Clarke Road on Saturday, The Towers on Sunday: Narragansett's First Weekend of December

On Saturday, December 5, the best place to park for Narragansett's biggest holiday market is a beach lot. The Narragansett Chamber of Commerce runs a free shuttle from Scarborough Beach to the Holiday Faire at Parks & Recreation, 170 Clarke Road, for the whole day. The next afternoon, the town gathers on Ocean Road for a tree lighting and fireworks at The Towers.

In December, the town's calendar runs through its own buildings. The Faire is hosted on town Parks & Recreation grounds, and Parks & Recreation takes the questions for the Festival of Lights. The shoreline still matters in this stretch. On the first weekend it gives you parking and a backdrop, and on New Year's Day it's the main event.

Saturday, December 5: three rooms on Clarke Road

The Faire runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It isn't new to Clarke Road. The Chamber held its Holiday Street Faire at The Clarke Center, 170 Clarke Road, in 2023 and again in 2024, and the 2025 edition was there too. The Chamber now calls it simply the Holiday Faire. The setup splits into three spaces, and knowing the layout helps you split up a group.

• The Artisan Barn holds the largest group of makers. The vendor list includes Gansett Craft Chocolates, Block Island Candle Company, Studio 123 Boon St., Rhed's Hot Sauce, Sam Honey Pottery, Fig and Dandy, Floral Designs by Donna, Photography from Sand Hill Cove, and BUPPY PETS for the dog's stocking. The South County Museum also has a table.
• The Outdoor Village and Artisan Tent have alpacas, greenery and staged photo areas outside. Inside the tent are Allume Chocolate, Block Island Nuts, Ocean State Pepper Co., Wickford Woodturning, Blue Mantle Sea Glass Designs, Wrack Line Creations and more. Kids' crafts run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Santa visits from noon to 3 p.m.
• The Warming Lodge has live music, Holiday Faire commemorative items, a bake sale, raffles, grab-and-go snacks and seasonal drinks.

Two acts play the Warming Lodge. The Narrow River Band is a Narragansett-based acoustic group that covers everyone from the Beatles and James Taylor to John Mayer and Jason Mraz. L'Esperance is a mandolin ensemble that has played around New England since 1994, with musicians from Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Food comes from Narragansett businesses: Fuel Coffee, Gansett Poke, Milk Caffe and Kettle Corn Express.

The timing points to one plan for families. If you arrive around 11, you can do kids' crafts first and still catch Santa when he arrives at noon. Then send the grown-ups to the Barn while the kids visit the alpacas.

Why the Faire's best parking is a beach lot

The Chamber calls it "stress-free parking." The shuttle from Scarborough Beach is free and runs for the full length of the event. The Chamber offered the same Scarborough arrangement in 2025.

It's an off-season use for a summer asset. In July the Scarborough lot is a beach day. On the first Saturday of December it's the Faire's parking lot. If you live on the Ocean Road side of town, the shuttle is the easier way in. You skip the cars around Clarke Road, and you have somewhere to drop gift bags between trips.

You'll see a ticket button on the Chamber's page. It still points to last year's Eventbrite listing, so check the Chamber's event page for 2026 details rather than that button.

Sunday, December 6: The Towers lights up at 5

The day after the Faire, the holiday season moves back to the water. The Festival of Lights at The Towers on Ocean Road is free and open to everyone. It runs from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The town's 2024 calendar also listed the Festival at The Towers.

Here's the day in order:

1. 11:30 a.m. Festivities begin. You'll find pictures with Santa, face painting and caricatures.
2. Through the afternoon the NES Chorus sings, the Jesse Liam Trio Band plays live, and food and drinks are available.
3. 5:00 p.m. The tree lighting, followed by fireworks over Ocean Road.

If Santa was too busy on Clarke Road on Saturday, he's at The Towers on Sunday. You can shop on Saturday with the kids' crafts as a break, then come back Sunday for the music and stay until dark for the lighting. Narragansett Parks & Recreation takes questions about the Festival at 401-782-0658.

The Towers keeps its doors open through winter

The Festival isn't the only date on The Towers' late-fall and winter calendar.

On Sunday, November 22, The Towers hosts a Native American Art Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. That's the weekend before Thanksgiving and two weeks before the tree lighting.

On Wednesday nights, David Endicott teaches social dance lessons from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by an hour of review and practice until 9. The classes are drop-in, beginners are welcome, and you don't need a partner. Styles include east coast swing, rumba, foxtrot, waltz, tango, west coast swing, cha cha, salsa and hustle. Anyone can lead or follow, and all ages are welcome.

For January, The Towers says to check the Endicott Dance Academy Facebook page and The Towers' own events page for changes.

Between the lighting and the new year

Some of the season happens in Narragansett's restaurants. Celeste has been running a fall-harvest menu that changes every two weeks, through November 29, Rhode Island Monthly reported. That makes Thanksgiving weekend your last chance to try it.

On Sunday, December 20, the Narragansett Cafe holds its annual Christmas party with The Renegades from 4 to 7 p.m. The early start means it ends at 7, a good fit for a Sunday before the holiday week.

Along with the Faire and the Festival, that makes three weekends with dated events between November 22 and December 20, with Wednesday dance nights on December 2, 23 and 30.

New Year's Day: the beach takes over

The season ends where Narragansett's summer begins, at Town Beach. The Narragansett Lions Club holds its Pier Plunge every New Year's Day at noon at the North Beach Cabanas. The Lions Club's 2025 flyer said proceeds would benefit Narragansett Lions Club charities. Check the Lions Club's page for 2027 registration and details before you take the plunge.

Families have counted on us to know this town's calendar for four generations. If a conversation about your own plans in Narragansett would help, reach out to Christina Phipps to Schedule a Consultation.