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Holiday Traditions: O, Christmas Tree
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O, Christmas Tree, How Lovely Are Thy Branches… That is how the carol honoring the Christmas tree begins. Getting together with the family to pick out a tree whether at a tree farm or pop-up lot is a fond Christmas memory. Eventually, that gave way to the artificial tree out of convenience or perhaps just plain busyness.
Maybe this year more than ever, it seems families looking to get outside are foregoing the artificial tree and looking for a live Christmas tree at a local farm or pop-up tree stand, bringing in a little bit of nature inside during the holiday season. Whether alone or with family or whomever you live with, going outdoors and finding just the right tree may bring some extra joy.
Here are a few local farms and pop-up stands in the Blackstone Valley where you can carry on that holiday tradition of picking out just the right Christmas tree.
Cumberland
· Adams Farm, 495 Sumner Brown Road open weekdays 3 pm - 7 pm; Saturdays, 10 am - 7 pm and Sundays, 10 am - 5 pm. While you're out, you can stop by The Ice Cream Machine for ice cream or Phantom Farms for pies and perhaps some tree decorations in their store. When you get home, combine the ice cream with the pie for a sweet treat while you decorate your tree.
Lincoln
· Butterfly Farm, 679 Chase Road, has fresh cut trees and wreaths Friday-Sunday @ 10 am - 5 pm through December 18th. You may also see some of the farm animals while you are there.
· Lincoln Creamery, 276 Front Street, has a pop-up stand where you find a tree or wreaths. Get a pint of ice cream with every tree purchased. The ice cream will go well with some holiday desserts just up the road at Gingersnaps Bakery.
Read On
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· Now through April 30, 2021 - Printmakers of New England Online Exhibit, Gallery 175, Pawtucket. More Info.
· Friday, December 4 @ 6:00 - 8:30 pm - The Kickin Brass Band - Levitt Amp Woonsocket Music Series, Mill Race Kitchen, 40 South Main Street, Woonsocket More Info
· Saturday, December 5 @ 1:30 pm - Haul out the Holly Days - virtual event, Museum of Work and Culture, Woonsocket. More Info
· Saturdays & Sundays, December 5 thru December 13 @ 4:00 - 8:00 pm - 22nd Pawtucket Winter Wonderland, Slater Park, Armistice Blvd entrance More Info.
· Sundays thru December 20 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm - Providence Artisans Holiday Show, Hope Artiste Village, Pawtucket. More Info.
· Saturday, December 12 @ 4:00 - 5:30 pm - Community Tamalada, a virtual bilingual reading, RI Latino Arts, Central Falls. More Info.
· Thursday, December 17 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Owl Prowl - Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Fort Refuge, 1443 Providence Pike, North Smithfield More Info.
· Saturday & Sunday December 19, 20 & 27 @ 1:00 - 5:00 pm - Old-Fashioned Christmas Self-Guided Tours - Hearthside House, 677 Great Road, Lincoln. More Info.
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Homecoming for
Blackstone River Theatre
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It’s Saturday after Thanksgiving, and we’re finally listening to music coming from the stage of the Blackstone River Theatre! Long time coming. What a great concert too with local performers: The Vox Hunters (pictured above), Partington & Sweeney, Atwater-Donnelly to just name a few.
Blackstone River Theatre plans more virtual concerts and classes starting in 2021 until it safe to resume live performances. More Info.
We pause and think of our other performance venues this Holiday season usually filled with music, songs and storytelling. We are grateful that they are able to reach us through technology.
In the coming weeks there will be more music and theater that we will be posting to our event calendar for the holidays. Here are a few upcoming Holiday performances we would like to share.
· Friday, December 4, Mixed Magic Theatre will be streaming their Great Holiday Traditions featuring the renown Mixed Magic Exult Choir. More Info.
· Check out Ten31 Studios Holiday Video. This may have taken place at the Rosecliff in Newport, but they are a Pawtucket based organization. This is a truly fun video. I am sure you will recognize the many holiday characters. View Video
· Jeffrey Church of Burbage Theatre in Pawtucket will perform in "It's a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play" with the Gamm Theatre (formerly or Pawtucket) and The Public's Radio on 89.3 December 24 & 31 @ 6:30 pm and December 25 & Jan 1 @ 2:00 pm. This is a free performance and talk about an old-fashioned Christmas. Imagine gathering loved ones and sitting around the radio to listen to this production. More Info
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Shop out-of-the-box this holiday season by choosing specially curated gift boxes from Giving Beyond the Box and give the gift of hope.
These boxes feature locally-produced Rhode Island products and products that carry social missions including refugee resettlement, the environment, women empowerment, providing clean water and much more.
Choose a Holiday Gift box or a Hope
Strikes Back box or curate your own.
Some of the local vendors contributing to these gift boxes include Shri Yoga of Pawtucket and Riverzedge Arts in Woonsocket. More Info.
Here are a few more suggestions for holiday shopping
· Head over to Chepachet for unique gifts and antiques with their Candlelight Extended Shopping Hours. We are sure you will find something special whether at Brown & Hopkins, the oldest country store in America or the many antiques at Sideways Down or Old Stone Mill Antiques. You can also grab a cup of coffee or homemade soup at the Black Forest Cafe to keep up your strength while you shop.
· Woods Yoga in Lincoln recently opened the Wise Old Bird Marketplace where you can find gifts for health and beauty from lip balms to organic teas and some great bags to carry your yoga mat. By the way they are also holding free virtual classes if you need to de-stress after your day of shopping. Stop by the latest coffee shop in the valley. Fundati is right next door offering specialty coffee and groundedness.
· While in Lincoln stop by the Hearthside House for some old-fashioned gifts and trinkets. Gift shop is open weekends. More Info
· Foundry Artists Holiday Sale starts this weekend. Normally held at the Armory in Pawtucket this year is online. More Info.
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A pair of prominent Texas Republicans will be on hand to watch President-elect Joe Biden take the oath of office. Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn have both confirmed they plan to attend Biden's inauguration on Wednesday. The news comes after Cruz faced backlash for leading a group of senators in an attempt to challenge the Electoral College votes. 
