Providence Children’s Museum Turns Winter Break Into a Two-Week Celebration

From December 20 through December 31, Providence Children’s Museum transforms winter break into Winter Fest, a two-week celebration packed with pop-ups, performances, live animals, science shows, and just enough delightful chaos to feel like the holidays. With Rhode Island students off from school, the museum doubles down on what it does best: playful learning that keeps kids moving, curious, and grinning from ear to ear.

Each day brings something new. Families can start with a Cozy Cookie Pop-Up, dive into stop-motion animation with the Gif-o-Graph experience, or get hands-on at a Save the Bay touch tank featuring horseshoe crabs, periwinkle snails, and more local sea life. Circus Dynamics brings high-flying juggling and acrobatics, while Mad Science pops in twice with Fire & Ice and an air-powered spectacle called Up, Up, and Away.

Animal lovers can circle the dates for the Rainforest Reptile Show and multiple meet-and-greets with Xen’s Critters, where rabbits, ferrets, and other small friends take center stage. Music and magic complete the lineup with lively sets from the Toe Jam Puppet Band and the always charming Awesome Robb Magic Show.

The grand finale arrives on December 31 with Noon Year’s Eve, the museum’s beloved family-friendly alternative to staying up late. Running from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, the celebration includes live music from Rock-A-Baby, craft stations, full access to museum exhibits, and the most anticipated countdown of the year. The ball drop may be smaller than Times Square’s, but the excitement level certainly isn’t.

“Who needs midnight when you’ve got noon?” said Caroline Payson, executive director of Providence Children’s Museum. “Our Noon Year’s Eve celebration brings all the sparkle and excitement of New Year’s Eve, perfectly packaged for our youngest party people.”

All Winter Fest activities are included with general admission, though advance tickets are strongly recommended for Noon Year’s Eve. For families looking to make the most of winter break, Providence Children’s Museum is ready to help them count down to 2026. For more information, ProvidenceChildrensMuseum.org.