Ocean House sets holiday lineup with Santa events, workshops and New Year’s Eve parties

Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, has unveiled a packed 2026 holiday calendar with Thanksgiving dining, Christmas programming, family events and two London-themed New Year’s Eve celebrations. The resort is leaning on hands-on workshops and ticketed experiences to draw both local guests and overnight visitors through the season.

Why it matters: - Ocean House is turning the holiday season into a multi-week events calendar that mixes dining, family programming and special-occasion celebrations. - The lineup gives guests multiple ways to visit the Watch Hill resort before the end of 2026, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. - The schedule also underscores how luxury resorts use holiday events to drive bookings, restaurant traffic and private celebrations.

What happened: - Ocean House announced holiday programming in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, including Thanksgiving dining, Christmas tree lighting, Santa visits, workshops and two New Year’s Eve parties. - The resort is a Forbes 15-Star, Five-Star Hotel, Five-Star Spa and Five-Star Restaurant, and it is part of Relais and Châteaux. - Thanksgiving events begin Nov. 6 and run through Nov. 27, with Christmas programming centered around Nov. 28 through Dec. 20. - New Year’s Eve offerings include a pair of London-inspired parties on Dec. 31.

The details: - A Children’s Ballet Clinic with Ballet RI is set for Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. in the Seaside Ballroom. - Two ballerinas will give a dance demonstration, teach ballet basics and read The Nutcracker. - Families will have a hot chocolate bar and cookies, while adults will have sparkling wine. - Each child will take home a ballerina cookie. - Tickets for the ballet clinic are $75 per child, and accompanying adults are complimentary. - In the Kitchen: Thanksgiving Tips and Techniques runs at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, 13, 20 and 27 in the Center for Wine and Culinary Arts. - The hands-on class covers gravy, mashed potatoes and holiday side dishes. - Ocean House will serve a Thanksgiving Buffet on 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. - Live music will accompany the Thanksgiving meal. - An Ice Cream Social with penguins from Mystic Aquarium follows on Nov. 27. - December workshops include From Vine to Wine: Holiday Wines, Ornament, Holiday Wreath and Gingerbread House Workshops. - Cookie & Cupcake Decorating with Mrs. Claus is also on the December calendar. - The Christmas Tree Lighting begins at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 28. - Santa will arrive by firetruck. - The tree lighting includes fireworks, complimentary hot chocolate and Christmas cookies, and it is open to the public. - Guests are encouraged to bring an unwrapped, boxed toy for donation. - No reservation is required for the tree lighting. - Hotel interior access during the tree lighting is reserved for overnight guests. - Christmas Dinner with Santa follows at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 in the Ballroom and Drawing Room. - The buffet dinner includes Santa, with an open bar for adults featuring select wines and spirits. - Brunch with Santa is scheduled for Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 13 and 20 in the Seaside Ballroom and Drawing Room. - Brunch reservations begin at 10 a.m., and Santa visits from 10:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. - The brunch buffet includes gourmet food stations, bottomless mimosas and soft drinks. - Vodka & Latke is set for Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. in the Center for Wine & Culinary Arts. - Guests will make cocktails and canapés and taste three latke variations topped with caviar, smoked salmon and tartare. - Each latke will be paired with a vodka-based beverage. - The Gingerbread House Competition Among Local High Schools is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Seaside Ballroom. - Chariho, Lincoln, Exeter-East Greenwich and Westerly high schools will display their creations. - Winners will be announced at a reception with passed hors d’oeuvres, house beer and wine, and hot cocoa. - The event is complimentary, and guests are asked to RSVP. - The Christmas Soirée is set for Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Seaside Ballroom. - The event includes a strolling reception, chef-curated food stations, passed hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, live music and dancing. - The Truffle Tree Workshop is scheduled for Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. in the Drawing Room. - Guests will build a chocolate truffle centerpiece, and the experience includes sparkling wine, an Ocean House apron and a chef hat. - In the Kitchen: New Year’s Eve Small Bites is set for Dec. 4, 11 and 18 at 3:30 p.m. in the Center for Wine and Culinary Arts. - The class focuses on elegant hors d’oeuvres and flavor pairing for holiday entertaining. - Big Ben Black Tie Bash will begin at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. - The 21-and-older event includes reserved Bistro seating, live entertainment, open bars and food stations with Beef Wellington, Maine lobster, black truffle risotto and caviar. - The Big Ben party also includes access to ballroom festivities later in the evening, with a DJ, additional food and an open bar. - London Calling New Year’s Eve Ball starts at 9 p.m. on Dec. 31 in the Seaside Ballroom. - The roaming reception will feature food stations, open bars, live entertainment and a DJ spinning British rock favorites. - The ballroom will be decorated with Union Jack accents, red telephone booths and an Abbey Road-inspired photo setting. - Guests who dress to 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 hotel reservations. - Ocean House is sharing updates on Instagram and Facebook at @OceanHouseRI.

Between the lines: - The calendar is built to keep the resort active across multiple holidays, not just one marquee night. - Family-friendly programming, culinary classes and community events help Ocean House widen its audience beyond overnight leisure travelers. - The London theme for both New Year’s Eve events gives the resort a clear marketing hook and a way to segment guests by price point and party style.

What's next: - Guests can book holiday events now as the resort moves into its busiest seasonal stretch. - Ocean House is steering traffic to its event calendar and booking site for reservations, availability and accommodation planning. - The holiday lineup runs through Dec. 31 and closes with the two New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The bottom line: - Ocean House is using the holidays to package dining, entertainment and family experiences into a full-season draw for Watch Hill.