 to Dec. 14

Wednesday to Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

Holiday Pottery and Art Sale at South County Art Association�s Helme House Gallery, 2587 Kingstown Road, Kingston. 783-2195.

                     

Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. Snow date: same time, next day.

Musica Dolce: Classics Chamber Orchestra Chamber Orchestra Concert. And exhibit and sale by Artists Cooperative Gallery of Westerly.

 

Dec. 4, 5 to 9 p.m.

Ladies Night on Main. Wakefield Village.

 

Dec. 4, 7 p.m.

Courthouse Tree Lighting. Courthouse Center for the Arts, 3481 Kingstown Road, West Kingston. 782-1018.

 

Dec. 5, noon to 7 p.m.

Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Artcraft Show and Sale at the Courthouse Center for the Arts, 3481 Kingstown Road, West Kingston. 782-1018.

 

Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fayerweather House Children�s Tea Party. Doll clothes and gifts from local artisans are featured. 789-9072.

 

Dec. 7, 2 p.m.

Keith Stokes speaks on �Faith, Family and Freedom: Early Jews in Rhode Island,� at the South Kingstown Public Library, 1057 Kingstown Road, Peace Dale. 789-1555, ext.112.


Dec. 7

Concert: 4:30 and Tree Lighting: 6 p.m. Village Green.


Dec. 11, 5 to 8 p.m.

Luminary Walk. Take a ride with Santa on the trolley and shop your favorite Wakefield shops. Main Street, Wakefield.

 

Dec. 12, 7 to 8 p.m.

Family Festival of Lights: a tree decorating contest, luminary parade and Santa pays a visit. Marina Park, off Rt. 1. 789-9301

 

Dec. 12 to 14, Dec. 19 to 21.

�A Christmas Story� at the Courthouse, adapted from the movie, 3481 Kingstown Road, West Kingston. 782-1018.

 

Westerly

Nov. 23, 4 and 6 p.m.

Chorus of Westerly�s Fall Concert, George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High Street.

596 - 8663

                                     
Nov. 28, 6 p.m.

Santa arrives -- by fire truck -- to downtown Westerly, at Dixon Square and Broad Street for holiday fun.

Rain location: Westerly Armory. 596-7761.

 

Nov. 28 to Dec. 21

The Granite Theatre puts on �A Christmas Carol� � what could be more apropos?

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays: 8 p.m. and Sundays: 2 p.m. 596- 2341

 

Nov. 26 to Dec. 27

Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Opening party on Dec. 3, 5 to 8 p.m.)

�The Gift of Art� Holiday Show, Artist�s Cooperative Gallery, 12 High Street. 596-2221.

 

Dec. 3, 5 to 9 p.m.

Holiday Stroll & Luminaria, Downtown Westerly. 596-7761.

 

Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Holiday Bazaar at the Babcock-Smith House Museum, 124 Granite Street.  596-5704

 

Dec. 7, 2 p.m.

Westerly Band Christmas Concert. $5. Westerly Armory, Railroad Avenue. 596-8554.

 

Dec. 21

4, 6, and 8 p.m.

Chorus of Westerly�s Christmas Pops, George Kent Performance Hall.

 

Dec. 31, 2 p.m. to Jan. 1, noon

First Night Westerly, an alcohol-free way to ring in the New Year. Downtown Westerly. 596-7761.