The best things to do in Providence

11 things to do we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.

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Entertainment · 11 places · showing the latest additions first

Amica Mutual Pavilion is packing the calendar with everything from Los Tigres Del Norte on August 29 to Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow…

1 Lasalle Sq #1

Amica Mutual Pavilion is packing the calendar with everything from Los Tigres Del Norte on August 29 to Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow -N- Fire, Friars hoops, and Rhode Island Comic Con later this fall. If you need a quick hit of hometown hype, this is where the volume knob lives.

From the Cranston newsletter, August 17, 2026

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Roger Williams Park Zoo has New England’s only Komodo dragon, an exhilarating zip ride, and hands-on moments like petting an armadillo.…

1000 Elmwood Ave

Roger Williams Park Zoo has New England’s only Komodo dragon, an exhilarating zip ride, and hands-on moments like petting an armadillo. Catch the high-energy Canine Champions for Conservation through September 7, 2026, and Brew at the Zoo lands August 29, 2026... easy hometown adventure unlocked.

From the Cranston newsletter, August 25, 2026

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Plot your way around small, bunkered greens and let the mid-irons sing at Triggs Memorial Golf Course, where Donald Ross’ 1932 design stays…

1533 Chalkstone Ave · ✓ checked Jul 28

Plot your way around small, bunkered greens and let the mid-irons sing at Triggs Memorial Golf Course, where Donald Ross’ 1932 design stays sharp with stout par-4s, gettable par-5s and sneaky par-3s. com calls one of the best municipal tracks in the country.

From the Providence newsletter, August 6, 2026

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Swap I-95 stress for an authentic Venetian glide with La Gondola Providence, where private trips float you along the Providence and…

1 Citizens Plz · ✓ checked Jul 28

Swap I-95 stress for an authentic Venetian glide with La Gondola Providence, where private trips float you along the Providence and Woonasquatucket rivers and the gondoliers double as musicians. It’s the chill, romantic, just-because way to see our skyline from the water, no passport required.

From the Providence newsletter, September 6, 2026

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Button Hole

Entertainment

Button Hole is the rare par-3 and full driving range combo that actually welcomes every level, with approachable instruction, a Ladies…

1 Buttonhole Dr

Button Hole is the rare par-3 and full driving range combo that actually welcomes every level, with approachable instruction, a Ladies League, and programs for juniors and veterans. Perfect for quick after-work loops or a bucket and a tune-up, plus a community mission that feels good.

From the Johnston newsletter, September 11, 2026

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Agawam Hunt

Entertainment

Agawam Hunt is a members-only spot in Rumford, minutes from the East Side, with a Golf Digest top-10 in RI course, a serious racquets scene…

15 Roger Williams Ave (Rumford)

Agawam Hunt is a members-only spot in Rumford, minutes from the East Side, with a Golf Digest top-10 in RI course, a serious racquets scene from tennis to platform tennis, and legit year-round dining that goes far beyond clubhouse fare. If you want a club that feels like community, this is it.

From the Providence newsletter, September 1, 2026

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Avon Cinema

Entertainment

When you’re done doomscrolling, let Avon Cinema reset your brain with foreign, indie, and art-house picks in a gorgeously old-school Art…

260 Thayer St

When you’re done doomscrolling, let Avon Cinema reset your brain with foreign, indie, and art-house picks in a gorgeously old-school Art Deco room that’s been charming Providence since 1938. It’s the rare screen where surprises still happen, perfect when the couch queue feels stale.

From the Cranston newsletter, August 28, 2026

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Family-friendly chain offering a sports-bar-style setting for American food & arcade games.

40 Providence Pl

Family-friendly chain offering a sports-bar-style setting for American food & arcade games.

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Whether you want to trade your group chat for button mashing, Free Play Bar Arcade packs classic arcade games set to free play, cold…

182 Pine St

Whether you want to trade your group chat for button mashing, Free Play Bar Arcade packs classic arcade games set to free play, cold drafts, and solid pizza, plus an upstairs dance and karaoke scene when you’ve cleared the high score. A fun 21+ spot when Providence nights need extra nostalgia.

From the Providence newsletter, September 14, 2026

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Escape Rhode Island

Entertainment

Round up your favorite problem-solvers and take on 60 minutes of clever challenges at Escape Rhode Island. With multiple games,…

385 S Main St 2nd Floor

Round up your favorite problem-solvers and take on 60 minutes of clever challenges at Escape Rhode Island. With multiple games, leaderboards for bragging rights, and teambuilding and venue rental options, it’s a fun way to test your wits with friends or coworkers right here in Providence.

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