Colony House Holiday Market Food & Toy Drive

Colony House Holiday Market | Washington Square, Newport November 14th – December 14th Monday – Thursday | 10am to 5pm Friday – Sunday | 10am to 6pm   Make a difference this Holiday Season with a donation of Food and Toys at the Colony House Holiday Market Starting Frid......More

Colony House Holiday Market | Washington Square, Newport November 14th – December 14th Monday – Thursday | 10am to 5pm Friday – Sunday | 10am to 6pm   Make a difference this Holiday Season with a donation of Food and Toys at the Colony House Holiday Market Starting Friday, November 14th and ending on Sunday, December 14th, the Newport Historical Society, in partnership with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center will be holding a food and toy drive to benefit the families of the MLK Center. This year’s toy and food drive will be held at the Colony House Holiday Market located within the historic Colony House in Washington Square. All guests who donate a non-perishable food item, hygiene product, or toy will receive 10% off on all Holiday Market purchases. All toys, non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products and toys are welcomed. For the full list of donatable items visit, https://mlkccenter.org/current-needs/ This event is in partnership with:

Mingle & Jingle Trunk Show at the Colony House Holiday Market

Friday, December 5th – Sunday, December 7th, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 10am to 6pm | Special Event Step into the festive spirit at Newport’s historic Colony House during the Mingle & Jingle Trunk Show! Explore a curated selection of handcrafted ......More

Friday, December 5th – Sunday, December 7th, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 10am to 6pm | Special Event Step into the festive spirit at Newport’s historic Colony House during the Mingle & Jingle Trunk Show! Explore a curated selection of handcrafted gifts and artisan goods from local vendors while enjoying the charm of one of Newport’s most iconic landmarks. Whether you’re shopping for unique holiday treasures or simply soaking up the seasonal cheer, this three-day market offers something special for everyone. Celebrate the holidays in historic style—shop local, sip, mingle, and jingle your way through the season! Each afternoon from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments as part of the celebration. A suggested donation of $5 supports continued preservation and programming at this treasured historic site. On Friday, December 5th, from 5:00-5:45pm, guests are invited to enjoy a special live performance by Don Chilton, a professional trumpeter and conch shell player based in Newport, and the Band Director for Thompson Middle School. This festive program blends holiday melodies with the unique sounds of conch shells, trumpet, didgeridoo, and vocals for an unforgettable musical performance. For more information about Don & his music, visit https://donchilton.com/ Trunk Show Vendors : Miki Quinn – @hokkori.artFleurissant Newport – @fleurissantnewportKim Palmer of Newport – vintage & original jewelryAshley Lippincott – contemporary artworkPatsy Finlay – shellcoupageKaela Bleho – hand-dipped beeswax candles SATURDAY ONLY

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

“The Wondrous Mrs. Claus" Holiday Book Signing with Author Pamela McColl

Thursday, December 11, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 12pm to 2pm | Book Signing Event   “The Wondrous Mrs. Claus: A Literary & Pictorial Review of the Christmas Character” Mrs. Claus made her debut on the written page in 1849. Over the past two cent......More

Thursday, December 11, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 12pm to 2pm | Book Signing Event   “The Wondrous Mrs. Claus: A Literary & Pictorial Review of the Christmas Character” Mrs. Claus made her debut on the written page in 1849. Over the past two centuries, as this literary and pictorial review discovered, the Christmas character was continually reimagined for juvenile and adult works of fiction, in poetry, lyrics and for musical, theatrical and film productions. This publication is the first to extensively chronicle Mrs. Claus, as presented and published through the years. Discover the enchanting Mrs. Claus & learn about the creative talents who brought the character to life over the past two centuries. The author shares hundreds of references to the character offering the reader insights into what makes Mrs. Claus the first lady of Christmas.  A perfect gift for any lover of literature, the history of beloved characters, and of course, the holidays. Please join us at the Colony House on Thursday, December 11th, from 12:00-2:00pm, where you can purchase a copy of The Wondrous Mrs. Claus & have it signed by the author! Also available will be Pamela McColl & Lindsey Stewart’s companion publication, What Would Mrs. Claus Do? Where There Is a Wish, There Is a Way.

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

"The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook" Signing with Author Becky Diamond

Friday, December 12th, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 3pm to 6pm | Book Signing Event Although most Americans have heard of sugar plums thanks to the famous holiday poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, many have likely never have h......More

Friday, December 12th, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 3pm to 6pm | Book Signing Event Although most Americans have heard of sugar plums thanks to the famous holiday poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, many have likely never have had the pleasure of tasting one of these luxuries or even know what they really are (hint: they are not sugar-dusted plums). With origins that date back to the nineteenth century and even earlier, the recipes featured in The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook have been adapted for today’s ingredients and appliances, allowing cooks to recreate them in their own modern kitchens. Each recipe will provide a colorful glimpse into the era, featuring the fascinating history behind every confection, its ingredients and baking methods. There will also be sidebars throughout, offering tidbits of Christmas lore of the era. A perfect gift to bring sparkle to the holiday season for anyone who enjoys food, history, culture and Christmas traditions, The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook is a unique way to revitalize any baker’s holiday repertoire while looking to past foodways for inspiration. With all the opulence and enchanting allure of the Victorian period, this nostalgic book is chock-full of delicious holiday treats. Please join us at the Colony House on Friday, December 12th, from 3:00-6:00pm, where you can purchase a copy of The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook, meet the author, and sample some of the delicious treats from the cookbook!

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

Christmas in Newport at The Colony House

Saturday, December 13, 2025 12pm to 2pm The Colony House | Washington Square   Christmas in Newport presents four readings of the poem “A Visit from St. Nicolas” and pictures with Santa on Saturday, December 13, from 12:00pm-2:00pm at the Colony House, Washington Squar......More

Saturday, December 13, 2025 12pm to 2pm The Colony House | Washington Square   Christmas in Newport presents four readings of the poem “A Visit from St. Nicolas” and pictures with Santa on Saturday, December 13, from 12:00pm-2:00pm at the Colony House, Washington Square, Newport. Readings will take place at 12:00pm, 12:30pm 1:00pm with a reading in Spanish at 1:30pm. Christmas in Newport at the Colony House is a free event open to the public. Don’t forget to bring your camera for pictures with Santa Claus!

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

Hand-Dipped Candle Making Workshop at the Colony House Holiday Market

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 6pm to 7pm | Special Event Group size: 12, minimum age 16 years Ticket price: $35, option to purchase candle holders on site Class time: 60-90 mins Each person will produce a pair of 6” beeswax t......More

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 6pm to 7pm | Special Event Group size: 12, minimum age 16 years Ticket price: $35, option to purchase candle holders on site Class time: 60-90 mins Each person will produce a pair of 6” beeswax tapers and will be given a 1-page worksheet to take home.   Make your very own candles for your Holiday table! Get into the spirit of the season with this cozy, hands-on workshop. Learn the traditional art of hand-dipping beeswax taper candles and create a beautiful pair of 6-inch tapers to take home—perfect for adding a warm glow to your holiday table. Under the guidance of your instructor, Kaela Bleho (Director of Digital Collections at the NHS), you’ll dip and finish your own candles while learning about the process and history behind this timeless craft. Each participant will also receive a handy 1-page worksheet to continue candle-making at home. Join us for a relaxing evening of historic craftsmanship and creativity—and leave with something beautiful you made yourself!   Book now!

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

"Jamestown: Architecture, Landscape, and the Making of a Rhode Island Paradise" Book Signing with Author John Tschirch

Friday, December 19th, 2025 3pm to 5pm | Book-signing event The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport   Jamestown, Rhode Island, set in the shimmering waters at the entrance to Narragansett Bay, is marked by cliffs and fields looking out to the sea- a vision of para......More

Friday, December 19th, 2025 3pm to 5pm | Book-signing event The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport   Jamestown, Rhode Island, set in the shimmering waters at the entrance to Narragansett Bay, is marked by cliffs and fields looking out to the sea- a vision of paradise, a place of natural abundance and scenic beauty. For centuries, builders devised architecture that seamlessly rose from and merged back into stony coast and rolling meadows. This island is home to a timeless landscape of pastoral richness and picturesque views its buildings are a testament to those who sought their fortunes and fulfilled their fantasies, within sight of the mainland, but a world apart. In each case, there is a remarkable relationship between the island’s topography and its architecture. Through maps, paintings, poetry and prose, this book illustrates the vibrant heritage of Jamestown, its role as a place of refuge and retreat through the ages, a paradise shaped by the visions and labors of its inhabitants. John Tschirch’s Jamestown: Architecture, Landscape, and the Making of a Rhode Island Paradise is a highly visual and new study of the rustic and whimsical shingled houses of Jamestown, Rhode Island, from the colonial era to the development of the town as a picturesque resort set in a coastal landscape. Please join us at the Colony House on Friday, December 19th, from 3:00-5:00pm, for a book signing where you can purchase your copy of Jamestown: Architecture, Landscape, and the Making of a Rhode Island Paradise, and have it signed by the author!

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

Hand-Dipped Candle Making Workshop at the Colony House Holiday Market

Monday, December 22, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 6pm to 7pm | Special Event Group size: 12, minimum age 16 years Ticket price: $35, option to purchase candle holders on site Class time: 60-90 mins Each person will produce a pair of 6” beeswax tape......More

Monday, December 22, 2025 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport 6pm to 7pm | Special Event Group size: 12, minimum age 16 years Ticket price: $35, option to purchase candle holders on site Class time: 60-90 mins Each person will produce a pair of 6” beeswax tapers and will be given a 1-page worksheet to take home.   Make your very own candles for your Holiday table! Get into the spirit of the season with this cozy, hands-on workshop. Learn the traditional art of hand-dipping beeswax taper candles and create a beautiful pair of 6-inch tapers to take home—perfect for adding a warm glow to your holiday table. Under the guidance of your instructor, Kaela Bleho (Director of Digital Collections at the NHS), you’ll dip and finish your own candles while learning about the process and history behind this timeless craft. Each participant will also receive a handy 1-page worksheet to continue candle-making at home. Join us for a relaxing evening of historic craftsmanship and creativity—and leave with something beautiful you made yourself!   Book now!

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

"Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights" with Dr. Keisha N. Blain at the Colony House

Thursday, January 29th, 2026 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport Admission $15 – $20 per person | *Student Discounts now available $10 with valid student ID 6pm to 7pm doors open at 5pm for a complimentary reception Even before they were recognized as citizens......More

Thursday, January 29th, 2026 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport Admission $15 – $20 per person | *Student Discounts now available $10 with valid student ID 6pm to 7pm doors open at 5pm for a complimentary reception Even before they were recognized as citizens of the United States, Black women understood that the fights for civil and human rights were inseparable. Over the course of two hundred years, they were at the forefront of national and international movements for social change, weaving connections between their own and others’ freedom struggles around the world. Without Fear tells how, during American history, Black women made humans rights theirs: from worldwide travel and public advocacy in the global Black press to their work for the United Nations, they courageously and effectively moved human rights beyond an esoteric concept to an active, organizing principle. Acclaimed historian Keisha N. Blain tells the story of these women—from the well-known, like Ida B. Wells, Madam C. J. Walker, and Lena Horne, to those who are still less known, including Pearl Sherrod, Aretha McKinley, and Marguerite Cartwright. Blain captures human rights thinking and activism from the ground up with Black women at the center, working outside the traditional halls of power. By shouldering intersecting forms of oppression—including racism, sexism, and classism—Black women have long been in a unique position to fight for freedom and dignity. Without Fear is an account of their aspirations, strategies, and struggles to pioneer a human rights approach to combating systems of injustice. The Newport Historical Society in partnership with Charter Books is honored to host Dr. Keisha N. Blain for a conversation on her new book, Without Fear: Black Women & the Making of Human Rights, with Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes, the Director of the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History at the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House. Book now!

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport