Our NWBRV calendar is full of events this holiday season, specifically designed to keep our amazing community engaged and energized! NWBRV’s Millrace Kitchen staff and members especially look forward to born and raised Texas guitar-slinger, songwriter and vocalist Willie J. Laws gracing us with his presence Saturday, December 2 at the Millrace Event Space during the annual Main Street Holiday Stroll and the city of Woonsocket’s Winter Wonderland!
Thanks to a generous grant from NEFA (New England Foundation for the Arts), NeighborWorks is so excited to welcome Willie and his soulful mixture of South Texas Blues/Funk, classic R&B, Country, Tex-Mex, Zydeco and Rock & Roll. Combining a one hour youth musical workshop from 2pm – 3pm with a 90 minute performance from 3:30pm – 5pm, the Willie J. Laws Band will be working directly with our beloved Woonsocket youth, allowing them hands on musical instruction, as well as integration of their pre-existing musical experience and own instruments!
Located at 40 South Main Street, this musical-centered stop promises to be a complete delight. Taking place at the Millrace event space, the workshop/performance combo will be a chance for our local youth and valued community members to enjoy some musical genius in tandem with surrounding holiday festivities.
After enjoying the musical stylings of the Willie J. Laws Band, holiday stroll attendees can continue their way down Main Street, from Market Square to Lops Brewery, either by foot, Newport Viking Trolley, or horse drawn carriage! In collaboration with the Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative, the day-long Holiday Stroll comes complete with performances from the Kickin’ Brass Band, a scavenger hunt, coloring contest, hot cocoa, fire performer, Woonsocket Middle School Chorus, Jeff Gamache Entertainment, Rhode Island Kung Fu Club: Lion Dance, Vida Church Musical Performance, Lyrics in Motion Dance Team, and a 360 Photo Booth.
In addition, stop by Lops Brewing for an Artisan Market starting at 1 pm. Vendors include, Boy Scout Troop 1 Cumberland Hill, Le Jardin, Spiked Honey Art, Bob Hikes and Makes Stuff, and Silver Owl Designs–complete with Aquidneck Island Oyster Co.!
After enjoying all the holiday spirit Main Street has to offer, we encourage you to continue on to River Island Art Park, where the Woonsocket Winter Wonderland will be in full swing! From 3-8pm, this festive corner of Woonsocket will feature pony rides, petting zoo from 3:30-7:30, a stilt walker, tree lighting ceremony, food trucks, live wood and ice carvings, music, K9 demonstrations, photo prop areas, a fire pit, and last but most definitely not least–a visit from the big guy himself, Santa Clause! Santa will be available from 4-8pm–perfect timing to get those holiday wishes in to cap off this busy Woonsocket Saturday!
NeighborWork’s Millrace building at 40 South Main Street, Woonsocket, provides a state of the art incubator kitchen and flexible event spaces for functions large and small. To become a kitchen member or book you next event, visit us at www.millracekitchen.org
