A multitude of events, including carriage rides, visit with Santa, strolling carolers, a village-wide food drive, a stringed orchestra concert, the traditional luminaria and tree lighting in the park and menorah lighting on the first day of Hanukkah have been planned to celebrate the holidays in Pawtuxet Village.

Throughout the month of December, a village-wide food drive will be held at designated businesses on Broad Street, with all food being donated to the food pantry at the Church of the Transfiguration in Edgewood. Help fight hunger in Rhode Island.

This Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. horse-drawn carriage rides with Santa will be held through the village. The carriage leaves every half hour from the parking lot behind the Cork & Brew at 2200 Broad Street. Purchase advance tickets at Twice Told Tales, 2145 Broad Street. (No rain date for carriage rides.)

At 4:30 the Cranston East Chamber Orchestra, followed by a Christmas carol sing-along with the Pilgrim High School Alumni Chorale will perform at the Pawtuxet Park gazebo. This will be followed at dusk with the lighting of 30 luminarias (holiday lanterns) and a moment of silence around the Children’s Christmas tree. Each luminaria is sponsored in memory of loved ones and will stay lit through the holiday season. At 5:45 p.m. there will be the lighting of the Children’s Christmas tree, which is close to the parkway and not the large tree next to the gazebo. The rain date for luminarias and tree lighting is Sunday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m

Festivities will continue on Dec. 9 with a gathering at 6:45 p.m. at the gazebo in Pawtuxet Park for the lighting of the Village Menorah at 7. The lighting will be held rain or snow. Following the lighting attendees are invited for hot latkes, gelt, dreidels and some Hanukkah songs, led by Rabbi Yossi Laufer of Chabad of West Bay.

The Pawtuxet Village Holiday Stroll is coordinated by Friends of Pawtuxet Village with support from the Pawtuxet Village Merchants group. For more details visit www.friendsofpawtuxetvillage.org.