Ocean House lines up holiday events, Santa visits and two New Year’s Eve parties

Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, is packing its 2026 holiday calendar with Thanksgiving dining, family workshops, Christmas festivities and two London-themed New Year’s Eve celebrations. The schedule runs from mid-November through Dec. 31 and is designed to draw both local guests and overnight visitors.

Why it matters: - Ocean House is turning the holiday season into a full calendar of dining, family activities and ticketed events at its Watch Hill resort. - The lineup gives guests multiple entry points, from children’s programming and hands-on workshops to formal holiday dinners and two separate New Year’s Eve parties. - The resort is also using the season to pull in families, couples, groups and local visitors across November and December.

What happened: - Ocean House announced holiday celebrations in Watch Hill that run through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. - The resort will offer Thanksgiving dining overlooking the Atlantic, a Christmas tree lighting, Santa visits, workshops and two ways to ring in 2027. - The holiday schedule includes events on Nov. 6, 13, 14, 20, 26, 27 and 28; Nov. 29; Dec. 4, 6, 10, 12, 17, 18 and 31.

The details: - Ocean House will host a Children’s Ballet Clinic with Ballet RI on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. in the Seaside Ballroom. - Two ballerinas will give a dance demonstration, teach ballet basics and close with a reading of The Nutcracker. - Families at the ballet event will have a hot chocolate bar, cookies and sparkling wine for adults, and each child will take home a ballerina cookie. - Tickets for the Children’s Ballet Clinic are $75 per child, and accompanying adults are complimentary. - Ocean House’s In the Kitchen: Thanksgiving Tips and Techniques class runs at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, 13, 20 and 27 in the Center for Wine and Culinary Arts. - The Thanksgiving class focuses on gravy, mashed potatoes and holiday side dishes for both first-time hosts and experienced cooks. - Ocean House will serve a Thanksgiving Buffet on Thursday, Nov. 26, in the Seaside Ballroom, with seatings from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - The buffet includes maple-brined turkey, honey-glazed ham, a raw bar, seasonal sides and holiday desserts, with live music during the meal. - The holiday weekend continues Nov. 27 with an Ice Cream Social featuring penguins from Mystic Aquarium. - Ocean House’s December schedule includes From Vine to Wine: Holiday Wines, Ornament, Holiday Wreath and Gingerbread House workshops, plus Cookie & Cupcake Decorating with Mrs. Claus. - The Christmas Tree Lighting starts at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, and is open to the public. - Santa will arrive by firetruck for the tree lighting, which also includes fireworks, complimentary hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. - Guests are encouraged to bring an unwrapped, boxed toy for donation. - Hotel interior access during the tree lighting is reserved for overnight guests. - Christmas Dinner with Santa follows at 5:30 p.m. in the Ballroom and Drawing Room. - The dinner includes a festive buffet and a limited open bar with select wines and spirits for adults. - Brunch with Santa is set for Sunday, Nov. 29, and Dec. 6, 13 and 20, in the Seaside Ballroom and Drawing Room. - The brunch buffet includes gourmet food stations, bottomless mimosas and soft drinks, with Santa visiting from 10:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. - Reservations for Brunch with Santa begin at 10 a.m. - Ocean House’s Vodka & Latke class on Sunday, Dec. 6, starts at 3 p.m. in the Center for Wine & Culinary Arts. - The class includes cocktails, canapés and three versions of the classic latke topped with caviar, smoked salmon and tartare, each paired with a vodka-based beverage. - Ocean House will hold a Gingerbread House Competition Among Local High Schools on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. in the Seaside Ballroom. - Students from Chariho, Lincoln, Exeter-East Greenwich and Westerly high schools will display their gingerbread houses, and winners will be announced during a reception. - The gingerbread event is complimentary, and guests are asked to RSVP. - Ocean House’s Christmas Soirée is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. in the Seaside Ballroom. - The soirée includes a strolling reception, chef-curated food stations, passed hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, live music and dancing. - The Truffle Tree Workshop takes place Thursday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m. in the Drawing Room. - Guests will make a chocolate truffle centerpiece, and the workshop includes sparkling wine, an Ocean House apron and a chef hat to take home. - Ocean House’s In the Kitchen: New Year’s Eve Small Bites class runs at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, 11 and 18 in the Center for Wine and Culinary Arts. - The class focuses on elegant hors d’oeuvres and flavor pairing for small gatherings or larger celebrations. - The Big Ben Black Tie Bash begins at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, and is for guests 21 and older. - The New Year’s Eve bash includes reserved Bistro seating, live entertainment, open bars and food stations with Beef Wellington, Maine lobster, black truffle risotto and caviar. - The Big Ben celebration also gives guests access to ballroom festivities later in the evening, with a DJ, additional food and an open bar. - Ocean House’s London Calling New Year’s Eve Ball begins at 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, in the Seaside Ballroom. - The ball features a roaming reception, food stations, open bars, live entertainment and a DJ playing British rock favorites. - The London-themed ballroom event uses Union Jack accents, red telephone booths and an Abbey Road-inspired photo setting. - Guests who dress for the theme can compete for costume prizes. - Event details and reservations are available at event information, and accommodation reservations and resort details are available at Ocean House. - Ocean House posts updates on Instagram and Facebook at @OceanHouseRI.

Between the lines: - The holiday programming mixes public events, ticketed dining and overnight-stay perks, which helps Ocean House serve both the local market and destination travelers. - The two New Year’s Eve parties point to strong demand for premium holiday experiences and give the resort a way to segment audiences by style and price point. - The London-inspired theme across both New Year’s events suggests Ocean House is leaning on a polished, destination-style brand for its biggest winter night.

What's next: - Reservations and attendance will determine how quickly the holiday events fill, especially the Santa brunches and New Year’s Eve parties. - Ocean House will move through a steady sequence of workshops, family events and holiday dinners from early November through Dec. 31. - Guests can check the resort’s events page for availability and booking details as the season approaches.