This Year's Top Local Holiday Activities

Take a break from all that hustle and bustle of holiday preparations and check out some of the many family-friendly activities around Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Below is our list of the best local holiday activities occurring throughout the month of December. A Christmas classic A Christmas Carol is an annual tradition at Trinity Repertory in Providence that has been a holiday favorite for 38 consecutive years.  Each year, Trinity Rep performs Charles Dickens'  timeless tale of forgiveness and compassion  throughout the months of November and December. To purchase tickets for this family-friendly performance, visit Trinity Rep's website.   Bristol's Christmas Festival "America's Most Patriotic Town" can also throw a fantastic holiday celebration. This year, the 27th Annual Bristol Christmas Festival is chock full of activities from Breakfast with Santa and concerts to the main event: the Grand Illumination. Check out their schedule of events on  their website.   Wild holiday displays at Coventry home Each year, The Crazy Christmas House and the Conway Christmas Lights Extravaganza  in Coventry put on an incredible lights display that raises money for selected charities. This year, they are teaming up to put on a display with over 100,000 dancing lights and 65 homemade cutout characters. All proceeds raised from the display will go to The Tomorrow Fund and there will be three nights of collecting donations to benefit the Coventry Food Bank. The display begins Thanksgiving night at 7pm and goes until Christmas night. The display is located at  265 Maple Valley Road in Coventry and the hours can be seen on their website.   Narragansett's Festival of Lights  Narragansett's annual Festival of Lights Celebration is popular in South County and for good reason: this all-day celebration features attractions for all ages from trolley rides and meeting Santa to a tree lighting and firework display. Guests can grab a cup of hot chocolate and take a horse drawn wagon ride or catch a presentation of "A Christmas Carol" in the library. For a complete schedule of events visit their website.    Take a trip to the North Pole Based on  Chris Van Allsburg's book (the author happens to be visiting Woonsocket this month!) this magical train ride on the Providence and Worcester line travels 45 minutes to the "North Pole" in Millbury and back. Guests of all ages can participate in sing-a-longs and sip hot chocolate and eat cookies. Tickets can be purchased on the Polar Express website.   Newport's month-long celebration Christmas in Newport has been an annual tradition since 1971. The celebration goes throughout the month of December with a variety of activities each day including walking tours, concerts, shops and contests. A full list of events is available on the 44th annual Christmas in Newport website.   La Salette's Holiday Lights Display One of the most well known holiday attractions in Southern New England is the Holiday Lights Display at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, MA. The yearly lights display features 300,000 lights over 10 acres. The event is free to the public (with donations appreciated) and runs until January 4th from 5-9pm daily. For more information on their holiday festivities--including tips on beating the traffic—visit their website.