From whales to Hollywood: School vacation fun across Rhode Island | Your Weekend 401 guide

With schools closed across the region next week, here’s a roundup of family-friendly events to keep kids curious — and parents sane — all week long

"Little Amelie or the Character of Rain" is one of the many films screening as part of the Providence Children's Film Festival
“Little Amelie or the Character of Rain” is one of the many films screening as part of the Providence Children’s Film Festival
Share
"Little Amelie or the Character of Rain" is one of the many films screening as part of the Providence Children's Film Festival
“Little Amelie or the Character of Rain” is one of the many films screening as part of the Providence Children’s Film Festival
From whales to Hollywood: School vacation fun across Rhode Island | Your Weekend 401 guide
Copy

Looking for tips on what your kids can do during school vacation week? We’ve got you covered.

Time Travel Week

Travel back in time at the New Bedford Whaling Museum with different themed-activities each day. Explore the Revolutionary War, the region’s industrial history, the Cape Verdean culture of New Bedford, and of course the history of the whaling industry.

  • Where: New Bedford Whaling Museum
  • When: Monday, Feb. 16 - Friday, Feb. 20, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Website: whalingmuseum.org

Providence Children’s Film Festival

A celebration of local, regional, national and international film for youth and families. Film screenings, stop motion animation workshops, live music, delicious soup, engaging Reel Connections, and bottomless popcorn.

Gwendolyn Goes Hollywood, Ballet RI

Join Gwendolyn and Omar, two dancing pigs with big dreams, as they leap from their small town to the bright lights of Hollywood! Based on David Ira Rottenberg’s charming book, this delightful children’s ballet is full of humor, heart, and toe-tapping fun for the whole family.

  • Where: Ballet RI Black Box Theatre, 825 Hope Street, Providence
  • When: Feb. 15, Feb. 21, Feb. 22. 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.
  • Website: BalletRI.org

Nature Activities with Audubon Society

Go on a winter nature hike, learn about the Madagascar hissing cockroach or compare turtle speeds in a turtle race. The Audubon Society has a different activity every weekday during school vacation week as well as a nature story and an “animal interview.”

  • Where: Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Bristol
  • When: Feb. 16 - 20, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Website: asri.org

“Ahab’s Head: American Vengeance”

Artist Heidi Whitman’s mixed-media installation at the New Bedford Whaling Museum is named for Captain Ahab of the whaling ship Pequod in Herman Melville’s epic novel “Moby-Dick,” who becomes consumed with his desire to pursue and slay the whale that bit off his leg. Whitman spoke with afternoon host Mareva Lindo for this week’s Weekend 401 feature.

Send us your suggestions!
Tell us what’s happening in your community! If you’re putting on an event or just want to highlight something cool we should know about, let us know.

Providence Children’s Film Festival and the New Bedford Whaling Museum are underwriters of Ocean State Media. Editorial decisions are made independently of business support.

The beloved “Z” returns this weekend with historically accurate renovations, new gathering spaces, and a full slate of performances aimed at reviving downtown and serving as a true community living room
Hosted by the Rhode Island Black Storytellers, the event runs through Jan. 25
A stunning season by the New England Patriots and the rise of Drake Maye under Mike Vrabel, historic college runs and hometown stars staying put, New England sports are delivering an unexpected—and welcome—January gift
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee released his budget proposal. Now the General Assembly will spend months reviewing the plan
Written before COVID but hitting close to home, the comedy by Jonathan Spector skewers groupthink, social justice jargon and the limits of consensus
Counterclaim comes after three years and a trio of lawsuits by North Kingstown country club over shoreline dispute