All Pawtucket All The Time

Exciting weekend preview of happenings inside Rhode Island’s historic Blackstone River Valley 

Special Christmas Holiday Edition

Friday-Monday, December 23-26, 2011

Create Holiday Season Memories with Past Traditions

The long Christmas Holiday shines bright with memories past for residents and visitors to Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Valley.

While traveling to enjoy the company of loved ones and friends, make the historic region a stop on your festive itinerary to become transformed into an era of traditional celebration.

 A Blackstone Valley custom

On Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, this historic village of Slatersville, in North Smithfield, RI, showcases it’s 19^th century Currier & Ives style finery, with the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Luminary, located on the village green, leading to the adjacent Slatersville Congregational Church.

 See this magnificent display of candles that light the walkways leading up to the 19^th century house of worship, which is bordered by historic homes from the early to mid 19^th century all in period decoration.

Slatersville is famed for being known as America’s first planned village, when it was established in 1806 by John Slater, brother of Samuel Slater, who began our nation’s manufacturing of textiles a decade earlier in Pawtucket, RI.

The John Slater Mill and many buildings from the early 19^th century are still standing and add ambiance to the traditional display.

More details on the luminary are available by calling 401-769-2773.

 Early holiday celebration

Over the Holiday period, experience over three centuries of local heritage as the Smithfield Historical Society hosts their Colonial Christmas Open House at the Smith-Appleby House, 220 Stillwater Road, Smithfield, RI.

 Holiday Season tours are scheduled for:

Friday, December 23, 12 noon-3 pm

Saturday, December 31, 3-6 pm

Saturday, January 7, 3-6 pm

Saturday, January 14, 1-4 pm

Guests will be presented with tours and demonstrations featuring Colonial holiday history, traditions, decorations, and even hearthside cooking and baked treats.

Volunteer historians in Colonial costume will offer a festive opportunity to visit and tour the home — originally built circa 1696 as a one-room stone-ender with loft by Elisha Smith, grandson of John Smith “The Miller,” one of Roger Williams’ original party of six men who left the Massachusetts Bay Colony to settle in Providence. Expanded by later generations of the family to 12 rooms, today it’s one of only a few 17^th century houses remaining in the state and features original furnishings, designs and exhibits.

The schedule is weather permitting. There is a $5 donation for adults and children are free. No reservations are needed.

Contact 401-231-7363 for more details or go to www.smithapplebyhouse.org  

Holiday entertainment with cultural diversity

Thursday-Sunday, December 22-25, Mixed Magic Theatre, located at Hope Artiste Village, 999 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI, presents a stage presentation of A Kwanzaa Song.

This joyful performance of music, dance and storytelling centers on a Spirit-child charged with keeping safe the seven principles of Kwanzaa until enslaved Africans in America are free.

Shows are December 22-24 at 7 pm and December 25 at 4 pm. Call for tickets at 401-305-7333 or visit the website at http://mmtri.com/