- Christmas is coming, and what better way to make this joyous season last than to participate in holiday strolls all month long? These strolls offer the perfect opportunity to gather friends and family members together, bundle up, enjoy some hot chocolate or cider, and take in the beautiful sight of twinkling lights, pine boughs, and glittery garlands decorating local shop windows.
We’ve rounded up some of the best ones happening in the month of December, along with a holiday concert and a week-long winterfest, so that you and your loved ones can easily find the ones that best fit your schedule and spend more time enjoying the best of the season together.
Westminster Youth String Ensemble Holiday Concert
Sunday, December 3, 2017, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Westerly Armory
Members of the Westerly Band and adult string players from the community will join the youths for a wonderful afternoon of music!
$10 for adults; children are free.
Tuesday, December 5, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Enjoy the festive sounds of local choirs and specials in the shops and try to catch a sax-playing Santa roaming around! Local pirate troupe Free Men of the Sea will be strolling around performing sea shanties as well. To add to the ambiance, the streets and Mystic River Park will be lined with hundreds of beautiful luminaria to light your way through town.
Westerly-Pawcatuck’s 21st Annual Holiday Stroll & Luminaria
Wednesday, December 6, 5 – 9 p.m., in historic downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck (rain or shine)
Sidewalks will be lined with beautiful luminaria. Enjoy a hayride with Santa while listening to strolling carolers filling the air with their holiday cheer. Enjoy a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and a cookie to warm you up while shopping at the local stores. Stores will run special promotions and offer money-saving coupons. Bundle up and enjoy an evening of hospitality, friendship and lots of holiday cheer. Get a head start on your holiday shopping and support the downtown merchants and artists. For more information call 401-596-7761.
Festival of Lights at Olde Mistic
Friday, December 8, from dusk til 9:30 p.m.
Experience the magic of the holiday season at the Olde Mistick Village. Come stroll through walkways brilliantly lit by thousands of luminaries. With live entertainment and complimentary treats in the Meeting House, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.
Umbrella Factory Holiday Stroll
Friday, December 8, 5 – 9 p.m.
Walk the beautifully lit paths to stores open after hours. Drinks and hors-d’oeuvres provided. Holiday specials at participating stores. Decorate your own gingerbread houses. Great for the whole family!
Holiday Stroll in the Village of Ashaway
Saturday, December 9, from morning till night
The annual holiday stroll starts at the Ashaway Volunteer Fire Station with Breakfast with Santa from 8 – 10 a.m., and culminates with the Volunteer Fire Department sponsoring their annual fireworks display in Crandall Field. Visit the Ashaway Free Library in the afternoon for crafts and activities!
Winterfest at Mystic Aquarium
December 26, 2017 – January 1st, 2018, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day
Mystic Aquarium is spreading holiday cheer through the New Year! Enjoy local entertainment, watch talented artists chop, chisel, and chip away at massive chunks of ice to create frozen sculptures, get your picture taken with Santa and write a thank-you note, make crafts, watch Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D, and enjoy a complimentary cider to toast to 2018!
