Friday-Monday, December 23-26
YULETIDE SEASON SHINES BRIGHT WITH
BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
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The captivating magic of the Christmas Holiday come alive for everyone over the December 23-26 weekend in Rhode Island???s Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.??
Although it???s known for its ???farms to factories??? legacy as the actual birthplace of America???s Industrial Revolution, the region become transformed over the Christmas weekend showcasing local traditions.
For families and friends gathering to share their Holiday experiences, there???s still plenty for everyone to enjoy so close to home!??
Last chance to go All Aboard!??
Friday, December 23, is your final chance to travel on the popular Holiday Season THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, with the excursions to the North Pole.
Guests step into the enchanted world of THE POLAR EXPRESSTM??Train Ride as the conductor shouts, “All Aboard!” A family favorite becomes reality during this three hour event that includes a 90-minute train excursion, inspired by Chris Van Allsburg’s Christmas classic. Join us for an experience unlike any other!??
Trips operate from the historic Woonsocket Depot, One Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI.
Over 19 thousand people, including children and their families from all ages and walks of life are expected to attend the train excursions this season. The Blackstone Valley event is the nation???s longest running excursion for THE POLAR EXPRESS, now in its 17th season of operation.
These train rides to the North Pole feature actual people in costume portraying the figures from the book, providing the public with a truly interactive event
Also added to the tours this year will be new and festive family fun oriented public happenings and interests added to give people a truly memorable and captivating Holiday Season experience!
Your journey includes a 90-minute train??excursion with??a reading??of The??Polar Express, sing-a-longs,??hot chocolate and??cookies, games, and a special visit from Santa where he personally delivers the first gift of Christmas to each child. Arrive an hour before train departure to see our beautifully decorated historic train depot and pose with the Conductor and??chefs??in front of custom-made special Polar Express backdrops. There is??a special kids area for coloring and??writing a letter to Santa. Visit our??official Polar Express Gift Shop which features a wide-array of the latest Polar Express items.??
Along with your journey to the North Pole on the Providence & Worcester Railroad, guests can shop inside the historic Train Station for various event themed Holiday Season gifts, souvenirs and memorabilia.
And, be sure to visit the many small shops, merchants, dining and entertainment venues located nearby on Woonsocket???s Main Street Arts & Entertainment District, which are now part of the newly created Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park celebrating its third anniversary this December.
The general public is reminded to be sure to reserve advanced tickets now, as these popular train tours sell out quickly and are one of the most popular Holiday Season events in Southern New England.
Since 2000, when the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council introduced THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, thousands of children and their families from across the country have taken the magical journey.??
Based on Chris Van Allsburg???s award winning book, each trip features a holiday sing-along, a visit from Santa, who gives each child a commemorative silver bell, steaming cups of hot cocoa, holiday sugar cookies, and the Conductor punching each passenger???s Golden Ticket.??
Because of the high quality production of the event, in 2014 Warner Brothers used Blackstone Valley???s THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the movie The Polar Express. The train rides have also become recognized as a Southern New England signature Holiday Season staple.
For the public tickets are available for purchase by visiting the website at
http://www.blackstonevalleypolarexpress.com/ or call 401-495-1213.
Holiday Season on the silver screen
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For the Holiday Season, Stadium Theatre, Monument Square, Woonsocket, RI offers two modern classic family Holiday favorites shown on the big screen.??
Thursday night, December 22, at 7 pm, see the FREE screening of A Christmas Story, the 1983 film starring Peter Billingsley, who plays Ralphie, the young boy desperately wanting a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas.
Then, Friday night, December 23, enjoy the FREE showing of the animated movie version of The Polar Express, starring the voice of Tom Hanks as the conductor, who takes youngsters on their train ride to the North Pole for their special visit with Santa.??
More details are available by calling 401-762-4545 or at www.stadiumtheatre.com
A real life Holiday village!
Christmas Eve night, December 24, come and view a living Holiday Season post card perspective, at the annual Christmas Eve Illumination of the Slatersville Village Green, in North Smithfield, RI.??
Presented by the Slatersville Congregational Church, the walkways leading to the house of worship are brightly illuminated in real candlelight, ambianced by authentic 19th century homes and sites.
More about this event is available by calling 401-769-2773, or online at www.slatersvillechurch.org
While in Slatersville, discover its significance to America???s heritage, as the first ever planned mill village community in our nation. Slatersville began in 1806, when John Slater, younger brother of Samuel Slater, began the expansion of textile manufacturing north of his brother???s famed Slater Mill in Pawtucket.
The original John Slater Mill still exists today, now converted for residential housing, along with other homes and sites. Slatersville became the first site where a factory, worker housing, shops and other places were built, which became known as the ???Rhode Island System??? for factory development.
Be sure to download a FREE walking tour brochure of Slatersville to learn about important village sites and how they reflect the community. The brochure is online at www.nps.gov/blrv
Last minute shopping and gift giving
On Christmas Eve, December 24, for those with hectic lifestyles who did not have the time to do their Holiday Season shopping, there are still great last minute places to grab unique gifts for the special folks that you treasure.
The Saturday Wintertime Farmers Market at Hope Artiste Village, 999 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI, runs 9 am-1 pm. The market is where you will find the freshest of locally grown produce, dairy and provisions. Also, with the Holiday Season in mind, there are fresh Holiday wreaths and greens for decorations.
More details are at www.farmfreshri.org
And, don???t forget the many small shops, merchants and proprietors located throughout Blackstone River Valley.
By shopping at your local Blackstone River Valley small businesses, you are helping to support our communities, building your local economy, and getting the very best in value and customer service than large ???big box??? retailers.
Buy Local in Blackstone River Valley is a great way to give gifts on your Holiday list to show how much you care about them and where they live!
More details are available by calling 401-526-2345.