Held on the weekend of September 8-9, this was the first year for the Arts Marketplace, and I'm…read moreglad I came upon the flyer for it earlier this week. Held in the same space as the Foundry Holiday Market, the Arts Marketplace has the same vibe: artists ranging from painting and photography to jewelry, clothing, and sculpture. What I liked about this event was that it showcased different artists than most of the art festivals I have been to. I think in the end I only recognized 2 of the vendors. I was happy to see new life breathed into the Rhode Island arts scene. I also found that most of the vendors had more reasonable prices than the Foundry show and other arts fests. I don't know if this is because they are newer artists or what. Some of my favorite vendors included the handwoven rugs from Flying Shuttles (made by weavers with intellectual and developmental disabilities) and the wood cutting boards of Michael Gadsby. I look forward to the 2nd annual Pawtucket Arts Marketplace next year.

As an artist at the event, I found the founders to be organized and helpful at every turn. Set-up…read moreand tear-down were easy and fast. The entry fee was reasonable. The event itself was well attended (Saturday better than Sunday). I sold smaller items (around the $30 price point) and was happy with my success. I will do it again.

India Point is perfect for the annual RI Seafood Festival. The park is full of vendors, eateries,…read moreraffles and even free bags of kiwis! Only $12 entry fee comes with a cool stamp/tat! From the website I already knew what food I was going to eat. From Caribbean pineapple bowls full of jerk chicken or civieche to Scallop rolls, crazy spiral chips dipped with cheese sauce and bacon to Pretty In Pink lemonade and lobster nacho's everything was awesome.

Gave this event another chance today and had a much better experience - maybe we went at just the…read moreright time ? Overall the lines were not as long at most of the food trucks. Enjoyed Cajun fries with Old Bay Shrimp from Blue Rocks catering which was so delicious ! We were also able to see some great bands - the first one, Joon was excellent with their mix of originals & cover tunes, Young Rust with theNeil Young tribute is always excellent and one new artist who was heading to Berklee after the providence performance Jake Kulak and the Lowdown just amazing guitar playing - what a great band. Thanks Grand Festivals we had a great time!

Every year, for the past many years, usually in late August, the Dragon Boat Festival takes place…read morein the Festival Pier area of Pawtucket. This is an action-packed all-day entertainment event with exciting dragon boat races, cultural performances, authentic cuisine, and dumpling eating contest all along The Pawtucket River! Thousands of people came to watch the races, cheer selected teams (dozens of them from all over the country) and to learn more about the Chinese and Taiwanese cultures. There was some limited street parking but also several satellite parking lots with a free shuttle service to/from the festival. Lots of yummy food trucks dotted the festival, which also had some great live entertainment like Chinese acrobats.

This spot is stunning. They hosted our book club here which is super adorable. The space was…read moregorgoues and j was so thankful to get to experience it in a unique way.

Definitely do not miss this if you are interested in old homes or the history of New Bedford…read more At $8 or less per person this also made for a very affordable afternoon activity. The docent that day, Louise gave us a lovely tour of the downstairs and we got to tour the upstairs by ourselves with some very thorough pamphlets. The mansion is very well preserved. It was a rich person's home and they valued it! There were rounded walls, insane built ins, an elevator, some wonderful art. The information presented by the museum is very thoughtful and informative. It is all done very well. My favorite thing though was the bathrooms. I loved them. I find myself daydreaming. About showering in the black and white bathroom. Which is not an experience that is available to anyone... But I wish it were There is also a gorgeous rose garden on the property. Very enjoyable. We were there for about two hours but I could have stayed a bit longer. You might have to park a short distance and walk to the house but it is all worth it

Mayor Brett Smiley and the City of Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism sponsored…read moreProvidence's annual Independence Day Celebration. This celebration was held at India Point Park in partnership with Narragansett Brewery on Wednesday, July 2 2025 and it started at 5:30pm with food trucks and selected events. The fireworks display was held from 9:00 PM until about 9:30 PM. The main stage kicked off at 6:00 PM with a live performances by Big Lux and The Hype. Free parking and free to attend, the event was a blast....

I have been trying to get back to the Botanical Garden for a while now! So happy I finally took a…read moretrip! Meg M and I did a fun Providence day and obviously this had to be included! We got lucky because it was fairy week! They had activities for kids too. The garden itself is stunning but the fairies were an amazing addition. There were probably 200 fairy houses... possibly even more! This is an amazing spot, I can't wait to visit again soon!

I wanted to pay a visit to the goats they have outside the botanical gardens so we ended up going…read morein to check out the holiday displays. The botanical gardens are much more spacious than I remember there are 4 different greenhouses with a wide variety of tropical plants, trees, a kid's play space, and an herb and vegetable garden. They even have a mini koi pond with some huge koi. Everything was decorated for the holidays with multiple christmas trees, several different train sets and poinsettias everywhere. One of the train sets has a model city that is supposed to look like Providence. I love model trains so this was fun to see. I do wish they had made the settings a little bit more detailed and realistic. Overall a very cool place and a nice retreat from the coldness of winter. It's very warm and humid in there so it really does feel like you're somewhere tropical. They have some truly gigantic monsteras, jade trees and elephant ear plants. Definitely inspiring for my home plant collection! I had no idea how huge some of these plants could get under the right conditions. I do wish there were more labels on the plants - we found some interesting trees (a fruit tree that was maybe papaya) but there was no sign to indicate what it was. Check it out - a fun, family friendly spot to go on a winter weekend. And don't forget to visit the goats on the way in!

Located pretty close to 195, this is a very intimate venue to watch any performances you may be…read moreinterested in attending. They also have a gallery where you can check out the art. I would recommend getting there early as seating is first come first served except for donors who get the option to reserve a table. They allow coolers for drinks at the performances and also have treats, coffee and water for sale. Just about all the seats offer a nice view of the stage. The people there are friendly and helpful. If someone is performing there that you're interested in seeing, I wouldn't hesitate to go.

I attended a show at the Narrows Center for the Arts this past weekend and before the show even…read morestarted I was looking up their calendar online to see what I could catch at this venue in the future. What a cool place to catch some live music! Such an intimate setting, comfortable seating, not a bad view in the place! Located in an old mill building, the stage set up and chairs is located on the third floor. There is an elevator to access for those who prefer to arrive to their seats unwinded. A quick check of your tickets and you're on your way! The venue is BYO food and drink, which honestly is such a cool concept given most venues are overcharging for these things left and right. They do have a small cafe with coffee, bottled sodas, and some treats for purchase if you come empty handed. They are also located next to a brewery where you can pick up some goodies as well. Parking is a breeze - free on street as well as an available lot behind the building. The staff were very helpful and welcoming and made the whole experience an enjoyable one overall. I cannot wait to come back!

I cannot wait to see the new Z! I've been going to shows here for years now since I moved to town…read more I was a dance ambassador for them and got to attend beautiful workshops and dance productions. My third graders used to partner with the Z for the symphony trio events (classroom, grade level and then at the Z) and they were so so so amazing! We brought my middle schoolers to see a winter play once too. I have also attended many events on my own. Whether it's a show or a workshop, the Z offers so much for the local community. I'm excited for their next chapter!

Beautiful historic theatre always providing solid and diverse programming from local to regional…read moreand national acts. I have a lot of love for this theatre and the staff there and spent many a time there from school field trips growing to working backstage many years later, getting to see great performers from Hal Holbrook to James Brown and many more. It's not everyday you get to catch a glimpse of the past and the beauty and artistry of these vintage playhouses. Can't wait to catch another show next time I'm home!