Weekend 401: Your guide to holiday markets and events in Rhode Island and the South Coast

From Warren’s town-wide celebration to artisan markets in Providence, Pawtucket and beyond, here’s where to shop, stroll, sip and support local this holiday season

Warren's Holiday Festival takes over the whole town every year and includes Santa arriving via fire truck.
Warren’s Holiday Festival takes over the whole town every year and includes Santa arriving via fire truck.
Courtesy of Elwood Donnelly
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Warren's Holiday Festival takes over the whole town every year and includes Santa arriving via fire truck.
Warren’s Holiday Festival takes over the whole town every year and includes Santa arriving via fire truck.
Courtesy of Elwood Donnelly
Weekend 401: Your guide to holiday markets and events in Rhode Island and the South Coast
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Looking for some tips on what to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few recommendations from Ocean State Media afternoon host Mareva Lindo and producer James Baumgartner.

If you’re ready to lean fully into holiday mode - lights, markets, cocoa, fire spinners (yes, really!) - this weekend and the next few weeks are stacked with ways to support local makers and small businesses. Bundle up, bring a tote bag for your treasures and go make some seasonal, and local, magic!

Warren Holiday Festival, throughout Warren, Friday, Nov. 28- Saturday, Nov. 29

Although not a holiday market, Warren goes all in for the holidays. Expect a trolley looping through town with live music, local vendors, magic shows, puppetry, carolers, and festive drinks like hot chocolate and cider. Friday night features circus performers — including fire spinners — lighting up the waterfront. The whole town transforms with lights and decorations.

Warren's Holiday Festival
Warren’s Holiday Festival includes fire spinners, who are set to perform at 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Courtesy of Elwood Donnelly

Christkindlmarkt 2025 (Christmas Market) Saturday,Nov. 29, 12-5:00 p.m. in Pawtucket

This Christkindlmarkt brings together 25+ local artisans selling everything from ceramics and ornaments to jewelry, knits, wreaths, and holiday greens.

Come hungry: there’s goulash in the Ratskeller, bratwurst and potato pancakes in the Biergarten, pastries galore, plus Liege waffles from Burgundian and Argentine-style grill plates from DQ Asados.

And yes — there’s plenty to drink. Grab Weihenstephaner beer, hot cocoa, the full Ratskeller bar, or lean fully into the season with a mug of warm Glühwein.


Providence Flea’s Holiday Night Market, Farm Fresh Market Hall in Providence, Friday, Nov. 28, 5-9:00 p.m.

Browse dozens of vendors selling unique local goods, artists, indie makers, vintage clothing, and food and drink. If you can’t make Friday night, the Flea is also hosting Sunday holiday markets every Sunday leading up to Christmas (11 a.m.–3 p.m.).

The 13th Annual Holiday Markets at Farm Fresh RI Market Hall is on November 28 from 5 - 9 p.m. and Sundays, November 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The 13th Annual Holiday Markets at Farm Fresh RI Market Hall is on November 28 from 5 - 9 p.m. and Sundays, November 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Courtesy of Providence Flea/ Maria Tocco

Learn more.


Tomaquag Museum Nikommo/Indigenous Artist Market, Saturday, Dec. 6, 12-4:00 p.m

Explore the annual Indigenous Artist Market and celebrate Nikommo – described as “a feast honoring the Creator’s gifts” – with the Tomaquag Team. Do some holiday shopping and support Indigenous artists. Stop by anytime between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM at the Quonochontaug Grange. The community is also encouraging patrons to donate clothing or toys to families in need via their community partner, the Jonnycake Center.


Can’t get enough holiday cheer? Here’s a list of more holiday happenings in the Ocean State and beyond!

This cabbage roll soup has all the comforting flavors of traditional cabbage rolls — tender cabbage, hearty turkey, warm spices, and rich tomato broth — but without the fuss. It’s a one-pot, simmer-until-cozy kind of meal that makes the whole kitchen smell incredible.
This sweet potato casserole is classic comfort made wonderfully simple. With pantry staples and just a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a creamy, cinnamon-spiced dish that bakes up beautifully and fills the kitchen with the smell of maple and vanilla. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Meet the quesadilla you didn’t know you needed: turkey, cheese, and bright cranberries folded into a warm tortilla and cooked until perfectly crisp. It’s a cozy, kid-friendly recipe that feels both comforting and unexpected.
Meet your new brunch hero: a sweet-and-savory plantain breakfast hash topped with fresh chimichurri. It’s easy to make, packed with bold flavor, and perfect for feeding a crowd or meal-prepping a few breakfasts ahead of time.
If you’re craving something cozy, flavorful, and easy to make, these sweet potato empanadas check every box. A cheesy yam dough wrapped around a spiced black-bean filling? Yes, please. They fry up beautifully in just a few minutes and disappear even faster.
Looking for a quick treat that feels gourmet but requires almost no effort? Enter: maple-candied pecans. They’re crunchy, cinnamon-kissed, and dangerously munchable — perfect for topping salads, gifting to friends, or eating by the handful while you “wait for them to cool.”